Fires, turbines and soaring costs: Platte County at a crossroads

“At NextEra Energy Resources, we are committed to transparency. The meeting you referenced was a private, invitation-only coordination session for first responders and government officials.””

— Alexis Jones, NextEra spokesperson

Battery thermal events are no longer theoretical—major incidents in Surprise (2019) and Chandler (2022) demonstrate that BESS units can explode, emit toxic gases, or trigger heat propagation.”

Fire and Concerns at Renewable Energy Sites

On average, at least 20-25 wind turbines will catch on fire every year in the U.S.A., however that average has slowly increased as more wind farms come online.

Depending on the size and location of a fire, fire suppression efforts at a wind turbine site could cost local fire districts anywhere from $50,000 into the millions; at least one fire in the U.S. involving a wind farm cost nearly $8 million when all was said and done.

Data provided by regulatory agencies suggest fire suppression efforts are delayed, slow and limited in more rural areas, causing the price of fire suppression to often be greater than areas in suburban or urban developments.

Battery thermal events are no longer hypothetical – major incidents in Surprise (2019) and Chandler (2022) confirm BESS can explode, propagate heat, or emit toxic gases. Standard suppressive measures often fail – clean-agent systems must be paired with venting and thermal isolation.

First-responder safety demands BESS-specific training and pre-incident planning, including gas monitoring and remote systems.

NextEra cannot promise or guarantee that a turbine fire or thermal runaway event won’t happen during the lifespan of its project, which, without clear requirements if the project is approved, will leave local communities left holding the bill if an incident were to occur.

Editor’s Note: This story is part of a longer series of stories based on community questions, concerns and feedback relating to the proposed NextEra Energy Chugwater Wind and Solar project. The Platte Co. Record-Times will continue to update and report on these issues as information becomes available and verified.

PLATTE COUNTY – As the push toward renewable energy surges across the U.S., communities like Platte County are wrestling with the financial and operational realities of fires tied to turbines, solar arrays and battery storage systems. Between statewide wildfires, turbine blazes and emerging safety gaps, rural fire departments face mounting stresses — just as NextEra Energy seeks local approval for its Chugwater Wind, Solar and Battery Storage Project.

Missed opportunities

The Platte County Record-Times was denied access to a July 15 emergency management meeting hosted by NextEra Energy at the Platte County Fairgrounds Agriplex. The meeting was described as a “training” to Goshen County residents and an “emergency management” session to Platte County residents. However, upon arrival, project manager Anthony Bianchini informed the newspaper it was a “private” event. Platte County commissioners were invited, and at least two were seen signing in and entering. Goshen County officials, including at least one commissioner, also attended.

In a July 21 email, NextEra spokesperson Alexis Jones said, “At NextEra Energy Resources, we are committed to transparency. The meeting you referenced was a private, invitation-only coordination session for first responders and government officials.” She added the meeting was not public and therefore not subject to the Wyoming Open Meetings Act. “Attendance was limited to those directly involved in emergency planning and response. We stand by the decision to maintain the integrity and focus of the meeting.”

Although Wyoming law does not list newspapers as formal members of emergency response teams, it recognizes their essential role in issuing public notices and disseminating emergency information. Local newspapers have long participated in emergency preparedness through coverage and attendance at planning meetings. The Record-Times regularly reports on quarterly emergency management sessions and works closely with local and state officials.

The newspaper had understood the July 15 meeting to be public due to widespread interest in fire mitigation and emergency response plans related to NextEra’s proposed wind, solar, and lithium battery project. Persistent public concern and unanswered questions from fire districts and concerned citizens to NextEra have fueled perceptions of a lack of transparency.

The Record-Times was also informed that select Platte County residents were invited to tour NextEra’s Roundhouse facilities on July 24. When the paper requested to attend as a matter of record, Jones replied, “While we are facilitating individual site visits for select stakeholders, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate every request and cannot grant a site tour at this time.”

The Platte Co. Record-Times has asked NextEra to schedule a media tour and follow through on a previously promised interview—requests that remain unanswered as of press time. Interview scheduling has also stalled due to NextEra’s insistence on prescreening questions via email, which conflicts with professional journalism standards and the policies of Wyoming Newspapers, Inc.

