Hubs (the rotating flanges to which the blades attach) are manufactured and shipped from Lem, Denmark, weighing 50 metric tons apiece.

The blades, 132 feet long and 7.5 tons, are manufactured on the Isle of Wight, UK. They are shipped from South Hampton, England on custom Vestas racks.

The nacelles (the nerve center holding the main shaft, main bearing, gearbox and generator) are made and shipped from Vivero, Spain. A wind vane on the nacelle continuously transmits signals to orient the blades into the shifting wind.

The blades, hubs and nacelles cross the Atlantic, soon to rendezvous with components from the other side of the globe.

The blades make a 12 hour trek through the Panama Canal, cutting 8,000 miles from the journey. (The highest canal toll ever paid? $165,000 for a cruise ship. The lowest? 36 cents by British swimmer Richard Halliburton in 1928.)

The entire Europe-Vancouver journey takes 5-6 weeks. A total of 228 blades will be shipped on a coordinated "just in time" schedule.

The blades arrive at the Port of Vancouver, owner of the largest mobile crane in North America. Ironically, due to their engineered sensitivity, wind speed can be problematic when handling wind blades.

All components arrive in Astoria, Oregon. The Astoria river pilot notifies the Port of Vancouver, who alerts the stevedores union in Vancouver of their impending arrival.

The towers are built in Vietnam of American steel and shipped in break-bulk freighters.