WAVERLY, Iowa (October 28, 2011) – The rebuilding of Waverly Light and Power’s Cannon II wind turbine will take a significant step forward on Tuesday, Nov. 1, when contractors reinstall the second section of the tower.
Located just east of Waverly, Cannon II was erected nearly three years ago. During the final stages of construction on Feb. 21, 2009, a construction issue caused the blades, hub and generator assembly to break apart and fall to the ground. Since then, only the tower base has remained standing.
The second section of the tower was not damaged when the turbine fell, and contractors plan to install it on the base Tuesday.
“The second section passed all the structural examinations and tests. Once it is placed on the tower base, we will know for sure if it is usable,” said Mike Litterer, assistant general manager/operations manager. “If we can reuse this section, it will save Waverly Light and Power $165,000.”
The Federal Aviation Administration permit for the turbine site expires November 2012, prompting Waverly Light and Power to start reconstruction.
“Litigation between Waverly Light and Power and Industrial Contract Services, Inc., the original installation contractor, continues, but now is the time to move forward with the reconstruction,” said Diane Johnson, general manager. “We fully expect to receive compensation for the damaged tower when litigation concludes early in 2012.”
During the interim, Waverly Light and Power will use funds designated for renewable energy projects for the reconstruction. If the second section is reusable, reconstruction of Cannon II will cost approximately $1.7 million.
“Because of effective planning and cost management, Waverly Light and Power will not need to raise rates to cover the cost of erecting Cannon II,” said Johnson. The current schedule calls for completing final stages of the turbine reconstruction during the summer of 2012.
About Waverly Light and Power
Established in 1904, Waverly Light and Power is a municipally owned electric utility that now serves more than 4,600 customers in and around Waverly. In 1993, Waverly Light and Power became the first public power system in the Midwest to own and operate wind generation, positioning the utility as a national leader in renewable energy. Managed by a trusteeship, Waverly Light and Power is committed to energy efficiency, and is the recipient of numerous state and national awards, including the Reliable Public Power Award, the Iowa Energy Leadership Award, and multiple Energy Innovator Awards.
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