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.
Wind farm project shelved
Good news for Wallaceburg area residents came Friday from Queen’s Park, as Premier Doug Ford followed through on his promise to cancel renewable energy projects in Ontario. In a release Friday, Ontario Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines Greg Rickford announced ratepayers will benefit from $790 million in savings thanks to the government’s decision to cancel and wind down 758 renewable energy contracts, including the Wallaceburg Otter Creek Wind Farm project. “We clearly promised we would cancel these unnecessary . . . Complete story »
Planning approval for Co Clare wind farm overturned
The Supreme Court has overturned planning permission for a Co Clare wind farm due to An Bord Pleanála’s failure to make “complete, definitive and precise” findings required under European law. Permission for the project, a development of six wind turbines at Coor West, Shanvogh, was initially turned down by Clare County Council. The developer then appealed to the board, which approved the project. When making its decision, the board rejected its inspector’s recommendation to refuse permission. It disagreed with various . . . Complete story »
Penn Forest hearing focuses on noise level
PENN FOREST TWP., Pa. – Penn Forest Township zoners heard the testimony of an acoustics expert Monday night who said that an application for 28 wind turbines in the township may not meet noise requirements in the township’s zoning ordinance. Robert Rand of Rand Acoustics LLC testified in the latest of a series of zoning hearings in Penn Forest Township as the municipality’s zoning hearing board weighs whether to approve the application of Atlantic Wind LCC, which is proposing to . . . Complete story »
Lompoc Valley wind-energy project gets a second wind
A wind energy project proposed for the Lompoc Valley has come back to life with a new name, a new applicant and a new look, but at the same site off San Miguelito Road. It’s now called the Strauss Wind Energy Project, and the environmental review process is starting with a scoping meeting planned for 6 p.m Thursday at the Lompoc City Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Plaza. The Santa Barbara Planning & Development Energy Division staff has started a . . . Complete story »
Opposition group continues pressure on wind turbines
As the opposition to the possibility of wind turbines from DTE Energy in Branch County grows, the group leading the opposition is gearing up to attend two governmental sessions this week. Concerned Citizens of Branch County is urging its members to attend the Matteson Township Planning Board’s public work session Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. The work session is open to the public, but unlike the Planning Board meeting held June 21 at St. Mary’s School gymnasium which included public comment, . . . Complete story »
DeWitt County zoning board weighs wind farm regulations
CLINTON – The potential effects of wind farms on wildlife and aircraft highlighted the first night of testimony Monday as the DeWitt County Zoning Board of Appeals looks at changes to the ordinance governing such facilities. Lenexa, Kan.-based Tradewind Energy is considering building the Alta Farms II wind farm in DeWitt County on a footprint stretching from Waynesville to Wapella. Opponents, many of whom testified Monday in the hearing at the county building in Clinton, want the county to change the . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind topic blows back onto Ocean City agenda
Offshore wind farms near Ocean City’s coast will again come up for discussion at Monday’s Town Council meeting. Meghan Lapp, a fisheries liaison for Seabreeze Ltd. in Rhode Island, will outline concerns with how wind farms may affect commercial fishing, according to the agenda document. The presentation will also feature local fisherman George Topping. The addition of wind farms could restrict fishing areas, according to the presentation outline in the agenda documents. Lapp cites the White Marlin Open as one . . . Complete story »
Leitrim man loses appeal over criminal damage to wind farm site
A man jailed for damaging equipment used to build a wind farm in rural Roscommon has lost an appeal over attempts to change his plea from ‘guilty’ to ‘not guilty’. Conor Judge (31), with an address in Maynooth, Co Kildare, and originally from Kilnagross, Co. Leitrim, had pleaded guilty at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of theft and one count of criminal damage at a worksite connected to the construction of a wind farm near Arigna, Co. Roscommon . . . Complete story »
EU’s top court to rule on Tipperary wind farm planning
The EU’s top court is to rule later this month on whether An Bord Pleanála properly assessed the environmental impact on the habitat of the hen harrier of a proposed €80m wind farm in Tipperary. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has said the challenge by environmentalists to the proposed wind farm (which would be within a designated special protection area) is likely to set case law on wind farms and protected habitats. An Bord Pleanála had . . . Complete story »
Texas regulators fear customer risk from Wind Catcher
AUSTIN, Texas – Regulators threw a wrench in American Electric Power’s massive Wind Catcher Energy Connection on Thursday, expressing concerns over whether the company will protect ratepayers from the project’s risks. Public Utility Commission Chair DeAnn Walker made that clear following oral arguments in the contested proceeding involving AEP subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Co. and several consumer groups (Docket No. 47461). “I’m going to be upfront with you,” Walker said, addressing AEP CEO Nick Akins, her fellow commissioners and others in . . . Complete story »
