Five years ago, the US Army spent 3.8 million dollars on a windmill* at Tooele Army Depot that has never worked.
FAIL
The 262' tall monolith promised to deliver 1.5 megawatts of power, saving the military facility an average of $200,000 annually. Unfortunately, the Chinese-made Tang Energy turbine failed to perform.
With an average wind speed of around 14 mph, this location on Tooele Army Depot is the perfect location for a wind turbine. Therefore the Army has contracted** to build another wind turbine in the same location, right next to the one that doesn't work.
The new wind turbine that has been under construction for the past few months will soon be fully operational, but this time, sporting a new American-made General Electric turbine that the Army Corps of Engineers promises will deliver 1.5 to 2 megawatts of free*** energy.
There are no plans to retrofit or remove the $3.8 million Chinese-made turbine so it will remain where it is... forever and forever in Tooele.
* $3.8 million contract was awarded to PNE Corp, who installed all Chinese-made components.
** $5.5 million contract was awarded to Juhl Energy in partnership with Aegis Renewable Energy and Icenogle Construction Management inc.
*** The windmill project combined cost of $9.3 million will take an estimated 46.5 years to pay for itself.
Disfunctional Chinese-made Tang Energy turbine with Oquirrh Mountains in background.
FAIL
The 262' tall monolith promised to deliver 1.5 megawatts of power, saving the military facility an average of $200,000 annually. Unfortunately, the Chinese-made Tang Energy turbine failed to perform.
With an average wind speed of around 14 mph, this location on Tooele Army Depot is the perfect location for a wind turbine. Therefore the Army has contracted** to build another wind turbine in the same location, right next to the one that doesn't work.
The windmills are located near the southerly boarder of the southeast corner of the Tooele Army Depot and can be seen from almost everywhere in the Tooele Valley.
The new wind turbine that has been under construction for the past few months will soon be fully operational, but this time, sporting a new American-made General Electric turbine that the Army Corps of Engineers promises will deliver 1.5 to 2 megawatts of free*** energy.
There are no plans to retrofit or remove the $3.8 million Chinese-made turbine so it will remain where it is... forever and forever in Tooele.
The power lines that supply electricity to operate the controversial NSA Data Center run adjacent to the southerly boarder of the depot.
* $3.8 million contract was awarded to PNE Corp, who installed all Chinese-made components.
** $5.5 million contract was awarded to Juhl Energy in partnership with Aegis Renewable Energy and Icenogle Construction Management inc.
*** The windmill project combined cost of $9.3 million will take an estimated 46.5 years to pay for itself.