Wind Power News: May 2012
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.
Wind turbine fire
MASON CITY, IA – A wind turbine near Grafton caught fire Tuesday afternoon. The flames were pretty strong for a while as the smoke streamed from the tower. Fire crews didn’t get too close at first because of burning debris falling down. However they are now off the scene. Neighbors who live nearby tell us there were a few clues something was wrong. Marena and Clarice Bartz said, “I was just inside and I heard a really big boom and . . .
Steens Mountain: a green vs. green debate
In the quest to move Oregon toward renewable energy, there are no easy answers. Protecting the Landscape “What do we want to give up for renewable energy in Oregon? Do we want to give up a place like this?” asks Matt Little, conservation director for the Bend-based Oregon Natural Desert Association. We are standing at the base of the nearly 10,000-foot peaks that make up the east ridge of the Steens Mountain Wilderness. It’s taken 3-1/2 hours of driving east . . .
Tracking bear behavior near proposed wind project
SEARSBURG, Vt. – A proposed wind farm in southern Vermont has Fish and Wildlife officials concerned about possible negative impacts on bear populations. So they have begun to track the bears’ movements before construction even begins. Fish and Wildlife biologist Forrest Hammond points an antenna in the direction of a ridgeline in the Searsburg-Readsboro area. Its the proposed site of the Deerfield Wind Project. He’s using the device to track bear. “The Deerfield wind project has been proposed in what . . .
Wind power faces financial blow
MONTPELIER, Vt. – Northern Power Systems in Barre now has a new CEO. In a cost-cutting move last week the company replaced its chief executive and trimmed its workforce. Officials say it’s a sign of the times in the wind industry. “They’re already seeing up to– depending on the state– up to 50 percent reduction in sales forecasting. So it means real jobs here in Vermont,” said Gabrielle Stebbins of Renewable Energy Vermont. A federal incentive– the Production Tax Credit . . .
Expert Interview: Deborah Le Vine
Yul meets Deborah Le Vine, Director of Grid Operations at CAISO (California Independent System Operator). Deborah is responsible for bringing power to thirty million Californians. She explains how, with their devoted team monitoring the ups and downs of wind power, they can balance the power supply. Surprisingly, too much wind can actually be a bad thing. Deborah (asks technician): What’s going on with renewables now? [Click here to go to CAISO's "Renewables Watch" page] Technician: It’s exactly opposite of yesterday. . . .
Derby select board opposes wind turbines
Dozens packed the Derby town select board meeting Wednesday night as the board prepared to take an official position on a proposal to build two 425 foot wind turbines in town. “Potential negative impact to resident’s property values town wide on both sides of the border,” said an opponent. The town selectboard took public comment for 15 minutes. Most people spoke against the project. And so the board says it too will oppose it. And share its position with Vermont . . .
Shelburne voters continue to fight wind energy
Last night a Shelburne town meeting on wind energy stretched past midnight and into early this morning. Voters turned out in record numbers to discuss and eventually vote against a proposal for four wind turbines to be put on top of Mt. Massaemet. “We’re really concerned about how we maintain the livelihoods of these families,” said Dave Patrick — a citizen concerned with his neighbors. “That said, industrial wind turbines seem to be incompatible with this area.” But in a . . .
Shelburne residents unanimously approve wind turbine moratorium
Hundreds of Shelburne residents voted to approve petitions that will not allow any large, commercial scale wind turbines at their annual town meeting Tuesday night. They also unanimously approved the Wind Turbine Moratorium that says the town will not issue any wind turbines permits until June 30, 2013, after the Zoning Board has some time to update its rules and regulations. Developers proposed to construct industrial scale turbines on Mount Massaemet, but many residents told 22News, while renewable energy may . . .
Shelburne residents vote on wind farm
They debated for hours before finally voting to approve the small scale use of wind turbines in Shelburne. That means the proposed commercial wind farm on Mt. Massaemet was not approved. The vote was by a two-thirds majority. A developer wanted to place wind turbines on the mountain that would have been about 400 feet tall. Now, the use of wind turbines has only been approved for small scale, personal or small business use. Residents also voted to delay issuing . . .
Damaged turbine suspends wind energy production
Around 12:45 Tuesday afternoon, two blades on a turbine were damaged so severely that debris was sent raining down on the field below. No one was injured. The owners, EDP Renewables, say while the investigation into what damaged the blades is ongoing, at this point it doesn’t appear that strong winds were a factor.
