Part XI: Erie Community Schools is "Casting" Our Future to the Wind
By Mike Ryan
January 07, 2008
I want to take this opportunity to update you on our turbine project. It seems like a long time since I have had "positive" news about the Erie turbine. With the new year we have a new direction and timelines that will bring our turbine to reality in the near future.
Representatives from Johnson Controls, Inc. met with the Erie Board of Education on December 17, 2007, to discuss the new project timelines. This was the first formal meeting to take place since it had been determined that the turbine site would be moved to a new location. The new location is still on the Erie Middle School property but the relocation point is approximately seventy (70) feet from the previous site. The Board of Education received the following updates with tentative timelines:
- Soil samples from new pad location - completed 12/07
- Demolition of existing foundation pad - completed 12/27/07
- Relocation of tower sections and generator - completed 12/27/07
- Testing the integrity of the turbine inbed ring - completed 12/28/07
Highlights of future tasks and tentative timelines:
- Excavate new foundation - January 21, 2008
- Pour new foundation - February 8, 2008
- Set transformer and connect primary cable - February 12, 2008
- Erect tower sections and install narcelle - February 29, 2008
- Install generator/hub/rotors - March 6, 2008
- Turbine system startup - March 20, 2008 through April 3, 2008
- Run turbine at full load - April 4, 2008
- Monitor for full operation - April 11, 2008
As was stated earlier in this update, the new timelines are tentative as wind and weather play big factors in the objective target dates begin met. The good news is that we have dates and direction now. We are eagerly awaiting the day this spring when we will be electrically independent and running on our own generated power.
Please continue to check for updates on our turbine progress and new pictures on the construction phase.
