Planned detonation removes damaged blade at Cross Winds wind farm
2026Published 28 Sept 2026
- Where
- Cross Winds Energy Park near Akron, Tuscola County, Michigan
- Operator
- Consumers Energy
- What
- Damaged blade removed by planned detonation
- Cause
- Believed lightning strike several months earlier
Companies named in this entry: Consumers Energy
What happened
A damaged wind turbine blade at the Cross Winds Energy Park near Akron in Tuscola County, Michigan, was removed by planned detonation on a Sunday evening. The site is operated by Consumers Energy. The blade had been damaged several months earlier and had been making noise when windy. Residents in the rural area had been notified in advance via social media that the detonation would take place between noon and 6 p.m., although the blast occurred later. The loud report was heard across the surrounding area.
Contributing factors
The blade is believed to have been damaged by a lightning strike several months earlier.
Lessons learned
- A lightning damaged blade left in place for months produced noise in wind, so operators should remove such blades without delay to avoid nuisance and further failure.
- Controlled detonation of a blade at height needs timed notice to residents, as the blast occurred later than stated and was heard across the area.
Not yet known
- Confirmed cause of the damage
- Turbine model and age
- Length of downtime
- Cost of the removal
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Source
Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.