The Record-Times has also received reports that NextEra attempted to hold private meetings with town councils in Platte County. Those local officials declined, stating all such meetings should be held publicly during regularly scheduled council sessions.

Fire risks under the microscope: data from WAPA report

A health and safety technical report by Tetra Tech for the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) assessed the Rail Tie Wind Project near Tie Siding offering valuable context for Platte County’s concerns.

• Emergency services capacity under scrutiny: the report highlighted the involvement of multiple agencies—including the Tie Siding and Vedauwoo volunteer fire departments, Laramie Fire Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Laramie Police Department, Rawlins Interagency Dispatch Center, and Wyoming State Forestry—demonstrating the reliance of large-scale wind projects on coordinated, multi-jurisdictional emergency response;
• Occupational and public safety measures: recommendations include a required Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) plan, turbine setbacks from roads and structures, and adherence to OSHA and Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety standards throughout construction, operation, and decommissioning and
• Fire and emergency preparedness: while not focused specifically on turbine fires, the report calls for integrating emergency preparedness, prevention, and response into the project’s Safety Management System (SMS), citing industry standards like OHSAS 18001 and ANSI Z10.

These findings illustrate that comprehensive fire and emergency planning is expected — even before turbines are built — and must be woven into development proposals.

Domestic blaze incidents highlight the risk

Multiple emergency incidents—including fires and structural failures—have occurred at wind turbines, solar arrays and lithium battery storage units similar to those proposed in NextEra’s Chugwater Wind, Solar, and BESS project, and similar to systems already in use at its Wyoming facilities. Notable incidents include:

Cheyenne wind fires, 2020 and 2024:

• In December 2020, a turbine at the Roundhouse Wind Energy Center—owned by NextEra and operated by its subsidiary Roundhouse Renewable Energy LLC—caught fire due to a malfunction in a converter/capacitor cabinet or emergency brake. Residents expressed concern about potential wildfire risk had conditions been drier. The facility was developed by Enyo Renewable Energy.
• In July 2024, a lightning strike destroyed a turbine blade at the Corriedale Wind Farm, operated by Black Hills Energy. Replacement costs were estimated between $150,000 and $200,000.

Solar array fires:

• On July 27, 2023, in Chaumont, NY, a lithium-ion battery fire at a solar farm near Lake Ontario burned for 4–6 days and triggered an air quality shelter-in-place order. It’s considered one of the most serious battery storage fires in U.S. solar history.
• On March 11, 2025, in East Windsor, CT, a transformer explosion at a solar facility ignited dry grass along the fence line. Firefighters contained the blaze in 25 minutes. It was the site’s third electrical fire in several days, prompting calls for a shutdown and safety review.
• On June 5, 2019, on the California Valley Solar Ranch, a bird caused a short circuit by contacting two live conductors, sparking a fire that burned 1,127 acres and disabled about 84% of the facility’s output. Damages were estimated at $8–9 million.
• On May 19, 2016, on the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, CA, misaligned mirrors at this solar thermal plant concentrated sunlight on a central tower, igniting a fire that forced a unit shutdown and repairs.

During the summer of 2017, the Solana Generating Station, AZ, two transformer fires occurred during summer 2017. The plant was fined $1.5 million for air-quality violations.

Fires and mechanical failures: renewables in the hot seat

In recent years, two lithium-ion thermal runaway incidents occurred in Surprise and Chandler, Arizona, revealing critical safety gaps. The Surprise event resulted in serious injuries to firefighters attempting to contain the situation. Both incidents exposed deficiencies in suppression systems (clean agents proved ineffective), lack of gas venting, inadequate firefighter training, and missing centralized emergency plans.

On April 19, 2019, in Surprise, Arizona, At the McMicken Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), operated by Arizona Public Service (APS), a single battery cell experienced thermal runaway—a condition where internal heat generation exceeds cooling capacity, often triggered by damage, overcharging, or manufacturing defects. This led to a chain reaction, releasing heat, fire, and toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and carbon monoxide (CO).

