Sen. Thomas Carper signs one of the turbine's blades
as Dean Nancy Targett looks on. Photo by Tammy Beeson
U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) toured the site of the 2-megawatt wind turbine being constructed at the University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes on Friday, April 23. With the turbine’s 256-foot tower standing overhead, Carper said the project fits his vision for the region.
“I’ve been pushing to plan offshore wind farms for a number of years,” he said. “This is an important first step and will be followed by many more we hope.”
Carper — who last week joined Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) and three other U.S. Senators to introduce legislation supporting offshore wind energy — said he hopes to one day see ocean-based wind turbines spinning off Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Carper showed his support for the Lewes campus turbine by signing one of the machine’s 144-foot blades together with several project leaders, including UD College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment Dean Nancy Targett and professors Jeremy Firestone and Willett Kempton.
The blades, which are each about the length of 3-1/2 school buses end-to-end, were affixed to the turbine Monday and Tuesday. The 160,000-pound nacelle, which houses mechanical and electrical components, as well as the hub were attached to the tower last week.
The effort is spearheaded by UD and Gamesa Technology Corporation Inc., with the City of Lewes and Sustainable Energy Developments Inc. as key partners. In addition to providing carbon-free electricity generation, the project will enhance research in areas such as turbine corrosion, avian impacts, and policy issues related to renewable energy. Information gained from the project is expected to help the university and Gamesa establish the first offshore wind turbine in the Americas in 2011 or 2012.
Construction photos and other information about the project can be found at www.ceoe.udel.edu/LewesTurbine.
For more about UD’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, visit www.ceoe.udel.edu.