West Texas Wind Farm and Solar Site Construction Accident Lawyer 

West Texas has long been defined by its oil and gas production, but a new frontier has emerged across the horizon of the Permian Basin and the Panhandle. Texas is now the renewable energy capital of the United States, with counties like Nolan, Taylor, and Hansford hosting some of the largest wind and solar installations in the world. As the "Wind Energy Capital of Texas," McCamey and the surrounding areas of Sweetwater and Big Spring have seen a massive influx of industrial construction projects. 


However, this "Green Energy" boom has a dark side. The construction of a wind farm or a utility-scale solar site is a massive industrial undertaking involving heavy machinery, high-altitude rigging, and complex electrical grids. When things go wrong on these sites, the results are almost always catastrophic. At A2X, we represent the specialized workers: the crane operators, the turbine technicians, the electricians, and the ironworkers, who are injured when developers and general contractors prioritize project deadlines over human safety. 


The Industrial Reality of Renewable Energy Construction 

While wind and solar are often marketed as "clean" energy, the construction phase is a high-risk industrial operation. A single wind turbine is a marvel of engineering: the towers can stand over 300 feet tall, and the blades can span more than 150 feet in length. Moving and assembling these components requires some of the largest cranes in existence. 


In the solar sector, projects like those sprawling across the desert near Fort Stockton or Pecos involve thousands of acres of sensitive photovoltaic panels and miles of high-voltage underground cabling. These sites are not typical construction zones. They are remote, wind-swept, and technically complex environments where a single mistake in a "Lifting Plan" or an electrical "Lockout Tagout" procedure can lead to a multi-million dollar disaster. 


Crane Collapses and Rigging Failures during Turbine Assembly 

The assembly of a wind turbine is arguably the most dangerous lift in the construction industry. The "nacelle" (the housing at the top of the tower) can weigh over 100 tons, and it must be hoisted hundreds of feet into the air and perfectly aligned with the tower. In West Texas, the wind is the primary enemy of this process. 


The Physics of a Wind Farm Disaster 

Crane collapses on wind farms in the Panhandle or the Permian Basin are rarely "accidents." They are typically the result of human error or mechanical failure caused by: 

  • High Wind Loading: Most cranes have strict "out-of-service" wind speed limits. In West Texas, sudden gusts can turn a 150-foot turbine blade into a massive sail, exerting thousands of pounds of lateral force on the crane’s boom. If a site supervisor or "Company Person" pushes a crew to complete a lift during a wind event to avoid "downtime" costs, they are inviting a collapse. 
  • Ground and Foundation Failure: These cranes exert incredible pressure on the soil. If the ground hasn't been properly compacted or if the crane mats are insufficient for the West Texas soil conditions, the outriggers can sink, causing the entire machine to tip. 
  • Improper Rigging and Signaling: Hoisting a turbine blade requires specialized rigging and signaling. If the slings are worn or if the signals between the ground crew and the operator are misunderstood, the load can shift. A shifting 15-ton blade creates a dynamic force that can snap a crane boom or cause the rig to topple onto workers below. 


When a crane collapses on a site near Abilene or Amarillo, the legal battle often involves more than just the employer. A2X investigates the crane manufacturer, the third-party rigging company, and the general contractor who authorized the lift under dangerous conditions. 


High-Voltage Electrocution and Arc Flash Risks 

Solar sites and wind farms are essentially giant power plants under construction. While the panels and turbines are being installed, the electrical "collection system" is often being energized simultaneously. This creates a lethal environment for electricians and technicians. 


The Danger of Solar PV Grids 

DC/AC conversion technology used in large-scale solar projects (often called "utility-scale") in the Trans-Pecos region is quite complicated. Many people believe that solar panels are "off" if they are not connected to the utility system. However, if enough sunlight hits the panel, it will produce power.  

