Wind Power News: November 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.
European power companies breeze into the U.S. wind farm business
The European Union has taken the lead on many climate change issues – from ratifying the Kyoto Protocol to passing laws to require and encourage the development of renewable energy. Why, then, are so many European energy companies looking to invest in the United States? For António Mexia, the chief executive of Energías de Portugal, the answer is simple. “The United States is the fastest-growing market in the world for wind power,” he said. “If we want to be a leader, . . . Complete story »
Delmarva says wind power is risky, costly
Delmarva Power is taking its case against a proposed offshore wind farm to community groups, saying the plan is too risky and would be too costly to utility customers. Delmarva President Gary Stockbridge spoke to about 40 citizens at the public library in Bear on Monday night. In his address, Stockbridge said Delmarva customers can’t afford the cost of a long-term offshore wind power contract. A recent Public Service Commission staff report shows that the proposed 150-turbine wind farm 11.7 . . . Complete story »
Swans could sway turbine schemes
A study involving whooper swans wintering on a Dumfriesshire reserve could have a major impact on new wind farm developments across Scotland. A total of seven birds have been tracked by satellite from Iceland for the BBC’s Autumnwatch programme. One of their number – named Doon – has already completed his 500-mile journey to south west Scotland. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust hopes the route the birds take can influence the positioning of turbines in future. WWT Learning Manager Brian Morrell said . . . Complete story »
Weak winds keep Gamesa away from Gallitzin Twp. site
Winds on the region’s mountaintops vary, and that’s dealt a blow to Gallitzin Borough’s plans to turn unused land into a revenue generator. Gamesa Energy USA is sidelining preliminary plans to put up to 30 turbines on land in Gallitzin Township, a representative of the Spain-Based wind energy company said Monday. The Gallitzin Township site, owned by the borough, does not have the wind speed needed for a wind farm, said Ellen Lutz, Gamesa’s director of development for the Atlantic . . . Complete story »
Villages oppose meteorological mast
Residents and councillors have voted to officially object to a plan for a meteorological mast near their Northamptonshire homes, for fear it will pave the way for a wind farm. Residents from Woodford and surrounding villages met on Friday to discuss the plan for the 60m mast, which is proposed by Nuon Renewables. The company wants the mast to test the potential for a wind farm in Charwelton Road, between Woodford Halse and Preston Capes. Edward Giles, spokesman for Woodford . . . Complete story »
Turbine project may grow
FREEDOM – The company planning to put three electricity-generating wind turbines on Beaver Ridge has explored adding more. Andy Price, project manager for Portland-based Competitive Energy Services, said his company explored the possibilities of adding more turbines with an abutting landowner. Price declined to specify whether that exploration will continue in the future. “At this point I want to leave it at the fact we have three turbines approved and we’re looking forward to proceeding with that,” Price said. Steve Bennett, . . . Complete story »
Feds announce rules for offshore energy; Interior Dept. to consider impact on environment, aquatic life
In a move with direct significance for the mid-Atlantic, the U.S. Interior Department on Monday released its final proposal for regulating offshore wind turbines and other “alternative” energy projects in federally controlled waters. Although work on detailed regulations will continue into next year, the agency plans to take applications during the next 60 days for permits to conduct offshore research on wind or other unconventional energy around the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf. One Delaware energy venture, Bluewater Wind LLC, already . . . Complete story »
No windmills on our hills, Vermont group will tell SC
Environmentalists intend challenging in the Vermont Supreme Court recent approval for a large out-state wind-power company to build turbines atop a popular mountain ridge. Local conservation group Ridge Protectors opposes plans by Newton, Mass.-based UPC Wind to erect 16 wind turbines 425 feet high in the Hardscrabble Mountains near the town of Sheffield. It claims UPC Wind plans four more similar plants in the wider region, known as the Northeast Kingdom. UPC Wind announced early August that the Sheffield wind-power . . . Complete story »
N.C.'s wind in energy picture; Administration looking offshore
A year after a bitter congressional fight over offshore drilling for oil and gas, the Bush administration wants to tap the ocean’s winds, waves and currents as a source for alternative energy. The plans could mean that within a few years, towering wind turbines could start spinning off North Carolina’s Outer Banks to harness the same gusts that have tossed ships for centuries. U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said Monday that the 1.8 billion acres of the federal Outer Continental . . . Complete story »
Insane plan to favour turbines over trees
The latest announcement by the Welsh First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, that Forestry Commission land is to be given up to accommodate wind farms borders on the insane, and the thought “whom God wishes to destroy, he first sends mad” flashes through the brain! What an absurdity even to think of felling hundreds of trees (the lungs of Wales) and to replace them with hundreds of tons of concrete for foundations, not forgetting access roads and all the support infrastructure needed . . . Complete story »
