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.
What’s next for Falmouth turbines?
FALMOUTH – On Monday, the public will get a glimpse of what the future holds for two 400-foot wind turbines that have stood silent and unused since a Barnstable Superior Court judge ordered them to never again operate at their wastewater treatment plant location 18 months ago. One turbine won’t be allowed to operate again in town, but the second may one day spin on some other local property. Weston and Sampson, engineers hired by the town to look at logistics . . . Complete story »
Hearing this week on Galloo Island substation: Proposed Lake Ontario wind farm wants to connect to grid through Port City
OSWEGO – A proposed wind turbine farm near the Thousand Islands wants to run its electricity through the Port City and officials on Wednesday will gather for a public hearing to address the project. Galloo Island Wind LLC and its parent company, Apex Clean Energy, have proposed to make the city of Oswego the terminus of the Galloo Island transmission lines, connecting to the greater New York state power grid from similar points as the Nine Mile Point and James A. . . . Complete story »
Turbine information shared
If you want to allow wind turbines in your township or limit them, it is possible by using zoning regulations, according to Sarah Mills. Mills, a senior project manager at the Ford School’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, spoke to a crowd at Union City Middle School last week. The two-hour session was held for the Sherwood Township Planning Commission, but representatives of the four townships where DTE has signed a majority of its land leases attended. DTE . . . Complete story »
Owners of former U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse on Galloo Island file petition over easement dispute
SACKETS HARBOR – A petition to suspend, adjourn or dismiss the Article 10 review of the Galloo Island Wind project has been filed with the state Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment. Cara and Anthony Dibnah, who in 2000 purchased the former U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse on the island, are seeking relief from the board because of an ongoing easement dispute with the owner of the largest part of the island, Galloo Island Corp. At issue is an easement . . . Complete story »
Rising interest rates are expected to cool the market for wind farms
Wind farm prices may have peaked, one of Ireland’s most experienced corporate financiers has warned, despite strong overseas demand for a range of Irish assets. IBI chief executive Tom Godfrey said wind farm assets were probably “as expensive as they’re going to be” now that the low interest rate environment had begun to change. Rising official interest rates, so far largely in the USA, were prompting investors to rethink strategies, both because returns on relatively safe bond investments were rising . . . Complete story »
Lighthouse Wind splits towns into factions
LYNDONVILLE: A community divided – opposing protests, foul language, heckling outside of forum. In the hour leading up to Apex Clean Energy’s community forum Oct. 4 , two groups had gathered in the parking lot at Lyndonville’s L.A. Webber Middle-High School. One group stood staunchly in favor of Apex’s proposed Lighthouse Wind energy project and the other stood vehemently opposed. The opposing rallies offered perhaps the clearest image of how the proposed, 47-turbine wind farm has divided residents in the towns . . . Complete story »
State advised yet again to reject offshore-wind project near Atlantic City
The state should once again reject a pilot offshore wind project about three miles from Atlantic City, according to a consultant for the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel. In testimony submitted to the state Board of Public Utilities, the consultant argued the 25-megawatt Nautilus Offshore Wind LLC project is too expensive for ratepayers and fails to provide a net economic benefit to New Jersey. The conclusion is significant because the Rate Counsel had backed a previous iteration of the . . . Complete story »
Windmills not so green for wildlife
The spinning turbines of windmills, touted as a safe source of renewable energy, may be a lurking danger to wildlife in forests. Apart from direct impact, blades of the turbines are driving away animals to the fringes of forests, and this might be leading to increased man-animal conflict. A two-year research project by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), commissioned by State government agencies, has found that not only do windmills lead to bird and bat . . . Complete story »
Neighbors sue to block planned Montana wind farm near Crazy Mountains
LIVINGSTON – Neighbors of a planned wind farm in southwestern Montana are suing to block the project. The Livingston Enterprise reports the Crazy Mountain Wind Farm would harvest 80 megawatts of electricity from 24 wind towers near the Sweet Grass and Park county line. Construction is scheduled to begin next spring. The lawsuit filed late last month in Park County is by four neighboring property owners with ranching and agricultural land. They allege the wind project will threaten wetlands, migratory birds, . . . Complete story »
Wind change takes time: MPP
Several people at the meeting have left their homes because of health effects they say are a result of living too close to wind turbines. Martina Heyward, who lives near two of the wind turbines in the Durham East wind farm, claimed she sold her 50-member goat herd due to effects of living too close to wind turbines. She has now lost her source of income and says she also suffers health effects. “I am on your side. I’ve been on your side since 2011 and I plan to stay on your side,” Walker said, but added, “It’s not going to get turned off in the first month, it’s going to get turned off in the second month. I hope all of you thought it was a good step getting rid of the Green Energy Act which all of you have been asking us to do.” Complete story »
