Wind Watch: Industrial Wind Energy News
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Board of Health sends written order to turn turbines off overnight, asks for funds
Fairhaven Wind developer Gordon Deane announced his intention Monday to recover from the town the lost profits of the two turbines the Fairhaven Board of Health ordered shut down overnight. His announcement was in reaction to news earlier Monday that the Board of Health had issued a written order to shut down the turbines at night. The board had voted June 10 to order the turbines shut down but Fairhaven Wind announced over the weekend it was ignoring the order . . .
Town Council approves 6-month moratorium on wind turbines
In a 5-0 vote Monday night, the Town Council approved a six-month moratorium on all wind turbines while a more-permanent ordinance is drafted, recommended by the town’s Planning Board. No one has proposed building a sizeable wind turbine in East Greenwich. The moritorium is meant to protect the town while an ordinance is written and to perhaps discourage any requests. To add to the urgency, Town Planner Lisa Bourbonnais said, a bill introduced in the General Assembly this session would limit a . . .
$398M wind farm project proposed off Route 16 in Somerset, Piscataquis counties
BINGHAM — A Boston-based wind power developer seeking to build a $398 million, 62-turbine wind energy facility in the area has encountered opposition from a local nonprofit group as the company begins the permitting process. Blue Sky West, a subsidiary of First Wind Inc., filed an application on May 10 for a wind farm project in Somerset and Piscataquis counties and is waiting for approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection to determine whether they will proceed with the . . .
Wells County council tables vote on wind farm
Wells County officials decided to push back their decision to approve the permits to a proposed wind farm until early July. Hundreds of residents attended to voice their opposition to the proposed farm. Wind farm company Apex Wind Energy not only wants to set up shop in Wells County, but now they’re changing the height of the turbines, and where they want to build them. The Area Plan Commission drew up an ordinance in March 2012, stating all their requirements, . . .
Windfarm groups take protest to EU meeting
The midlands’ anti-windfarm campaigners intend taking their grievances to Dublin Castle next week, to protest outside an energy conference taking place as one of the final events of Ireland’s EU presidency. Buses are running from locations across the county, with a view to marching from Christ Church Cathedral to Dublin Castle for the 13th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, on June 21 and 22. The cost of the buses is to be subsidised by the groups lobbying . . .
Wind power ‘terrorising’ rural communities, rally hear
Farmers from across the country have described a constant rumbling and pulsing in their heads and a feeling of oppressive anxiety they attribute to wind power. About 150 people from small towns across the country turned up to a three-hour rally at Canberra’s Parliament House hosted by shock jock Alan Jones, who was keen to keep the tone polite. In scenes very different to the infamous carbon tax protest on the same spot in 2011, where protesters held offensive placards . . .
Green Mountain Power wants permit to kill endangered bats
How much is a little brown bat worth? According to Green Mountain Power’s calculation, about $1 million a year. The utility has asked for a state permit to kill four of the endangered creatures a year at its 21-turbine Lowell wind project. GMP says if it has to follow all the protections needed to spare every bat from getting thrashed by the turbine blades, it would cost the utility $4 million a year in reduced power output. In a sign . . .
Coalition divided over wind power: report says ‘stop building turbines’
The ruling parties VVD and Labour are divided over the future of wind power following the publication of a new report which called for a five-year moratorium on plans to build more wind turbines. The cabinet and provinces agreed earlier this year to build at least 1,000 new wind turbines but the VVD now wants to drop the plan, Nos television reports. The macro-economic planning bureau CPB said in its report there should be a halt in the wind turbine . . .
Siemens expects charges due to wind-turbine glitch
MUNICH–German engineering and electronics company Siemens AG SI +1.07% said Monday it is facing charges to its earnings due to technical problems with wind turbines in the U.S. The charges will weigh on Siemens’ earnings in the fiscal third quarter, which ends on June 30, said a spokeswoman. Last year, Siemens’ net profit amounted to 923 million euros ($1.23 billion) in the April-to-June quarter. Siemens didn’t provide a specific figure, but J.P. Morgan estimates that the added costs amount to . . .
Johnston City Council discusses allowing larger wind turbine in city
Disruptive noise and lighting were two concerns raised at a Johnston City Council meeting where a DuPont Pioneer official presented the company’s wishes to build a 2-megawatt wind turbine in one of its research fields in the city. But even with concerns, city council members expressed excitement about the potential project at their meeting on Monday night. “I think as we move forward, you’re going to see these turbines start to dot the landscape more and more like we already . . .
