Willmar Brings Down Inoperable Wind Turbines

(Learfield News/Willmar, MN) Willmar’s two wind turbines are coming down, having been inoperable since 2024. But, faulty explosives used to do so only brought down the south tower, leaving the north standing.

While waiting for more explosives, Kevin Marti of Willmar Municipal Utilities says crews are dismantling and recycling debris from the south tower, saying “They’re already cutting the steel tubes and removing equipment, pulling the place apart. In the near future, they’ll start working on the concrete foundation. They’ll be removing those in their entirety.”

The land will be returned to the Willmar School District.

The wind turbines were put up in 2008, north of Willmar High School, in an effort to reduce the utility’s carbon footprint, but were plagued with mechanical problems.