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.
DTE puts Branch wind farm on hold
A plan by energy provider DTE for a wind farm in Branch County is on hold. Since 2017, the energy giant has been signing leases for farm land in Batavia, Matteson, Sherwood and Union townships as sites of large, industrial wind turbines and associated equipment to generate power to the grid. According to DTE spokesperson Cynthia Hecht, given the current economic climate and other factors, DTE ise suspending efforts to develop a wind energy project in this area. The statement . . . Complete story »
‘Too big, too close’: Kahuku residents picket to stop wind turbine project
Turbines at Na Pua Makani wind-farm in Kahuku were officially connected to Hawaiian Electric’s grid on Tuesday. It’s a milestone for developer AES, and another reason to picket for residents. About 50 people today waved signs with captions like “Too Big – Too Close.” Demonstrators have been sharing their displeasure over the project for more than a year now. Sen. Gil Riviere, who represents Kahuku, said he and the non-profit Keep the North Shore Country filed a contested case a few . . . Complete story »
Fears that ‘turbines will hit tourism’
World famous views from beauty spots such as Aghadoe, Torc and Mangerton could be spoiled by wind turbines if plans for a new windfarm outside Killarney are given the green light. This is the concern of East Kerry Wind Aware Group (EKWAG) which is calling on the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), and the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF) to join forces with the group to oppose plans for the windfarm . . . Complete story »
Controversial Kahuku wind project being connected to electric grid
Hawaiian Electric crews have started utility work to connect the wind turbines from the controversial Na Pua Makani project in Kahuku to the electric grid. In a news release, Hawaiian Electric said it is installing overhead power lines along Kamehameha Highway to connect the project’s eight, 568-foot turbines to the grid. The utility work could continue until today. Opponents lined the highway today to demonstrate against the project. “We had about 50 people turn out to voice their displeasure about . . . Complete story »
Wind energy project proposed in Coles County
CHARLESTON – A Virginia company is proposing a 300 megawatt wind project in Coles County, it was announced Tuesday. Apex Clean Energy is planning the project known as Coles Wind. Max Jabrixio, a spokesman for the project, said in an email that full details about the wind farm are not yet available, as the company has recently started contacting residents in the area and leasing can be a lengthy process. He said the wind farm is in the “very early stages . . . Complete story »
Lake Erie wind turbine project would drive more junk to bottom
The Ohio Power Siting Board has approved “Icebreaker,” a demonstration wind turbine project for Lake Erie with 33 stipulations. However, it avoided an important one – junk placed in and on Ohio’s greatest resource, Lake Erie. Lake Erie has between 800 and 1,000 shipwrecks on its bottom. Ohio should avoid these six proposed “Icebreaker” turbines, which is likely to lead to over 1,500 ending up as “junk.” They will clutter the lake’s surface and bottom. We all depend on energy for . . . Complete story »
‘A beacon for hedonists’
Early in 2020 I was disappointed to read from Circular Head Council that they had “wrapped up” their “community conversations” for all regional areas except for Montagu, which faces the most colossal development proposal in Tasmania. The Robbins Island wind factory proposed by Hong Kong based multinational UPC Renewables may well cement the identity of Circular Head as an industrial hub. More than 100 proposed 270-metre turbines (untried on land) mooted on elevations of up to 60 metres will be . . . Complete story »
County board hears update on proposed wind farm project
An update on a proposed wind farm project, which could provide over $36 million in gift and tax revenue to Cloud County over a 30 year period, was presented to the county board of commissioners during its regular meeting on Monday. EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) representatives Chris Morris, project manager, and Rorik Peterson, director of development for the central region, met with the commissioners to discuss the proposed 200 megawatt Plum Nellie Wind Farm to possibly be constructed . . . Complete story »
Construction resumes on Cassadaga wind farm after brief shut down
Construction work at the Cassadaga Wind project is back after being shut down for two weeks. According to Tom Halligan, the business manager with Ironworkers Local 6 in West Seneca, the project had been shut down for 14 days because a contractor who was from Texas tested positive for the coronavirus. “I don’t know if everything’s fully back, but our two guys are back,” he said during a phone interview Monday. Halligan speculated there were dozen or so workers from . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine blades in coal mine pits? There’s a new law in Wyoming to allow it.
Wind energy companies will have the option of using decommissioned wind turbine blades as backfill material when reclaiming surface coal mine sites soon, thanks to a new bill signed into law earlier this year. But first, the state needs to set the rules. Wyoming environmental regulators gathered input on draft rules related to the new law with the Land Quality Division Advisory Board on Thursday. The public and industry representatives had the opportunity to weigh in. Back in March, the . . . Complete story »
