WINDMILL REPAIR UPDATE
A CITY INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
by Jackie Devereaux   January 29, 2009

Palm Springs, CA – City officials continue to investigate and keep tabs on how a Florida power company is meeting requirements for repairing their damaged and malfunctioning windmills here.

City officials met Jan. 21 with representatives from Florida Power and Light (FPL), to continue their investigation and dialogues with the company over an abatement process started last fall over the poor condition of its wind turbines.

The city of Palm Springs annexed the land north of I-10 from Riverside county approximately 10 years ago, and the county later issued a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to FPL to construct, operate and maintain its windmill farm.  Two other windmill companies, Wintec and AES, both with local offices also operate wind turbines within Palm Springs jurisdiction, said Craig Ewing, Planning Services Director.

FPL operates out of Juno, Florida and changed the name of their operating branch of the Palm Springs location in January to NextEra Energy Resources (NER), according to FPL spokesman, Steven Stengel.

FPL or NER crews allegedly took down the signage on Wintec’s property without informing the company of their actions first, irritating locals within the windmill industry.  FPL constructed the Eiffel  Tower style windmills on Wintec’s property, and NER crews operate and maintains these windmills seen north of I-10 and Indian Avenue.  City officials say they have no control or requirements for signage and are not concerned about the missing sign issue.

“We are still working with them (FPL/NER) to make sure they operate cleanly and within established time lines,” Ewing said.  “We are reviewing the information they’ve provided us and still have an investigation.”  However, Ewing added that he believes the company is committed and cooperative with reasonable and established time lines. 

“Our discussions with the city centered around updating them on our maintenance activities,” Stengel said in a written response by emails to this reporter’s inquiries. 

“We are making good progress with our work and are on track to meet our commitment to the City which is to have all our turbines with the City of Palm Springs operational by month end June 2009,” the FPL written response continued.

“We also have met with representatives from the City within the last month to discuss our progress to date and plan going forward.

“Also, I think it is important to remember the City of Palm Springs is looking at all wind turbine operators to ensure they too are performing the necessary maintenance activities on turbines they own and operate.  This more than just a NextEra Resources issues.  So it might be interesting for you and your readers to reach out to some of the other operators,” FPL/NER emails said.

However, Ewing said that the city is not investigating Wintec or AES at this time.  Only FPL/NER is in the abatement process.  FPL/NER owns and operates approximately 60 wind turbines in question.  It’s astonishing that there is a reported 40 percent that are malfunctioning, in disrepair, or need maintenance.