Clean wind energy
is always in season, thanks to the revolutionary wind turbines that
dot our countryside. The windmills are approximately 26 stories tall,
with blades as wide as the wingspan of a jumbo jet. The towers weigh
about 57 tons and each blade weighs about 8000 lbs.
This is one of the
largest "wind farms" in the world, and is constructed along
the Buffalo Ridge. The Buffalo Ridge is the most prominent
topographic feature throughout the Midwestern prarie. It stretches
from South Dakota through Minnesota into Iowa. Winds average 17 miles
per hour here on the Buffalo Ridge, more than enough for the 8 mph
that is needed to generate the wind power. The 257 windmills serve
approximately 71,000 households or 192,000 people in one year. Each
tower produces enough energy for approximately 747 people.
These windmills
are a giant step in the direction of renewable energy. It would take
301,000 tons of coal to make the same amount of electricity that
these windmills generate. The windmills off-set 3400 railroad cars of
coal in one year. Isn't that a breath of fresh air?
For more
information about our "wind farm," call 712-284-1070.
