![IMG_20140524_195347[1]](https://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/img_20140524_1953471.jpg?quality=83)
Citing an anonymous police source, the daily newspaper said the ring stole metal from wind farms in sparsely populated areas, where they had less chance of being caught.
“They cut the power to turn off the engine propeller motor,” the officer said, noting the thieves broke through the doors at the bottom of the turbines, before using the stairs to reach the engine which is located at the top – often as high as 40 metres off the ground. “By using bolt cutters and makeshift tools they then cut and ripped out the whole metal wiring, which is mostly made of copper,” he said.
The officer said a metal raid of a single wind turbine engine could amount to as much as one tonne of loot. One tonne of copper is estimated to be worth around 4,500 euros on the market.
…
According to Le Figaro, at least 20 such incidents have been recorded recently. Two successful raids and one foiled attempt were reported in March alone.
http://www.france24.com/en/20140528-france-metal-organised-thefts-wind-turbines-copper/
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I live within sight of hundreds of Tehachapi windmills. The nearest are about 3 miles away. I see them whenever I’m outside the house, I see them through my living room windows, I see them when driving to and from work. Some are Mitsubishi, some are NEC Micron, some are GE, and most of the newer ones are Vestas. Some are 1 year old, some are a few years old, and some are decades old. When the wind is calm, I have *never* seen any of them turning for whatever reason. Never. Maybe somebody makes a turbine somewhere that needs to be turned when the winds are calm, but none of them are installed here. I have seen every single one stopped dead and there is not a single one exercising its bearings.
Dan in California:
Thankyou for your interesting information in your post at May 30, 2014 at 12:50 am that says in total
I live in Cornwall, UK, which is also blighted by wind turbine subsidy farms, but all the turbines here are operated correctly.
Are there no (or very few) periods of still air in your locality?
Or
Is there a regulatory or subsidy reason for shortening turbine lives by failing to turn them in periods of prolonged still air?
Thanking you in anticipation of your answer(s)
Richard
Wind Turbine Horror – ’nuff said
IInsurance coverage cost. What new cost if the windmill no longer in service.
Insurance fraud on who might just find the illegals and send them on the cause.
Security Cost. Bank loan requirments due to this new copper problem.
I am sure the Earth First and or Greenpeace law firms know all this too.
Sub-department of the EPA,,,, “Homeland Security Windmill Division”
Lots of new H2 Hummers to drive around checking on these non operating windwaste operations.
richardscourtney says:
Are there no (or very few) periods of still air in your locality?
Or Is there a regulatory or subsidy reason for shortening turbine lives by failing to turn them in periods of prolonged still air?
Thanking you in anticipation of your answer(s)
Richard
——————————————————————
Tehachapi has a few percent better-than-average wind profile, and it’s far more random and gusty than most wind farms. At the moment the wind is 12 gusting to 18 Kt (relatively calm). I don’t have much inside information on how and why the turbines are managed, but it’s dead calm here for several hours at a time at most and they may just choose to wait rather than motor the turbines.
The airport here is geographically large and there are 5 windsocks around the airport. I have occasionally seen them pointing in 5 different directions (this is NOT GOOD when you are flying a light plane in for landing). The turbines usually point the same direction as each other but I have seen some of them disagreeing by 30 degrees or so. I know it’s going to be a windy day when I leave the house in the morning and the wind is blowing but the turbines are all locked down. The different models have different maximum speeds, but when it hits 60 Kt, none are turning. And to answer the question you haven’t asked yet, the airspeed indicator at the airport stops at 100 Kt and about twice a year it exceeds that.
“Is it a crime or civil disobedience?”
It is a public service.
Dan in California:
Thankyou for your replies which you provide form me at May 30, 2014 at 2:17 pm.
Richard