Bragg Crane Powers Wind Future at Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project
- Meagan Wood
- Jun 23, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
30-Second Takeaway
The Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project at Pacheco State Park is giving new life to California’s renewable energy infrastructure, with Bragg Companies playing a critical role through its heavy haul and lifting expertise. By supporting the complex repowering process in a challenging, hilly environment, Bragg helped enable the efficient transport and installation of upgraded wind components demonstrating how specialized logistics and lifting capabilities are essential to advancing clean energy projects.
Transporting the Impossible: Laydown Yard Logistics
The project involves decommissioning 162 aging turbines from the 1980s and installing 40 new state-of-the-art wind turbines, each significantly larger in size and complexity. Bragg Crane’s Transport Division was responsible for coordinating and executing the delivery of all windmill components, including:
Blades exceeding 200 ft in length
Tower sections measuring over 80 tons per unit
Nacelles and hubs, some weighing over 100 tons
These components were hauled from Port Hueneme and other inland staging areas through challenging rural terrain to a custom-built laydown yard within the park boundary.
With meticulous route planning and CHP escort coordination, Bragg Crane’s transport team navigated narrow switchbacks, sharp elevation changes, and sensitive environmental zones all without a single incident. Multiple haul configurations were used, including dual-lane trailers, steerable blade dollies, and modular Goldhofer systems.
Setting the Standard: Heavy Lifts on Sensitive Ground
On-site, Bragg Crane is deploying its specialized heavy lift equipment to tackle the vertical build of each turbine. Based on the size of the turbines and the known logistics challenges at Pacheco State Park, it’s likely that Bragg Crane deployed high-capacity crawler cranes such as the LR 1600/2 or CC 3800, commonly used in wind turbine erection projects of this scale.
130-meter (426 ft) hub heights
Wind speeds managed under strict tolerances
Multi-phase lifting for tower sections, nacelles, and blades
Given that the project is located on California Department of Parks and Recreation land, Bragg’s lift planning team is working closely with state officials, environmental consultants, and engineers to design matting and outrigger systems that preserved soil and habitat integrity.
Supporting a Historic Repower Effort
Led by Scout Clean Energy and supported by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, the Gonzaga Ridge repower increases total generation capacity from 16 MW to 147.5 MW, and includes a 50 MW/200 MWh battery storage system.
This is more than a wind upgrade it’s a full system transformation requiring seamless logistics, deep technical expertise, and zero margin for error.
Bragg Crane’s role touched nearly every physical aspect of the build:
Pre-project site visits and feasibility studies
Permit acquisition and route survey support
Component staging and laydown yard coordination
Crane mobilization, rigging operations, and safety oversight
Bridging Technology and Terrain
Working on state-protected land added additional layers of operational complexity. Bragg Crane adapted by:
Scheduling lifts around protected species zones
Using low-ground-pressure equipment to protect terrain
Coordinating with wildlife and habitat monitors daily
The company’s ability to adapt its transport and crane strategy to environmentally sensitive ground helped maintain both the project timeline and conservation goals.
Bragg Crane’s Lasting Impact
The Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project is now on track to power over 120,000 California homes, while preventing over 590,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. Bragg Crane’s contribution to this milestone reinforces its position as a go-to partner for renewable infrastructure deliveryfrom port to pad.
This project exemplifies what Bragg does best safely moving and lifting the components that power tomorrow’s grid, even in the most challenging terrain.
About Bragg Companies
Bragg Companies is a U.S.-based provider of engineered heavy lifting, crane, and specialized transportation solutions, supporting some of the most complex infrastructure, industrial, and energy projects in North America. With more than 75 years of experience, Bragg delivers integrated services including heavy haul, crane operations, project planning, and execution for large-scale and technically demanding projects.
Bragg is widely recognized for its expertise in renewable energy, particularly wind and solar projects, as well as in construction, utilities, transportation, and industrial markets. The company operates a modern fleet of mobile and crawler cranes, specialized transport equipment, and modular hauling systems, enabling it to manage challenging site conditions and oversized loads with precision and safety.
Through experienced teams, advanced engineering, and a commitment to safety and innovation, Bragg Companies continues to play a critical role in advancing large-scale infrastructure and clean energy development.
Learn More: https://www.braggcompanies.com/
About Goldhofer
Goldhofer is a global manufacturer of heavy transport and special vehicle solutions, known for engineering excellence and innovation in the movement of oversized and heavy loads. Founded in 1705 and headquartered in Germany, Goldhofer designs and produces modular transporters, self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), heavy-duty trailers, and airport technology used worldwide.
Goldhofer equipment is widely deployed in industries such as renewable energy, infrastructure, aerospace, shipbuilding, and heavy industry, where reliability, load stability, and maneuverability are critical. The company’s transport solutions are particularly well known for wind energy applications, supporting the movement of large turbine components across complex routes and challenging terrain.
With a strong focus on technology, safety, and customer-specific solutions, Goldhofer continues to set benchmarks for heavy transport performance and efficiency in global markets.
Learn More: https://www.goldhofer.com/en/
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project?
The Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project is a large-scale wind farm repowering effort located within Pacheco State Park in California. The project replaces aging turbines from the 1980s with modern, high-capacity wind turbines and integrated battery storage.
What does “repowering” mean in this context?
Repowering involves decommissioning older wind turbines and replacing them with fewer, more efficient units that significantly increase energy output while using existing wind resources and infrastructure.
How many turbines are involved in the project?
The project includes the removal of 162 older turbines and the installation of 40 new, state-of-the-art wind turbines.
What role did Bragg Companies play in the project?
Bragg Companies provided heavy haul, crane, and lifting services, supporting nearly every physical phase of the project—from transporting oversized components to executing complex heavy lifts during turbine erection.
What types of components were transported and lifted?
Bragg handled wind turbine blades exceeding 200 feet in length, tower sections weighing more than 80 tons, and nacelles and hubs weighing over 100 tons.
Why was this project logistically challenging?
The site is located in hilly, rural terrain within state-protected parkland, requiring precise route planning, specialized transport equipment, and strict environmental controls.
How were environmental concerns addressed?
Bragg worked closely with state agencies and environmental consultants, using low-ground-pressure equipment, protective matting, and carefully timed operations to minimize impact on soil, wildlife, and sensitive habitats.
What equipment was used for transport and lifting?
Multiple hauling configurations were used, including steerable blade dollies, dual-lane trailers, and modular Goldhofer transport systems. High-capacity crawler cranes were deployed for turbine erection.
How much additional power will the repowered wind farm generate?
The repower increases total capacity from 16 MW to 147.5 MW and includes a 50 MW / 200 MWh battery storage system.
Why is this project significant for California’s energy future?
Once complete, the Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project is expected to power more than 120,000 homes and prevent approximately 590,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, supporting California’s clean energy and climate goals.