The Novec 1230 clean-agent system activated but failed to halt thermal propagation. Roughly 80 minutes later, when firefighters opened the BESS enclosure, a powerful deflagration injured four Peoria HAZMAT team members and three Surprise firefighters.

Key findings from the APS incident found:

• No thermal barriers between battery modules;
• Suppression systems that extinguished flames but not heat transfer;
• Lack of gas venting; and
• Communication delays that hindered emergency response.

In April of 2022, A similar incident occurred at the 10 MW Dorman BESS facility operated by AES Corporation for Salt River Project (SRP) in Chandler, Arizona. Automatic sprinklers activated, and crews from AES and the Chandler Fire Department managed the scene over several days. Although no injuries occurred, SRP evacuated nearby areas and shut down a local freeway, highlighting the risk of widespread disruption.

In response to these incidents, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) updated its safety standards. NFPA 855, 68, and 69 now mandate requirements such as module separation, thermal barriers, explosion venting, gas detection, and remote monitoring for BESS installations. These changes, spurred by the Surprise explosion, include enhanced emergency response templates and operational safety guidelines, which NFPA provided to the Platte County Record-Times for reference in evaluating wind, solar, and lithium-ion storage systems.

NFPA standards revisions for BESS systems

Standard 855, outlines safety requirements for installing stationary energy storage systems (such as lithium-ion batteries). It covers site spacing, fire department access, separation distances, and mandates fire detection and suppression systems for both indoor and outdoor installations. The standard also addresses thermal runaway prevention, ventilation, signage, and emergency response planning for officials, fire marshals, system designers, and energy developers.

Standard 68 details how to safely relieve pressure in vessels and equipment to prevent damage from explosions, specifically deflagrations (subsonic explosions). It includes vent sizing, panel design, and material specifications, and requires strategic placement of vent panels or ducts to safely release gases or dust. The standard has prompted energy companies to reconsider vessel geometry, dust reactivity, and operating temperatures.

Standard 69 provides explosion prevention guidelines for hazardous environments, emphasizing inerting, suppression, and isolation to halt explosion propagation. It also includes protocols for system design, control logic, monitoring, and maintenance.

According to national fire authorities, the U.S. has experienced 17 large-scale fires and two catastrophic explosions at facilities involving BESS systems like those proposed by NextEra—none of which occurred near agricultural lands. In response, several Texas counties have banned BESS installations, while others have enacted moratoriums to evaluate safety concerns. These actions follow multiple fires involving wind turbines, solar arrays, and BESS systems, now under review by the Texas Legislature for potential statewide regulation.

NextEra Wind turbine fires

While only one confirmed NextEra wind turbine fire has been documented in Wyoming—a newly commissioned unit in Cheyenne that caught fire shortly after going online—several other incidents have occurred nationwide and beyond.

Documented NextEra turbine fires include:

• Roundhouse Wind Farm, Cheyenne, WY – Dec. 22, 2020;
• Eight Point Wind Energy Center, NY – Mar. 28, 2023;
• West Pubnico Wind Farm, Nova Scotia, Canada – Mar. 15, 2019; 
• Endeavor Energy Center, IA – June 2017; and
• Peetz Table Wind Energy Center, CO – Jan. 12, 2024 (near the CO-WY-NE border).

In June and July 2017, multiple turbine failures—including blade breaks, tower collapses, and nacelle fires—were reported at NextEra facilities in Iowa, Nebraska, and Michigan.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal government tracks these incidents and has confirmed the above, along with others. Common causes of wind turbine fires include:

• Mechanical failures: overheating of components like gearboxes or generators;
• Electrical issues: short circuits or control system malfunctions;
• Lightning strikes: damage from direct strikes on tall turbine structures;
• Hydraulic system failures: flammable fluids released by failed systems;
• Weather: Unusual wind speeds or strong gusts;
• Flammable materials: presence of hydraulic oil, lubricants, and polymers; and
• Maintenance activities: welding or “hot work,” especially during turbine “repowering”.

“Repowering” refers to upgrading or replacing older turbines to boost energy output, improve efficiency, or extend a wind farm’s operational life.

