Students Learn How to Erect Components of a Wind Turbine

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 has teamed with a Utah manufacturer of crane simulators to build a first-ever virtual world where students learn specifically how to erect the components of a wind turbine.

The simulator is owned by the union’s Joseph J. Goetz Jr. Training Center, located in Coloma. Built by GlobalSim, a Kongsberg Maritime Company, in Draper, UT, the machine’s software projects real-world scenarios such as two cranes being operated independently, but together, to lift the components into place.

Designed with a commitment to realism, the simulator lets students get bumped around if they drive their crane over uneven ground, feel the force of the wind blowing against a crane boom and see the shadow of turbine blades pass over other objects. Equipped with a cab and controls identical to those in a Manitowoc Epic Model 2250 MAXER crane, along with a second set of the controls, up to two crane students can train simultaneously along with a third individual learning to be a signal person. With the second set of controls, an instructor has the option of working with one student at a time.

Because the simulator is enclosed within a 26-foot-long, 8-foot-wide trailer, it can be transported to locations off the training center grounds.

Training center staff applied for and received a $275,000 Green Energy Grant from the State of Wisconsin in 2009 to develop the simulator. Following a design and testing period, the center put the simulator into action and began offering wind turbine erection classes in December, 2010.

“We’re pretty proud of what we have accomplished here,” said Local 139 Training Director Daniel Sperberg. “This simulator is the only one of its kind and it’s like being in the real thing.”

Sperberg said the simulator demonstrates Local 139’s commitment to offer its members the best possible training available. “We continually strive to be in a leadership role nationally as far as training is concerned,” he said. “This simulator gives us the bleeding-edge technology to achieve our goal.”

This story began about a decade ago when the training center purchased a state-of-the-art simulator from GlobalSim to teach Local 139 members how to operate a crane. But the machine’s intended purpose as a training tool was not realized because it was not set up to run a class through. Instead, it was used mainly as an interactive promotional device at public events to showcase educational opportunities at the training center.

With the Green Energy Grant available, Sperberg and Crane Instructor Doug Stegeman saw an opportunity to upgrade and repurpose the simulator to train students how to operate a crane for use in a green industry – wind power. Stegeman discussed creating virtual wind turbine erection scenarios with GlobalSim engineers. In August 2010, he drove the simulator back to the ­­­manufacturer and provided photographs he had taken of wind turbine components being hoisted into place on actual jobsites. The engineers incorporated those scenes into the realistic graphics that students now see on the rebuilt simulator’s 90-inch diagonal, curved projection screen.

“We’re working with big cranes in this industry to lift very heavy turbine components hundreds of feet into the air,” Stegeman said. “It is inherently a high-risk situation because of that height. The training center can’t buy a real-life big crane like the Manitowoc 2250. But our students can establish a high degree of confidence with these cranes by using the simulator.”

Wisconsin Wind Works is Proud to Sponsor the Small Wind Siting Workshop

Wisconsin Wind Works is proud to sponsor the Small Wind Siting Workshop hosted by Renewegy on Friday, March 25^th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00p.pm. The event will take place at Renewegy located on 3650 Jackson St. in Oshkosh.

The workshop will focus around new siting rules and regulations around opportunities for renewable energy projects. The workshop will also talk about opportunities for renewable energy and highlight real-world case studies of current projects.

Speakers at this event include Paul Esslinger, Mayor of Oshkosh, Dan Epstein, Vice President and COO of Renewegy and Eric Fowle, Executive Director of AICP to name a few.

Tours will also be available of the Renewegy facility after the workshop.

The management team at Renewegy has worked together the past ten years to develop clean energy products for the commercial and industrial marketplace. Prior to starting Renewegy, the team founded and successfully grew MotoTron Corporation a wholly owned subsidiary under Brunswick Corporation.

Glenmore Wind Turbine Project Moves On

Despite local opposite a development project to build eight wind turbines has been given the go ahead despite strong local opposition.

Earlier this week the Town Board voted to allow Cenergy, a subsidiary of CG Power Solutions, to build the turbines which, reversed the decision from last week that would have delayed the project two months.

Last week, the Town Board approved the permits for the project but then closed the meeting after many of the more than 100 residents at the meeting voiced a strong opinion against the decision. The board reconvened the meeting later that day and eventually voted to delay a decision on the permit for 60 days.

Cenergy officials stated that reconvening the meeting on March 7 was illegal. Wind turbine opponents argued that the permits could be delayed based on an emergency reference to the state legislative committee.

Recently a state legislative committee suspended the siting rules that had been approved by the Public Safety Commission, claiming that there was enough evidence to suggest that turbines could threaten the publics health and safety.

At Wednesday's meeting questions surfaced about the legality of all action taken at the reconvened meeting earlier this month. So the board voted that day to rescind all votes of the reconvened meeting, leaving the original vote to approve the permits.

The board then voted not to change the original votes.

Many town residents wanted the board to delay a decision on the turbines until more information could be presented on the health and safety risks of turbines.

Committee Votes to Suspend Wind Turbine placement Rule

On Tuesday a legislative committee voted to suspend rules adopted by the state Public Service Commission last year regarding the placement of wind turbines.

The vote came in 5-2 by the joint committee that reviews administrative rules. This means there are now no statewide standard in place governing setbacks of wind turbines.

In a debate that has pitted economic development opportunity against concerns about property rights, wind energy supporters argued in favor of the rule. Critics of the wind powered projects contended that the setback of wind turbines was not restrictive enough.

The PSC rule was finalized in December and would have been in effect Tuesday if the note had not passed.

The full Legislature must now follow up on the committee’s vote by passing a bill to throw out the PSC rule. A bill under construction would send the issue back to the PSC for revision, giving the agency seven months to have the revision completed.

Republican Sen. Leah Vukmir said the PSC rule was tantamount to “a government sanctioned taking because it reduced the value of property for nonparticipating landowners without their consent and without compensation.”

Representative, Fred Kessler notes that all energy choices are controversial, including older sources such as coal and it’s important for the state to support the development of wind energy. “This is the next generation of technology,” said Kessler, “why would we not be supporting this when companies will go to another states if these rules are suspended.”

The American Wind Energy Association said the PSC rule was restrictive enough, given that it set specific noise limits and restrictions on shadow flicker in addition to turbine distant setbacks.

“These rules were developed collaboratively by the wind energy industry and all major stakeholders in Wisconsin,” said Jeff Anthony, director of business development at the American Wind Energy Association and a Wisconsin Resident.

But Bob Welch, a lobbyist for the Coalition for Wisconsin Environmental Stewardship, which represents groups that have been fighting wind projects, said his constituents need a "fair hearing" at the PSC. "As far as those who want to build wind turbines in Wisconsin, all they've got to do is treat their neighbors fairly," Welch said. "Property rights need to be protected."