Published: May 13, 2008 02:14 pm         

Three towers receive blade assembly

The first three turbines of a planned 75-tower wind generation farm were given their wings last week.

According to Susan Barthold of the Wolf Ridge Wind Project, the giant blades were attached for the first time on Thursday, and so far three have been attached to the towers by use of a crane.

Within a month or so, weather pending, officials expect a series of 260-foot-tall wind generators to line the northwestern Cooke County sky, and before fall the plant is expected to be in full operation.

Barthold said scheduling the blade assembly attachment is tricky, as the wind cannot be too high nor can there be a threat of storms.

Wolf Ridge Wind LLC., the subsidiary company of FPL Energy (a part of Florida Power and Light), is headquartered off FM 371 north of Muenster — the center of the wind farm project which spans the area from north of Muenster to southwest of Saint Jo. The company is named for Wolf Ridge, a geologic rise and what was once a nearby community that was removed to make way for U.S. Army artillery training base Camp Howze in World War II.

FPL Energy claims to be the largest developer, owner and operator of wind turbines in the U.S. FPL has been in Texas since 1998 and they have 11 wind energy farms operating. There are about 50 wind farms owned by FPL throughout the U.S.

The Wolf Ridge Wind “lay down yard,” located off CR 430 and FM 371, is home to an increasing number of shipments of transformers, metal poles and other parts to build the 75 wind turbines. It is closed to the public.

Critics have said in previous Register articles that the turbines ruin the view and could lower property values for residents near the towers. Proponents say the generators are a sign of progress in Cooke County.

Doug Zale, a Fort Worth area resident, was stopped along FM 373 taking some photos with a telephoto lens. He said he had the day off from his job at an aircraft manufacturing facility and thought the wind turbine construction would make an interesting subject.

“I just think they’re slick,” he said, “... The blades reflect the light from the sun in an eerie way. The backs of the generators themselves look like something from Star Wars.”

Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net