Inside The Towering Wind Turbines Of Wyoming

If you've looked off into the distance nearly anywhere in Wyoming, you're likely going to catch sight of a large wind turbine.

As often as you see them, there aren't as many in Wyoming as there are in some other states. The Cowboy State ranks at #14 nationally, with 1,340 turbines.

If you're wondering, Texas is at #1 with 13,635.

If you're on a road trip, you have lots of time to think about odd things. One of those thoughts may be, "I wonder what it looks like inside one of those big suckers?"

The purpose of the turbine is to convert the wind's energy into electrical energy. To do that, there are three main components.

• Rotor - Located on top with the blades
• Generator - Built into the rear of the rotor, it converts low-speed incoming rotation into high-speed rotation, which is used to generate electricity.
• Structure - Many of the towers in the U.S. stand about 260 feet high, which is comparable to a 26-story building.

Since these are mechanical devices, they require regular maintenance. According to NextEra Energy, each turbine requires inspections and checkups 2 to 3 times per year.

The entrance to the tower is at ground level. Once you enter, it's a bit eerie to see and hear. The first thing you'll see is a ladder, or a service elevator.

Can you imagine having to climb a ladder to the top of each wind turbine? The service elevators eliminate that, and help speed the process up a bit.

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The sounds of the system working are pretty loud and somewhat creepy-sounding, but seeing inside of them is pretty cool. I found a couple of videos showing what it's like.