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	<title>National Wind Watch: News Watch &#187; Japan</title>
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	 	<title>National Wind Watch: News Watch &#187; Japan</title>
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	<description>Industrial Wind Energy News</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:48:53 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Govt eyes relaxation of rules on construction of renewable energy plants</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/06/govt-eyes-relaxation-of-rules-on-construction-of-renewable-energy-plants/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:39:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[The government is considering relaxing regulations on building solar power plants and other renewable energy facilities to promote their use in the country, according to government sources. A Government Revitalization Unit subpanel tasked with discussing deregulation and system reforms intends to exempt solar power generation plants from acreage restrictions in the Factory Location Law. The subpanel, chaired by Sumitomo Corp. Chairman Motoyuki Oka, has drawn up a plan to relax regulations in 183 energy-related fields. The Government Revitalization Unit is .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=18714</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Empty farms eyed for power generation</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/24/empty-farms-eyed-for-power-generation/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:04:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has decided to take advantage of abandoned or dormant farmland to encourage power generation using renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power. The ministry plans to submit bills to the Diet in February revising the Agricultural Land Law, the Forest Law and other related laws to relax regulations on the use of farmland and forests. Furthermore, it also plans to offer financial assistance to agricultural production companies that also engage in the .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=18184</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Fewer new wind power installations in Japan</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/11/fewer-new-wind-power-installations-in-japan/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:06:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[Many of Japan’s politicians have said the country has to look to renewable energy sources for the future, yet the country’s new wind power installations will drop by 68 percent in the current fiscal year. About 82 megawatts of power will have been installed by the end of the fiscal year, a report by the Japan Wind Power Association points out. During the previous fiscal year, the country managed to install 256 megawatts. The reason for the significant drop in .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=17592</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Japan wind power installations to drop 68% as subsidies halted</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/10/japan-wind-power-installations-to-drop-68-as-subsidies-halted/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:09:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[Japan&#8217;s wind power installations for the year ending in March will decline 68 percent after the government halted a program that provided subsidies for clean energy projects, an industry association said. The country will add 33 turbines generating 82 megawatts of wind power for the year ending March, according to an estimate by the Japan Wind Power Association released today. For the year ended March 2011, Japan installed 256 megawatts. Japan stopped direct subsidies in 2010 that paid for a .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=17540</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Law eyed to let localities take control of unused land</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/05/law-eyed-to-let-localities-take-control-of-unused-land/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:47:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[The farm ministry is mulling a new law to promote power generation in farming and fishing communities using renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, government sources said. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry aims to establish a system under which scattered unused farmland would be consolidated to make room for power-generation facilities. Municipal governments would be able to set up councils to coordinate between power operators, landowners and local residents, while the operators would be able to receive .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=17325</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Gov&#8217;t eyes new law to promote renewable energy in farming communities</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/05/govt-eyes-new-law-to-promote-renewable-energy-in-farming-communities/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:32:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[TOKYO (Kyodo) &#8212; The farm ministry is considering a new law to promote power generation in farming and fishing communities using renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, government sources said Tuesday. The legislation, envisioned by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry which could be submitted during the upcoming regular parliamentary session starting this month, aims to establish a system under which scattered unused farmland would be consolidated to make room for power generation facilities. Under the legislation, the .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=17304</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Lightning is nemesis of windmills, threatening Japan&#8217;s renewable energy campaign</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/11/04/lightning-is-nemesis-of-windmills-threatening-japans-renewable-energy-campaign/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:19:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[SAPPORO &#8212; As Japan moves to shift away from nuclear power, wind power, a potential key player among renewable energy sources, faces a stubborn foe: lightning. Hokkaido hosts 266 windmills, the most among Japan&#8217;s 47 prefectures, and about 90 percent of them are located along the Sea of Japan coast, where lightning frequently occurs between fall and winter. But no definite way to solve the problem is in sight and operators of these windmills are struggling to cope with lightning-caused .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=15058</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Firemen left red-faced after hoses too short to extinguish wind-turbine fire in Hokkaido</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/03/firemen-left-red-faced-after-hoses-too-short-to-extinguish-wind-turbine-fire-in-hokkaido/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:28:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[WAKKANAI, Hokkaido — Firefighters were left red-faced here after their hoses were too short to extinguish a fire in the turbine of a wind power generator in the area, it was revealed. The incident happened at around 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 2 on the premises of the wind power generation company, Sarakitomanai Wind Power Co., in the city of Wakkanai, northern Hokkaido. According to company officials, on Oct. 1 they detected warning signs for their No. 2 wind turbine and .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=15081</guid>
