Bluestone Wind Turbines in Windsor and Fenton Generating Power

The turbines of Broome County's first wind generating project are producing electricity that's now being delivered to the New York state grid.

Over the past year or so, 26 turbines were erected in the towns of Windsor and Sanford for the Bluestone Wind Project.

Operations manager Terry Stanley said the turbines "catch the wind" and convert it to electricity, which is sent to a substation. There, the voltage is increased to what is needed for utility use so it can be transferred to a NYSEG substation.

Each turbine is equipped with a system designed to redirect the energy from lightning strikes to reduce the risk to the blades.

The Bluestone project is owned by Northland Power of Toronto. Vestas Wind Systems manufactured the turbines that are used by the wind farm. Northland and Vestas workers are able to remotely monitor turbine operations.

Testing of the turbines has been underway in recent weeks as part of the process of ramping up commercial operations of the project.

Stanley said people sometimes have questions about why turbine blades aren't moving when they'd be expected to be in motion. He said units occasionally are shut down for routine maintenance. Vestas workers may need to conduct tasks like changing the oil in the turbines.

Stanley noted that like any other type of mechanical equipment, things sometimes break down. Parts may have to be repaired or replaced.

Turbines may occasionally be idle for two or three days if work is being done at the substation.

WATCH: One of the Bluestone Wind Farm turbines in eastern Broome County.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.