April 8, 200619 yr Hopefully, all these studies will bring about actual construction and not-as seems to happen too often-just more studies. Utility-Scale Wind Monitoring Commences on Eastern Rim of Cuyahoga Valley Monday, February 27, 2006 Is it windy enough in Cuyahoga Falls to generate electricity? The City will soon find out. http://www.techfutures.net/2006/02/utility-scale-wind-monitoring.html
May 2, 200619 yr Drove by Great Lake Science Center today. There is a crane there putting in place what looks like the base of the pole for the wind turbine.
May 3, 200619 yr Drove by Great Lake Science Center today. There is a crane there putting in place what looks like the base of the pole for the wind turbine. Finally! It was supposed to be up in November.
May 3, 200619 yr Anyone got a picture yet? Too bad MayDay's on vacation-his office seems like it'd have the primo view. :-)
May 4, 200619 yr It's done! (Mostly.) I went to a small non-press conference they had for the hanging of the nacelle and blades. Some random details that I learned: * The blades will be locked until all the inside electrical work (inside the GLSC) and some trenching, etc. is completed. I heard 2 weeks, but someone from the engineering side told me 4 weeks was a better bet. * The tower is 103 ft., the blades reach as high as 147 ft. * Diameter of the blades' arc is 84 ft * The height of the turbine's blades is 13 ft shorter than the Browns Stadium * The turbine was erected around 1989 in (I think) Denmark. It was refurbished for this location. Denmark has wind power credits not only for putting up turbines, but for taking down smaller, less efficient ones like this one. * Apparently, when figuring out how tall they could go with a turbine, it turned out that the FAA didn't have the Browns Stadium or the Rock Hall on their maps. Nice. * They wanted the turbine further west on the grassy area, but it conflicted with the Burnham Plan, apparently, it was too much in the axis of the Malls. Here are a couple of crappy photos from my camera phone:
May 4, 200619 yr I'm glad to see this going up, but I'm a little disappointed to learn that our "state of the art" (my words) wind turbine is actually a decommissioned Danish castoff. We have a long way to go, I guess.
May 5, 200619 yr I understand. But before you get too bummed, consider this. Cleveland-based Parker Hannifin Corp. is a partner in this project with the GLSC (that's why I was invited to the thing yesterday, my magazine covers hydraulics, which is Parker's core business). One of the main Parker guys said that this was going to be a true test bed ... sounds like they'll occasionally rip out some of the guts of the thing and replace them with next generation fluid power controlled components. Parker is working on this very seriously, and they have some (laboratory-type) test beds for wind turbines somewhere near Marysville. So, think of this "castoff" as a huge experiment. It could help create bigger and more efficient wind turbines worldwide. On another note, I asked if this was the largest wind turbine in an urban/downtown setting, and I was told yes -- in the U.S. But I guess Toronto has one or several near the CN tower on the lakeshore. News to me! Also, there are maybe 60 or more wind turbines going up somewhere east of Port Stanley (if I remember the conversation that I overheard correctly) on the north side of Lake Erie. I'd love to get a line of them in the middle of the Lake opposite downtown Cleveland, I think it would be visually stunning -- and position Cleveland as a true 21st century city.
May 5, 200619 yr port stanley always makes me laugh because of its proposed lake erie ferry endpoint that never seems to get off the ground
May 5, 200619 yr Baby steps... I wonder how they can say that a wind turbine would conflict with the group plan, but Browns Stadium doesn't...wtf?
May 5, 200619 yr Great to hear that there will be some true innovation occuring around the turbine. I saw it last night, and it looks great, too. I can't wait to see more dotting our landscape. I've even warmed up to the idea of putting them in the lake.
May 6, 200619 yr I've warmed up as well to putting them along the lake. Originally I didn't see the value in the statement it could create, but now I feel it would add a lot of value from a statement standpoint. (BTW I don't know if my posts tonight have made much sense, because since I've finished with exams I have been drinking pretty steadily/heavily).
May 7, 200619 yr As this turbine at the GLSC grows closer to completion, has anyone heard what the public art component of this project might be? I know that Cleveland Public Art had a competition (mentioned earlier in this thread, I think), but I never heard about a selection or saw any renderings from the winner. Just wondering...
