Wind Power News: Australia
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.
Hydro ‘funds for votes’ accusation
The State government-owned company Hydro Tasmania has been accused of offering incentives to committee members on King Island abattoir projects to secure votes for the company’s feasibility study into the TasWind project – a 600-megawatt wind farm proposed for the island. Hydro Tasmania employees – new developments manager Tony Field and senior project manager Patrick Burke – met the King Island multi-species abattoir committee on Monday and it has been claimed the committee was offered funding for proposed abattoir projects . . .
An ill wind
On tiny King Island, you’re never far from the sea. Its location in the Bass Strait means the island’s right in the middle of the Roaring Forties, and experiences wind speeds of about eight metres a second. ‘Anything over 10 [metres a second] becomes challenging, anything under 8 becomes challenging,’ says David Mounter, the wind asset development manager with Hydro Tasmania. ‘It’s probably the best wind resource in Australia.’ State-government owned Hydro Tasmania is Australia’s biggest renewable energy generator. It . . .
King Islanders to vote on huge wind farm
TONY EASTLEY: In less than a fortnight, the small community of King Island will vote on whether to give the go ahead to a $2 billion wind farm – the largest in the southern hemisphere. The state-owned developer, Hydro Tasmania says the project could generate more than a quarter of the nation’s target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020. However not all islanders are so convinced. Health concerns stemming from the wind turbines have been publicised on King . . .
King Island petition seeks end to wind farm plan
Hydro Tasmanian is facing local resistance to its King Island wind farm proposal. More than 400 people have signed a petition aimed at stopping the $2 billion project entering the next stage of development. Hydro Tasmania is planning to poll voters on the Bass Strait island about whether they want it to go ahead. Petition organiser Jim Benn says the wind farm would be detrimental to the island’s long term future. “Here we have a unique position in the world . . .
Wind farms risk local jobs
Ted McIntosh has based his aerial fertilising business, Yass Air Proprietary Limited, out of his Black Range Road property since 1975. He has now found out, through a newsletter, that his airstrip will be situated “not three kilometres” from the 152 proposed turbines. This is inside the likely aerial exclusion zone, which Mr McIntosh says will be at least six kilometres, and will close down his runway, preventing him from flying his two aircraft. “I found out about it because . . .
Wind farm under threat
About a third of King Island’s adult population have signed a petition in opposition to Hydro Tasmania’s plan to build a massive 200-turbine wind farm on the Bass Strait island. The No TasWind Farm Group, which has now hired the services of a mainland PR company to help it fight the $2 billion proposal, collected 434 signatures on its petition which has been presented to the King Island Council. Hydro Tasmania will conduct a survey next month to assess how . . .
Wind turbines but no jobs
Despite the promises South Australia will never become a hub for manufacturing wind turbines, towers or blades, according to evidence at a parliamentary inquiry into wind energy. “It’s disappointing,” inquiry chair David Ridgway said. “I’d hoped that as the wind power capital of Australia, with over half the installed wind generating capacity, SA would have had hundreds of jobs in manufacturing turbines and blades. “Instead we hear they’re all imported from the USA, Europe or China, and that’s not going . . .
Windy debate questions natural power
An independent body, appointed by the Government to speak on behalf of regional South Australians, has reported that farmers with land near wind-driven power stations are facing lower profits and falling land values. The report from the Regional Communities Consultative Council (RCCC) came as groups gathered to give evidence during a parliamentary investigation into the social and economic effects of the wind-powered station, which highlighted the clash taking place between the energy industry and primary production sector. RCCC chair Peter . . .
Can wind turbines make you sick?
No easy answers as turbines pop up around the world. After years of complaints about noise and health effects, on May 21, 2013 residents of Falmouth, MA will vote on whether or not to tear down both of the town’s wind turbines. (Credit: Mass. Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs) When it comes to renewable energy, wind is the leader of the pack. Wind energy in the U.S. grew by a whopping 30 percent in 2012, and the U.S. is . . .
Yass Valley wind farm community survey
In April 2013 Yass Landscape Guardians carried out a telephone survey of 183 residents and landowners within 8kms of the proposed Yass Valley Wind Farm. A large majority (70%) of the 112 respondents do not support the development with only 16% supportive. These results are consistent with the results measured by a similar survey in the Collector area taken in 2012. Both these surveys contradict claims of strong community support made by the wind farm developers, and generally accepted by . . .
