Wind Power News: December 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.
Federal court to hear turbine case
A federal court will hear a lawsuit 24 property owners have filed over Calumet County’s wind turbine ordinance. The plaintiffs, who oppose the wind turbines, contend the county’s ordinance as amended in October is unconstitutional. They allege the ordinance, which requires 1,000 feet between wind turbines and homes, schools and churches but not businesses, fails to protect all property owners equally. At the same time, they contend the 1,000-foot setback impinges on adjacent properties, constituting a “taking” of property. Wind . . . Complete story »
Bitter wind farm fight dividing neighbors
The fight in McLean County over the proposed wind power plant has become bitter. Neighbors feel betrayed by neighbors; families are battling each other; churches are divided; and friendships have been irrevocably lost due to this project. The bitterness and divisiveness involved can be illustrated by the actions of one particular participating McLean County farmer. He stood at the Woodford County Zoning Board of Appeals and during his presentation shook his finger at the assembled members of his community and . . . Complete story »
Wind farms threaten park's unique charm
Exmoor’s unspoiled landscape and fragile tourist industry could be damaged by “intrusive” wind farms, a report claims. A warning shot has been fired by the national park’s planning chief as officers consider two controversial schemes near Exmoor’s borders. One is the plan to build nine turbines, up to 110m (361ft) high, west of Hinkley Point in west Somerset, 10 miles from the park’s boundary. The other is for nine 103m (338ft) turbines at Batsworthy Cross, near South Molton in north . . . Complete story »
D-Day for turbines
A decision over whether to allow three large wind turbines to be built in the heart of the Hawker country is due to be made next week. Campaigners have spent more than two years fighting the proposals by West Coast Energy to site three 81m wind turbines near Crimp, just outside Morwenstow. The company said the project has community benefits and will help North Cornwall meet its renewable energy targets. But it has met with fierce opposition. Members of MAT – . . . Complete story »
Help Save the Lewis Peatlands
Surfbirds readers may be aware that a revised planning application was submitted on 12 December by Lewis Wind Power (British Energy/AMEC) for a giant wind farm on Lewis. Most of the turbines and associated infrastructure are still located on the Lewis Peatlands SPA. The developer has made changes to the layout and reduced the number of turbines – partly to minimise bird impacts, but we remain gravely concerned. Despite the changes, the development remains huge in scale: 181 wind turbines, each . . . Complete story »
Twp. leaders OK wind farm sale
Washington Township supervisors have approved the transfer of ownership of the Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm from Gamesa USA to Australia-based Babcock & Brown. In granting the OK, Supervisors Ray Guzic and Leslie Devett agreed the 40-turbine farm complies with the terms of the development agreement reached with Gamesa, and that the transfer does not violate the deal. “In no way will this provide any additional burden on the township,” township Solicitor Thomas Swope told local officials at a special meeting . . . Complete story »
Meeting into turbine plan
A public meeting is to be held into controversial plans to build a wind farm in Pica, west Cumbria. Plans for the five turbine development were lodged with Copeland Council in September, and anyone with views on the proposal can have them heard at the meeting. The plans are currently under consultation between Copeland and the applicants, Bristol-based Wind Prospect Ltd, and they will not go before the planning panel until February at the earliest. cumberland-news.co.uk Complete story »
Canadian Hydro adds potentially 1,000 MW wind energy
Canadian Hydro Developers Inc. (CHD) has acquired all shares of Vector Wind Energy Inc. for a cash payment of $5.3- million, the companies said in a joint news release just before Christmas. The acquisition adds Vector’s 20 prospective wind energy areas – with capacity for 1,000 megawatts of electrical generation – primarily in Manitoba and Ontario, but also in Quebec, the Maritimes and Newfoundland. CHD already has a diversified portfolio of renewable energy plants – wind, water and biomass – at 18 facilities in . . . Complete story »
Wind firm objected to Fife Structure Plan
The company planning to build two windfarms in north east Fife formally objected to the controversial Fife Structure Plan, it has emerged. In a letter to the Scottish Executive, EnergieKontor – which is behind controversial planned developments in Ceres and Auchtermuchty – revealed it was unhappy with certain elements in the document which appear to make it more complicated to build a windfarm. Officials at the German-based firm were also annoyed with a report by design and assessment group ASH, which Fife . . . Complete story »
Plans for eight wind turbines to be considered
Plans have been lodged to build eight 300ft wind turbines near Alford. NPower Renewables wants to create the windfarm at Clashnarae Hill, Kildrummy. The plans will be considered by the Marr Area committee of Aberdeenshire councillors when officers have considered the application. The North-east is already home to several windfarms. A £31 million windfarm opened in July 2005 in Glens of Foudland, near Huntly. And plans for 23 turbines two miles off Aberdeen beach are expected to be progressed next . . . Complete story »