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					<item>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Northern utilities seeking expanded ewind power</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/01/northern-utilities-seeking-expanded-wind-power/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:22:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[Three regional electric utilities said Friday that they will conduct tests aimed at increasing wind power generation in northern Japan. The effort, tentatively scheduled for fiscal 2014, will involve Hokkaido Electric Power Co. (9509), Tohoku Electric Power Co. (9506) and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501), also known as Tepco. Electric companies use conventional power plants to compensate for swings in output from wind farms. Since both Hokkaido Electric and Tohoku Electric have scant fossil-fuel-based generating capacity, they have little freedom .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=13755</guid>
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					<item>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Wind power quest faces stability, regulatory hurdles</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/28/wind-power-quest-faces-stability-regulatory-hurdles/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:27:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[Like steady breeze and ideal sites, utilities&#8217; commitment also eludes. MINAMIAWAJI, Hyogo Pref. — Southern Awaji Island is technically in Hyogo Prefecture. But its location — within sight of Shikoku just across the Inland Sea — bright sunshine, and strong gusting winds give it the feel of a subtropical island. The breezes are especially important, because the city of Minamiawaji, the main population center, is home to a wind farm that sits on a hilly area between 118 and 225 .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=13586</guid>
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					<item>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>No rush to turn to renewables</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/14/no-rush-to-turn-to-renewables/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 07:47:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[Since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, faith in renewable energy sources has spread fast in many corners of the world as an emissions-free means of generating electricity. But placing excessive expectations on renewable energy sources could backfire on the Japanese economy and industry. Major European countries like Germany, Switzerland and Italy have decided to do away with nuclear power. In Japan, major projects have been set afoot in Japan, each .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=12963</guid>
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					<item>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Japan pins hopes on green power laws, risks abound</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/23/japan-pins-hopes-on-green-power-laws-risks-abound/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:17:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[Japan&#8217;s lawmakers have the opportunity to show how strong their support is for boosting renewable power supply to replace nuclear reactors with the passage of a green energy subsidy scheme likely within days. The country is struggling to overhaul its energy policies after the March quake and tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster that shattered the public&#8217;s confidence in the safety of the atomic industry and delayed the restart of idled plants. Costly oil and gas imports have soared. There is .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=12196</guid>
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					<item>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Govt to require green impact studies for wind farms</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/10/govt-to-require-green-impact-studies-for-wind-farms/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:44:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[The government plans to make environmental assessments mandatory before any wind power station capable of generating at least 10,000kw can be constructed. The Ministry of Environment on Tuesday released a draft ordinance aimed at adding wind farms to the list of structures regulated by the Environmental Impact Assessment Law. Studies will determine the distance noise can carry and evaluate the impact on the surrounding ecology, including the risk of birds colliding with facilities. The ministry will seek cabinet approval as .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=11763</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Kansai Electric curbs wind farm over noise concerns</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/05/kansai-electric-curbs-wind-farm-over-noise-concerns/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:31:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[A utility in western Japan said on Friday it will limit planned operations at its first wind farm to take account of residents&#8217; concerns about noise, highlighting a snag in the nation&#8217;s efforts to encourage renewable energy. Kansai Electric Power Co said it would cut the capacity of the wind farm on Awaji Island, about 70 km (40 miles) west of Osaka, to 14 megawatts using seven turbines, and limit nighttime operations to four of the turbines. The utility, which .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=11638</guid>
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					<item>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Fact-finding study about wind power noise</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/10/15/fact-finding-study-about-wind-power-noise/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:09:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[TOKYO &#8211;The Ministry of the Environment has compiled the results of a questionnaire survey it conducted to ascertain the facts of noise and low-frequency sound caused by wind power facilities installed in Japan. Of the 389 sites of wind power facilities nationwide for which responses were received, the survey found that 64 had received complaints about noise and low-frequency sound. The Ministry intends to conduct the survey on an on-going basis and shed light on the facts of noise and .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=1877</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>New rules stymie investments in wind power</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/23/new-rules-stymie-investments-in-wind-power/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:21:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[The government&#8217;s new system for promoting renewable energy could ironically dampen the enthusiasm of wind power generation companies to build new facilities. Under the planned system, established power companies will be required to purchase all the electricity generated through renewable sources such as wind and sunlight at prices higher than existing levels. However, wind power companies have been reluctant to invest in new projects because details have yet to be finalized. The purchase price of the electricity, for example, a .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=1316</guid>
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				<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category>Wind power</category>
		<category>Wind energy</category>
		<title>Sickness claims prompt study of wind turbines</title>
		<link>http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/01/19/sickness-claims-prompt-study-of-wind-turbines/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:08:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<description><![CDATA[Turbines used for wind power generation, pushed as a promising renewable energy source, will come under government scrutiny because of the possible impact on the health of residents. The Environment Ministry will conduct its first field survey of possible health hazards of wind turbines, covering all of more than 1,500 units in operation across the country. The four-year study, to start in April, was planned following complaints from neighborhood residents about noise and environmental problems as well as health issues. .&#160;.&#160;.]]></description>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wind-watch.org/news/?p=1553</guid>
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