FACTS AND FIGURES
• Size: Wind turbines can be as
tall as a 50-story building (nearly
500 ft.). A single wind turbine
blade is over 120 ft. long and
weighs about 12,000 lbs.
• Materials: The towers are
cylindrical and made of steel.
The blades are made of fiberglass-
reinforced polyester.
• Speed: Wind turbines used by
electric utility companies generally
require minimum average
wind speeds of 9 mph. For
safety reasons, wind turbines
will shut off automatically when
wind speeds exceed a set limit –
typically around 55 mph.
• Operation: Utility-size wind
turbines are fully automated
and continually adjust to face
the wind on their own. Each
turbine blade automatically
rotates to catch the greatest
amount of wind, making it
easier for the rotor to spin
and generate electricity.