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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Ontario families fight massive legal bill from wind-farm companies
A demand that four Ontario families pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs to billion-dollar companies is a thinly disguised warning to anyone pondering a challenge to industrial wind farms in Ontario, the families say. In asking the courts to set the legal bill aside, the citizens say the award would cripple them financially and undermine access to justice, even in important public-interest cases. Court documents show the companies — K2 Wind, Armow, and St. Columban — are . . .
Officials say turbine land diagram is not accurate
HURON COUNTY — Wind energy is ablaze with rumors, misinformation and inaccuracies aplenty, with both proponents and opponents fueling the fire. Debunking some claims can be difficult, but Huron County officials say a diagram circulating in the county doesn’t paint an accurate picture. The diagram, which Meade Township resident Dale Ricker said he has circulated on Facebook and other social networks and provided to county commissioners and the Tribune, shows areas where landowners wouldn’t be able to build on their . . .
Power transmission line opponents rally
Opponents of a high-voltage transmission line that would cut through west-central Illinois say they have formed a legal entity to challenge the proposed project. Members of Block Grain Belt Express Illinois met this week to update the group on its push against the 750-mile high-voltage transmission line known as Grain Belt Express that would move clean power from Kansas to Indiana. David Buckman, secretary of Block GBE Illinois, said the group is opposed because of what it considers questionable foreign . . .
Ruby Walsh: Pylons and wind farms are a threat to horse racing
Jockey Ruby Walsh has sensationally claimed wind farms and pylons pose a threat to horse racing. The star is calling on the Government to abolish plans to erect the controversial structures before the “countryside is destroyed”. Ruby attacked plans by Eirgrid to build the 60m-high structures. He said: “I think it’s time we called a halt to the developers’ gallop and call on the Government to stop the destruction of our beautiful countryside before it’s too late. “I was shocked . . .
Sturgeon urged: investigate your Energy Minister’s decisions for UK’s largest private landowner
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is being asked to investigate the conduct of her own Energy Minister Fergus Ewing after he was accused of blocking one wind farm to pave the way for another backed by the Duke of Buccleuch, Britain’s largest private landowner. The accusations – which are denied by the Scottish Government and Buccleuch – have been prompted by Ewing’s shock decision on February 18 to reject a popular plan to erect 30 wind turbines at Sandy Knowe at . . .
Whispers on the wind
If plans to build a wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts have failed (some of the windiest waters of our country), why would turbine developers hunt for New Hampshire land? The answer is simple: They’re looking for locations that already have high-voltage power lines, access to a large highway systems for easy transportation and small towns to conquer. The wind industry is coming on strong in New Hampshire, and it comes bearing gifts. Developers are throwing lots of money . . .
Donald Trump vows second Aberdeenshire golf course will be built
Tycoon Donald Trump has vowed he will build a second course at his Aberdeenshire golf resort, claiming he is “winning the battle” against a planned offshore wind farm. The US billionaire businessman – who last week indicated he is preparing for a presidential run in 2016 – withdrew plans for the second course at the Menie Estate, Balmedie, after losing a legal battle to overturn plans for a wind power scheme which he claimed would spoil the view. But in . . .
Party should leave you sick
I don’t know about you, but I don’t consider it a “donation” when I rightly pay my taxes to the government, and I don’t throw a media party when it happens. Come to think about it, I don’t know of any employer doing the same; however, the NW Ohio wind industry makes the news at this time every year. How can they do this? The county commissioners gave them a Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes, so they are truly giving a “donation”’ instead of . . .
Cape Wind proponents take to Common, vow to continue fight
Proponents of the Cape Wind project are powering full-speed ahead to try to bring the proposed wind farm to fruition, despite the termination of power contracts last month that effectively sounded the project’s death knell. “We are not giving up — we have just begun to fight,” Cape Wind President Jim Gordon said at a rally on Boston Common yesterday. “We have a very dedicated group of individuals that have put their hearts and souls into developing this program over . . .
Fate of wind farm at gateway to Glen Affric to be decided nationally
Campaigners against a controversial wind farm at the gateway to Glen Affric are furious that the decision has been taken out of local hands. Renewable energy firm WPD has appealed to the government arguing Highland Council failed to make a decision on the six turbine development, near the conservation village of Tomich, within the statutory timescale of four months. Under the appeals process, the local authority is now only permitted to express a view and Scottish ministers will decide the . . .
