Wind Power News: News
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.
Attica Village Board eyes wind project, water supply
ATTICA — Village officials are concerned about the safety of their water supply as the town of Orangeville considers approving a wind turbine project near the village-owned reservoir.
“There will be nine turbines in our watershed area,” Village Administrator Doug Post said at a Village Board meeting Tuesday. “Obviously, we need to protect our reservoir.”
The reservoir supplies water to all of the village users.
Post sent a letter to the town of Orangeville in December requesting that village officials be included when . . .
Montpelier lands $8M energy grant
MONTPELIER — Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Thursday that Montpelier will receive an $8 million grant from the United States Department of Energy to bring wood-fueled heat and power from the state plant into the city’s downtown, serving City Hall and more than 150 other downtown buildings.
The funds are part of $20.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support community-based renewable energy projects, such as wood, wind and solar installations, the DOE said. There were a total of . . .
Some landowners want a more farm-friendly deal from Tonbridge
Some Montana farmers still are worried about how the Montana Alberta Tie Line will affect farming operations and say they want impacts minimized before they sign final agreements with developer Tonbridge Power Co.
“We want it done as farming friendly as possible, and we’ve had to really work on this,” said Lee Otness, who farms near Brady.
Otness said Tonbridge hasn’t threatened the use of eminent domain but said that possibility still is hanging over the heads of landowners despite assurances from . . .
To friends of the Highland mountains & surrounding communities
In regards to the proposed wind towers in Highland Plantation, I could not agree more to mind your own business. As a matter of fact it’s all I would ask my neighbors to do.
Don’t believe me; don’t believe Angus King and Robert Garnier, the developers. Please research and find out for yourself what the wind towers will mean to Highland and the surrounding communities. KNOW that the tax relief that is being promised is going to be long term; KNOW . . .
Concern as China clamps down on rare earth exports
Britain and other Western countries risk running out of supplies of certain highly sought-after rare metals that are vital to a host of green technologies, amid growing evidence that China, which has a monopoly on global production, is set to choke off exports of valuable compounds.
Failure to secure alternative long-term sources of rare earth elements (REEs) would affect the manufacturing and development of low-carbon technology, which relies on the unique properties of the 17 metals to mass-produce eco-friendly innovations such . . .
Iberdrola chief warns on cost of green power
Energy prices will have to rise if companies are to make the investments needed to cut carbon dioxide emissions, the head of the world’s largest wind power company has said.
Ignacio Galán, the chief executive of Iberdrola, the number one generator of wind power in Europe, and number two in the US, through its subsidiary Iberdrola Renovables, said consumers should “pay more [but] consume less”.
He also said the Spanish energy utility hoped for about another $470m in stimulus funding for renewable . . .
Turbines, mobile signs held off until next council session
Ward 4 City Councilor Ed Cameron, who heads the City Council Planning and Development Committee, sent an e-mail out Friday, stating that the committee has not been able to schedule a joint hearing with the Planning Board to act on two issues still before the committee.
“Because of the complexity of the issues and the complexity of scheduling the Joint Hearing(s) with the Planning Board, the Wind Turbine Ordinance and the Mobile Sign issue will not be acted upon in this . . .
Who called the meeting?
Jerusalem, N.Y. — Some Jerusalem residents who attended the Jerusalem Town Board meeting and public hearing on a subdivision law on Nov. 18 were rather puzzled. They had received a letter urging them to attend the meeting because the town was going to talk about wind turbines.
As the agenda moved from the public hearing to regular business, wind farms never came up until a committee report. Councilman Ray Stewart reported that a few people who had concerns about . . .
Commission talk is of wind turbines
Home-sized wind turbines wafted closer to having their own permit process defined for city limits Wednesday.
The Bismarck Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approving a draft ordinance for devices that can produce up to 25 kilowatts of power.
The Bismarck City Commission must still give its consent.
City planner Gregg Greenquist outlined the proposed requirements at a public hearing Wednesday. He said this policy only addresses small wind generators. “The big ones are for three to five megawatts. We are talking 25 kilowatts.”
He . . .
Nocturnal wind maximum mapped for first time
On beautiful, sunny days with quiet weather conditions a strong wind develops in the evening at a height of about 200 metres.
Peter Baas from the Netherlands Meteorological Institute is the first to map how such a powerful wind develops high in the air. With his research he has made an important contribution to the improvement of weather and climate models. Moreover, knowledge of these air currents is important for the aviation sector and the generation of wind energy, for . . .
