A “wiring anomaly” was blamed for the collapse earlier this month of a wind turbine near Altona, N.Y., according to Noble Environmental Power, the operator of the wind park.
The 1.5 megawatt turbine, made by General Electric, broke apart on March 6th, and caused a small fire on the ground, as seen in this video from the local NBC affiliate, WPTZ.
According to press reports, the park had experienced a power outage at the time, but two of the 65 turbines malfunctioned and continued to spin at speeds faster than the machines are designed to sustain — until one eventually collapsed.
Two of the state’s largest developers of wind power agreed Thursday to follow a new, stringent code of conduct created by the Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been investigating the companies over allegations that they bribed and intimidated local officials to approve wind projects.
By agreeing to follow the code of conduct, the companies, Noble Environmental Power and First Wind, agreed not to hire or give gifts to local officials responsible for approving wind power projects. The companies also agreed not to compensate the relatives of officials involved in deciding the fate of wind power installations, which have become a major source of income in many upstate communities.
In July, the attorney general’s office began investigating a growing number of complaints from community groups, individuals and district attorneys in upstate towns where wind farms were either built or being developed. No one has been prosecuted as a result of the investigation. But Mr. Cuomo expects that the Wind Industry Ethics Code will stem abuses and threats in communities where wind power companies are eager to install turbines and wind mills.
Mr. Cuomo expects other wind power companies will agree to follow the code of conduct as well.