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.
Winds of change in commonwealth court
When it became apparent that the fight regarding the fate of Luzerne County’s Crystal Lake parcel was headed to court, numerous people savvy in the ways of the local judiciary warned us of what we were up against. We were advised that we needed the funds to pursue the matter at least to the Commonwealth Court level because the local courts would probably be heavily swayed by politics. We at Defend Our Watershed refused to believe, given our case’s merits, . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines for city hilltop generate debate
When it was first proposed, the plan to construct a wind farm off the Massachusetts coast seemed like a good idea. After all, any project that would wean the energy-starved Northeast off oil and gas seemed laudable. But the scheme soon hit a brick wall, when serious environmental questions were raised about the proposal to erect 130 or so wind towers across 44,000 acres of Nantucket Sound. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are far removed from the seven hills . . . Complete story »
Turbine battle lines are drawn
The battle lines are being drawn up for and against a Calderdale windfarm. Calderdale Friends of the Earth say they support the idea of putting five 410-ft high turbines on Todmorden Moor, subject to an environmental impact study. Meanwhile, the Todmorden Moor Restoration Trust is to hold a public meeting on Friday to set up an official opposition group. Coronation Power has put in a planning application for the turbines. They say they will help generate clean and sustainable energy . . . Complete story »
Rules could help protect birds, bats
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is on track with plans to create what it believes is the nation’s first voluntary cooperative agreement with wind-energy developers to protect birds and bats. Wind-energy developers and outside wildlife advocates have prepared a draft agreement that would impose rules on the fast-growing industry before irreparable damage is done to bird and bat populations, said William A. Capouillez, director of the Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management, the Game Commission. “We have broad powers under Title 34,” . . . Complete story »
Wildlife specialists suggest ways to improve agreement
Two bird specialists familiar with the Pennsylvania Game Commission efforts to protect wildlife from wind turbines offered cautious support, although each found things they didn’t like. A bat specialist was more critical. Keith Bildstein, director of conservation science at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County, likes the draft agreement that would establish rules wind-energy developers would voluntarily follow. But he would prefer that the Game Commission impose an immediate moratorium on wind farms being built on high-risk sites, meaning . . . Complete story »
Westar ponders winds of change
Westar Energy Inc., which once said that wind energy was uneconomical for the company and its customers, is having second thoughts. The company is seeking bids for projects that could produce up to 500 megawatts of electricity from renewable resources such as wind, solar energy and biomass. “When looking at the options we have to invest in providing for Kansas’ growing needs, it is important that we evaluate renewable resources in addition to traditional fuel generation,” Jim Haines, Westar’s chief . . . Complete story »
400 MW of wind capacity produces O MW of power
At noon today I checked how much power was being produced by the wind farms in Ontario. The govt. has this idea that if they spread the wind farms around the province wind farms will produce power. Their logic is that it has to be windy somewhere. Port Burwell = O MW Kingsbridge l = O MW Amaranth = O MW and last but not least Princefarm = O MW. Lets add that up now. 400 plus MW of wind . . . Complete story »
Delmarva Power encourages rejections
Delmarva Power has encouraged the state to reject all three energy plant bids, but the bidders are standing by their proposals and the game is far from over. In a filing with the Public Service Commission, the utility company stated moving forward with any of the power plant proposals is not in the best interest of its customers. The company’s analysis indicated none of the three proposals offer any savings or price stability and all carry substantial costs. The company . . . Complete story »
School complex is tops for wind
The school complex on Forest Street holds the greatest potential as a potential site for a wind turbine, according to members of the Wind Turbine Generator Study Committee. School officials have yet to weigh in with their thoughts on the proposed site, but that is expected to change Feb. 28, when study committee members meet with school administrators. David Carriere, the assistant town engineer who represents the Department of Public Works on the committee, updated selectmen Monday night on possible . . . Complete story »
Rejected wind turbine project gets back on track
TOWN OF MENASHA – Construction could begin this spring on a wind turbine demonstration project along Northern Road similar to one rejected in January. Tom Newton, president of Worship Thanks Praise Ltd., Manitowoc, said the scope and location of the project has changed and all generated electricity will be used on site, not sold. That eliminates the need for a Winnebago County conditional use permit approved by the Town Board and requires only a staff review before a building permit is . . . Complete story »
