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Wind Power News: September 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.
Family home used in wind farm protest
A family’s home has become the image at the centre of a campaign against controversial plans for a wind farm. If a proposal to put seven turbines on farmland on the Staffordshire-Shropshire border goes ahead, Roger and Kate Brookes will be living 800 yards from the nearest one. Their plight is now being highlighted in a series of leaflets being distributed throughout the nearby communities of Knighton, Woore and Norton-in-Hales. The leaflets feature a picture of their £200,000 home, where . . . Complete story »
DEQ studying impacts of proposed power line
Spin-off wind farms are getting a closer look as part of a new study assessing the impacts of the U.S. stretch of a proposed power transmission line between Great Falls and Lethbridge, Alberta, according to the state Department of Environmental Quality. However, a DEQ regulator said it is difficult gathering information because the DEQ doesn’t specifically regulate the wind industry. “We’re going to do the best (we can) with the information we have,” the DEQ’s Tom Ring said. Alterations to . . . Complete story »
Group challenges wind farm zoning
Sides will line up early this week for more legal action over wind farms in the town of Cohocton. Arguments over stop orders filed by wind farm opponents, Cohocton Wind Watch, are scheduled to be heard at 10 a.m. Tuesday by State Supreme Court Justice Marianne Furfure. The group is seeking to halt construction of a 53-turbine wind development in the town by UPC/Canandaigua Power Partners, LLC. On Sept. 24, Furfure denied an earlier challenge by opponents to the town’s . . . Complete story »
Turbines plan goes to appeal
A public inquiry will determine the future of a controversial plan to build four 330ft wind turbines at Carsington. West Coast Energy has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against Derbyshire Dales District Council’s decision to reject the plans for turbines. This means there will be a public inquiry into the application next year. But villagers are confident the plan will not go ahead. Neil Edmiston, Carsington and Hopton Parish Council’s chairman, said: “We are not surprised that West Coast has . . . Complete story »
County schedules public hearing for wind energy ordinance
Just south of the Door County line in neighboring Kewaunee County, 31 commercial wind turbines soar above agricultural land in the small townships of Red River and Lincoln. The turbines, owned by Madison Gas and Electric and Wisconsin Public Service, harness enough energy to power about 5,000 households – the equivalent of 40,000 tons of coal per year. The turbines also generated a commensurate amount of controversy when they were proposed and then constructed in 1999. The issues that divided the . . . Complete story »
Wind power not so green
Presently the issue of wind power is affecting communities throughout New York state. The lines have been drawn between the wind companies and those who support industrial wind power against those who object to this enormous threat to their quality of life. In many towns, the fight has become ugly, objecting to this enormous threat to their quality of life, pitting neighbor against neighbor and family against family. This is exactly what the big corporations want: Keep the general public . . . Complete story »
Zoning change will set precedent for wind farms
Boone County is reexamining its zoning laws, and one group hopes adjustments to the code will clear a path for a new wind farm proposal. The back-and-forth battle for the right to operate wind turbines ended in court this year, when a judge upheld the County Board’s ruling to deny the Heritage Wind Farm project. The group could bring a proposal back to the County Board, so long as its plans differ from the previously rejected project. Wayne Ward, a . . . Complete story »
Erie wind turbine project hits another delay
The Erie wind turbine project has been a learning experience for both the school district and the builders. The $3.5 million project, which is expected to save the district some $4 million in energy costs over the next 30 years, has met delay after delay. The most recent is with a nearby landowner who wants compensation for the use of his airspace. Approved by the Erie School District in spring of 2006, the 1.2 megawatt tower was expected to be . . . Complete story »
Wind farm opponents to appeal to PUC
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has agreed to consider at its Oct. 17 meeting whether a coalition of conservation organizations can fight two wind farms proposed for the Texas Coast. “We’re very pleased that they will listen to our point of view,” said Winnie Burkett of the Houston Audubon Society. “We think there should be public input to this kind of decision. We’re worried because these wind farms and this transmission line are in the middle of a major . . . Complete story »
Wind farm bids set to soar
The district council is bracing itself for a rise in wind farm applications to match government renewable energy targets. Guidelines on how to deal with applications for wind farms were approved by members of Harborough District Council executive committee at a meeting on Monday. The guidelines were requested in May by executive member John Everett after an energy company began a wind farm environmental assessment in his ward, the Misterton, Swinford and Shawell area. Referring to the planning application for . . . Complete story »
