Wind Power News: Blogs
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.
Hawaii using smart grid controls to turn lights off when the wind stops blowing
Both residential and business customers will turn over control of their lights, air conditioners, appliances, factory motors and process lines to Honeywell’s Tridium smart grid controllers. The goal of the program is to be able to quickly power down 50 MW of capacity to balance out the grid if wind power generation slows.
Questions concerning Little Raith Wind Farm
We had a meeting with the developer of Little Raith Wind Farm (Kennedy Renewables) and their PR/Political Lobbying group (Invicta PA) back in October. Unfortunately, most of our questions couldn’t be answered at the time, but the developer took note of the issues and concerns raised, and notified us they will get back to us regarding our queries, and could we also include our concerns in writing. We contacted the developers and the four Community Councils on the 27th January . . .
We need wind subsidies like we need VHS subsidies
Remember VHS? Imagine this: VHS has been a staple of the American way of watching television and movies. VHS has supported countless manufacturing jobs, and even though there are better products out there, let’s face it: We need a variety of ways to watch our programs. The states and local economies that have VHS production facilities have experienced and benefited from VHS production, but without a little help from the taxpayers, jobs will be lost and the industry will atrophy. . . .
Whither ‘Energy Island’ as 250 protest wind turbines (& other energy projects) outside Anglesey County Council
Over 250 Ynys Môn residents joined this afternoon’s mass demonstration outside the Council offices to protest against the large number of planning applications which have been submitted on the Island for ‘monster’ wind turbines of up to 100 metres (330 ft) in height — the equivalent of almost four Marquis of Anglesey’s Columns stacked one on top of the other. The large turnout on a weekday furthermore proves that Ynys Môn residents are far more concerned about wind turbines than . . .
Dismissed!
The judge granted the Motion to Dismiss charges against the two Sterling College students, Trevor and Dave, who were arrested on the Nelsons’ property for violating the Temporary Restraining Order. Read the Judge’s Dismissal Decision The Court observes that under the Preliminary Injunction Green Mountain Power Corporation was ordered to ”. . .warn the public of any blasting.” Also, Green Mountain Power was ordered to ”. . .provide law enforcement with notice of blasting sufficient to allow for execution of . . .
Mynydd Y Betws wind farm stone row – the discoverer’s tale
On January 2nd 2012 Helen and myself were invited to have a look at an area of moorland which had been fenced off at Bancbryn as part of the wind farm development on Mynydd Y Betws. This development has caused considerable local disquiet for a number of reasons and some of those actively campaigning against the wind farm wondered whether the archaeological work in advance of the development had been carried out properly. We visited on a pleasant day with . . .
Faced with notice of ESA violations, FWS agrees to reconsider biological opinion for Shaffer Mountain Wind Project
On November 3, 2011, we submitted a detailed notice letter on behalf of several conservation groups pointing out the serious scientific and legal errors with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 Biological Opinion to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would have allowed construction and operation of an industrial wind farm in the midst of a critical maternity colony of endangered Indiana bats. In issuing its opinion, the Service ignored the views of the nation’s leading bat biologists who . . .
The Man in Whitehall says no to local opposition to windfarms
On January 9th I wrote a piece about the proposed wind-farm overlooking the historic battlefield of Naseby and I undertook to write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles MP. I also promised to share his reply with you. I attach it below. Clearly Mr. Pickles is a very busy man, so he referred my letter to Sir Michael Pitt, Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate. Sir Michael writes with commendable courtesy. His mastery of . . .
Obstacles facing US wind energy
In the United States, we have been working on scaling up wind energy but not getting very far. In 2010, wind energy supplied only 2.3% of electricity purchased. Figure 1. Wind energy (dark green) is barely visible in a graph of US energy consumption by source. Based on EIA data. Such slow progress seems strange for a product that seems to have such great promise. It can reduce CO2 emissions. It doesn’t require fuel. It is at least partly US . . .
Watch Idaho Legislature for action on wind, natural gas and ORV hunting
Idaho lawmakers have returned to Boise to complete the work they started last year and to begin the projects they will complete next year. I think of the Idaho Legislature as a conveyor belt with issues, causes, problems, opportunities coming in one end and bills, memorials, interim committees, anger, happiness and frustration coming out the other. It can be ugly, imperfect and profound at different times. But as former House Speaker Bruce Newcomb always reminded his colleagues, they always had . . .
