Wind Power News: November 2006
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Big wind in Bath? Officials want to limit turbine industry in comprehensive plan
While Highland County still remains the only Virginia locality actively targeted for the state’s first industrial wind power project, Bath County should get ahead of the curve on the issue, Bath officials warn. Bath County planner Miranda Redinger attended the regional meeting on a possible scoring system for renewable energy sources recently, and was surprised to learn there is a strong potential for wind energy development in Bath County. “Apparently Bath is priority one for wind development. I always thought . . . Complete story »
Tale of two counties
Bath County has a golden opportunity to avoid or at least mitigate the social and political trauma that has wreaked havoc in neighboring Highland County stemming from the prospect of industrial scale wind energy development. Officials here have been warned that wind developers will find Bath attractive if they believe its leaders are vulnerable. Now is the time to write language into the comprehensive plan that discourages such exploitation before it begins. For five years, Highland County has had industrial . . . Complete story »
More wind turbines planned
Anglian water and wind energy specialists TCI Renewables are looking into placing wind turbines on several of Anglian Water’s sites. Plans include erecting one turbine at the sewage treatment works in Creek Road, March. The proposals form part of Anglian Water’s renewable energy strategy, which aims to generate 73 million kWh of energy per year from renewable sources by 2010. Members of the public are invited to attend an exhibition to find out more about the plans and to discuss . . . Complete story »
Green Power = Green Skiing? Not So Fast
Ski resorts buying green energy are more likely to harm rivers, streams and wetlands, destroy old growth forests and threaten wildlife, according to the new Ski Area Environmental Scorecard. The new Scorecard finds that while many ski resorts are thinking globally by purchasing green energy, they are not doing enough to protect the environment locally. 2006 has been a landmark year for “green” power within the ski industry, with 21 resorts nationwide now offsetting 100% of there energy use with . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine project is a go in Centerville
Work on constructing 70 large wind turbines to produce electricity could start in less than two years, said Centerville Town Supervisor Frank Sardina. The Town Board passed a local law on Nov. 21 to allow for wind-generated electricity within the town, Mr. Sardina said Tuesday. “Overall, it looks like if things continue, we’ll be breaking ground in the spring of 2008″ at the earliest, Mr. Sardina said. The company looking to construct the towers, Noble Environmental Power, is working with . . . Complete story »
Anti-turbine fight gathers pace
A campaign group has been formed to fight controversial proposals for a seven-turbine wind station at Hempnall. Worried villagers claim the planned development by German-owned company Enertrag UK would have a devastating impact on the rural area. And opposition is growing, with people from neighbouring Topcroft, Saxlingham, Shotesham, Bedingham and Woodton teaming up with residents to form community campaign group Showt – an acronym for ‘Stop Hempnall’s On-Shore Wind Turbines’. Parish council chairman, Geoff Moulton, who has been asked to chair . . . Complete story »
'25-by-'25' assumptions
The new bipartisan theme enveloping Capitol Hill these days is called “25-by-’25.” The idea is that the United States should – and can – use renewable fuels to supply 25 percent of the country’s energy needs by 2025. Currently, renewable fuels account for only 6 percent of the nation’s energy, so ramping it up to 25 percent is certainly an ambitious and desirable goal. But is it feasible? Historically, the problem with renewable fuels comes down to a matter of cost and . . . Complete story »
Turbines proposal entered
A fifth application has been submitted to build a wind farm in north Northumberland. npower renewables ““ the company behind the proposal for the region’s most powerful wind farm at Middlemoor ““ want to build seven turbines on land south west of Grindon, 10km south west of Berwick. If approved by Berwick Borough Council, the plant would produce enough electricity to meet the average annual needs of between 6,800 and 9,200 homes ““ up to three-quarters of the homes in . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines generate richer royalties in Ont. than Que.
Wind power turbines generate much bigger profits for Ontario’s farmers than for Quebec’s – typically two or three times bigger, an investigative report by CBC’s French-language service has found. More wind farms are springing up in both Ontario and Quebec, as climbing energy prices and environmental concerns drive governments to invest in renewable, non-polluting sources of power. Power companies must lease land for their wind turbines, and that can benefit rural landowners. But how much they benefit depends on their province. . . . Complete story »
Winona County celebrates a true windfall
Winona County’s proposed $3 million wind turbine just got a whole lot cheaper. The county learned recently it is eligible to receive up to $3.2 million in no-interest federal bonds, which would shave off more than $100,000 from the total project cost and provide the financing to build the turbine. The bonds can be paid off with revenue from selling the electricity the turbine generates. The bonds, known as Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, are awarded by the Internal Revenue Service . . . Complete story »
