Q: For months now we have been watching what are apparently sections of wind turbine towers being transported in groups westbound on Eisenhower, with police escorts. We’ve been curious as to what the destination is.
A: Over the summer we received several questions from readers who’d observed giant metal tubes being towed through the city by semitrucks. They are indeed sections of wind turbine towers, and they were traveling on surface streets because the rigs are restricted to speeds too slow for interstate highways. Every state imposes its own regulations about speeds, routing, escorts, hours, and load markings. This is a big planning challenge for cross-country trips, and has been an influence toward local sourcing.
While we don’t know where these pieces started from, our guess is that they’re bound for Michigan’s Thumb. Its high winds and wide-open spaces have made it one of the country’s top wind-power regions.
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