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Wind Watch: Industrial Wind Energy News
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These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
‘Uncertain’ environmental impact of wind farm prompts call for revision
The developer of a proposed wind farm near Mortlake is being urged back to the drawing board in a “win for environmentalists”. It comes as Planning Panels Victoria released its report on the Mount Fyans wind farm which would see a 400-megawatt, 81 turbine wind energy facility about five kilometres north of Mortlake. The panel found the level of uncertainty in terms of possible material impacts on the environment, particularly on the endangered Brolga and critically endangered Southern Bent Wing . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind farms are detrimental to whales
Since 2016, more than 200 humpback whales have died and been stranded on beaches along the East Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA). In fact, NOAA is so concerned about the sheer number of dead humpback whales in this region that it has labeled the situation an “unusual mortality event.” Likewise, NOAA has declared an “unusual mortality event” regarding the mysterious mass deaths of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale along the East Coast. As NOAA . . . Complete story »
‘We’d never have moved here if we knew more turbines were coming’
When Trevor Smith and his wife Dawn moved to the Cabrach, they thought they had found the home of their dreams. After falling in love with the tranquillity during four holidays in the north-east, they decided to make the massive move from the increasingly busy Isle of Wight. In summer last year they moved into their perfect home, a converted former church, and began settling into their new community. Just four months later they learned of the large wind farm . . . Complete story »
Battle lines set on Lewis over Spiorad na Mara
The decision to refuse the request from Northland Power for a strip of common grazing close to the shoreline for siting a 120 metre mast was taken unanimously by an unusually well attended meeting of shareholders in New and North Shawbost grazings. Northland hope to develop the “Spiorad na Mara” windpower facility just off the coast of Lewis. One of those who attended told the Gazette: “We were all given an opportunity to say what we felt. Everyone was wholeheartedly . . . Complete story »
Council secures court order prohibiting further development at wind farm where bog slide occurred
Donegal County Council has secured a High Court order prohibiting further development of a wind farm at a site that was the subject of a large bog slide that had “significant environmental consequences”. Mr Justice David Holland’s order restrains Planree Limited and Mid-Cork Electrical from finishing their “largely complete” 19-turbine project on primarily blanket bog in Cashelnavean, Co Donegal, until further court order. The development entities can apply to vary or discharge the order, which came in enforcement proceedings issued . . . Complete story »
Measuring the sound of silence
In an area where the tallest structures are grain elevators, industrial wind turbines are more than simply a disturbance to the rural skyline. They are transformative. Modern turbines are 600 to 650 feet tall. They change a rural landscape into an urban one. As one neighbor put it, “If I wanted to look at tall buildings and blinking lights I’d move to the city.” Modern wind turbines are taller than the Space Needle, twice the height of downtown Spokane’s Bank . . . Complete story »
As Japan makes major investments in wind power, some residents are pushing back
About a 40-minute drive to the north from central Sapporo lies the Sea of Japan port of Ishikari, a city rich in biodiversity that now finds itself at the heart of a fierce debate over wind power as Japan scrambles to decarbonize its energy sector. In a sense, Ishikari represents the idealized version of Hokkaido for many Japanese as well as for foreign tourists: Its coastal waters are famous for their seafood, while the city’s nature trails and parks are . . . Complete story »
Øyfjellet: 150 meter bred rotor falt ned fra ødelagt vindturbin [Rotor assembly detaches from wind turbine]
Like over byen Mosjøen i Nordland ruver Øyfjellet. I 2021 åpnet Norges største vindkraftanlegg her. På det værharde fjellet står 72 vindturbiner. Men 27. januar i år ble tallet 71. Årsaken? Under ekstremværet Ingunn løsnet en 150 meter bred rotor og falt ned. Ingen dyr eller mennesker kom til skade da rotoren falt over 100 meter og ble knust. Hvordan kunne dette skje? Fikk problemer allerede i juni Det er Øyfjellet Wind AS som har konsesjonen på vindkraftanlegget på fjellet. . . . Complete story »
Her er 15 av 34 vindturbiner ute av drift [15 of 34 wind turbines out of operation]
Over én tredjedel av vindturbinene i Nord-Odal står stille på grunn av feil. Hittil har kommunen gått glipp av flere millioner kroner på stillstanden. – For Nord-Odal kommunes del er det jo litt tragisk, sier nyvalgt ordfører i kommunen, Odd Kjetil Østvand-Sløtte (Ap). Odal vindkraftverk som ligger i Nord-Odal har totalt 34 vindturbiner, men nå er 15 av turbinene ute av drift. Hittil har kommunen gått glipp av 3 millioner kroner på grunn av stansen. Det merkes i en kommune . . . Complete story »
Vindturbinblad knakk og falt av [Wind turbine blade snapped off]
Et 71 meter langt vindturbinblad knakk og falt av en turbin på Engerfjellet i Innlandet onsdag. Ingen ble skadet. – Vi fikk beskjed av en grunneier at en vinge hadde falt av, sier daglig leder i Odal vindkraftverk, Lars Tallhaug. Han sier videre at heldigvis var ingen personer i nærheten da det skjedde, og at deres hovedfokus er sikkerheten til de som jobber og oppholder seg i vindkraftverket. Ifølge Tallhaug skjedde hendelsen rundt klokka 19.30 onsdag kveld. Turbinbladet veier rundt . . . Complete story »
