Wind Watch: Industrial Wind Energy News
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch 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.
Bald Hills Wind Farm cover-up exposed
It’s a wind farm, not a mushroom farm. But as the Supreme Court of Victoria heard last week, that old adage about keeping them in the dark and feeding them on horse manure, certainly applies to the relationship between the operators of the Bald Hills Wind Farm and neighbouring farmers. What can only be described as an extensive cover-up to hide such things as evidence of the highly irritating noise coming from faulty turbine gearboxes, came to light during a . . . Complete story »
Neighbours suing Gippsland wind farm in Supreme Court over ‘excessive noise’
The operator of a Victorian wind farm being sued by neighbours for allegedly emitting excessive noise says its turbines have a mechanical issue which create a distinctive sound. Two neighbours of the Bald Hills wind farm at Tarwin Lower in Gippsland, John Zakula and Noel Uren, are seeking civil damages in the Victorian Supreme Court. They claim the noise is excessive and they also want the wind turbines turned down or off at certain times. The court was told that . . . Complete story »
Conservation group backs moratorium on lake turbines
A major voice has chimed in regarding the potential placement of turbines in Lake Erie. During its September meeting, the New York State Conservation Council went on record as calling for a “permanent moratorium on offshore industrial wind turbine development in any Great Lakes waters.” The placing of turbines in Lake Erie has been a hot topic over the past two years in the Western New York region and in Ohio. There, a proposed Icebreaker Windpower project, made up of . . . Complete story »
Bloomer Township Planning Commission tweaking wind turbine noise limits
BLOOMER TOWNSHIP – The Bloomer Township Planning Commission is working with their attorney to make turbine sound limits more restrictive in their pending wind ordinance. Chairman Doug Proctor and planners John Dennis, Ed Hagerman, Craig Keiffer, Mark Ryan and Gail Witter were all present for Tuesday’s meeting while Secretary Tara Chapko (who is also a township board member) was absent. Only five people were in the audience (including this reporter and two township officials) and no public comments were given. The . . . Complete story »
Lobbyist for east Clare windfarm denies objecting to one in west
A lobbyist promoting a controversial wind farm in East Clare has refuted a claim from a local group that he objected to a similar proposed renewable energy project in West Clare last year. The Fahybeg Windfarm Information Group (FWIG) has claimed that RWE Renewables Ireland representative Kieran O’Byrne’s name appeared on an official objection from Birdwatch Ireland against the proposed construction of eight wind turbines with a maximum overground to blade height of up to 574 feet on land about . . . Complete story »
Community group ‘shocked’ by Offaly County Council’s decision on large wind farm
In a press release issued to The Midland Tribune this week, the Lemanaghan Bog Heritage and Conservation Group said they are shocked and deeply disappointed by the decision of Offaly County Council to “ignore” the 2,300+ submissions made on the draft County Development Plan regarding the proposal to erect 17 giant wind turbines with blade tip heights of 220 metres. “It raises the valid question,” the Group said in their statement, “what is the point of public consultation? “Never before . . . Complete story »
‘Can’t please everybody.’ Community members, local officials continue to question wind project
JEROME – Magic Valley Energy held a third open house on Wednesday to speak with residents about its proposed wind project. County commissioners, community members and other guests gathered at Renew Coffee Shop in Jerome to learn about the project. Luke Papez, project manager from MVE, said open houses provide an opportunity for public engagement and communication with the community. “Our goal is to continue the conversation,” Papez said. The Lava Ridge Wind Project is in the early stages. Plans estimate . . . Complete story »
Sea Trust concerns over Blue Gem Erebus and Valorous wind farms
A leading Pembrokeshire marine conservation charity, that has been conducting surveys in the Celtic Deep for two decades, has expressed concerns over the effects on marine wildlife of a proposed large-scale windfarm in the area. Simply Blue energy is currently developing the 96MW test Erebus Project with monitoring technology deployed in the Celtic Deep. It is proposed that Erebus will be followed by the 300MW Valorous floating wind project in the Welsh waters of the Celtic Deep. Sea Trust says . . . Complete story »
Newburyport council likely to reject wind turbine proposal
NEWBURYPORT – The City Council’s Committee on Planning & Development and the Planning Board each voted Wednesday night to recommend against moving forward with a proposal to amend zoning to allow for wind turbines along the old Interstate 95 access road. The committee voted 3-0 and the Planning Board vote was 6-0. Planning Board Chair Bonnie Sontag and members Leah McGavern and Anne Gardner were absent for the public hearing. The vote effectively moved the proposal out of committee with the . . . Complete story »
Why Europe’s power prices are skyrocketing
Renewable energy brings volatility and that’s going to make it very costly for the continent to reach its targets. Germany is a prime example -- Chancellor Angela Merkel’s energy policies have cost its citizens hundreds of billions of euros in subsidies. The EU is unperturbed though. Climate chief Frans Timmermans has said that higher prices mustn’t undermine the bloc’s resolve to expand renewable power and that the industry should speed up instead to make more cheap green energy available. Complete story »
