Kirkwood wind turbine now generating power

Kirkwood Community College's wind turbine is now in operation and generating electricity. Taking roughly a month to build the tower sections and attach the rotor assembly, it took more than another week to commission the 417-foot tall, $5.2 million structure.

Each blade weighs 30,000 pounds, and on top of the cylindrical base is the nacelle, weighing 310,000 pounds on its own. The blades have a 96-meter circumference.

The power from the turbine will be sold to Alliant Energy, generating about $300,000 a year for the college.

Students in Kirkwood's Energy Production & Distribution Technologies program will use the turbine as a learning laboratory. If a technician from Clipper needs to come fix any part of the turbine, students will work alongside that person. Students will also help with the turbine's maintenance every six months.