After about a bit more than a century Cleveland will soon have its second (*see the first here: http://www.windpower.org/en/pictures/brush.htm [1] ) substantial wind powered electrical generator. The pre-owned Danish-made Vestas turbine will stand on its 100+ foot high tower centered in the front lawn of the Great Lakes Science Center, just east of, and next to, Browns Stadium. The foundation for the tower has just been installed.
This will be the first “modern” wind turbine in Cleveland, although much smaller (225kw) than the 2 megawatt + turbines in present commercial wind farm installations. Almost everyone who visits the Browns, the GLSC, the ore ship Mather, and the R & R hall of fame – as well as everyone in downtown Cleveland - will see and experience the turbine. Since the tower will be in a far from an ideal location for producing power from the wind - because of the poor location in the lee of the Brown’s stadium (prevailing winds are from the SW) - it will be up to the GLSC to demonstrate the true potential of the latest generation of wind turbines when placed optimally.
To experience more modern turbines, visit the 20 GE 1.5mw turbines in Fenner, New York (off the NY Thruway near Syracuse) or the 4 Vestas 1.8mw turbines in Bowling Green, Ohio (south of Toledo).