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.
Officials reject 400-foot wind turbines in Findlay
In a decision that pleased Crystal Avenue residents, Findlay officials on Thursday denied One Energy’s request to allow construction of 400-foot wind turbines nearby. The city zoning appeals board voted 3-1 Thursday to deny a variance that would have allowed One Energy to build one or two 400-foot wind turbines on 37 acres southeast of the intersection of Crystal and Bigelow avenues. The turbines would supply energy to Veoneer-Nissin Brake Systems, a factory at 1750 Production Drive. Findlay zoning laws . . . Complete story »
Kansas bill setting minimum setbacks for commercial wind turbines to have hearing next week
Legislation that would set minimum setbacks for commercial wind turbines in Kansas at 1 ½ miles from residential homes is scheduled to be heard by a House committee next week. Anyone wishing to submit written comments on the bill, however, must notify officials by 9 a.m. Friday. HB 2273, dubbed the Wind Generation Permit and Property Protection Act, was introduced by Rep. Randy Garber, R-Sabetha, on Tuesday and referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications. That committee, chaired . . . Complete story »
Wind project revenue tally raises debate; superintendent says clarity needed
Jacksonville School District 117 Superintendent Steve Ptacek is concerned some people think the school district is poised to see a windfall from a proposed clean energy project in the county. While the overall payout to schools from the Lincoln Land Wind project would be substantial, District 117 is projected to receive just $75,000 each year for the estimated 25-year lifespan. That’s actually the lowest amount among Morgan County schools districts. Ptacek believes the confusion resulted from an advertisement by Apex . . . Complete story »
Oklahoma Senate’s Energy Committee sends wind-related bills along
Several wind energy-related bills proposed by lawmakers worked their way through the Oklahoma Senate’s Energy Committee on Thursday, although senators sponsoring two of the measures stripped them of their ability to become law, for now. Senate Bill 904, authored by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, would tweak language Oklahoma’s Legislature approved in 2018 that sets up procedures wind farm developers and regulators must follow to make sure proposed farms don’t interfere with military training routes. Pugh said Thursday the pending measure . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine to sit idle before likely removal but project was never bonded
IPSWICH – After sustaining damage from a fire last fall, the town’s second wind turbine is set to sit idle for the foreseeable future. Or, it may be taken down by the operator, Town Manager Tony Marino told the select board this week. But the board also got unwelcome news when Marino told them the project was never bonded. This is a type of insurance developers take out to prevent municipalities paying for work associated with private projects. The bond is . . . Complete story »
Superintendent Ptacek shares thoughts on potential misconception within Lincoln Land Wind ad
A full-page ad in Wednesday’s Jacksonville Journal Courier has sparked some interest from District 117 administration. The full-page ad in question appeared on page 5A of the Journal Courier and was for Lincoln Land Wind, who, along with Apex Clean Energy, has been looking at potentially constructing a 300-megawatt wind farm in eastern Morgan County. Myriad discussions with various groups, like the Morgan County Board of Commissioners and area school districts, as well as local citizens, for more than six . . . Complete story »
Federal officials field concerns, hear support for offshore wind farm
HYANNIS – While there were many supporters in the room for Vineyard Wind and renewable energy in general, more than a few had pointed questions at a public hearing Wednesday on a draft environmental report on the project’s construction and operations plan. There are many issues in the draft impact statement prepared by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said George Maynard, of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, at the meeting inside the DoubleTree by Hilton on Route 28. . . . Complete story »
Governors race to announce climate action. Then reality hits
The U.S. Climate Alliance is en vogue among America’s new crop of Democratic governors. Illinois, Michigan and New Mexico have all joined the alliance in the last month. Wisconsin joined its ranks yesterday, bringing the total number of states committed to the targets of the Paris climate accord to 21. The question facing the newly minted climate states is whether their governors can actually cut emissions. Tony Evers, Wisconsin’s Democratic governor, faces a Republican-held Legislature in Madison. It’s a similar . . . Complete story »
PGE will spend $160 million on massive renewable energy project in eastern Oregon
Energy companies plan a giant renewable energy project in Morrow County, combining wind and solar power generation with battery storage. Plans for the facility have been in the works for nine years. On Wednesday, Portland General Electric said it wants to build the project with a big Florida company called NextEra Energy, subject to approval by NextEra management and sign-off by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. Backers say their proposed Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility will combine 300 megawatts of wind . . . Complete story »
Amid federal spat, U.S. wind farm to seek financing
The offshore wind-power project that became the subject of a Twitter war between federal energy regulators is moving forward with a debt financing for an estimated $2.15 billion phase, despite being shut out of part of a power auction, according to people familiar with the situation. Vineyard Wind, a joint venture of Avangrid Inc. and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners K/S, is looking to arrange financing by October, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. . . . Complete story »
