You might think Mother Nature does not much like wind turbines and their maintenance crews. Consider that strong winds, essential to power production, present a danger to those working at height. Ice is hazardous on blades because it adds weight that strains them and it ruins a turbine’s power output. Lightning, however, is the biggest…

North Dakota’s flat plains and strong, steady winds make it ideal for wind farms. But this part of the country is especially susceptible to extreme weather conditions. Summer brings the threat of lightning strikes to the 300-foot tall turbines and brutally cold temperatures are commonplace in winter. The Langdon Wind Energy Center operates a 133-turbine…