Wind Turbines

Bowling Green is home to Ohio’s first utility-sized wind farm. There are four turbines that are 257 feet tall. These turbines, that are as tall as a 30-story building, generate up to 7.2 megawatts of power—enough to supply electricity for some 3,000 residents. Located about six miles from the city, the turbines can be seen for miles and have become a local attraction.

Each blade on these turbines is 134 feet long and weighs 22,000 pounds. The entire rotor which includes three blades is 77,175 pounds! The blade speed is 16.8 rotations per minute, so the speed at the tip of each blade is 178 miles per hour!!

They begin producing energy when the wind speed reaches 9 miles per hour, and there is peak energy production at 32 miles per hour.

At the site, a solar-powered kiosk provides information from visitors including current information on wind speeds and the amount of energy being produced by the turbines.

The first two turbines were dedicated on November 7, 2003, and the second two turbines were dedicated on November 19, 2004.

Source: www.bgohio.org/electric/turbines.html