PWD’S LANDMARK WIND TURBINE DECOMISSIONED,

Palmdale, CA – Palmdale’s skyline is looking a little different as Palmdale Water District (PWD) starts to dismantle the 237-foot-tall wind turbine that has been on its water treatment plant property on East Avenue S

for two decades.

Today, crews from contractor Terra-Gen began removing the three 85-foot blades from the 950 kW Micon 900 wind turbine, a now-defunct model. The remaining tower is scheduled to be taken down next week.

“The District took several steps for energy independence in the early

2000s,” said PWD General Manager Dennis D. LaMoreaux. “The most visible and progressive was the wind turbine. It became part of the AV’s skyline and appears in hundreds of pictures of the area.

“However, the wind turbine is no longer functional,” he added. “It

definitely did its job for the District. Many of us will miss seeing its prominence in our valley, but it is time to retire it.”

Since 2004, the turbine has been a highly noticeable visual for people driving on the

Antelope Valley Freeway (14) and through the streets of Palmdale. It was erected to provide

electricity for the operations of the Leslie O. Carter Water Treatment Plant, where PWD treats water before distributing it to customers. When operational, the wind turbine saved up to 100% on power costs. Some years, the savings were $100,000.

The turbine had been non-operational for several years due to unavailable parts, high

costs, and difficulty in finding qualified technicians to make repairs, said PWD Assistant General Manager Scott Rogers.

After the Board of Directors voted in September to declare the wind turbine as surplus property, San Diego-based renewable energy power producer Terra-Gen agreed to remove the

reusable parts from the turbine and salvage the remaining parts at no cost to PWD.

Letting the non-working wind turbine remain on the property is not an option. Because it

is more than 100 feet tall, it must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, and the red light on top of it must be kept on as a warning to pilots.

“Our future energy plans are centered on solar power,” Rogers said.

“One of our two

upcoming solar projects will replace the turbine.

”Of the two projects, one will supply up to 100% of the energy needed by the treatment

plant and boosters at a nearby tank. The second project will power the main office on Avenue Q

and six nearby well sites.

Since 1918, the Palmdale Water District has provided high-quality water at a reasonable

cost. We pride ourselves on providing great customer care; advocating for local water issues that help our residents; educating the community on water-use efficiency; and leading our region in

researching and implementing emerging technologies that increase operational efficiency. For

more information about PWD, visit www.palmdalewater.org.

Photos /Palmdale Water District.