Wind & Solar: The Architecture of Renewable Energy

Marble River Wind Farm, Photo Courtesy of EDP Renewables
Robinson Farm in Champlain, the site of ORDA’s Solar Farm. Image Courtesy of ORDA.

Last Offered 2022. Not currently being offered.

In the North Country, wind and solar infrastructure, facilities, and farms are helping to power a renewable energy future. During this outing, we will first take a deep dive into the systems and design of Marble River Wind Farm, a facility in rural Churubusco that features an installed total capacity of 215.25 megawatts. Atop tubular steel towers, the turbine’s blades capture the wind, which rotates an internal shaft connected to a gearbox. The gearbox then spins a generator to produce electricity. After exploring the wind facility, we will visit the Olympic Regional Development Authority’s (ORDA) solar farm in Champlain. Here, ORDA generates renewable energy used to power its snowmaking at Whiteface and LED lighting for its mountain facilities. This 12-acre solar array comprises 9,032 solar panels and ORDA claims will offset 58,888 tons of carbon dioxide (equal to decommissioning 12,397 cars) over a 25-year period.

This tour is led by staff from both EDP Renewables’ Marble River Wind Farm and ORDA’s Robinson Solar Farm, with additional guidance from Adirondack North Country Association’s Clean Energy Program Director, Jill Henck. The tour begins at 10 AM and ends around 3:30 PM.

The fee is $50 for AARCH members and $60 for non-members.

TOUR REGISTRATION INFORMATION