Mario Contreras Jr. died in the incident that was reported just after 11 a.m. Wednesday in an area west of Highway 62, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health reported Contreras fell 100 feet near 59-967 16th Avenue and his death is under investigation.

Safety Injury California

“Attorneys for our non-profit, Backcountry Against Dumps (“Backcountry”), informed us yesterday that the FAA GRANTED our Petition for Review and vacated its previous approval of the Campo Wind Project,” Tisdale told ECM in an email Dec. 4. “This means the Campo Wind Project cannot be built unless and until the FAA issues a new approval.

Safety USA California

An “avian incident” sparked a fire at one of California’s biggest solar farms, affecting 1,200 acres and knocking out 84% of the California Valley Solar Ranch’s generating capacity.

Impact on Birds Safety California

About 5:50 p.m., Palm Springs police said that 19th Avenue between McLane Street and Karen Drive was closed because a windmill was spinning out of control.

Safety Structural Failure California

The dream of Morro Bay as a new hub of offshore renewable energy production in California could be over before it even gets its sea legs — or it could just be ramping up. ...State and San Luis Obispo County leaders say they’ve been informed the Navy will likely recommend against building potential wind farms off the coast of Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, something that could effectively sink hopes for the North Coast to be a new hub of renewable energy.

Offshore Wind Safety California

PG&E wants the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Francisco to rule whether the company must honor $42 billion worth of contracts with about 350 different energy suppliers, mostly solar and wind plants. The court’s decision could have a major impact on California’s renewable energy industry and power makeup.

Legal Safety California

Three Ocotillo residents went before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

Safety Structural Failure California

Siemens conducted a “preliminary root cause analysis,” which showed that the machine had “cracks in the structural member of the interior of the blade” (specifically, the shear web). In turn, over time, the blade failed and then struck the tower, which then collapsed.

Safety Structural Failure California

Both this project and Siemens have a history of serious problems, however, leading to questions of whether federal or state oversight is needed to protect public safety. Ocotillo Wind, built by Pattern Energy, previously had a wind turbine fire in January 2015 and an 11-ton blade hurled off onto a public trail in May 2013, among other mechanical failures,  as we reported at the time. 

Safety Structural Failure California

The Oak Creek area east of Tehachapi saw a quick response from KCFD on June 25 after a wind turbine started a grass fire.

Safety Structural Failure California

The fire was on "the motor of a high windmill," and burning debris was falling to the ground, according to CalFire. As of 7:20 p.m., the windmill was almost completely burned on top.

Safety Structural Failure California

An out of control wind turbine has caused a road closure in Mojave.

Safety Structural Failure California

It may cost Rim of the World Unified School District somewhere between $22,000 and $53,000 to satisfy state concerns about the structural integrity of the four steel poles supporting Rim of the World High School's wind turbines.

Safety Structural Failure California

Response by Donna Tisdale to Supervisor Dave Roberts’ opinion published in East County Magazine

Impact on Landscape Safety California

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, said Imperial County Fire Chief Tony Rouhotas, and it may be some time before the cause is determined.

Safety Structural Failure California

Allen was never made aware of the existence of the tower by Bouldin Farming Company, and it was clear he never saw it before he struck it. Allen's death isn't the first time an agricultural aviator has had a fatal collision with an unmarked and unlit MET during daytime operations. An analysis of FAA and NTSB accident data by the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) shows that 10 fatal agricultural aircraft accidents in the past 14 years (2000–2013) involved collisions with towers—including three with unmarked MET towers.

Legal Safety California

A brochure has been sent to residents of Lucerne Valley and parts of rural Apple Valley looking to gain support against two planned wind farms.

Impact on People Safety California

The turbines at Iberdrola’s Locust Ridge project were made by Gamesa,  Gamesa has had numerous wind turbine fires, including the turbine fire at the Kumeyaay Wind facility in Campo, as ECM reported.  Our story also recounted Gamesa’s troubled history of wind turbine fires elsewhere.

Safety California

The Kumeyaay Wind farm that supplies electricity to San Diego has been idled indefinitely after a fire heavily damaged one its 25 turbines, officials at the Campo Indian Reservation said Tuesday.

Safety Structural Failure California

Yesterday’s (Dec 16) explosion and brush fire sparked by a Gamesa wind turbine owned by Infigen at the Kumeyaay Wind facility in Campo, California has ignited new questions about the safety of wind turbines in this fire-prone region, where several of the worst wildfires in California history have previously scorched hundreds of thousands of acres.

Safety Structural Failure California