  • High-Voltage Direct Current (DC) Shocks: Individual panels are wired in "strings" that can produce DC voltages of 1,000 to 1,500 volts. This is more than enough to cause immediate cardiac arrest or deep tissue thermal burns. 
  • Arc Flash Explosions: An arc flash occurs when electricity "jumps" through the air between conductors. These events reach temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun and create a pressure wave that can throw a worker across a room. On West Texas solar sites, arc flashes often occur during inverter commissioning or while working on energized substations. 


A2X looks for violations of OSHA Standard 1910.269, which governs electric power generation. If a contractor fails to provide proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as arc-rated clothing, or fails to implement a strict "Lockout Tagout" program, they must be held accountable. 


High-Altitude Falls and Nacelle Safety 

Wind turbine technicians spend much of their day working inside the "nacelle" or climbing the internal ladders of the tower. This is "high-altitude" industrial work that demands the highest level of fall protection. 


Workers who fall from a turbine nacelle in Sweetwater typically do not survive. Even if they are wearing a harness and are attached to a lanyard, if left suspended for too long because of the absence of a proper rescue plan, they may experience "suspension trauma." Some of the most common safety violations include: 

  • Defective Fall Arrest Systems: e.g., using frayed lanyards, rusted anchor points, or using defective harnesses that break at the point of impact.  
  • Unguarded Openings: Holes in the nacelle floor or open hatches that are not properly barricaded during maintenance or construction. 
  • Inadequate Training: Sending a worker up a tower without "Competent Person" fall protection training is a direct violation of safety standards. 


The Legal Strategy: Going Beyond Workers' Comp 

In Texas, the biggest hurdle for an injured construction worker is the "exclusive remedy" of workers' compensation. Most companies will tell you that you are only entitled to the small weekly checks and medical coverage provided by their insurance. 


At A2X, we look for the "Third-Party" claim. A wind or solar site is a web of different companies. While you may not be able to sue your direct employer, you may have a massive claim against: 

  1. The Project Developer or Owner: If the owner of the wind farm (a multi-billion dollar energy corporation) exercised "retained control" over the safety of the site, they can be held liable under Texas Chapter 95. 
  2. The General Contractor (GC): If the GC failed to coordinate safety between different subcontractors, leading to your injury, they are a target for litigation. 
  3. The Equipment Manufacturer: If a crane’s computer system failed or a turbine component was defectively designed, we can file a Product Liability lawsuit. 
  4. Specialized Service Providers: If a third-party transportation company improperly secured a turbine blade that fell during off-loading, they are liable for the resulting injuries. 


By pursuing these third parties, A2X can help you recover damages that workers' comp will never pay, including: full lost wages, future earning capacity, physical disfigurement, and the significant "pain and suffering" associated with catastrophic industrial injuries. 


Overcoming Chapter 95 

As we have discussed elsewhere, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 95 is a major obstacle. It protects property owners from lawsuits by independent contractors unless we can prove the owner had "actual knowledge" of a danger and "exercised control" over the work. 


In the renewable energy sector, owners often try to hide behind this law. They claim they were just "investors" and that the contractors were the experts. We fight this by: 

  • Recovering the "Master Service Agreements" (MSAs) that prove the owner dictated safety rules. 
  • Depositing the "Company Person" to show they were on-site every day, giving orders. 
  • Using internal emails to show the owner knew about equipment defects months before the accident. 


Why A2X is the Choice for West Texas Renewable Workers 

We live and work in the same communities where these wind and solar farms are being built. We understand the pressure of the "Interconnection Deadline" and how it causes companies to cut corners. When a worker is crushed by a falling tower section or burned in an arc flash, the company’s lawyers are on the scene within hours. You need a team that moves just as fast. 



A2X is a trial-focused firm. We don't just "file claims": we prepare every case for a West Texas jury. We use expert engineers, medical illustrators, and vocational experts to tell the story of what happened on the site and why the corporate defendants are responsible. 


Contact A2X: Your Wind and Solar Accident Partner 

If you have been injured on a renewable energy construction site in Midland, Odessa, Sweetwater, Amarillo, or Lubbock, do not let the insurance adjusters dictate your future. You have rights that extend far beyond a workers' comp claim.