Catastrophic failure at North Dakota wind farm results in no deaths and no exclusion zone

[Magda Hassan]

Grist's Christopher Mims reports that just last month, "a wind turbine on a North Dakota wind farm suffered a 'catastrophic failure' when 'oversight' and 'human error' -- features of energy infrastructure which scientists suggest are unavoidable -- led to the enormous turbine falling off its mount. The most recent reports indicate that so far the only casualties are a wide swath of grass and possibly a family of voles." The accident, which probably looked something like what happens in the video above, reveals just how awry wind power can go. Mims continues: So far no evacuation zone has been declared. There are no threats to sea life, and the fallout from the disaster was not detectable thousands of miles away. Cleanup efforts are in progress, and will not include covering the area in a giant concrete dome. No workers have been asked to give their lives in order to save their countrymen from the menace of this fallen wind turbine. Read the rest of the not-so-tragic report at Grist.