Wind Power News: August 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.
Wind farm cash-in for renewable energy companies
Energy companies are cashing in on Government subsidies by building wind farms that will never make any money because they are being constructed on sites with not enough wind, it has been claimed. Despite Britain being the windiest nation in Europe, some farms are proposed for sites where companies have exaggerated their potential, a BBC investigation alleged. To meet EU targets for renewable energy, the Government has subsidised the wind turbine industry by half a billion pounds. Yet companies have . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine ordinance deemed too restrictive
Fall River – A comprehensive ordinance regulating wind turbines was temporarily put on the back burner after city officials and a private company said it was far too restrictive as drafted. Some concerns expressed this week to the City Council’s legislation and ordinance committee came from the head of the sewer treatment facility and representatives of Lightolier at the Fall River Industrial Park. The light manufacturer employs more than 700 people and has studied and sought grants for nearly a year . . . Complete story »
Ohio Governor Strickland announces $5 million for wind energy production Projects
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced grant awards totaling $5 million for the development of utility-scale wind energy projects. Two projects will receive funding for production projects: The Buckeye Wind project developed by EverPower Renewables in Champaign and Logan Counties, and the JW Great Lake’s Wood County Wind Farm in Wood County. The awards are the result of the first round of the Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive Program administered by the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Energy Office. . . . Complete story »
P&G could benefit from wind turbines
WASHINGTON TWP. – The Procter & Gamble plant off Route 87 could partly be powered with electricity generated by wind turbines if a proposal to place a turbine facility in the southern part of Wyoming County comes to fruition. BP Alternative Energy recently asked P&G if it could plug a proposed turbine facility into the electrical grid through a Penelec substation located on the company’s property, according to P&G spokesman Alex Fried. Mr. Fried added that BP said that the substation . . . Complete story »
Can windmills attract travelers? Some say yes, others no
Tourists come to the Southern Tier to visit the wineries, Finger Lakes, Mark Twain’s study and the windmills. Windmills? Could be. Proponents say high-tech windmills used to generate electricity are also tourist attractions for curious travelers who have never seen a wind farm. Plans are under way to build 35 wind turbines on and near Dutch Hill in the northern Steuben County town of Cohocton. Hundreds of Web sites, as well as newspaper articles, claim wind farms are great tourist . . . Complete story »
Wind 'stakeholders' meet
Governor Carcieri is pushing forward with his plan to build a wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island, even though it’s unclear how the state would finance the ambitious project. Yesterday, the governor’s top energy adviser convened the first meeting of “stakeholders” – people who represent various municipalities, agencies and organizations that would be affected, or want a say in how the project would proceed. Participants were invited by the governor’s office and about 35 attended the meeting, held at . . . Complete story »
Bristol Town Council seeks proposals for wind turbine survey
BRISTOL – The town is set to go out to bid for an engineering survey of possible local sites for a large wind turbine. The Town Council last night unanimously voted to request proposals for a study that would look in detail at such possible sites as the Town Beach, the landfill and Mount Hope Farm. Council Chairman Kenneth A. Marshall pushed for the survey to jump-start stalled plans to erect an industrial-size turbine that could offset the town’s use of . . . Complete story »
Wind farm meetings
Villagers on Lewis have voted against a controversial proposed giant wind farm as the local council holds special meetings to hear evidence over planning permission. Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) want to build a £200 million development across crofters’ common grazings. The 57 turbines are each nearly 500 feet high and would be erected close to many villages across the hills and glens of South Lochs. Some 28 miles of wide roads plus nine quarries, a construction compound, sub-station and . . . Complete story »
Meridian challenged on wind farm replanting
Meridian Energy would have to revegetate the equivalent of 360 rugby fields of land after it constructed a wind farm in Central Otago. The final day of submissions in Alexandra yesterday discussed Meridian Energy’s plan to build a Lammermoor range wind farm. Hearings panel chairman John Matthews questioned the Otago Regional Council yesterday on how staff proposed to monitor the wind farm work, given its huge scale, with concerns about enforcement being “problematic” . Meridian plans to shift about 1.8 . . . Complete story »
Meridian says appeal won't stop Makara wind farm
Meridian Energy says an appeal against a new wind farm at Makara, west of Wellington, is limited in its scope. The Environment Court approved Meridian’s West Wind project in May which will see 62 wind turbines built across Wellington’s Makara Farm and Terawhiti Station. This month Meridian confirmed it will build the turbines, which are expected to produce enough power for about 75,000 houses. Construction will take approximately two years. The Makara Guardians group is asking the High Court and . . . Complete story »