Wind turbine fires

According to data provided to the Platte County Record-Times by regulatory agencies, the following wind turbine fires were reported in the U.S. (note: not all incidents are reported):

• 2025: 20 fires as of July 20, 2025;
• 2024: 23 fires;
• 2023: 17 fires;
• 2022: 19 fires;
• 2021: 21 fires; and
• 2020: 25 fires.

On average, 20–25 wind turbine fires occur annually in the U.S., a number that has gradually increased with the expansion of wind farms.

Fire suppression costs vary widely, ranging from $50,000 to several million dollars depending on the fire’s size and location. One U.S. turbine fire reportedly cost nearly $8 million. Regulatory data also indicates suppression efforts in rural areas are often slower and more limited, leading to higher costs and increased collateral damage, including to grasslands, croplands, and nearby agricultural properties.

Following the March 2023 turbine fire at the Eight Point Wind Energy Center in New York, owned by NextEra, the local community required additional mitigation measures before the site could resume operations. These included:

• Evacuation of maintenance personnel;
• Demolition of the damaged turbine;
• Grid impact cleanup and repair;
• Potential legal or environmental penalities;
• Environmental remediation for scattered fiberglass debris; and
• Reimbursement of costs, ranging from hundreds of thousands to over $1 million.

Platte County wildfire and suppression costs

In 2024, Wyoming’s Casper Interagency Dispatch Center recorded approximately 11,000 acres burned in Platte County, requiring multi-agency suppression efforts involving ground crews and aerial tankers. Local fire chiefs estimate total suppression costs at $4–5 million.

According to Emergency Fire Suppression Act (EFSA) filings, Platte County fire districts spent $227,219.83 on suppression efforts. While district-specific breakdowns weren’t provided, the total reflects mutual-aid responses countywide.

Due to dry conditions, a countywide burn ban was issued on April 15, 2025, restricting all open burning and permitted burns. As of July 25, the ban remains in effect. Platte County emergency management coordinator and fire warden Tony Krotz said the ban will likely remain in place for the foreseeable future.

A fire suppression report submitted to the Wyoming Legislature shows EFSA supported several major wildfires in 2024, including the Pleasant Valley Fire in Platte and Goshen counties, which scorched nearly 29,000 acres. Statewide suppression costs totaled about $103.1 million, with the state covering approximately $55 million.

Platte County’s FY25 rural fire district budget allocates only $6,000 to a dedicated Fire Suppression Fund, highlighting the need for state and federal assistance in major incidents. Recent budget approvals by the county and local municipalities included across-the-board cuts, including reductions to fire district funding. For FY26, fire district budgets remained largely unchanged despite discussions about restructuring how the county funds fire services.

NextEra’s donations to the community

NextEra Energy donated $10,000 to the Chugwater Rural Fire Department to support local wildfire response, according to local government records and previous Platte County Record-Times reporting.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) estimates fire suppression costs as follows:

• $5,000–$100,000 for fires under 300 acres;
• $100,000–$1 million for fires between 300–1,000 acres;
• $1 million–$50 million for fires over 1,000 acres; and
• Over $200 million for fires exceeding 100,000 acres.

NextEra’s proposed Chugwater Wind, Solar and BESS project has spurred county discussions about emergency services funding and the need to strengthen local emergency management budgets.

Similar incidents nationwide—such as rooftop BESS fires and solar panel blazes—have required structural firefighting responses. While NextEra has not publicly reported such incidents, the risks are industry-wide.

Final takeaways

Battery thermal events are no longer theoretical—major incidents in Surprise (2019) and Chandler (2022) demonstrate that BESS units can explode, emit toxic gases, or trigger heat propagation. Standard suppression systems often fail without venting and thermal isolation. Effective first response requires BESS-specific training, pre-incident planning, gas monitoring, and remote system access.

With wildfire costs rising—Platte County alone spent nearly $5 million in 2024—counties hosting NextEra projects are increasingly concerned about added fire response burdens. While NextEra’s $10,000 donation to Chugwater’s fire department is a positive gesture, meaningful trust requires transparent risk assessments and emergency planning shared openly with the media and public.

NextEra cannot guarantee turbine fires or battery thermal events won’t occur, and if they do, local communities may be left to bear the financial and operational consequences.