Although Xcel Energy's portion of the Ponnequin Wind Farm discontinued operations on December 31, 2015, this page has been kept "as-written" for historical value and general interest. Ponnequin generated electrical power from the wind. The site, located on the plains of eastern Colorado just south of the Wyoming state border near Cheyenne, consisted of 44 wind turbines and could generate 30 megawatts of electricity.
Ponnequin Wind Farm
Each wind turbine cost about $1 million to build and is capable of generating 700 kilowatts of electricity. The turbines begin operating with wind speeds as low as 7 mph and shut themselves down at speeds over 55 mph to prevent overspeed damage. Each turbine weighs nearly 100 tons and stands 181 feet to the turbine body or NaCell (where the blades are attached). The turbine blades have a diameter of 159 feet. The first turbine came on line in April, 1998.
These turbines were manufactured by NEG Micon of Champaign, Illinois, one of the world's largest wind turbine manufacturers.
A program called Windsource (R), offered by Xcel Energy (formerly Public Service Company of Colorado), lets customers elect to purchase a portion of their power from the wind. This is the largest customer-driven wind energy program in the country and is very popular.
In the summer of 2001 construction was completed on 15 new wind turbines, each rated at 660 kW. These turbines were manufactured by Vestas. Vestas is also one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers.
Local Denver T.V. station K9USA intermittently carries live Web-Cam pictures of the wind farm, downtown Fort Collins or downtown Greeley at this link!
Click on the photo for more Ponnequin pictures!
"They Call the Wind Maria"
