Wind Power News: Estonia
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 farm exploration pilots seek birdless areas
A team of pilots is performing observation flights above the coast of Saaremaa and Ruhnu islands to determine where an offshore wind farm might be set up as part of the Estonia-Latvia cooperation program. “The goal is to map the locations of birds and seals and to take wind and ice readings to establish where the most favorable spot for offshore wind farms is,” said University of Life Sciences agriculture and environment institute researcher Leho Luigujõe in the island’s daily, . . .
More local governments insist on fees for hosting wind farms
A phalanx of 135-meter-high giants will start spinning next year in Paldiski, generating power for more than ten times more people than live in the town. For now town officials are appeased by a deal under which Paldiski will get 0.5 percent of the profit generated by the wind farm. The developers of the Pakri wind farm – the biggest in the Batics – will pay the city about 64,000 euros per year under a deal signed by the former . . .
Minister continues battle with wind farms
Although the idea to decrease state support for renewable energy, proposed by the Minister of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts last year, was never realized due to Reform Party opposition, the minister said that he will make a second attempt to change the situation. “[The ministry] believes that the current government contributions are unreasonably high and [wind energy] developers are able to manage with much smaller support,” a ministry press representative said. Such changes should also mean that the electricity prices . . .
Island residents oppose wind farms
Some Hiiumaa residents are less than thrilled about a plan to build 200 sea-based wind turbines off the island’s northern and western coasts, saying that the generators threaten isolated area’s reputation for beauty and tranquility. In response to an environmental impact report released by the Ministry of the Environment in April, nonprofits raised concerns that the three clusters of wind turbines, especially one to be established near a harbor, would mar the seaside view of the sunset. In a statement . . .
Rustle of controversy over new turbines in western county
Residents in a municipality in western Estonia are opposing new wind turbines in their proverbial backyards by citing a draft four-county plan that prohibits the noisy devices from being built closer than one kilometer to the nearest dwelling. Such a distance would be far longer than the 300-400 meters for most of the European Union, but since the plan has not been approved yet, it is unclear whether the local lobby has grounds for blocking the turbines. The original idea . . .
Investigative journalist to be EPAW’s spokesman in Scandinavia
[Wind Watch is a little late in posting this announcement, and do so now along with several pieces by Peter Skeel Hjorth in the Resource Library.] Our organisation, which regroups 358 member-associations, federations and other groups from 19 European countries, has the pleasure of announcing the nomination of Peter Skeel Hjorth as its spokesman for Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) plus Finland and the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia). He will represent EPAW in these countries, sending or relaying . . .
