Page 38 - MFM Nov Dec 2021

Turbines in Town

By Brian Murphy, PGM
Large Reporter

s you may recall, we received a little rain in our simply bivouacked in their vehicles. They proclaimed
Avicinity last Tuesday, October 26th. While we that they were used to it and more than prepared
always welcome precipitation, there were others to do so. I met several fine folks, men and women,
who weren’t as appreciative. I’m referring to the young and old, many donning thick, southern accents,
6 semi truck operators who were pulling a total of having emanated from a variety of locales; TX, MN,
SIX individual wind turbine blades (each 220 feet in TN, GA, AL, and so forth. All were quite pleasant
length), in addition to the 12 pilot car drivers who and in a jolly mood, and most had a small dog as a
were held overnight at the Circle weigh station, east traveling companion. It was observed that our weigh
of town on Hwy 200. station was the PERFECT place to layup for a day or
so… (better than most, anyway); accessible, easy in
Now this isn’t an article lauding The Green New and out, a motel and convenience store for food and
Deal - it’s simply a local interest story. Mike, one of sundries, right across the street. One fellow remarked
the 12 big rig drivers, informed me that the blades that he had served in the Army for 25 years. So, this
were manufactured at LM Wind Power in Grand was nothing new to him. “Hurry up and wait!”, he
Forks, North Dakota. Their website states that LM grinned. ”It’s always Hurry Up and Wait!”
Wind Power produces a fifth of the worlds turbine
blades (over 241,000 blades since 1978), and employs I had asked Mike the Driver to text me when
over 14,200 workers. Made in the USA, by Americans, they were ready to roll out of town. He did and I
for a change! positioned myself by the McCone County Museum
because of its high vantage point for my photo ops.
Their destination was the Clearwater Wind Project The rigs and drivers honked and waved as they blew
north of Miles City near Rock Springs. The caravan by me on their way out of town. I was told that the 2
entered Montana via Sidney, passed by Lambert and groups of 3 blades were supposed to wait 30 minutes
Richey, continued westward until they arrived here. before moving out, but obviously that wasn’t going to
They were held up in Circle for a day and a half NOT happen. A few minutes after the first batch left, I spied
as a result of the meager precipitation that fell in our the 2nd cluster roaring up the highway. So, I hopped
immediate area, but as a result of the rain that fell in my rig and the Pug and I raced to Brockway where
at the project site, 25 miles south of Cohagen. They I parked up high, next to the electrical substation and
were waiting for a go-ahead-call from the project readied my camera. I was hoping I would witness
manager. Apparently, the showers they received there those super-long transports navigating the sharp
made it too muddy for such heavy loads, resulting corner to the Terry cut-across, but they flew right on
in site crews having to lay down wooden pallets for by to traverse the road construction ...then onward
the trucks to drive upon, but even the pallets were to Jordan where they would turn south.
sinking in the gumbo. We all know what that’s like.
Right?! I inquired as to why they didn’t take Interstate Turbine blades travel through our little hamlet on
94 and was informed that they couldn't manage the a fairly regular basis. But it was quite impressive to
hills around Miles City. observe SIX at the same time (at least to this author)! If
you happened to miss this spectacle, I sincerely hope
Nevertheless, most of the semis had sleeping you find my first-person account and the telling of it,
berths for their respective operators. Some of the here in the Banner, to be insightful and informative.
pilot car drivers had to double-bunk, but I was told Don’t ya just love small towns… and small town news!
that everyone who wanted a bed at the Traveler’s
Inn got one. Good job, Traveler’s Inn (in addition to ~ Photos & verbosity courtesy of Brian J. Murphy
accommodating all the visiting hunters)! Other drivers (reporting)
Montana Freemason Page 38 Nov/Dec Volume 97 No.5