Wind Power News: New Zealand
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.
Turbines likely to stay at 97
The Te Rere Hau wind farm near Palmerston North is unlikely to go beyond 97 turbines in the medium term, despite the granting of a resource consent for a 56-turbine extension.
Commissioners for Horizons Regional Council and Tararua District Council ruled an extension on the eastern side of the Tararua Range should be permitted.
The decision should allow New Zealand Windfarms to improve the economics of running the farm.
New Zealand Windfarms already had consent for 97 turbines on the Palmerston North . . .
Council checking on 750 Makara complaints about wind farm noise
The Wellington City Council has asked the company behind a new wind farm at Makara to report on noise issues after receiving more than 750 complaints.
Meridian Energy’s Project West Wind, which opened in April last year, has 62 turbines in the area around the settlement.
Complaints lodged by residents with the council include loud bangs and disturbance of sleep caused by a low-pitched hum.
The council says it has no evidence Meridian is breaching its resource consents, but is seeking to have . . .
Report requested on wind farm noise
Wellington City Council has asked the company behind a new wind farm at Makara to report on noise issues after receiving more than 750 complaints.
Meridian Energy’s Project West Wind, which opened in April last year, has 62 turbines in the area around the settlement.
Compliants lodged by residents with the council include loud bangs and disturbance of sleep caused by a low-pitched hum.
The council says it has no evidence Meridian is breaching its resource consents, but is seeking to have . . .
Mighty River turbine trim ‘cosmetic’
Seventeen turbines have been chopped from Mighty River Power’s planned Turitea Wind Farm near Palmerston North – but opponents say the changes don’t go far enough.
Opposition group Tararua-Aokautere Guardians (TAG) president Kevin Low said the power company had promised a redesign of its proposal, but produced only “a light trim”.
The company embarked on a redesign in September after it appeared its proposal was unlikely to get the go-ahead from a Government-appointed board of inquiry. The new layout plan was . . .
Wind farm opponents may challenge court’s consent
Opponents of a $400 million wind farm planned for the central North Island may appeal against an Environment Court decision allowing the project to go ahead.
The court approved Meridian Energy’s 130-megawatt Central Wind project between Taihape and Waiouru.
Meridian will build 52 wind turbines across five private farms to generate enough electricity to power 50,000 homes.
Resource consent was granted in December 2008 by Horizons Regional Council and Rangitikei District Council, but a group of local landowners made an appeal to the . . .
Meridian wind farm gets go-ahead
Meridian Energy can proceed with a central North Island wind farm, following an Environment Court ruling.
The 52-turbine farm, named Project Central Wind, will generate about 120 to 130 megawatts, or enough to power about 50,000 homes. It is spread over five rural properties between Waiouru and Taihape.
Meridian chief executive Tim Lusk welcomed the decision, saying the site had consistently strong winds, allowing the farm to generate power about 90 percent of the time.
“Meridian is delighted that the Environment . . .
New wind farm design unveiling
Mighty River Power’s redesign of its planned Turitea wind farm near Palmerston North will be laid bare next week.
The scope of changes to the original application has been a closely-guarded secret so far, but the power company will soon unveil the altered scheme it hopes will get the green light from a government-appointed board of inquiry.
Submitters at the hearing, which is due to resume in March, have until February 22 to make written comment on the changes.
Mighty River Power . . .
Te Rere Hau wind farm decision delayed
A decision on whether or not New Zealand Windfarms should be allowed to extend the Te Rere Hau wind farm on the Tararua Range has been delayed.
The decision was expected this week, but hearing commissioners for Horizons Regional Council and Tararua District Council requested more time.
A result is now expected on February 1. NZ Windfarms chief executive Steve Cross said he was frustrated by the delay.
NZ Windfarms hopes to build 56 turbines on the eastern side of the Tararua . . .
Further wind turbines for Ward on cards
Christchurch wind development company Energy3 has made a second resource consent application to erect wind turbines near Ward, and plans are in the pipeline for a third turbine project elsewhere in Marlborough.
Energy3 and the Lulworth Family Trust have applied to the Marlborough District Council for consent to construct up to four turbines up to 47 metres high on the Lulworth family farm, 6.5 kilometres south of Ward.
The consent application also includes excavation of 2600 cubic metres of dirt to . . .
Wind knocked out of battlers
Opponents of a planned Central Otago windfarm say their David and Goliath fight with state-owned energy company Meridian has bled them dry.
Heavily in debt from their successful Environment Court appeal against Meridian’s plans to spend $2 billion building a 176-turbine windfarm on the Lammermoor Range in Central Otago, they now face having to take on deep-pocketed Meridian again.
Meridian will appeal the ruling which cancelled the consent for the Project Hayes windfarm because the negative effects on the unique landscape . . .
