With a reputation for installation of equipment and machinery on a wide variety of project sites, Barton Malow Rigging has long had an interest in alternative energy. When Heritage Sustainable Energy called to assist with the new Stoney Corners Wind Farm, it was a perfect match.

Stoney Corners is home to the largest wind turbines of their kind in the United States – and size is directly related to the amount of electricity a turbine can produce. The two 2.5 megawatt Fuhrländer turbines rise more than 450 feet above the farmland. The location was chosen for

optimal wind resources and site accessibility; also, minimizing the impact on the local farming community was critical.

Each 100-meter tubular steel tower had to be shipped to the site in six sections. Seated atop the tower is the nacelle, weighing in at 218,000 pounds. Assembly of the hub and blades took place on the ground. Once combined, the 160,000-pound unit was lifted into place and fixed to the nacelle. Constant monitoring of the weather and prevailing wind conditions was essential to the successful installation.

Wilcox Engineering designed roads and foundations, requiring extensive coordination with Fuhrländer, the turbine manufacturer. With sandy soil conditions, each foundation required 68 H-piles driven to a depth of 100 feet. The foundations were installed by Barton Malow Concrete.

Wind farms offer cost savings and environmental benefits: They lower dependence on fossil fuels, and do not send pollutants into the air in order to produce electricity.

Big equipment, big expectations – and big implications for the future of the planet.