A lightning strike June 23 crippled the giant wind turbine at Kenston High School and, in a separate incident a week later, lightning also damaged…
A lightning strike June 23 crippled the giant wind turbine at Kenston High School and, in a separate incident a week later, lightning also damaged a fire panel at Kenston Intermediate School, said district Superintendent Nancy Santilli Aug. 17.
She told school board members at their regular meeting the two incidents caused more than $100,000 in damage.
The 200-foot-tall turbine generates about 1.3 million kilowatt hours in electricity per year, saving the district an estimated $200,000 in annual utility costs. The $2 million turbine, paid for primarily with grant money, has been operational since 2013.
In February of last year, frigid temperatures caused the turbine’s software program to shut the turbine down temporarily.
The lightning strike on June 23 overrode the turbine’s lightning rod system, shutting down the transformer and revenue meter.
On Monday, board members approved a $90,000 contract with Thompson Electric of Munroe Falls to repair the wind turbine, which supplies most of the electricity for Kenston High School. The turbine has not operated since the storm.
Because the board declared an “urgent necessity” for the repair, bidding the project was not necessary under Ohio law, according to the meeting agenda. The motion passed unanimously with no discussion.
Later in the meeting, board member Beth Krause asked for more discussion on the damage, for the sake of the public in attendance.
“Over the summer, the turbine was struck by lightning, which shut it down,” Santilli explained. “It needs pretty extensive repair. KIS was hit in another storm, which damaged the fire panel. We’ve already replaced that.”
Santilli said the incidents were separate claims on the district’s insurance policy, and estimated the turbine damage was about $100,000. The district’s policy has a $20,000 deductible, which means the district will be responsible for that amount and the insurance company will pay the remainder.
“Hopefully we’ll see it turning again soon,” Santilli told the board.
