Wind Power News: Utah
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.
PCMR wants to install wind turbine high on the mountain
Park City Mountain Resort, already feted for its environmental programs, wants to build a power-generating wind turbine and solar array in the resort’s upper reaches, a project that PCMR officials see as another step in their efforts to reduce emissions. The Park City Planning Commission on Wednesday is scheduled to hold a hearing and possibly cast a vote on the wind turbine and solar array. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Park City Council chambers at the Marsac . . .
Bats, stresses and agriculture
Bats are genuinely weird creatures, revered and feared throughout human history. The ancient Egyptians hung bats over the doorway to prevent the entry of diseases. In Africa, bats were often associated with voodoo. In China, they meant good fortune and happiness. And in modern America, they’re usually recognized as voracious eaters of insects and occasionally the carriers of rabies. Though they’re usually greeted with curiosity while chasing insects at dusk, most people are loath to touch or handle them. But . . .
Cost of wind turbines
In Seth Jarvis’ letter (“Cost of electricity,” Readers’ Forum, March 20), he highlighted the alleged hidden costs associated with coal-fired power plants. However, he fails to address the hidden costs associated with wind turbines. I will address two significant ones: 1. Wind turbines take up an immense amount of land which is extremely detrimental to the environment. 2. Wind farms that provide anything but exceptional peaking power require shadow generators. Because wind farms are not dependable — providing power only . . .
Utah groups launch challenge to Salazar’s ‘wild lands’ policy
SALT LAKE CITY — In what may be the nation’s first legal challenge to a controversial “wild lands” decision, the Utah Association of Counties and the Uintah County Commission filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The complaint in federal court in Utah challenge’s Salazar’s Secretarial Order 3310, which they assert upends a settlement agreement reached by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt and the Department of Interior over such land designations. Those decisions of declaring federal lands “wild” because of . . .
3rd phase of Milford wind project proposed
FILLMORE — A pair of meetings hosted by the Bureau of Land Management are set for mid-month to solicit comments from the public on the planned expansion of the Milford Wind Corridor project. Phase III proposes to build a wind energy facility 45 miles south of Delta that could include up to 300 wind turbine generators, in addition to an underground power collection system, a connector road system and an operation and maintenance facility. FirstWind’s Phase I, already completed, has . . .
Wind farm draws scant interest
SOUTH WEBER — A proposed $30 million wind farm near the mouth of Weber Canyon failed to blow away the South Weber City Council, resulting in the plan being tabled for further review. South Weber Winds co-owner Scott Casas approached the council Tuesday evening requesting exclusive development rights for a 10-turbine wind farm near the mouth of the canyon that would generate electricity for the cities of South Weber and Uintah. But South Weber city leaders questioned whether the city . . .
