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.
Falmouth ordered to shut down turbines
BARNSTABLE – A Barnstable Superior Court judge on Tuesday ordered the town of Falmouth to shut down two town-owned wind turbines. Judge Cornelius Moriarty issued his decision at about 4:30 p.m. in the case which pitted the town against its own Zoning Board of Appeals and a neighbor of the turbines. The Board of Selectmen had appealed a decision by the zoning board that found the turbines are a nuisance. In an emergency meeting Tuesday night, selectmen instructed the town manager . . .
Wind turbine collapses in Windthorst
Crews are still investigating what caused a wind turbine to collapse in Windthorst last Friday. The wind turbine came crashing down just outside the town on Oliver Wells Road. No one and no livestock was harmed by the turbine. Paul Rapp, Vice President of Development for Alterra Power said, “It’s extremely rare to have this type of failure issue.” Windthorst residents said the wind farms do a lot of good for the community and bring money into the county, but . . .
Renewable energy’s sweet promise comes with some bitter pills for rural Missouri
The growth of wind farming in Missouri creates green energy and less dependence on out-of-state- coal. But the impacts of turbines and transmission lines may also spark neighbor-to-neighbor, farmer-to-government, and rural-to-urban tensions. It started with huge electric generators on top of surface-mined coal seams conveyed right into the boiler. But Missouri coal has high sulfur content. Conflicts with acid rain and human health meant mothballing Missouri coal reserves. In the face of all that, people might think that coal-fired Missouri . . .
Despite fears of harming birds, plan for Israeli wind farm moves forward
A government committee has given the go-ahead to build a wind farm on the Golan Heights over the objections of environmentalists who warn that the turbines will pose a serious threat to the region’s birds of prey, particularly eagles that are at risk of extinction. The plan, the initiative of an Israeli company, Enlight Renewable Energy, is currently at the stage of receiving input from the public. It was opposed both by environment experts on the National Infrastructure Committee, which . . .
Senate chair on global warming takes input on energy policy
The first hour and a half of the meeting, however, was hijacked by anti-wind advocates from the Hoosac Wind Project. A group of neighbors in the Florida and Clarksburg area have been fighting against the 28.5-megawatt wind farm since before it even went online in 2012. Larry Lorusso, of Clarksburg, said the turbines have been causing health concerns from sinus issues to heart disease to anxiety because of the vibrating sound echoing through the area. "At times I feel like I am inside a drum," Lorusso said. He said the state knows the noise is too loud but is looking the other way. Michael Farineny, of Florida, said he's spoken with every government official he could to mitigate the issues but to no avail. He said the system of testing for sound issues is "rigged" because the company is in charge of hiring the consultants, and setting the schedule for tests. The low-frequency noises are caused relationship issues, has torn apart the neighborhood, and forced people to abandon their homes.
Wind farm ruling a victory for county’s residents
We won, our nightmare is over! Dan’s Mountain has been saved from wind turbines. (See: “PSC denies certificate for Dan’s Mountain wind farm,” June 20 Times-News, Page 1A.) The Maryland Public Service Commission affirms Chief Public Utility Law Judge Terry Romine’s decision to deny Dan’s Mountain Wind Force’s application to build wind turbines on Dan’s Mountain. Thank you to the thousands and thousands of residents in Allegany County and all over Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania for supporting Allegany Neighbors . . .
Rhode Island considering legislation to streamline process of developing renewable energy projects
Also worth noting, S-0703: Farm Based Renewable Energy would allow renewable energy (wind and solar) on farms larger than 15 acres that have not been protected previously. Projects meeting this definition would be approved as a matter of right with some restrictions such as percentage of lot coverage and continued usability of underlying land. This bill is listed as “held for further study” as of April 26, 2017. This is typically a sign that the bill will not be acted on in the current legislative session. It is difficult, however, to predict with certainty as legislation thought to be inactive can sometimes receive approval at the last moment with little advanced notice.
DPS criticizes noise monitoring plan for wind project
The state Department of Public Service and a citizen group are both urging significant changes in the proposed wind sound monitoring plan for the Deerfield Wind project under construction along Route 8 in Searsburg and Readsboro. In comments submitted June 15 to the Public Service Board, which is considering the company’s monitoring plan, the DPS questions Deerfield Wind’s role in selecting or supervising the monitoring contractor and the specific methods of monitoring to determine the effects of noise on residences . . .
Landowners call for increased setback for wind towers in Pictou County
PICTOU – County council’s planning advisory will be receiving a request from Fitzpatrick Mountain landowners to adjust its setback for wind turbines. Wayne Pierce of Tower Road asked county council Monday to amend its current bylaw for domestic and small wind turbines, which is one times the height from the property line from residences. He also asked council to consider a reduction in the output and that Department of Energy and Municipal Affairs guidelines are followed. “This will not prevent . . .
Wind turbine rule change gets nod from Ohio Senate, Cuyahoga request for 20-year renewable power purchase agreement rejected
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The wind turbine industry’s efforts to regain expansion in Ohio got a boost Tuesday with the inclusion of new rules governing how close a turbine can be to adjacent properties. But a request on behalf of Cuyahoga County to allow it to sign 20-year power purchase agreements for wind and solar power was rejected by the GOP-dominated committee. The new turbine setback rules would replace restrictive language that appeared anonymously in the 2014 budget bill, nearly tripling the . . .
