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Wind Power News: February 2007
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.
Attorney discusses community concerns in Albion and Gaines
New York is the windiest state east of the Mississippi River, according to Daniel Spitzer of the Buffalo law firm Hodgson Russ LLP. To address the growing wind energy concerns of residents in the towns of Albion and Gaines, Spitzer, who represents municipalities and wind energy companies, spoke to members of the two communities Monday evening about windmills, zoning ordinances and other issues that may effect a town’s decision to allow wind farms. “As a community I think you have . . . Complete story »
New turn in turbine battle
Residents of Shipdham have another anxious wait ahead on the future of two proposed wind turbines in the village after the High Court sent its fate back into the hands of the planning inspectorate. A government inspector granted permission for the turbines on appeal following a public inquiry last year but a condition imposed to prevent noise nuisance was challenged by Nicholas and Lee Hoare who live next to the proposed site. At a brief hearing in London Mr Justice . . . Complete story »
Our mountains are everyone's 'backyard'
A recent article in The Irregular (Feb. 14, 2007) reports that the Kingfield selectmen have voted to write a letter to LURC supporting the Kibby wind power project in the Boundary Mountains of northern Franklin County. Interestingly, this decision seems to have been made after a visit by a TransCanada salesman to a single selectman – Selectman Dill – rather than to an open meeting of the entire board. Furthermore, apparently neither Mr. Dill nor the board ever bothered to contact opponents . . . Complete story »
Thumping problem of wind turbines
Many people seem to be referring to the efficiency of wind turbines. From my point of view what is important is the fact that their maximum output is always referred to, rather than their actual average output. Their actual average output is only about 25% of their maximum output; so quoting their maximum output makes them appear four times more useful than they really are. If one really wants to refer to their efficiency, one would have to compare their . . . Complete story »
Council taking wind turbine concerns to MOE
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Twp. council is now taking their concerns with wind turbines directly to the Ministry of Environment. That was the decision after council again deferred the township’s proposed wind turbine setback bylaw, at their Feb. 20 meeting, which is now going into six months of discussion. Council is attending the OGRA/ROMA Conference in Toronto this week and have arranged to meet with representatives of the MOE. They have also requested that Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell sit in on the meeting. . . . Complete story »
Bliss Windpark obtains environmental permits
Noble Environmental Power, an Essex, Conn.-based wind project developer and subsidiary of JPMorgan Partners, has completed permitting with the Army Corp of Engineers for its Noble Bliss Windpark in Wyoming County, New York. According to Noble, the approximately 100.5 MW project now is in receipt of all required environmental permits. The company says it is working on the Bliss Substation and will perform wind turbine site preparation over the next few months in order to begin construction for turbine foundations during . . . Complete story »
Idaho commission approves two wind power agreements
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has approved two wind power purchase agreements for the Idaho Power Co., a Boise, Idaho-based electric utility. The first is a 20-year sales agreement with Houston-based Telocaset Wind Power Producers LLC for 100 MW of wind energy. According to the commission, Telocaset’s wind farm is scheduled to be complete by March 2008. The second agreement the commission approved is between Idaho Power Co. and Idaho Winds LLC, which plans to build The Alkali Wind Farm six . . . Complete story »
Analysis: TXU merger will boost wind
TXU, if its buyout agreement is approved, will double the amount of money it spends on wind power purchases. The deal between the Texas utility giant and a group of investors led by Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. is the largest private investment merger in U.S. business history at $45 billion. The buyout comes to $32 after TXU’s $13 billion in debt is paid off. Included in the group of investors are Texas Pacific Group, Goldman Sachs & Co., GS . . . Complete story »
Britain accepts binding EU renewables target
Britain has dropped resistance to a mandatory European Union target of drawing 20 percent of power from renewable sources by 2020 and expects EU leaders to set that goal next week, a British official said on Wednesday. Britain was one of several countries, including prominently France, which opposed making legally binding the objective for low-polluting energy sources such as solar and wind power when EU energy ministers debated the issue on February 15. It argued at the time that member . . . Complete story »
NYRI project could led to wind power; opposition launches cyberspace attack
Officials of New York Regional Interconnect are in Washington, DC to lobby federal officials to gain approvals for their proposed power line that would run from Oneida County to Orange County, NY. The NYRI people say their project could lead to development of wind farms in upstate New York. Meanwhile, the anti-NYRI group Communities Against Regional Interconnection Tuesday unveiled their CARI website ““ www.caricoalition.org. The group, which consists of the counties of Sullivan, Orange, Delaware, Broome, Chenango, Herkimer, Oneida, and . . . Complete story »
