Wind turbine collapses at Happy Jack wind site near Cheyenne, Wyoming

A wind turbine collapsed on 23 February 2022 at the Happy Jack wind site west of Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is run by Duke Energy. The site has 14 turbines and has operated since 2008, supplying power to Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power, a division of Black Hills Energy. No injuries were reported. At the time of reporting, roughly two weeks after the collapse, Duke Energy said the cause of the failure remained unknown and under investigation. The company said it had notified the appropriate agencies and was working with its engineering team and a third-party engineering firm on clean-up. Debris, consisting mainly of steel and fibreglass, was being cleared methodically in line with state and other regulatory requirements, with the aim of restoring the area to its original condition.

Not reported; the cause of the turbine failure was still under investigation at the time of the report.

1. Operators should have a documented, methodical debris removal and site restoration plan ready to activate immediately after a turbine failure.
2. Engaging an independent third-party engineering firm alongside internal teams supports a more credible failure investigation.
3. Prompt notification of relevant regulatory agencies after a structural failure helps ensure compliance and transparency even before a root cause is determined.

News report via Google News