Grand Bend area wind turbine reportedly damaged by severe thunderstorms Aug. 2, 2015 (submitted photo)Grand Bend area wind turbine reportedly damaged by severe thunderstorms Aug. 2, 2015 (submitted photo)
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Nextera Investigating Storm Related Turbine Failure

Nextera Energy is trying to determine why one of its wind turbines in the Grand Bend area failed in severe thunderstorms Sunday night.

The company says one of 63 turbines at its Goshen Wind Project, on Kirkton Rd., had a blade snap off.

There was intense lightning in the storms and Environment Canada reported a wind gust at Grand Bend reached 110 km/h around 8pm August 2.

Nextera spokesperson Josie Bird says the turbines have wind speed and lightning sensors that typically guard against damage by automatically shutting down the spinning blades.

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Bird says agencies including the electricity system operator were notified of the failure.

She says all of the other turbines at the site are operational.

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