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.
On offshore wind, NJ says no to home rule
TRENTON – Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that denies municipalities their traditional control over where and how cables from offshore wind farm projects can come ashore. According to the bill, a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved project can locate, build, use and maintain wires and cables that are associated with the transmission of electrical power from offshore wind farms to land-based infrastructure. The state legislature can move quickly when it wants to. The bill, introduced in . . . Complete story »
Coos County: financial information non-public in pending wind farm sale
After a decade in operation, the 33-turbine, 99-megawatt Granite Reliable Power commercial wind farm in Coos County is about to be sold, and the buyer and seller want to keep the purchase and sale agreement from the public. The sale must first be approved by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee, which on July 26 held a public hearing in Concord. On May 3, Brookfield Renewable Power, the majority owner, and NextEra Energy, the prospective buyer, filed a joint petition . . . Complete story »
‘There’s gonna be turbines’
CATO TOWNSHIP – A short and otherwise unremarkable Cato Township Board meeting ended in a bit of an uproar Monday evening after the supervisor made an unexpected declaration. As the meeting was drawing to an end after about 15 minutes of regular business, a man in the audience of more than 30 people asked, “Where do we stand on this wind turbine stuff?” The Cato Township Planning Commission has been working on updating its wind energy ordinance, with its next special . . . Complete story »
Regulators weigh ‘end plan’ for Buffalo Ridge II
The lawyers are going to work some more on what should happen when the Buffalo Ridge II wind farm in eastern South Dakota reaches the end of its service life. The state Public Utilities Commission discussed the proposal Tuesday with attorneys representing Iberdrola Renewables. The international company owns the turbines and related equipment. They agreed that Brett Koenecke, a Pierre lawyer for the company, should find different phrasing for the plan, so that the commission isn’t designated as a beneficiary . . . Complete story »
Prospect of visible ocean wind farms unites Brunswick towns in opposition
BRUNSWICK COUNTY – There’s a campaign afoot in Brunswick County and its coastal townships to thwart the installation of offshore wind turbines within 24 nautical miles of the shoreline. The opposition movement began earlier this summer in Bald Head Island. The village council approved a resolution in May that makes it clear any efforts to place wind farms within the island’s viewshed – the territory of ocean in which the turbines could be seen from the beach, or the Old Baldy lighthouse – . . . Complete story »
The state tips its hand
Governor Phil Murphy has set a goal for 7500 megawatts of offshore wind-generated electricity by 2035. It is an ambitious goal. It is also a goal that leaves little time for the niceties of public engagement and dialogue. The state clearly showed that it has a plan, and it is going to implement it regardless of public acceptance. Two state actions this month make that abundantly clear. On July 24 Murphy signed into law a bill that removed municipal control . . . Complete story »
Talks required for La Nation to prohibit wind turbines, and zoning change in works for sports complex site
Plans in La Nation to prohibit commercial wind turbine developments in the municipality are not going to be a breeze to implement. At the July 26 council meeting, Planner Guylain Laflèche explained documents received from WSP, the firm retained by the municipality for planning services, regarding a series of amendments being proposed for the municipal zoning by-law. The amendments include prohibiting windfarms and allowing secondary dwellings and coach houses on residential properties. The WSP document stated windfarms are considered renewable . . . Complete story »
Maryland offshore wind developer announces expansion plans
A Maryland offshore wind developer announced plans on Tuesday to expand on a wind turbine project off the coast of Ocean City and create a new steel production facility to make offshore wind foundations. US Wind announced plans to expand its 22-turbine MarWin project off the Maryland coast into a new project called Momentum Wind, which would include up to 82 turbines. Plans also call for developing 90 waterfront acres (36 hectares) into a new steel fabrication facility in Baltimore . . . Complete story »
Montcalm County sheriff clarifies wind support comment
STANTON – The Montcalm County sheriff has clarified that his office is neutral on the subject of wind energy. During the July 26 budget talks meeting of the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners, Chairman Patrick Q. Carr of Lakeview spoke in support of Apex Clean Energy’s proposed wind turbine project for Montcalm County. In response to Carr’s comments, Undersheriff Andy Doezema spoke up during public comment to say, “Also, we support wind.” This comment did not go over well with the . . . Complete story »
Brunswick County commissioners unanimously opppose offshore wind turbines
The Brunswick Commissioners extended the usual “not-in-my-backyard” thinking to “not-within-27-miles” Monday, voting to oppose construction of wind turbines within 24 nautical miles (about 27 miles) of the county’s shoreline. Although no wind-energy projects are planned for the area, the federal government has identified three Wind Energy Areas (WEA) off the North Carolina coast as potential sites for turbines, which would harness offshore wind to produce electricity. Two are off the coast of Brunswick County and one is off Kitty Hawk, . . . Complete story »