May 8, 200619 yr Baby steps... I wonder how they can say that a wind turbine would conflict with the group plan, but Browns Stadium doesn't...wtf? Well, walking into work this morning across Mall B, it's pretty obvious. The sightlines on either side of the Malls extend all the way out to the lake. If you extend the edges of the Malls, the Browns stadium sits on the western edge, while the new turbine site on the eastern edge. I think they didn't want anything in between these imaginary lines, interrupting the beautiful water view.
May 9, 200619 yr ^anything like a honkin huge stack of ORANGE stadium seating? I know...a gripe for another thread... To make up for it, I'll go by the site today and take a few pics!
May 24, 200619 yr ^ It blends in really well against the Rock Hall and Science Center. They should add a few more. :)
May 24, 200619 yr Apparently the "go ahead" for the turbine to actually turn on will be the morning of June 9th ... unfortunately, a day I'll be at Cedar Point!
June 8, 200619 yr Details are now on the GLSC website ... check out: http://www.glsc.org/visit/upcoming.php?id=298 ...if you can stand the horribly annoying music!
June 8, 200619 yr Details are now on the GLSC website ... check out: http://www.glsc.org/visit/upcoming.php?id=298 ...if you can stand the horribly annoying music! My nephew and I love that music! :-P
June 9, 200619 yr "That's the No. 1 problem we face today in getting this industry started," Musial said. "Visual pollution is preventing the country from embracing them." I never got this argument about visual pollution. Yes, they are big towers with spinning blades on them, but does placing them on some grassy hill in the middle of the country side really foul up the visual aesthetic that badly? If it does, keep walking. I'm sure there's an identical grassy hill or two on the other side of the one with the turbine. Turbines are just cool to me. I'd personally be thrilled if they planted one in my neighborhood. I'm not suggesting they stick one on top of Mt. Rushmore, but there's plenty of places where the integrity of the visual fabric could survive a few turbines.
June 9, 200619 yr "My nephew and I love that music!" No offense but do you and he suffer from some sort of disorder? Maybe I-love-minimalist-casio-keyboard-crap-itis? Whatever the web designer was drinking or smoking when they decided "yeah! this music's PERFECT!", I want some! :drunk: clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 9, 200619 yr I never got this argument about visual pollution. Me neither. One thing also surprises me is how few people know what the hell a wind turbine is. When they ask what a wind turbine is, I reply "It's just a turbine driven by the wind." What's a turbine? they ask. Um, OK, a turbine is like a motor, but instead of using energy, it generates it. The more accurate description is that it's a rotary machine that captures the kinetic energy of a liquid or gas (like water or air). I guess no one knows what a sawmill or a windmill is anymore (or a hydroelectric power plant for crying out loud). Stop watching American Idol, OK folks? And switch over to freakin' the Discovery Channel :-( "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 9, 200619 yr "Stop watching American Idol, OK folks? And switch over to freakin' the Discovery Channel" Sorry, I'm devoted to America's Next Top Model (FAR more redeeming than American Idol, imho) but even I know what a turbine is (and does), and how a windmill functions, thankyouverymuch. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 9, 200619 yr Don't apologize. If someone can walk and chew gum at the same time, way to go! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 11, 200619 yr Saw the turbine spinning for the first time yesterday. It's cooler than I thought! I was suprised by how far away you can see it from coming to the city from east side on I-90. I think I had just past East 55th when I saw it spinning. Now I want more! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
June 11, 200619 yr "My nephew and I love that music!" No offense but do you and he suffer from some sort of disorder? Maybe I-love-minimalist-casio-keyboard-crap-itis? Whatever the web designer was drinking or smoking when they decided "yeah! this music's PERFECT!", I want some! :drunk: We love it in an off beat sort of way. I mean its so annoying....you can't help but remember it! Besides he's only ten. He loves the GLSC...for now. Its only a matter of time before he "discovers" girls :| like his older brother. Stop watching American Idol, OK folks? And switch over to freakin' the Discovery Channel :-( The discovery channel is very very cool but TLC and HGTV are cool channels as well. I love AI...Simon is my hero! However, it's all about Gordon Ramsay from "hell's kitchen" on Fox, he's got to be the evilest bitch on the planet - love him.
