NextEra Plans To Begin ‘Repowering’ Steele Flats Wind Farm

By Gordon HopkinsNextEra Energy, the company that owns and operates the Steele Flats Wind Farm in Jefferson and Gage counties, is looking to upgrade the existing turbines, a project called “repowering.” On Friday, February 16, 2024, Jefferson County Commissioner Mark Schoenrock and John McKee met with representatives of NextEra. Schoenrock discussed the matter at the commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, February 27, “They gave us a general update. So, what they’re planning to do, they’re calling it a repowering agreement.”Schoenrock said, “They’re going to inspect the bases and the towers. They said they’re going to replace the blades out there on these towers. And I guess this is something they do with their projects that are approximately 10 years old.” The Steele Flats Wind Farm consists of 44 wind turbines and was commissioned in November 2013.Repowering means upgrading of existing power plants or installations by replacing older turbines, blades and other parts with more modern ones that are more powerful, which can increase the power produced. This can include increasing the height of the turbines. No specifics about any changes to the turbines have been decided at this juncture. The project will involve the existing turbines only. No new wind towers will be added. Schoenrock emphasized the work will comply with the special use permit that was issued in 2013, “So, it’s very, very project specific. And it does not in any way, shape or form apply to any other developments.”Schoenrock said, “The project is supposed to take place here in the early fall. It looks like it’s going to take about two to three months for them to complete that repowering project.”Schoenrock also noted that roads were discussed with NextEra, “One of the things that we talked to them about, they’re going to have a lot of heavy trucks out there at the steel Flats project. And so we want to make sure that we have an agreement in place with them to make sure that our roads will be left in as good as, if not better, condition after they’re out there with that heavy equipment.” One concern commissioners have is the roads. Cleanup of the Mills Creek oil spill left Jefferson County roads in dire need of repair. Negotiations with TC Energy, the company that owns and operates the Keystone pipeline, to replace the road took months. Schoenrock would like to avoid a repeat of that and have an agreement in place before work begins.Another change to Steele Flats will be the familiar red flashing lights.“They’re also going to change out the lighting system from blinking red lights at night. They’re going to change it out to the aircraft tech,” said Schoenrock. “Those are the lights that only activate if an aircraft gets within a certain distance of the towers.”NextEra indicated a public statement will be issued in the near future.

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