Mortenson Construction was selected by San Francisco-based developer, NaturEner, for the construction of the Rim Rock Wind Project. Located on nearly 21,000 acres approximately 20 miles north of NaturEner's Glacier I and 2 Wind projects, previously constructed by Mortenson, Rim Rock will generate189-megawatts of wind power -- enough energy to power approximately 66,000 homes.
Mortenson is responsible for the design and construction of access roads, foundations, erection of 126 Acciona 1.5-megawatt turbines, overhead and underground electrical collection system, (2) 230kV substations, the generator tie line, and an O&M facility. Construction began late October, proceeding through the winter months and is expected to be complete in October, 2012.
Montana's wind attributes are unique to the industry. According to AWEA, the state is ranked third in the U.S. for potential wind generating capacity, with more than 944,000 megawatts available for production. This much wind energy could produce more than 210 times the state's current electricity needs. Along with Montana's vast wind resources, the siting for this project was selected because of the ease of access to the property and the business-friendly development atmosphere in this part of Montana. BD+C
Related Stories
| Jun 12, 2013
Sacred synergy achieves goals for religious education [2013 Building Team Award winner]
A renovation/addition project at Columbia Theological Seminary unites a historic residence hall with a modern classroom facility.
| Jun 12, 2013
‘Talking’ Braille maps help the visual impaired
Talking pen technology, combined with tactile maps, allows blind people to more easily make their way around BART stations in the Bay Area.
| Jun 11, 2013
Music/dance building supports sweet harmony [2013 Building Team Award winner]
A LEED Gold project enhances a busy Chicago neighborhood, meeting ambitious criteria for acoustical design and adaptability.
| Jun 11, 2013
Vertical urban campus fills a tall order [2013 Building Team Award winner]
Roosevelt University builds a 32-story tower to satisfy students’ needs for housing, instruction, and recreation.
| Jun 11, 2013
Building a better box: High-bay lab aims for net-zero [2013 Building Team Award winner]
Building Team cooperation and expertise help Georgia Tech create a LEED Platinum building for energy science.
| Jun 11, 2013
Finnish elevator technology could facilitate supertall building design
KONE Corporation has announced a new elevator technology that could make it possible for supertall buildings to reach new heights by eliminating several problems of existing elevator technology. The firm's new UltraRope hoisting system uses a rope with a carbon-fiber core and high-friction coating, rather than conventional steel rope.
| Jun 10, 2013
Lake Washington STEM school combines modular and site-built construction to meet ambitious schedule
When the Lake Washington School District outside Seattle needed a new high school built on an ambitious permitting and construction schedule of seven months, modular construction proved to be an ideal solution.
| Jun 7, 2013
Must see: Building façade made of massive concrete drain pipes
Looking to create a unique atmosphere using natural materials for the Prahran Hotel pub near Melbourne, local architect Techné Architects cleverly incorporated a series of concrete sewer pipes into the building's main façade.
| Jun 7, 2013
40 Under 40 retrospective: Where are they now?
Every month we’ll be catching up with past 40 Under 40 honorees to see what they’ve been up to since winning the award. This month we focus on a construction manager and a healthcare designer.
| Jun 7, 2013
First look: University of Utah's ‘teaching hospital for law’
The University of Utah broke ground on its cutting-edge College of Law building, which will facilitate new approaches to legal education based on more hands-on learning and skills training.
