Wind Power News: Editorials
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.
Troublesome winds blowing
The proposed wind energy project for North Perth and Perth East has shaken this community. Letters to the editor are arriving on a daily basis. Normally laid-back and meek residents are speaking out on their beliefs. Tensions ran high during a recent Invenergy Canada delegation at North Perth municipal council. Folks are concerned, confused and many are downright fighting mad about wind turbines. It isn’t every day that a controversy of this magnitude takes a small-town community like this by . . .
Renewable mythology
In its February newsletter, Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative tells customers they will soon have the chance to buy electricity from Duke Energy Renewable’s 6.4-megawatt Murfreesboro Solar Project in Hertford County — and it will cost more — practically double what they pay for electricity now. “CCEC’s Board of Directors approved the ‘solar rate’ of 18.71¢ kWh (kilowatt hour),” said the newsletter. “CCEC’s standard rates are 8.9¢ kWh during non-summer months (November through May) and 9.98¢ kWh during the summer (June through . . .
Turbine trouble
It is grimly appropriate that the Conservative MPs’ rebellion over onshore wind power, which has landed, in the form of a letter, on the desk of new Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey, has coincided with the onset of Britain’s big freeze. For it is, of course, at times of very cold weather that the extra electricity provided by wind turbines is most needed. Yet it is also at such times that these machines are at their most useless, . . .
Color hydroelectric power green
There is a law of unintended consequences. When Gov. Brown signed a bill by state Sen. Joe Simitan (D-Palo Alto) into law, it meant private and public utilities must get 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. That’s up from the present 20 percent. The senator said in a news release that the bill “confirmed California’s long-term commitment to clean green energy.” He meant power from the wind and sun. But it also put one of . . .
Save community planning groups from developer-backed scheme to squelch local input
“People will never hear about projects until after they’re done if this [elimination of planning groups] goes through.” – Mark Ostrander, chair, Jacumba sponsor group February 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – I’ve rarely published an editorial, reserving my opinion for only those matters with the gravest of consequences for East County. One such matter will come before San Diego’s Supervisors on February 29, when supervisors will vote on whether or not to eliminate all community planning groups countywide. . . .
Stand up for environment – say no to wind power
We strongly support the all-party group of MPs quoted in your article “MPs call on Cameron to re-examine regulations for onshore wind farms” who are calling for the government to fundamentally review its support (through subsidy) for wind turbines, which they describe as inefficient, costly, and doing more harm than good. This timely recognition of the true nature of this over-hyped technology may possibly come just in time to save parts of Cornwall’s beautiful and extraordinary landscape from being ruined . . .
A misguided effort to aid Maryland wind projects
It’s a proposal that might sound great in a stump speech: Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) wants to erect wind turbines off Maryland’s coast, eventually generating perhaps a third of the state’s electricity carbon-free. The plan is central to Mr. O’Malley’s recently announced 2012 agenda. But it’s a bad deal for nearly everyone in Maryland — including people who believe, as we do, in moving away from fossil fuels. Perversely, Mr. O’Malley’s bill would corrupt the anti-carbon policy Maryland already has. . . .
Unneeded wind turbines can’t help environment
We knew this day was coming but still somehow hoped a voice of reason would provide a solution to a dilemma now faced by power companies. Washington voters approved an initiative in 2006 that required power companies to create green energy or buy credits from others who do. And the first mandate, requiring many utilities to purchase 3 percent of their power from renewable sources, kicks in this month. Unfortunately, hydropower isn’t considered renewable under the initiative. If it were, . . .
Legality only one issue in deal with Delahunt
Cities or towns that hire former U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt as a lobbyist must follow more than just the letter of the law; they must also consider perceptions tied to the fact that they could be paying Delahunt with money he approved while in Congress. This could happen anywhere in the many communities Delahunt represented in Congress, but this week’s controversy is in Hull, where officials now say they will let the U.S. Department of Energy decide if it is . . .
Stick with what is known
The neighbors of the West Falmouth wind turbines want an epidemiological study done on the health impacts of turbines. They are convinced that some in the area have suffered physical harm from the machines. Research done to date, according to a state ordered review of the data, reveals no connection between wind turbines and health effects. That doesn’t mean there is no connection; it just means the data collected so far does not show it. It is possible that further . . .
