Insulation and windings in the city’s new $3.1 million turbine generator have failed for a second time.

They failed during a performance test about 11 a.m. Thursday, according to City Manager Richard Salvati.

The first failure had been last August, when $250,000 damage resulted.

The generator was supposed to be in operation last June but it has still not been turned over to the city for production of electricity.

Salvati noted, “The city has paid part of the cost and the unit is not doing any good.” He added, “We’re in the process of trying to evolve correction action.

“There have now been two successive failures,” he said, so the city will require another alternative.

“As a minimum we’re not going to accept any more field repairs.”

Representatives of the manufacturer will be in town today to discuss this corrective action with city officials.

The generator produces electricity using power produced by a jet engine. It is located on First N. across and down the street from the power plant.

The new turbine takes only minutes to start producing electricity and is to be used when operational to meet peak electricity demands such as those caused by heavy air conditioning use in summer.

“It’s important for us to have this unit on line,” Salvati said.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Jan. 31, 1975