What’s Up With St. Cloud’s VA Wind Turbine?

What's up with the wind turbine at the St. Cloud VA Hospital? Unfortunately the answer is, 'not much.' I moved back to Minnesota almost three years ago and have not seen that sucker turn. Never having heard the story, I decided to find out why. Here's the short answer.

Completed in 2011, the wind turbine was part of a Veterans Affairs effort to provide clean, renewable energy to some of it's facilities -- St. Cloud included.

Although almost fully paid for, the $2.3 million project was never successfully completed -- leaving the VA with a 245-foot monster that was left unable to function.

Last year the VA finally terminated the contract with Massachusetts-based J.K. Scanlan Co. -- saying that the contractor failed to deliver an operational wind turbine, and has since been seeking compensation.

Bottom line, nearly $2.3 million and several years later -- the St. Cloud VA was delivered a wind turbine that just doesn't work. (Say hello to Central Minnesota's biggest & most expensive statue.)