Maple Ridge Wind Farm
Encyclopedia
Maple Ridge Wind Farm is the largest wind farm
in the state of New York
in the United States
, with 195 Vestas
model V82 1.65 MW wind turbines. Each turbine tower is 260 feet (79.2 m) tall. Each turbine has blades 130 feet (39.6 m) long, which added to the hub diameter gives a rotor diameter of 270 feet (82.3 m). Collectively, the turbines are capable of producing a maximum of 320 MW, which accounts for three quarters of the wind power capacity of New York. Maple Ridge Wind Farm became fully operational in January 2006.
The wind farm is located on Tug Hill in Lewis County, New York
. The site was chosen because it lies at an elevation of 1600–1800 ft (487.7–548.6 ) and experiences strong lake-effect weather patterns from nearby Lake Ontario
. The area is used primarily as pasture
and feed-crop land.
Maple Ridge Wind Farm was named in honor of Lewis County, which is the leading maple syrup
producing county in New York.
Mixed feelings from neighbors of the Maple Ridge Wind Farm are reported.
The Maple Ridge Wind Farm was featured during the 2007 Wind Tour of Assemblyman Pete Lopez.
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with 195 Vestas
Vestas
Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. It is the largest in the world, but due to very rapid growth of its competitors, its market share decreased from 28% in 2007 to 12.5% in 2009...
model V82 1.65 MW wind turbines. Each turbine tower is 260 feet (79.2 m) tall. Each turbine has blades 130 feet (39.6 m) long, which added to the hub diameter gives a rotor diameter of 270 feet (82.3 m). Collectively, the turbines are capable of producing a maximum of 320 MW, which accounts for three quarters of the wind power capacity of New York. Maple Ridge Wind Farm became fully operational in January 2006.
The wind farm is located on Tug Hill in Lewis County, New York
Lewis County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
. The site was chosen because it lies at an elevation of 1600–1800 ft (487.7–548.6 ) and experiences strong lake-effect weather patterns from nearby Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. The area is used primarily as pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
and feed-crop land.
Maple Ridge Wind Farm was named in honor of Lewis County, which is the leading maple syrup
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is a syrup usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees, although it can also be made from other maple species such as the bigleaf maple. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then...
producing county in New York.
Mixed feelings from neighbors of the Maple Ridge Wind Farm are reported.
The Maple Ridge Wind Farm was featured during the 2007 Wind Tour of Assemblyman Pete Lopez.
External links
- OnEarth Magazine » Falling in Love with Wind
- OnEarth Podcast » Milking Wind, Instead of Cows
- Artistic documentary film about Maple Ridge Wind Farm - a video showing International Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersInternational Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersThe International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is a labor union which represents workers in the electrical industry in the United States, Canada, Panama and several Caribbean island nations; particularly electricians, or Inside Wiremen, in the construction industry and linemen and other...
members wiring up the turbines - Building the Maple Ridge Wind Farm Photographs of the turbines being off loaded at the Oswego Port Authority & shipped to Lowville.