Wind Power News: Connecticut
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.
Concern about Cape Wind, land preservation voiced at hearing on planned utilities merger
State utility regulators heard from just two speakers Wednesday night at a public hearing on the proposed merger of Northeast Utilities and NSTAR, a Boston-based utility. Elizabeth Gilson, representing the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, and Jim McAlister, of New Fairfield, were the only members of the public to attend the hearing held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The 6:30 p.m. hearing, scheduled to end at 10 p.m., adjourned at 7:10. In opening remarks, Kevin DelGobbo, director of . . .
Concern about Cape Wind, land preservation voiced at hearing on planned utilities merger
State utility regulators heard from just two speakers Wednesday night at a public hearing on the proposed merger of Northeast Utilities and NSTAR, a Boston-based utility. Elizabeth Gilson, representing the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, and Jim McAlister, of New Fairfield, were the only members of the public to attend the hearing held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The 6:30 p.m. hearing, scheduled to end at 10 p.m., adjourned at 7:10. In opening remarks, Kevin DelGobbo, director of . . .
Wind turbines bad for earth, people
‘Wind farms’: old behemoths Regarding the Jan. 30 cover story, “Wind power: clean but mean?”: Abandoned industrial-sized wind turbines already litter the globe. To call them “wind farms” attempts to put a pastoral face on a decidedly industrial entity. Filled with rare earth minerals mined in the most non-eco-friendly manner in China, these 500-foot-tall behemoths are inefficient to run, expensive to repair, and frequently abandoned when their tax credit has been captured by the corporation or municipality responsible for them. . . .
Appeal of windfarms’ approval proceeds in New Britain court
COLEBROOK — A citizens’ group appeal of two mini-wind farms in town is moving ahead in court. A New Britain Superior Court judge upheld the legality of FairwindCT’s appeal this week, according to the group’s lawyer, Nicholas Harding of Hartford. Judge Henry S. Cohn opened a hearing on the case Monday. The hearing is an opportunity for the judge to ask questions and clarify information he has from the parties involved, Harding said. FairwindCT is opposed to the development of . . .
New England transmission debated as generation additions continue
New England’s policies supporting building increased renewable generation is underpinning pressure to invest in new transmission infrastructure in the region, with advocates for new power lines saying the projects will boost employment and alleviate existing high regional electricity costs. Each of the six states in the New England region has “some form” of renewable energy portfolio standard, the organizers of the New England Clean Energy Transmission Summit held this week in Boston, said. Those state policies align with federal policies . . .
New rules could boost New England renewable power
New England is decidedly short on coal mines and oil wells, but electricity grid watchers say a recent federal order could help the region finally unlock the power in the energy sources it does have. A federal order issued last fall is intended to make it easier to construct transmission lines, costly and controversial projects that are notoriously tough to build. More wires are badly needed in New England to connect customers to the region’s often remote sources of renewable . . .
City moves forward with green energy plans
BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport is getting greener, little by little. Solar panels and an electric-car charger are coming to the city. A wind turbine may also be in the future. The City Council recently approved a state-funded project to put solar panels on two Bridgeport schools — Blackham School and Central High School. The solar panels will generate at least 10 percent of the power used by the schools. The project will be bid out in mid-February and the panels will . . .
Connecticut changes course, will review utilities merger
Connecticut regulators are throwing a potential new short-circuit into Boston-based NStar [NST]’s proposed $4.7 billion merger with Connecticut’s Northeast Utilities. The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority — which had previously ruled that it didn’t have jurisdiction over the deal — reversed itself today and tentatively decided the merger needs the agency’s approval after all. The decision means the deal, which Massachusetts regulators have already been scrutinizing for a year, will face a separate review by Connecticut officials. However, NStar and . . .
Colebrook First Selectman challenger advocates transparency, accountability
The Truss family moved to Colebrook six years ago, in part because of its rural character. But the approval of two wind farms in the primarily residential town — one of which will be across the street from the Truss household — spurred Truss into action. According to Truss, “The whiole thing was completed behind the scenes,” pointing towards the lack of any discussion of the turbines in Board of Selectmen minutes.
“That just speaks volumes for everyone in town,” Truss said.
Siting Council holds forum on wind energy rules
NEW BRITAIN — The Connecticut Siting Council asked the public to outline what they want new wind project regulations to look like last Thursday. The afternoon forum, which attracted only six speakers, is the first step in creating rules on where new wind turbines can be built. The council faces a June 2012 deadline. It plans to release draft regulations in December. The council quashed BNE Energy’s effort to erect turbines in Prospect, but approved its petitions to install six . . .
