Wind Power News: March 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.
Amaranth appeals Melancthon II ESR decision
Amaranth council has effectively appealed a Ministry of Environment decision not to order a full environmental assessment of the Canadian Hydro Developers (CHD) 88-turbine Melancthon II wind-farm project. Director James O’Mara of the ministry’s Approvals Branch, in a letter dated March 9 to the 15 persons who had requested elevation of the ESR to “an individual environmental assessment,” noted the rationale for acceptance of each aspect of the report to which the requesters had objected. “The issues and concerns raised . . . Complete story »
Wind farm considered for County Road 109
Grand River Conservation Authority is keeping a close eye on FPLE Canadian Wind’s proposal to build wind turbines generally along County Road 109, eastward from Arthur and extending into East Luther Grand Valley. FPLE is the Canadian branch of Florida Power and Light, arguably the largest electrical wind energy company in the world. It has also made overtures to Amaranth Township council, and has secured leases with several landowners there. In a letter to FPLE project manager Michael DeBock in . . . Complete story »
Transmission line to be twinned
A second 500-kilovolt Bruceto Milton transmission line alongside the existing one through East Luther Grand Valley and East Garafraxa is expected to have minimal impact on property owners, but the line does require an individual environmental assessment. The existing line runs generally east and southeast from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development as far as Colbeck, where it turns south to Milton. Its twin would be on a 175-200-foot easement on the north and east sides of the existing right-ofway. At . . . Complete story »
Wind power plan agreed
Plans for 10 110-metre high wind turbines have been approved by county planners in Carmarthenshire. The decision has been met with dismay by protesters who have campaigned against the development. The windfarm will be built on land next to Blaengwen Farm, near Alltwalis. It is on a swathe of land stretching across Carmarthenshire to Neath and Port Talbot that has been earmarked by the Assembly as suitable for a wind farm. The application was first approved in August, 2005, but in . . . Complete story »
Cape Wind moves on to federal review; Roadblocks remain after state OK
The developer of a Nantucket Sound wind energy project hopes to begin producing clean energy by 2010, after winning final state environmental approval yesterday, but the project still faces a major remaining hurdle: an expansive federal government review. The Interior Department plans to release a draft report next month, but will not finish its review until early next year. And well-funded opponents, who have dogged the project for six years, waging legal and political warfare in efforts to derail it, . . . Complete story »
Town upset by plans for 6 more turbines
Swaffam’s “love affair” with wind turbines could be stretched to breaking point by green energy firm Ecotricity’s plan to build six more on the town’s outskirts. The town has been generally supportive of the two giant turbines standing either side of its A47 bypass and forming a landmark gateway to West Norfolk. But when the latest plan to build six more of the same size on the Sporle side of the bypass, next to the one put up in 2003 . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine zoning rules drafted
The Union Twp. Zoning Commission has drafted preliminary zoning regulations for proposed wind turbines. Everpower Renewables, a New York-based developer of wind energy projects, has met with the zoning commission and township landowners to propose constructing at least 10 wind turbines on the east side of Champaign County. Each turbine can produce 2 to 3 megawatts of energy, which could power about 8,000 homes annually, the company said. Zoning commission members said they do not have authority to approve the . . . Complete story »
Otter signs wind power bills
Two bills making it easier for landowners to set up wind power generation systems on farms, ranches or state lands were signed recently by Idaho Gov. Butch Otter. One became effective immediately. It is House Bill 189, which moves the taxes assessed on wind farm operations from the ad valorem property tax roles to the production tax list. Operators will be taxed on their output, rather than on the physical generation equipment. This means more monies will go to the . . . Complete story »
Cape wind farm wins state environmental approval
The controversial wind farm proposed off the shores of the Cape and Islands won state environmental approval today, setting the stage for the project’s developer to seek state permits. Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles signed a certificate finding that the Cape Wind project complies with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act. Bowles said the environmental benefits of the project – which would put 130 wind turbines across 25 square miles in Nantucket Sound ““ would offset any environmental damage. Each year the . . . Complete story »
State says Cape Wind info adequate; Decision allows permitting to proceed
State and local permitting agencies have enough information to begin action on Cape Wind’s Nantucket Sound wind farm proposal, state Secretary of Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles ruled yesterday. In issuing a certificate of adequacy for the 130-turbine project planned for Horseshoe Shoal ““ and not requiring a supplemental filing as requested by the Cape Cod Commission and others ““ Bowles wrote that the Final Environmental Impact Report “presents a complete and definitive description and analysis of the jurisdictional portions of . . . Complete story »
