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.
Abgerissener Windrad-Flügel in Alfstedt: Landkreis setzt Frist
[A rotor blade of a wind turbine in Alfstedt near Bremervörde that broke off months ago has polluted the surrounding fields and has not yet been repaired. The district has now set a deadline.] Ein vor Monaten abgebrochenes Rotorblatt einer Windkraftanlage in Alfstedt bei Bremervörde hat umliegende Felder verschmutzt und ist bislang nicht repariert. Nun hat der Landkreis eine Frist gesetzt. Per Verfügung hat der Landkreis Rotenburg/Wümme angeordnet, dass der Betreiber das beschädigte Teil des Windrades bis spätestens zum 20. . . . Complete story »
Windrad-Fasern sind im ganzen Ort verteilt
[Months later, pieces from broken wind turbine blade scattered all over] Uwe und Karin Tiedemann müssen auf ihrem Alfstedter Acker nicht lange suchen, bis sie kleine Kunststoffteile finden. Sie stammen von einem abgebrochenen Windkraftanlagen-Flügel, der seit Monaten defekt ist und die Plastikteile verteilt. Es knickte am 15. September das Rotorblatt einer Windenergieanlage im Windpark Alfstedt ab. Am 29. September riss es komplett ab. Die Bruchstelle ist groß, aus ihr gelangen seit Monaten feinste Kunststofffasern und auch größere Teile in die . . . Complete story »
Kaputtes Windrad treibt Bauern zur Verzweiflung: “Sind mit Latein am Ende”
[Farmers at wits’ ends – Ever since a rotor blade broke off a wind turbine in the Lower Saxony municipality of Alfstedt in September, pieces of plastic and fine plastic fibers are repeatedly strewn across the fields.] Die Bauern in der niedersächsischen Gemeinde Alfstedt haben Probleme mit einem Windrad. Seit im September ein Rotorblatt abgebrochen ist, verteilen sich immer wieder Plastikteile und feine Kunststofffasern auf den Äckern. Auch bei Windrädern kann es immer mal wieder zu Schäden kommen. So auch in . . . Complete story »
RCMP investigating damaged equipment at wind power project job site
In a press release, the RCMP said it’s investigating damages to three pieces of heavy equipment at a World Energy GH2 job site in Mainland, on Newfoundland’s west coast. For about 2½ weeks, a group of protesters has blocked an access road to the wind power site in Mainland, saying they’re concerned about the community’s water supply. The RCMP says the damage occurred sometime on Monday or Tuesday, while the equipment was parked unattended on Forest Road in Mainland. RCMP . . . Complete story »
Dozens of giant turbines at Scots windfarms powered by diesel generators
Scottish Power admitted 71 of its windmills were hooked up to the fossil fuel supply after a fault developed with their power supply. Dozens of giant turbines on Scotland’s windfarms have been powered by diesel generators, the Sunday Mail can reveal. Scottish Power admitted 71 of its windmills were hooked up to the fossil fuel supply after a fault developed on the grid. The firm said it was forced to act in order to keep the turbines warm during very . . . Complete story »
NYSERDA is right to decide against wind turbines
After almost two years of anticipation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently released its Great Lakes Wind Feasibility Study, which concluded “that now is not the right time to prioritize Great Lakes Wind projects in Lake Erie or Lake Ontario.” Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie (CAWTILE), a grassroots organization of concerned citizens, has advocated tirelessly against installing industrial wind turbines in Lake Erie since it was announced over two years ago as a . . . Complete story »
We are researching Lava Ridge Wind Project to form an opinion. Are you?
The Lava Ridge Wind Project would change the landscape of south-central Idaho. Arguably, forever. This isn’t us embellishing the facts, or speaking in hyperbole. It would be the reality of blasting into the Earth to stand up as many as 400 wind turbines across up to 114 square miles between Twin Falls and Shoshone that would, in many cases, be taller than even the Space Needle that serves as the centerpiece of the Seattle skyline. The gigantic, mostly steel structures . . . Complete story »
Wind farm issue will soon be resolved, but …
After reading Don Smucker’s analysis of Montcalm County’s green energy conflict in the Jan. 21 Daily News, I am also very concerned – but for a different reason. The wind ordinance issue will be resolved, but I am concerned some people in our society hold democracy in such contempt. Smucker boils down the problem quite nicely: “(Some people) simply do not want to look at any wind turbine … because they do not like how they look.” A simple summation based . . . Complete story »
ND bill requires public hearings before signing wind project leases, enables local exclusion zones
A coal-supporting North Dakota lawmaker has introduced a bill aimed at giving counties and local residents more information and say about planned wind projects before they proceed, a move the state agriculture commissioner says could have broad negative impacts. Rep. Anna Novak, R-Hazen, shared her support for House Bill 1512 on Thursday, Feb. 2, before the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, saying North Dakota needs adequate wind permitting laws to protect residents. Novak is co-founder of the Facebook group . . . Complete story »
Pleas to pause wind farm plans over whale deaths have fallen on deaf ears, NJ mayor says: ‘Reeks of hypocrisy’
The mayor of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., Paul Kanitra, has a theory on what may be behind the mysterious string of whale deaths that has left officials speechless. Since offshore wind energy development began in December, the region has witnessed 18 whale deaths – a severe uptick that is not a “coincidence,” the New Jersey mayor argues. “In a normal year, the Jersey Shore coast and in the tri-state area, we have one, two, maybe three whale deaths. Since they . . . Complete story »
