Jessica Kilroy can’t hear anything but the rush of wind as she dangles from a rope 107 meters (350 feet) above the ground. She spends so much time at this height, her face is often red from windburn. Kilroy started rock climbing when she was 4 years old. But today, she’s not scaling a cliff—she’s at the top of a wind turbine.
The spinning blades of a wind turbine can harness the power of wind and convert it into electricity. Around the world, most countries rely on fossil fuels—like coal, oil, and natural gas—for energy. Once used up, these fuels can’t be replaced. Wind power, on the other hand, is a renewable source of energy. It will never run out. It also doesn’t produce pollution, like burning fossil fuels does.
A damaged blade can put a wind turbine out of commission. As a rope access technician, Kilroy uses climbing gear to reach and repair the blades of these massive structures. Kilroy spoke to Scholastic about what it takes to maintain turbines.