Adair Wind Farm and Info Center, IA

Adair Wind Farm and Info Center – I-80 Rest Stop, north side (east of Adair, west of Casey)


Iowa has become the one of the leading states for renewable energy, having positioned itself number one for wind generated electricity. In 2012, Iowa had an installed wind generated electricity percent capacity of ~29.9%, placing it ahead of Illinois (~19.1%), and Texas (~15.1%). The 3690 MegaWatt wind power generation by Iowa in 2012 is only exceeded by California and Texas.The Adair Wind Farm (part of the Rolling Hills Project) has over 250 wind turbines that can be spotted on both sides of the I-80 as you travel through Iowa.

With 3198 total (as of 2012 year-end) wind turbines in Iowa, the likelihood of spotting one when in Iowa is almost assured. The Adair Wind Farm has Seimens wind turbines. Each turbine blade is half a football field in length (153 feet) with the hub towering almost a full football field (262 feet) above the ground. Seimens wind turbine specs as follows;

model = Siemens
capacity = 2.3 MW
blade length = 46.5 m (153 ft)
hub ht = 80 m (262 ft)
total ht = 126.5 m (415 ft)
area swept by blades = 6,793 m2 (1.68 acres)
rpm range = 6-16


For additional information, check out the following;

http://www.iowawindenergy.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Iowa

http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-farm-2984.php

http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_resource_maps.asp?stateab=ia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbine_design

http://www.aweo.org/windmodels.html

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/39545

2018-07-14 HAZ_Hikebot