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.
Petition aims to stiffen wind turbine rules
Virginia Morton will present a petition to the Schuylkill County Planning Commission on Wednesday regarding wind turbine operations in the county. Morton, of Tower City, and the grassroots online citizens’ group she’s formed, Schuylkill County Wind Energy Concerns, want to amend the county’s zoning ordinance to permit industrial wind turbines only by special exception. The petition has been circulating at two locations seeking signatures. The effort is in response to Clean Air Generation LLC leasing 12,672 acres from Rausch Creek . . . Complete story »
Don’t become ‘America the ugly’
We live in Buchanan County. And we don’t want the turbines. My husband and I drove to Colorado in June. What a beautiful scenic drive until we traveled through Kansas and entered Colorado Springs. That’s when it all starts with miles and miles of wind turbines that ruin the beautiful landscape. It is just sickening to see this happen. This wind turbine thing should be stopped before it really turns more of our states into an ugly mess. It’s sad . . . Complete story »
Seneca County commissioners withdraw support for wind farm projects
SENECA COUNTY, Ohio – A big change in Seneca County: after initially supporting multiple wind farm projects, commissioners have now reversed their decision. After voting in March to support the ongoing wind farms plans across the county, commissioners held a special vote last week that officially reversed the decision. In the 2-1 vote, commissioners now no longer support the current wind farm projects and any potential future projects either. A large group of people brought up concerns and opposed the projects . . . Complete story »
Windfarms bribe environmentalists for permission to kill 300 bats, 44 nene
Excerpts from four articles in the August, 2019, edition of Environment Hawaii and one from Maui News…. After Paying $2.75M Bribe, Kawailoa Windfarm Gets Permit to Kill 160 More Bats EH: …“We’re not happy,” Lisa Spain told the room after casting the deciding vote to approve an amended Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that would allow the state’s largest wind farm to kill 160 more endangered bats than the 60 it was originally allowed to. The 4-1-1 vote, held at the . . . Complete story »
Duke Energy application points finger at solar for increased pollution
Traditional power plants — including cleaner burning natural gas plants — must scale back electric generation to accommodate solar energy surging onto the system when the sun rises, and power back up when the sun sets and solar energy dissipates. That starting and stopping reduces efficiency and incapacitates emission control devices, increasing pollutant levels. On other days solar energy is erratic and can result in more frequent cycling of reserve sources, further decreasing power plant efficiency. This increased cycling can result in increased emissions and undue wear and tear on the expensive equipment. Complete story »
Yard signs opposed to proposed wind farm project are disappearing; authorities investigating
It’s generally a quiet town in Poseyville, but the debate over a wind farm has stirred things up in the rural community. Driving through town, you’ll see that divide through signs for and against the proposed project. Scott Fisher is a member of a group opposed to the wind farm called PoCo Wind. “We caught word that there was a company in the area looking at leasing farm ground,” Fisher said. As of recently, there have been less and less . . . Complete story »
Argyll planning officials raise concerns over planned new wind farm
Councillors are being recommended to object to a proposed 17-turbine wind farm near Inveraray in Argyll when its planning committee meets tomorrow. Argyll and Bute Council is being asked to respond to a Scottish Government consultation on behalf of Coriolis Energy. The site of Blarghour Wind Farm is 4.35 miles north west of Inveraray and the turbines would be visible from the villages of Dalavich and Inverinan. Turbines would be a maximum ground-to-tip height of 447ft and there would be . . . Complete story »
Wisconsin governor orders 100% carbon free by 2050, despite lack of legislative support
Dive Brief: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, D, on Friday signed an executive order setting the state on a path to reach 100% carbon free electricity by 2050. The order establishes an Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, tasked with bringing the state to that goal. Evers pushed the order through administratively after the effort failed to make it through the budget process, Tyler Huebner, executive director of Renew Wisconsin, told Utility Dive. Both chambers of Wisconsin’s legislature are Republican majority . . . Complete story »
Plans for Bonhill windfarm hit snag after developer pulls out
Plans for a council-run windfarm in Bonhill have hit a snag after a developer pulled out. West Dunbartonshire Council has ambitions to build its own wind farm at Pappert Community Woodland, with a private developer building another on land adjacent to the council owned site. Lomond Energy was set to create the development but the firm has now pulled out. Council chiefs are now in discussions with a new developer who is considering a similar but “potentially greater scale scheme . . . Complete story »
Land board OKs lease option for proposed wind farm
HELENA – The state Land Board on Monday approved a five-year option to lease for 3,080 acres in Wheatland and Meagher counties for a company proposing a wind farm in which the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind is expected to receive a total of $81,620. The agreement was reached with Martinsdale Wind Farm for a proposed development that turns wind into energy. The trust would benefit the Great Falls-based Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind . . . Complete story »
