Wind Power News: Letters
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.
Makes a nonsense of claim
Gordon James implies that the Princes Gate Spring Water wind turbine will play a part in “saving our planet” but Geoffrey Sinclair points out that its trivial contribution to reducing CO2 emission is less than a thousandth of the saving by the proposed Atlantic Array (Wind turbine plans blow up new storm, 18 January). Mr Sinclair is nearer to hitting the nail on the head but both these statements could only be true if wind power itself mitigates substantial CO2 . . .
Mull Hill wind farm visual impact report “makes appalling viewing”
Further to WGR Thomson’s letter in last week’s Strathearn Herald, I have details of the visual impact report of the proposed nine-turbine Mull Hill wind farm above Connachan Farm opposite the old Foulford Inn. The report can be examined at the Strathearn Library. It makes appalling viewing. The huge turbines will despoil the long, pristine and continuous range of hills and mountains from the Sma’ Glen in the east way to the west beyond Comrie and Ben Vorlich. The turbines . . .
Morrow wind rules fall short of those in Umatilla Co.
An article titled “Wind power protest airs in Morrow County,” printed in the East Oregonian on Saturday, January 28, contains an item worthy of further discussion. Specifically, a quote attributed Jerry Reitmann, one of the primary organizers in the Ella Butte wind power project: “It’s perfectly valid for people to not like the idea of having wind turbines in their neighborhood. But it’s still a private property issue.” While I agree wholeheartedly with that statement, it is important to note . . .
Wind farm presentations were not adequate
We have been following with interest the letters in your newspaper written pro and con wind farms in the Borders, mostly against, for some time now. The right of reply is of course an important one. But we were disappointed to see the continuing misleading rhetoric of the wind industry in an article published on January 12 in your paper written by James Spencer-Nairn, Enertrag’s new project manager for the proposed Blackmains wind farm near Ayton, Cairncross and Reston by . . .
Turbines spooking the OFA
The OFA recently called for a suspension of FIT contracts until the noise and electrical issues of wind turbines are settled (good on them). Further the OFA is very concerned about the community strife that these projects are causing, pitting neighbour against neighbour. As the statement says, “We are hearing very clearly from our members that the wind turbine situation is coming to a head – seriously dividing rural communities and even jeopardizing farm succession planning.” So, the OFA, Liberal . . .
EPE true costs
You’ve heard the radio ads and seen the full-page print ads. El Paso Electric touting the solar power from the Santa Teresa and Hatch arrays. You can even see the daily power output on EPE’s website. But EPE never mentions that the Santa Teresa power costs EPE 12.745 cents per kWh, and from Hatch, the solar power costs 11.9 cents per kWh. That’s almost 2.75 times the “base fuel” cost of 4.396 cents per kWh. After applying this month’s Fuel . . .
Take a hard look
Each August, my husband, daughter and I travel to my cousin’s house to enjoy an idyllic family gathering around a pristine North Fork lake — Laurel Lake. The setting is so peaceful that we have been considering moving from California to live there permanently. With great chagrin, we heard this week that the Suffolk County Water Authority, which owns the adjacent tract, is attempting to install a 125-foot wind turbine. This has been undertaken in a rather fast and covert . . .
The human price
As my husband, Mark, and I first drove down Laurel Way 31 years ago we had no idea what lie ahead. We had come in response to an ad for a house for sale on Laurel Lake. Never having heard of a lake in this area, we were stunned to discover this pristine paradise less than two hours from New York City. In fact, so overwhelming was our response, that by the end of the day, we had come to . . .
Still a local matter
The Suffolk County Water Authority is again taking its “mandate” too far. The SCWA is not, as they define themselves in their environmental assessment of the proposed wind turbine at Laurel Lake, a “governmental unit.” It is, as their own website states, “an independent public-benefit corporation.” As such, they have no right to bypass Southold Town review or approval processes. There are many facets to the turbine controversy, such as the environmental impacts on the Laurel Lake Preserve and effects . . .
What’s the benefit?
Are there really any advantages to a wind turbine? I unknowingly thought so until I had to quickly educate myself when I heard the Suffolk County Water Authority intended to place one at perhaps my favorite place on earth, Laurel Lake and the adjacent preserve. What surfaced from my research were government studies, newspaper stories and scientific data that covered installations gone awry from Maine to California, as well as all over Europe. Wind turbines can create serious issues depending . . .
