Wind Power News: Iowa
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.
Wind turbine to serve as sculpture at I-80 rest area
An Interstate 80 rest area in western Iowa is closed today for the installation of a wind turbine blade. Mark Masteller, with the Iowa Department of Transportation, is quick to point out the blade is not being placed on a functioning wind turbine. “We did look into that because wind energy is a theme for this rest area,” Masteller said. “But, this rest area is pretty low in the landscape. It’s kind of down in a bottom area, next to . . .
Wind company proposes plan for Northwest Iowa
A northwest Iowa county has been chosen as the site for a $250-million wind energy converter station. O’Brien County was chosen by Clean Line Energy Partners last week, although a specific site hasn’t been picked. The company says 2,000 wind turbines will need to be built around the converter station, in several northwest Iowa communities to help transfer the energy. Clean Line is looking to use this converter stations to transfer wind energy from northwest Iowa to Illinois. Hans Detweiler, . . .
Wind turbines pose threat to birds, too
The Des Moines Register editorial board opined recently about the use of lead shot by hunters (“It’s Time Iowa Lets Go of Lead Ammo,” Jan. 9 editorial). There is a valid debate on this subject. In the spirit of consistency, the Register needs to take a position on bird deaths from wind turbines. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wind turbines across the country kill 500,000 birds annually. It has also been reported that the wind farm near . . .
Latham: Natural gas blocks wind tax credit
U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ia., suggested Thursday that natural gas interests have helped block renewal of a tax credit for wind producers. “They’re pushing hard against wind, of course,” Latham said at a state Capitol event highlighting Iowa’s wind energy industry. The production tax credit of 2 cents per megawatt hour expires December 2012. Supporters want the tax credit renewed for four years, and fear that failure will cause wind development to “fall off the table,” in the words of . . .
Iowa carbon emissions rise despite wind power
Iowa has bucked a national trend and increased its energy-related carbon dioxide emissions over the past decade despite the growth of the state’s wind industry. The carbon intensity of Iowa’s energy supply fell by 14.3 percent from 2000 to 2009, more than any other state, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration. That growth reflects the growth of wind power generation over the decade, said Nathaniel Baer, energy program director for the Iowa Environmental Council. South Dakota showed . . .
Federal lawsuit filed in Winnebago County wind turbine accident
CEDAR RAPIDS – A man injured in a 60-foot fall while working on a wind turbine in November 2009 in Winnebago County has filed a lawsuit against the corporation that made the safety equipment he was using at the time. Timothy W. Flack, no address available, filed the lawsuit against Tractel LTD of Toronto, as well as Tractel Group of Germany and Tractel, Inc., of Massachusetts, in district court in November. The case was moved to federal court this week. . . .
Company freezes proposed Plymouth County wind farm projects
Poor market conditions have stalled a possible wind energy project in Plymouth County. Horizon Wind Energy, the company that installed several test towers for two potential wind farms in Plymouth County has “put the project on hold,” according to Roby Roberts, a spokesman for EDP Renewables, which owns Horizon. “Demand for energy is way down, due to the recession,” Roberts said. In addition, there is a lot of very inexpensive natural gas available, he said. “That has really put wind . . .
Natural gas takes air out of wind
Two stories from the east coast about troubles or delays in wind energy projects in the face of cheap and abundant natural gas will put another cold breeze on future prospects for wind energy in the U.S. The Charlotte Observer reports that Iberdola Renewables has shelved, at least temporarily, plans for a major wind farm in North Carolina because utilities are switching to cheaper and increasingly abundant natural gas rather than wind to meet environmental regulations. The Observer story says . . .
Supervisors discuss wind turbine proposal
Johnson County officials tweaked a proposal Thursday to remove restrictions on residents and businesses building wind turbines on their properties, raising the maximum height before needing to obtain a permit. The change would eliminate the obligation for residents building turbines 100 feet tall or shorter — up from the former proposal of 80 feet — and producing no more than 10 kilowatts to obtain a conditional use permit. The permit carries a fee and attaining one can be a cumbersome . . .
Trucking key to wind farm projects
MANLY, Iowa — If you’ve driven on Iowa’s roadways, chances are good you’ve seen one of those specialized rigs, hauling giant parts for wind turbines. Transporting the turbines from the factory to the rural wind farm sites is no simple task. Each unit can take up to 10 truckloads. MidAmerican Energy Co’s new 13-turbine wind farm near the northwest Iowa town of Pomeroy, completed this summer, required more than 130 separate deliveries, for example. Siemens Energy supplied the 13 turbines . . .
