A wind farm in the Village of Halkirk region was stood down Nov. 8 after a nacelle and rotor fell from one of the towers.
Tricia Johnston, director, communications and community engagement for Capital Power confirmed the facility was stood down that day after the incident. The incident occurred at the Halkirk 2 facility owned and operated by Capital Power.
“There was an incident at the Halkirk 2 Wind facility,” stated a Nov. 8 email from Johnston. “At approximately 7:22 a.m. MT on Nov. 8, 2024, an incident occurred at the Capital Power Halkirk 2 Wind Facility in Paintearth County, Alta.
“The nacelle and rotor at one of the turbines (T33) fell from the tower. There are no injuries or damage to public property.
“In response, a full site-wide safety stand-down has been implemented with the remainder of the H2 turbines not operating, and the site has been secured.
“As a precautionary measure, the area around each tower is being secured and an investigation is underway.”
Capital Power has an existing facility nearby, Halkirk 1, with facility 2 planned to be operational any day.
According to Capital Power’s website, “Capital Power’s Halkirk 2 Wind (H2) project is under construction and expected to be operational in late 2024. The project is located on privately owned land about 5 kilometres (km) north of our existing Halkirk 1 Wind facility in the County of Paintearth.
“It’s quite the journey from manufacturing to operation! The wind turbine components (blades, five tower sections, hub and nacelle) were manufactured in India, Vietnam and China, shipped to the Port of Houston, Texas and Port of Vancouver, Wash. then transported to Oyen, Alta. and lastly trucked via oversize load approximately 210 km directly to the turbine site where they’re assembled in place.”
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
