Meadow Lake Wind Farm

Wind turbines have an operating lifespan of approximately 20-30 years. Throughout operations, EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) continuously monitors turbine performance, conducts maintenance, and identifies opportunities for improvement. As turbines age, EDPR NA may consider replacing major components or rebuilding a turbine completely before a turbine reaches the end of its original operational life span if the efficiencies to be gained justify it. This process is called “repowering.”

Like any technology, wind power technology is constantly improving. With age, older technologies can become more expensive or challenging to repair. Repowering allows EDPR NA to harness technological advancements that were unavailable when the site was initially developed; repowering increases project efficiency and maximizes power generation in some of the nation’s windiest locations—all while working with the same landowners and using existing infrastructure.

Yes. Repowering a wind site is a major construction project that employs hundreds of people. Below are some of the services EDPR NA will source locally for construction:

• Civil contractors
• Concrete supply + delivery 
• General laborers 
• Safety staff 
• Excavation and restoration
• Gravel supply and delivery 
• Heavy equipment operators

Meadow Lake Wind IV has provided White County with $743,000 for the White County Highway Department to complete all pre‑construction road improvements and to maintain and manage dust control on public roads throughout the repower construction period. 

Upon completion of construction, Meadow Lake Wind IV will provide an additional $1.8 million for the White County Highway Department to resurface the public roads located within the Meadow Lake IV project area.

The main construction hub, also known as the laydown yard, serves as the central area for construction activity. The Meadow Lake Wind IV Repower laydown yard will be located just north of the US‑231 and I‑65 intersection, across from the Marathon gas station. Temporary office trailers will be installed on-site to support construction operations.

Meadow Lake Wind IV Repower Construction consists of upgrading and improving the blades, foundation, substation, and Meteorological Tower. Each of these areas will undergo improvements to ensure the site operates efficiently and reliably once it comes online. The improvements in each of these areas are further described below.

Blade removal and disposal

A crane will remove wind tower components and place them near the tower pad. Here, each blade will be cut down for easier transport to the waste-to-energy facility. The nacelles will also be removed via crane and sent to a facility where all metal components will be recycled.

Blade delivery and installation

A crane places sections of the tower on the foundation. Then, the nacelle, which contains the shaft, gearbox, and electronic controls, is placed on top of the tower. Lastly, the blades are connected to the shaft in the nacelle through a section of the turbine called the hub.

Foundation improvements

Based on our geotechnical evaluations and on‑site foundation assessments, the Meadow Lake IV turbine foundations remain in excellent condition. Since the original foundations were built in 2010, industry engineering standards for wind turbine foundations have been updated. To meet these current standards—and to support the increased forces and pressures associated with the longer blades used in the repowered turbines—the project will include adding a concrete foundation collar to the existing foundations.

Substation

Meadow Lake IV Repower will connect to the existing substation. This substation will undergo upgrades from July 15 to August 15. During this time, all turbines in Meadow Lake IV and V will be manually shut down so contractors can complete the work safely. Once the work is done, the clean, renewable power will reach the electrical grid again, and power will be sent to the homes and businesses where it will be used.

Meteorological (Met) Tower Construction

The meteorological, or “Met,” towers measure wind speeds at the same height as the turbine hubs. Meadow Lake IV Wind currently has one permanent Met tower, originally installed in 2010. Because the repowered turbines will have hub heights that are 15 feet taller, the existing Met tower will be retrofitted to accurately measure wind speeds at the new hub height.

Yes. EDPR NA is committed to working closely with landowners to ensure their land is restored and remains productive after construction. Restoration activities could include replanting lost or damaged vegetation, replacing disturbed topsoil, and loosening soil that has been compacted.

Construction for Meadow Lake Wind IV Repower will be ongoing throughout 2026. The anticipated timeline is below.