July 17, 200618 yr Cleveland Public Art put out a press release last week regarding the art component for the wind turbine. I am dissappointed. you can read about it here: http://clevelandplanner.blogspot.com/2006/07/windworks-is-coming-to-science-center.html
July 17, 200618 yr on a side note..could someone please powerwash the GL Science Center's IMAX exterior?
August 8, 200618 yr From Crain's: Wind turbines top task force agenda By JAY MILLER 6:00 am, August 7, 2006 Cuyahoga County commissioners plan to unveil this week a regional energy task force that will investigate alternative energy sources. Commissioner Tim Hagan said the task force’s first order of business would be to investigate putting wind turbines in Lake Erie. Mr. Hagan said several private companies have expressed an interest in building a wind farm but that first a variety of legal issues must be sorted out. County Prosecutor Bill Mason will lead the task force. Mr. Hagan said the task force also will look into purchasing hybrid vehicles for the county.
August 8, 200618 yr Great find, Mister Good Day! I really think this is a step in the right direction; hopefully, this taskforce will have some teeth and actually address alternative energy issues. Anyone know who all is serving on it? In a semi-related note, I recently attended a city branding session at a national arts conference. One of the panel participants presented on how Milwaukee civic leaders had worked to establish a city logo. The group ultimately chose the rather striking wings on top of the Milwaukee Museum of Art. They also worked to make sure that those wings showed up all over the damn place: on prominent websites, in national ad campaigns (in the background of an Accura ad, for example), and in the communications of major players like their CVB. It got me thinking about what Cleveland's single identifier would be; I can't help but think that the wind turbine, given its novelty in an urban setting, simple design and its positive "green" spin would be the best choice. I certainly think it would be in line with efforts to promote Cleveland's attention toward a new economy. Dunno ... think I just have a little graphic design fever this morning.
August 8, 200618 yr Is this what you're talking about? (maybe we should start a city branding thread...)
August 8, 200618 yr Yep. But it's showing up in tourist-oriented websites all over the place, thanks to their concerted efforts. Here's another: http://www.milwaukee.org/. I'm all about a city branding thread ... Will finally give me a chance to design a spec logo for Cleveland. :-D
August 14, 200618 yr Wind-power firm aims to blow into NE Ohio By JAY MILLER 6:00 am, August 14, 2006 A renewable-energy services firm is planning a move to Northeast Ohio. Bryan Starry, site manager for JW Prairie Windpower LLC, told the first meeting of the Cuyahoga Regional Energy Development Task Force that his firm believes the region has great potential for wind turbine installations. Juwi, JW Prairie Windpower’s Germany-based parent company, has solar and wind power installations in more than 35 locations around the world. Mr. Starry told the task force the company is interested in a local office because it believes the region has the potential to support a significant wind power industry.
August 14, 200618 yr I know that the Cleveland Foundation is putting significant funding towards helping create a green industries cluster in Cleveland. I also heard that the ethanol plant (i believe that's it) that takes old pop and turns it into fuel will be leaving Medina county and taking up shop somewhere in Cuyahoga county in the near future.
August 15, 200618 yr knowledge is power man. according to economist paul romer, economic growth is all about knowledge sharing and innovation. the wind speed data coming off the tower on the water intake crib (a wise investment by gund & geo) represents knowledge sharing which is finally proving to be economic development http://www.clevelandcrib.org/ when you consider the facts about off shore wind farms in other parts of the world. the best technology is only able to stand in 200 feet of water, ideally no more than a few miles off shore. a shallow lake certainly has it's advantages. check out the local company that is revolutionizing wind turbine design: Green Energy Technologies http://gcbl.org/economy/sustainable-business/sustainable-business-green-energy-technologies-inc
August 15, 200618 yr ^Through some searching on the web I was able to find Green Energy Technology's website.. This has more information about their wind spire and cool diagrams.. http://www.getsmartenergy.com/index-1.html Not surprising to me at least, its an Akron-based company. I can almost visualize a couple perched at the Inventor's HOF grabbing winds off the sail
September 18, 200618 yr past presents future ....... http://www.windustrious.com/ via http://realneo.us
October 1, 200618 yr First I heard about this. Intersting - I can't imagine what building they would put it on. From today's PD: A spire built to inspire Is this the future breezing into town? Sunday, October 01, 2006 Chris Sheridan Plain Dealer Columnist
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