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.
Tragic electrocution at windmill farm claims life, Willacy County investigates
Tragic Electrocution at Willacy County Windmill Farm A routine day at a windmill farm located at the intersection of FM 1018 and FM 507 turned tragic when a man was fatally electrocuted in what has been described as a workplace incident by the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office. The incident has left the local community in shock and raised concerns over workplace safety in such environments. Details of the Incident Early this morning, Willacy County EMS and Bonneville fire crews were . . . Complete story »
Repairs to P.E.I. wind farm cost $15 million in last several years; More work necessary
Most of the 10 wind turbines at the Hermanville wind farm are working again following $15 million in repairs during the past several months, says the CEO of the P.E.I. Energy Corporation. Tyson Bradley said additional money was spent on purchasing parts for the turbines at the wind farm, which is located north of Souris. “The work (on the remaining turbines) is actually starting right after the long weekend, so we’re spending money to get up to full speed, (but) . . . Complete story »
‘Wake effect’ could drain 38% of offshore wind power, study says
Wind turbines off the East Coast might significantly drain energy from each other, lowering the power output of an offshore farm by up to 38 percent, according to a new study that challenges early assumptions about the nascent industry’s electricity contribution. The findings add to growing research about the “wake effect,” which is when offshore turbines in close proximity affect each other’s energy output. Researchers from the University of Colorado and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that entire . . . Complete story »
More than 1 million trees cut down for wind turbines last year, 17 million over 24 years
A Scottish Government quango has commissioned the destruction of more than 17 million trees in the last 24 years in order to build wind farms on public land. The Scottish Government has been blasted after it was revealed that more than one million trees have been chopped down on publicly owned land in just a year to make way for wind farms. This mass cutting down of trees came despite the SNP and Scottish Greens claiming environmental credentials. Communities in . . . Complete story »
SSE stops work after landslide near windfarm site
SSE has announced all site work has been halted following a landslide between Upper Kergord and the B9075 road. Footage appeared online of a landslide near the Viking Energy wind farm construction site on Tuesday night. The incident took place yesterday (Tuesday) with drone footage of the landslide being captured by Gary Buchan. “On Tuesday afternoon our site team reported a peat slip in an area of hillside between Upper Kergord and the B9075, where work on our Kergord to . . . Complete story »
Finland rejects offshore wind licences
The Finnish government has issued a negative decision on 16 applications for exploitation rights concerning offshore wind power in the exclusive economic zone. Many of the areas located in the Gulf of Bothnia overlap each other, the country’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment said. The decision does not prohibit the development of offshore wind projects in the sea areas concerned, it added. The government’s justification for refusing the applications for exploitation rights include its objective to “create a predictable, . . . Complete story »
Верховний Суд визнав незаконним будівництво вітряків на Боржаві на Закарпатті
[Supreme Court declares the construction of wind trubiness in Borzhava is illegal] Представники Всеукраїнського громадського руху Save Borzhava щойно отримали нарочно рішення у резонансній справі №260/1058/19, яким остаточно скасовано дозвіл на будівельні роботи щодо спроби варварського знищення полонини Боржава. Відповідне позитивне для захисників Боржави рішення ухвалено 24 квітня в Києві Верховним Судом у складі колегії суддів Касаційного адміністративного суду Стародуб О.П., Єзеров А.А., Кравчук В.М. Про це редакцію повідомили представники ГО «Міжнародний інститут людини і глобалістики «Ноосфера», які і звернулися . . . Complete story »
Buddhist retreat centre objects to Clare wind farm
Plans to construct an 11-turbine 72MW wind farm in the ’12 O’Clock hills’ in south east Clare pose a significant threat to ‘a peaceful haven’ at a silent Buddhist retreat centre, objectors claim. Earlier this year, Ørsted Onshore Ireland Midco Ltd lodges plans direct to An Bord Pleanála for the 11 turbine 590 feet tip high Oatfield wind-farm on a site 9km north of Limerick city and 4.7km from Sixmilebridge Now, in response, the 12 O’Clock Hills Community Group that . . . Complete story »
Plans for Swarclett wind turbines prompt ‘misery and strife’ warning
Plans for a new Caithness wind farm have prompted a national campaigner to warn of the “misery and strife” that can arise when communities become divided over renewable energy developments. Aileen Jackson, of Scotland Against Spin, highlighted the “striking” similarities between the proposed Swarclett Wind Farm at Bowertower and Neilston Wind Farm in East Renfrewshire. Opponents of the two-turbine Swarclett scheme claim support has been targeted in Castletown, several miles away from the wind farm site. Bowertower resident Tony Shaw, . . . Complete story »
Pressure mounts against French wind farm project near Belgian coast
De Panne, Koksijde and Nieuwpoort are the latest communes on the Belgian coast to oppose a French government project to build an offshore wind farm near Dunkirk. The proposal includes turbines almost as high as the Eiffel Tower: 300 metres above sea level (the Paris icon is 330m). The French government plans to build the 50 km2 park of 46 wind turbines 10km off the Dunkirk coastline, 11.4km from the Belgian seaside resorts opposing the project. The farm should produce . . . Complete story »
