White Co. wind farm on target

WHITE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Construction is right on schedule for phase one of the wind farm near Chalmers.

But Horizon Wind Energy Project Manager Martin Culik said the very reason why they're building the farm can make construction a little tricky.

When it's windy, which is the very heartbeat of a wind farm, there can actually be delays in the construction process.

Culik said when it's more than 22 mph, no steel structures will go up.

Residents could see wind turbines spinning on the Meadow Lake Wind Farm in White County as early as September.

Senior Site Project Manager Alvin Cargill said the 350 men and women, most of whom are local, working on phase one of the $1.2 billion project have it right on target.

"We've got, approximately 46 turbines erected. All of the foundations are in. All of the collection lines, by the end of the week they'll be all trenched in," said Cargill.

The White County wind farm will be built in four phases.

Project Manager Martin Culik said it's expected to power 60,000 homes.

"We're expecting to have completion of all the phases in White County by June of 2011. So, two years out, we'll be complete here in White County. That'll be 600 megawatts," said Culik.

But a wind farm is not the county's only gain; Culik said the move is good for economic development as well.

"We're also paying significant economic development payments to the White County for use locally. There's significant employment here, not only during construction, but during the next 30 years of operations. I think it also gives people here in Indiana a feeling that they're helping out with energy security for the country," said Culik.

Culik said phase one will be complete by October 31.

He said sometime after 2011 work will begin on the wind farm in Benton County.