Powerful tornado topples wind turbines in US: Experts say such destruction is 'extremely rare'

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A powerful tornado in Iowa has destroyed five wind turbines, with one catching fire
• This rare event occurred at MidAmerican Energy Company's Orient wind farm, where wind speeds exceeded 100 mph

🔭 The context: Tornadoes infrequently damage wind turbines, but they are designed to endure severe weather
• The US has nearly 73,000 wind turbines, primarily in the tornado-prone central states

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The destruction highlights the vulnerability of renewable energy infrastructure to extreme weather, emphasizing the need for resilient designs to ensure the reliability of clean energy sources

⏭️ What's next: Engineering standards for wind turbines may be updated to better account for such rare but severe weather events, enhancing their durability and operational safety

💬 One quote: “This was an unprecedented impact on our wind fleet, and we have operated wind farms since 2004,” MidAmerican said

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