When you're building a wind farm, wind is kind of the point, until you're trying to fly a blade hundreds of feet in the air.
At the MulQueeney wind project in California, Mountain recently reached a major milestone with the completion of the final turbine in a 19-tower Vestas V136 project. Spread across the California hills, the turbines stand approximately 261 feet to the top flange and were erected using a single-blade installation method, requiring each blade to be individually lifted and precisely positioned at height.
Getting all 19 towers standing required a combination of heavy lifting equipment, careful coordination and the ability to adapt to whatever the jobsite had in store.
The project brought together an impressive lineup of equipment, including the Liebherr LR 11000, LTR 1220, LTM 1750-9.1, RT cranes and additional equipment. Together, these cranes were utilized throughout the site as work progressed across the 19 turbine locations.
High winds created recurring delays during erection, particularly when flying blades. Crews had to work within acceptable weather windows, adjusting operations as conditions changed while continuing to move the project forward.
The California terrain presented its own challenges. With turbines positioned at different elevations throughout the site, moving equipment and executing lifts required planning that accounted for the unique conditions at each tower location.
The local wildlife kept things interesting, too. A professional rattlesnake handler was kept on site to safely remove rattlesnakes that made their way into active work areas. When one was spotted, work in the area stopped until the handler could safely relocate it, an unusual but necessary part of keeping operations moving safely in the California hills.
Between varying terrain, unpredictable winds and the occasional rattlesnake, MulQueeney was a project that kept crews on their toes from start to finish.
At peak activity, approximately 110 to 120 people were working across the MulQueeney site. Coordinating that many people, multiple cranes and support equipment across 19 turbine locations made communication and planning an important part of keeping the project moving.
The project also provided an opportunity to work alongside local craft labor, including Iron Workers and Operating Engineers. As part of the PWA project, Mountain worked with local craft laborers to provide hands-on experience, training and opportunities to advance their skills while working on a large-scale wind project. That experience not only supported the work at MulQueeney but also helped prepare local workers for future opportunities on similar projects throughout the area.
The installation of the final three blades marked the completion of the project's primary erection scope, but work wasn't quite finished. The LTM 1750 remained on site for additional work on another turbine, including removing the blades and hub to complete drivetrain alignment work before putting the turbine back together.
With the final turbine complete, the MulQueeney project was a strong example of what careful planning, experienced crews and teamwork can accomplish, even when the conditions make every lift a challenge.
Cameron Alexander, Mountain’s Vice President of Wind, said the team behind the work is what ultimately makes projects like Mulqueeney successful.
“I take pride in what we do, but it’s also the people who are helping us achieve these goals and strategies,” Alexander said. “Those guys’ boots on the ground really do it for us.”
Wind, terrain and the unexpected all brought their share of challenges to MulQueeney. Completing a project of this scale required the right equipment, detailed planning and the ability to adjust when conditions changed. After 19 towers and countless lifts, watching the final blades rise into place represented the culmination of months of work across the California hills. For a project built around the power of wind, it's only fitting that the wind kept things interesting until the very end.
But in the end, Mountain got the job done, one tower, one lift and one blade at a time.
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