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.
Germany’s maxed-out grid is causing trouble across Europe
Northern Germany can’t use all the renewable energy it’s making. Neither can its neighbors. The growing mismatch between Germany’s renewables capacity and the strength of its electricity network is leading to curtailment, crazy pricing and challenges for neighboring nations. Although Germany is generating record amounts of clean energy in the north, its grid is too weak to transport all the power down to load centers in the south – a longstanding challenge for the country that’s only getting worse. One of . . . Complete story »
Gov. Cuomo’s power grab — take action
Dear neighbor: Are you aware that Gov. Cuomo included the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act as part of a 30-day budget amendment titled Article 23? This amendment is to the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) bill. The act, unveiled a few weeks ago in a 30-day budget amendment, is now included in the governor’s 2020-21 budget proposal: https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy21/exec/fy21bills.html. Read TED New Part JJJ (pdf). This rushed action will not allow public hearings or the ability . . . Complete story »
Pomfret makes changes to wind turbine law
The Pomfret Town Board tightened its law on wind turbines at its March meeting, after a familiar coalition of local anti-wind energy residents showed up at the public hearing beforehand to criticize the windmill industry. Town Supervisor Dan Pacos said the main changes are an increase in the required setback of turbines from nearby properties, and a differentiation between “large units that connect to the grid as opposed to small units that a farmer wants to use.” The changes were . . . Complete story »
Residents and policymakers battle over Hawaii wind energy projects
Concerns about renewable energy projects are spreading from street protests to the halls of lawmaking bodies, as state and local legislators are considering measures that could hinder the ability to build the solar and wind farms needed for the state to meet its clean energy goals. Both the Hawaii Legislature and the Honolulu City Council were considering measures that restrict the placement of wind farms, such as AES Corp.’s controversial Na Pua Makani project in Kahuku on Oahu’s North Shore. . . . Complete story »
County opposes governor’s push for more state control in siting renewable energy projects
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has gone on the record opposing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push for more state control in siting large-scale wind, solar and other renewable energy projects. The governor on Feb. 21 proposed Article 23 as a budget amendment to speed up the review process for renewable energy projects that are larger that 25 megawatts. The amendment gives the state more authority in siting projects which can currently take years to get through local and state approvals, . . . Complete story »
Why are Dems so bent on passing wind amid corona crisis?
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Renewable energy is getting so cheap that it doesn’t need subsidies anymore. Yes, well. Renewables live or die by subsidies, in fact. That was proved yet again this week, when Democrats tried (unsuccessfully) to stuff a panoply of Green New Deal measures into the corona-crisis relief bill – including extensions of the tax credits that have been driving the growth of solar and wind energy. That Congressional Democrats would push so hard for solar . . . Complete story »
Legislature opposes governor ‘fast tracking’ renewable energy projects
MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature on Wednesday approved a motion opposing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s attempt to potentially speed up the process for renewable energy projects. As a part of the governor’s 30-day state budget amendments last month, Cuomo proposed speeding up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects. Legislator Mark Odell, R-Brocton, said if Cuomo’s proposal is approved it would limit local public input into renewable energy projects, which includes wind turbine farms. He opposes the governor’s attempt to . . . Complete story »
Holland wind turbine project officially over
Gov. Phil Scott vowed in his first campaign for governor to fight any new ridgeline wind projects that faced steep community pushback. Blittersdorf said he feels the commission “ran out the clock” on the project. “It became obvious that I was pounding my head against a brick wall on this, and so I had to cut my losses,” he said, estimating his losses at millions of dollars. Blittersdorf added that he ended up repurposing five wind turbines originally destined for Vermont projects to a wind farm in Massachusetts. Complete story »
Reducing consumption may be the only effective way to reduce carbon emissions
To the Editor: Your March 19 editorial ends with the opinion that large-scale wind projects should be sited “in locations where they won’t hurt human health or the local economy,” an idea nobody should dispute. Adding new wind farms to an upstate grid that already provides 90 percent of electricity emissions-free (thanks to hydro- and nuclear power) when health and local economies are on the line does not appear to be wise. However, the editorial misses the mark by reciting . . . Complete story »
Nearly $2T stimulus package omits direct renewable sector aid after Trump, McConnell opposition
"Why are Democrats filibustering the bipartisan bill they helped write?" Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell asked on the floor Monday, criticizing the Democrats' efforts to include renewable energy tax credit extensions and require airlines at the center of bailout discussions to cut emissions. "Are you kidding me? … Democrats won't let us fund hospitals or save small businesses unless they get to dust off the Green New Deal," he said. Complete story »
