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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 mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Morro Bay residents rally against offshore wind farm proposal
More than 200 concerned community members gathered at the Morro Rock parking lot on Saturday to protest the potential impacts of an offshore wind farm. “It’s a national day of action and there are sites all over the county, including the East Coast and the West Coast, that are having this national day of action. It’s all basically against offshore wind and it’s to tell the incoming administration that we expect the promise to be kept to end offshore wind,” . . . Complete story »
Campaigners hit out at ‘corporate bullying’ on Cabrach wind farms
Campaigners opposed to a wind farm proposal in the Highlands say they have fallen victim to “corporate bullying and greed”. The Cabrach, a moorland north of the Cairngorms, already has 78 turbines within six miles. A further 21 have consent. Twenty-two more and a battery facility are being proposed. Boralex, a Canadian company, took control of the Clashindarroch extension project when it acquired the UK interests of Infinergy, a European energy company, in July 2022. It has now formed a . . . Complete story »
Dozens protest wind farms and impact on whales in New Bedford
Dozens of protesters gathered in New Bedford Saturday, demanding an end to offshore wind projects immediately. The protest came one day after final federal approval for the Southcoast Wind Project, 26 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. Protesters said they were outraged over potential impacts on the environment, coastal neighborhoods, and the commercial fishing industry. According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 141 wind turbine generators will power more than 840-thousand homes across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A spokesperson . . . Complete story »
New blade crack on Swedish Siemens Gamesa turbine
Another wind turbine blade at the Swedish Björnberget park has broken in an incident last Sunday, occurring exactly two months another blade broke at the Swedish wind farm, in operation since 2023. As was the case the first time, no one was injured in the incident. Beyond a safety zone being set up, the incident has led to all turbines being deactivated – or at least almost all of them; nine of the 60 turbines have remained in production, as . . . Complete story »
Study measures seabirds’ habitat loss as a result of wind turbines
A Wageningen Marine Research study shows that razorbills and guillemots on the North Sea avoid wind parks in their flight path. The study uses a new statistical method to determine the effect of wind parks on the spatial distribution of seabirds. The rapid growth of offshore wind parks in the North Sea necessitates a better understanding of the impact of wind turbines on marine species. The classical method was for researchers to conduct a census of the bird population in . . . Complete story »
Turbine blade break under investigation at Australia’s biggest wind farm
Investigations are underway at the 923 megawatt (MW) MacIntyre wind farm in south-western Queensland, following a turbine blade break at the huge project in late December. The incident at what is Australia’s largest operating wind farm happened less than three months after the project sent first power to the grid from its site in the Southern Downs, outside Warwick. The 162 turbine Acciona Energía and Ark Energy project had connected 27 wind turbines to the grid by early October, with . . . Complete story »
Highland Council considers launching judicial review of Strath Oykel wind farm plan in Sutherland
Highland Council is considering challenging the controversial decision by Scottish ministers to grant planning permission for the Strath Oykel Wind farm, it has emerged. The local authority is discussing whether to seek a judicial review of the ministers’ decision, which went against the recommendations of the government’s own planning reporters. North, west and central Sutherland ward councillor Michael Baird said: “Planners believe there is a strong case, and they are consulting James Findlay KC, who represented the council at the . . . Complete story »
Planning Board sets meeting on wind turbines
It may be late in the state process, but the Middletown Planning Board weighed in on Jan. 8 about wind turbines and set an agenda item at their Feb. 12 meeting for residents to vent their concerns about wind turbines dotting the local horizon. Board member Leon Amarant expressed concern about windmills ruining the vistas of town beaches. “[Should] the Planning Board consider talking about what is happening in our ocean?” he asked. “Every single day, you see a new . . . Complete story »
Local communities to have their say on wind farm developments
The Crisafulli Government is acting to ensure local communities are consulted for any new wind farm developments, in line with the LNP’s election commitment. The development approval for the Moonlight Range Wind Farm, 40 kilometres north west of Rockhampton has been issued with a proposed ‘call in’ notice that allows submissions to be made from community members, local governments and other stakeholders as to whether the proposal meets State interests. The consultation period is 40 business days and will close . . . Complete story »
Company executives fight lawsuit over junked wind-turbine blades
The top executives of a company accused of abandoning junked wind-turbine blades across Iowa say they shouldn’t be held liable for their companies’ actions. Last fall, the State of Iowa sued a Washington-state company and its executives for allegedly dumping tons of old wind-turbine blades around Iowa, in violation of the state’s solid-waste laws. The lawsuit alleges that for over seven years, Global Fiberglass Solutions failed to properly dispose of decommissioned wind-turbine blades and stockpiled them at multiple locations in . . . Complete story »
