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.
Commission forwards updated wind regulations
It’s taken a little more than six months, but Madison County has a set of proposed wind energy regulations that are finally ready to be considered by the Madison County board of commissioners. At a meeting last Thursday, the Madison County Joint Planning Commission conducted a final public hearing and then discussed the input that has been provided at various meetings since April. The end result is an updated set of regulations ready to be considered by the Madison County . . . Complete story »
Farmersville wind opponents hear same old arguments
FARMERSVILLE – To Ginger Schroder, an attorney for Farmersville residents opposed to the Alle-Catt Wind Farm, Thursday’s public hearing was much like the one the town held May 7. “Everyone said pretty much the same thing” as before, said Schroder, a Farmersville resident who is not charging for her legal services in fighting the project. A handful of residents “with a financial interest spoke in favor and the other 80 to 90 percent were either opposed or want greater protection.” Schroder . . . Complete story »
Reintroduction of German setback rules proposed
The ‘most extreme’ setback rule, according to the BWE, is Bavaria, where its ‘10H rule’ means the minimum distance between a wind turbine and the nearest building must be ten times the height of the turbine. This led to a near-total halt to wind power expansion in the southern state since 2014, while just two permits have been granted so far this year, according to the BWE. Complete story »
Industrial wind turbines may result in $27 million property value decline
For every flawed study the Big Wind industry presents with no real loss of property value resulting from massive turbines, there are 10 more studies indicating that is definitely not the case. Wind leases continue to be gathered in townships surrounding the rural Tiffin area. There will be over a thousand homes within two miles of the 600-652 foot, skyscraper-size turbines. Home values will decline on average 25 percent within a 2 MILE radius of the turbines in a “Wind . . . Complete story »
Federal regulators seek public comment on second wind farm off of Block Island
Federal regulators from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are asking for public input on potential environmental impacts of a second wind farm off the coast of Block Island. The South Fork Wind Project is being developed by Deepwater Wind, a Rhode Island-based offshore wind company that built the nation’s first-ever offshore wind farm near the island. South Fork will deliver power to Long Island, enough for about 50,000 homes. Clint Plummer, vice president of development at Deepwater Wind, said Rhode Island . . . Complete story »
PSC gives go-ahead for sale of Noble Environmental Wind farms in Wyoming County
EAGLE – The state Public Service Commission on Thursday ruled that no further review of the proposed sale of Noble Environmental Power’s New York wind generating facilities was needed, clearing the way for the sale of six wind farms – including the company’s facilities in Eagle and Wethersfield. Global asset management firm The Carlyle Group announced last month that it planned to buy the New York wind generating facilities owned by Noble Environmental Power. The Carlyle Group, through a newly created subsidiary . . . Complete story »
Grant County Commission hears presentation on proposed wind farm at work session 101618
During discussion at the October work session on Oct. 16, 2018, on the November meeting dates, commissioners agreed to hold a combined work-and-regular-sessions meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at 9 a.m. at the Grant County Administration Center. The first item of business on the work session agenda was a presentation by Bob Karsted, wind farm project manager of Scout Clean Energy, and Mike Greczyn, a consultant with Altis, on the proposed development of the Great Divide Wind Farm LLC . . . Complete story »
Energy company pursues third wind farm in South Dakota area
ABERDEEN – An energy company is moving forward with a plan for a new 36-turbine wind farm in northeastern South Dakota. Apex Clean Energy is planning Dakota Range Wind III in Roberts and Grant counties, the Aberdeen American News reported. The proposed wind farm would be the Virginia-based company’s third 150-megawatt project in the area, said Mark Mauersberger, the company’s senior development manager. Apex officials held a forum this month for Roberts County residents to ask questions about the third wind . . . Complete story »
Farmersville board has a lot to review from wind hearing
FARMERSVILLE – Supervisor Robert Karcher said the Farmersville Town Board has a lot of testimony and other material to review after Thursday night’s public hearing on a proposed new wind turbine law. “We’ve heard both sides,” Karcher said in a telephone interview Saturday. “I wish I had a fact-checker. I hear different stories. Who do you believe?” Karcher said the Town Board appreciated those attending the public hearing were respectful of speakers – opponents and supporters of the wind farm. Invenergy, a . . . Complete story »
Migrants building £2.6bn windfarm paid fraction of minimum wage
Workers hired to build the flagship £2.6bn Beatrice offshore windfarm in Scotland have included migrants without proper immigration documents paid a fraction of the UK minimum wage, the Guardian can reveal. Offshore windfarming is one of the UK’s biggest growth industries, hailed by both the Conservatives and Labour as a priority for investment that will create thousands of jobs while also producing clean energy. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ union (RMT) have . . . Complete story »
