Wind Power News: Georgia
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.
PSC official wants push for renewable energy
Georgia should consider a mandate that would require utilities to get a larger percentage of their fuel from alternative sources such as solar, even if it costs consumers another nickel a month, a state utility regulator said Tuesday. Georgia Public Service Commissioner Bubba McDonald said such a standard would beef up the currently undervalued market for solar in Georgia and open the market for new investors. McDonald didn’t give a timetable or other specifics. “As we look at energy down . . .
Renewable energy costs must be competitive, Georgia Power says
ATLANTA — Renewable energy must cost about the same as traditional power sources such as natural gas or coal-fired power plants before Georgia Power will buy green energy on a large scale, company executives said Monday. Officials from the Southern Co. subsidiary said at a Statehouse conference that it wants to increase its usage of solar power from just more than four megawatts now to more than 55 megawatts by 2015. That’s still a relatively small amount of electricity, or . . .
Moratorium on wind turbines in Walker County
NO INDUSTRIAL WIND TURBINES WILL BE ALLOWED ANYWHERE IN WALKER COUNTY, UNDER A MORITORIUM SIGNED THURSDAY BY COMMISSIONER BEBE HEISKELL. IN SIGNING THE ORDINANCE, HEISKELL SAID “IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY”. SHE WAS REFERING TO A PROPOSED WIND-FARM ATOP LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. AN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION OBTAINED A PROMISE OF FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS TO BUILD UP TO 120 OF THE MASSIVE WIND-MILLS THAT PRODUCE ELECTRIC POWER FOR SALE. 80 OF THE 350-FOOT TALL TURBINES WERE . . .
Wind power idea has potential but little momentum in Georgia island
When wind-power boosters planned a town hall meeting Thursday in tiny Tybee Island, Ga., they slotted speaking time after the mayor for a manager from a British industry incubator. Two weeks earlier, a Danish company that designs ships to install offshore windmills had announced it would open an office in Fort Lauderdale, despite a total absence of nearby wind farms. Both decisions underscore a message that environmental advocates worked to project last week by releasing a report that promotes the . . .
Opposition to wind turbine farm on Lookout Mountain grows
A group against the project collected hundreds of signatures. And at least one Walker County leader doesn’t think it’s such a good idea. Chris Long, a plant manager for Iberdrola Renewables said in a training video, “Compared to other forms of power generation it’s totally clean energy. All we’re using is the wind.” But not if some residents can stop it. Nearly 550 people signed a petition against the wind farm. They gave Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell a copy. . . .
Commissioners given petitions opposing Lookout Mountain wind project
Members of the Lookout Mountain Wind Project Task Force (LMWPTF) have presented 549 signed petitions in opposition of the potential development of an Industrial Scale Wind Turbine Farm on Lookout Mountain by Iberdrola Renewables, a Spanish Company. Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters and Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell received the petitions from Pam Vias and Carl McCleskey of the LMWPTF. The 549 petitions were gathered online or manually in the last 36 days. The petition states opposition “to the industrialization . . .
McCleskey says Spanish energy company is after federal money
The debate over a proposed wind-farm continues in Chattooga County. After a report in the local paper interviewing a local resident who was in favor of wind turbine technology and it’s possibilities in Chattooga County, some Cloudland residents are vowing to continue to fight the idea. Carl McCleskey, a twenty plus year resident on Lookout Mountain spoke with AM 1180 about concerns residents on the mountain have with the wind farm idea. McCleskey said that the term “wind farm” should . . .
Iberdrola Renewables – “We don’t feel welcome”
Residents of Lookout Mountain have protested very loudly the idea of putting wind turbines in the Cloudland Community. Friday a representative from Iberdrola Renewables told Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters and Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskel in a conference call “we don’t feel we are welcomed”. Commissioner Winters told AM 1180 on Friday afternoon that the conversation between the county governements and the energy company centered around the fact that Chattooga and Walker County residents on the mountain don’t want . . .
Windmill company reconsidering farm along top of Lookout Mountain
Copleman had said the firm is contemplating up to 120 wind turbines if tests show the wind is right along the mountain’s crest. The turbines normally are 300 feet tall and have two or three 135-foot blades.
Lookout Mountain residents organize against proposed wind farm
A large group of Lookout Mountain residents gathered Saturday, Sept. 25, to voice their opinions on a proposed wind farm on the mountain. The opinions ranged from skeptical to outright opposition. According to residents, a land acquisition specialist from Iberdrola Renewables has been contacting residents in recent weeks about leasing their property for an 80-120 wind turbine project. Iberdrola has currently completed 40 wind farms in 17 states, along with having several other projects in the works, according to its . . .
