Wind Power News: Blogs
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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.
Utah PSC asserts jurisdiction over wind farm transmission line
Reversing its earlier decision on the matter, the Utah Public Service Commission has concluded that a wind power project (”Milford Wind”) must obtain a certificate of convenience and necessity (”CPCN”) for a 90-mile transmission line that it proposes to build in connection with its wind farm to be built in southwest Utah. Order on Petition for Rehearing, Docket No. 08-2490-01. The Commission stuck with its decision that the power production facilities associated with the independent power project are . . .
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Financing details revealed by Nedpower / Shell WindEnergy
Over $185 million senior secured financing that will support construction and operation of NedPower Mount Storm LLC was arranged in November 2007. Dominion Power and Shell WindEnergy have joint 50/50 ownership of the project. Interestingly the original cost was estimated at $300M alone, but some of that missing funding is coming from the US government subsidies. However with the weakened dollar to the Euro and the purchase of Spanish turbines from Ganesa along with the jump in diesel prices effecting . . .
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Glyndebourne’s wind turbine and Attenborough’s shame
From the eastern end of the South Downs it is possible, on a clear day, to look out over one of the most quintessentially English of all landscapes. A vast area of Kent and Sussex countryside lies at your feet, green, undulating, heavily wooded, and tranquil. This is The Weald, known for centuries as the Garden of England. Small villages cluster round ancient churches and farmhouses slumber among well-tended fields, timeless reminders of our rural heritage. Confronted with such beauty . . .
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A new definition of agriculture
When is a car not a car? When you decide to call it a bicycle. When is a horse not a horse? When you decide to call it a cow. Just because you call something a name that does not properly describe it does not change its reality, but I live in New Jersey where reality is subject to the whim of the morons we elect to represent us.
Thus, I give you a piece of legislation sponsored by State Senator . . .
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Against the Wind: Why WVHC’s Opposition to Wind Turbines on the Allegheny Front Should not be Dimissed as a NIMBY… and other midnight reflections…
I am working this summer for the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy (WVHC). At some point, visit their website www.wvhighlands.org. My job is to set up informational tables at festivals to spread awareness of mountain top removal and the work WVHC has done and continues to do to stop it. Until recently, I’m reluctant to admit, I was ignorant of the monumental advances the WVHC has made to keep West Virginia wild and wonderful.
The group was formed in the 60s with . . .
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Tackling the winds of power
“My village has big fans that will provide all our people with nice breeze,” a kid said referring to the windmills across the hills surrounding his village, Kanavehalli, in Harapanahalli taluq, Davanagere district, Karnataka, India. The kid and many other villagers do not know that the cities, malls, and other industries have no problem with the electricity supply. However, they wonder why they cannot get their share.
Children are unable to study due to low voltage electricity at night, which restricts . . .
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Fish Juice: N.J. fisherman angling to develop offshore wind
The Journal’s Russell Gold reports:
File this one under if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
A group of commercial fishermen wants to get in on the rush to build offshore wind farms to generate electricity. It’s an interesting about face for the fishing industry, which has traditionally fought offshore industrialization – other than their own floating seafood factories, that is.
The effort is attracting attention in New Jersey, where the state is looking to provide grants for a pilot offshore wind farm.
One . . .
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No to wind farms
Thumbs up to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission for voting Monday to make it a policy to prohibit wind energy development on all of the state’s public wildlife management areas.
Earlier this year, a controversy erupted when OG&E wanted to build a wind farm on the Cooper Wildlife Management Area near Woodward. After a public outcry from sportsmen, OG&E backed off and withdrew its proposal.
A committee of state wildlife commissioners, however, continued with a study on the issue with the . . .
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Texas wind: Boone Pickens' big, big bet
Oilman T. Boone Pickens’ love affair with wind isn’t brand new—he’s been touting the idea of “peak-free” energy since he decided to build America’s biggest wind farm in Texas. What’s different is the way he’s going about it.
Mesa Power, Mr. Pickens’ new energy firm, placed a huge turbine order with GE Thursday, the first step toward the eventual 4 gigawatt wind farm. What’s striking is that he’s plowing ahead on the project even though federal subsidies for wind power are . . .
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Blow hard: Wind to supply 20% of U.S. power?
The U.S. can follow Denmark’s lead and get 20% of its electricity from wind by 2030, the Department of Energy said today. The only obstacles, according to the DOE report, are building the wind turbines, improving them, getting them in place, and getting their electricity to where it’s used. Piece of cake.
Oh—and to meet that goal, every year between 2018 and 2030 the U.S needs to install as much wind power as it has cumulatively installed so far in its . . .
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