Turbines shut down in 80 mph winds

One day prior to the official start of commercial operations, the Palouse Wind farm shut down when strong winds were recorded on the Naff Ridge site between Oakesdale and Rosalia.

Sustained winds of more than 80 miles an hour forced all 58 turbines to automically shut down to prevent damage, according to Shawn Elston, wind farm support specialist for First Wind.

“There’s a lot of expensive equipment inside those hubs,” said Elston. “We don’t want the wind to turn things too fast or things start to break down.”

The turbines are designed to operate in winds between 6.7 and 45 miles per hour. Mon...