Sandywoods Farm Wind Turbine Receives Test

The proclaimed  wind turbine, aimed to provide energy to the housing units, provided a sneak peek of its size on Friday afternoon.

Workers raised the roughly 175-foot Vergnet turbine to gauge its stablization and make sure it's level. Billy Heeber, wind installer with Alteris, said they wanted to make sure there was no wobble, observe its tension and make sure the blades were locked into position. The turbine is a 275-kilowatt Vergnet with a 400,000-kilowatt per hour output, according to project and developer sponsors.

According to Russ Smith, of Sandywoods, the turbine still has a month or so to go before it's fully operational. Friday's test is a sign that it's nearing completion.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee approved four energy laws at Sandywoods last year, and before he left.