LE SILLON

A John Deere Publication

A John Deere 872GP Motor Grader cuts the road through a wind farm in Montana, where Blattner Energy is creating forward-looking renewable-energy solutions.

Winter 2022

Big Opportunity in Big Sky Country

Proven practices help transform work in the innovative renewable-energy field

Like the cowboys who once roamed the Treasure State, work boots, meaningful days, and the specific pride that comes from rolling up your sleeves and doing your share are all parts of a day in the life. These attributes are made all the better by realizing the impact of the effort. Like most important work, it’s not easy, but someone has to create powerful change for the future.

Proven pioneers

Based in Avon, Minnesota, and with projects all over the United States, Blattner Energy, a Quanta Services company, has been in the game since 1907, constantly innovating and evolving with our country’s changing needs. From railroads and highways to mining and renewable energy, the company has traveled far and wide implementing its proficiency for building the infrastructure required by our developing nation.

As we collectively transition to more sustainable means of powering our cities and states, Blattner has been at the forefront of wrangling utility-scale wind-farm projects, helping establish clean, reliable energy for both today and a brighter tomorrow. Behind those decades of success is a strong culture — and the people who comprise it.

Ranch hands for renewables

“The crew is family,” says Chuck Dursma, civil superintendent for Blattner. “It’s just the nature of the work that we spend a lot of time with the people on the job, so we have a pretty tight-knit bunch.” Projects can last months or years at a time and range all across the country. “I’ve been all over the U.S. building wind farms. I don’t even know how many I’ve built, but this one is special.”

There are a couple reasons this project in particular is close to Dursma’s heart. “I’ve had a 44-year career in this industry. And I’m actually from the western part, but the fact that it’s in my home state — well, that’s even better.” Starting as a laborer, working his way up through equipment, management, and more, Dursma has nearly seen it all, and he has a wealth of experience to impart to his teams. One such greenhorn is Jerett Freiboth, a site manager with five years of experience who has mentored under Dursma.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that challenges happen all the time and critical thinking is extremely important,” says Freiboth. “Nobody really realizes how big this is. The scale of a wind-farm project is hard to understand unless you’ve done it. I’m also from Montana, so it’s nice for people I know to get a sense of what I deal with day-to-day.”

Pride in the purpose

It’s no secret that pride in one’s work yields a better end product and is a contributing factor to any company’s success. For motor grader operator John Martin, “a job well done” is the only way to work. “When I come to a site and it’s totally untouched other than stakes in the ground out across a field, and I get to be the first to run equipment through and cut the road — that brings me joy.” With the amount, size, weight, and complexity of the wind-turbine components that need to be brought in, having stable, reliable access is critical. “The worst thing I could hear from my boss is that a road I built isn’t fit to drive on. That doesn’t happen often,” Martin says with an assured smile.

As for Freiboth, on top of taking pride in the quality of his work, the projects he completes for Blattner provide an additional sense of accomplishment. “Being able to travel and meet new people has been great for me. The biggest thing, though, is that building renewable-energy projects gives you a greater sense of purpose. You’re working toward a goal not for yourself, but as a country. That brings a unique sense of pride.”

That sense of importance is shared by Dursma. “We have to look out for the planet, and we have to look out for our kids and our kids’ kids. The more we can make it a green planet or a cleaner planet, the better it’s going to be for everybody.” That’s exactly what Blattner seeks — to build a better tomorrow through renewable energy so future generations can flourish.

Tools of the trade

Every ranch needs its horses, and for the Blattner crew, it’s a handful of John Deere 872GP Motor Graders. “When I started, machines didn’t even have cabs,” says Dursma. “They’ve come a long way.” Martin echoes the sentiment. “They’re much more operator friendly — these are top-of-the-line pieces of equipment. You can use the technology to set and finish with a perfectly level edge. You used to have to know a lot to achieve that, but now it’s built into the machine.”

With such a heavy focus on sustainability, ease of use isn’t the only factor the Blattner crew appreciates. They also respect the focus on the future. Martin agrees: “I trust John Deere to continue bettering the equipment. They’ve proved to me they can.”

“Deere is building the machines and training the people needed so we can perform our tasks on these projects,” Dursma continues. “A dealer has to earn trust, and I have to say John Deere has done an excellent job on that.”

Blattner Energy is serviced by RDO^® Equipment Co., New Prague, Minnesota.

Clockwise from top left. The wind-farm jobsite in Montana is dotted with the gridded-metal bases that will eventually anchor the massive wind turbines in place. John Martin, operator for Blattner Energy, sits inside the cab of a John Deere 872GP Motor Grader. A 744K-II Wheel Loader is hauling a bucket full dirt in Texas on the Mesquite Sky Wind Project. Blattner Energy Quality Control Inspector James Taunton surveys the construction of a wind-turbine base on the wind-farm jobsite in Montana. An 872GP Motor Grader prepares the site of a wind farm in Montana.

Power Up

Blattner Energy is an industry-leading renewable-energy-solutions provider, building wind, solar, and energy-storage projects all over the United States. Its recent work in Texas on the Mesquite Sky Wind Project for Clearway Energy Group is an ambitious initiative that underscores John Deere’s commitment to sustainability. Once operational, the sale of power from the Texas site to Deere will help the company reach its greenhouse-gas reduction and renewable-electricity targets. Here’s a closer look at the groundbreaking project.

The Clearway Energy Group Mesquite Sky Wind Project
BY THE NUMBERS:*
*Source: Clearway Energy Group.