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Wind Power News: December 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.
Madness on stilts?
A storm has been brewing in the otherwise quiet village of Benington. Villagers have been very vocal in protesting against proposed plans to site three 120-metre wind turbines in the village which they claim will be a blot on the landscape. Far from remaining in obscurity, this village has been hitting the headlines thanks to some high profile campaigning and support from a wide spectrum. The Stop Benington Wind Farm (SBWF) group staged a four-mile protest walk, which gained publicity . . . Complete story »
Storm over wind farm noise report
Plans for a South Yorkshire wind farm could be blown away – unless a power company comes up with an urgent background noise report. Councillors are due to consider an application by Cornwall Light and Power to build three 95-metre high wind turbines at Loscar Farm, Harthill, on the border of Sheffield and Rotherham, on January 31. But the company has been told that unless it supplies a report on projected background noise from the turbines the application could be refused. . . . Complete story »
Wind farm plans pose big threat to harbour porpoise
The fight to stop a wind farm development off Porthcawl has been taken to Europe. Campaigners have contacted the Legal Commission in Brussels saying any attempt to build wind turbines at Scarweather Sands would disturb the habitat of the harbour porpoise, which is a protected species. “The European Habitats Directive prevents any development which affects the habitat of endangered species,” said Denise Parker of the Porthcawl Environment Trust, which is spearheading the fight. “We want the directive implemented in this . . . Complete story »
'Judas money' rap on wind farm windfalls
Villages could be “bribed” into backing wind farm applications as councillors consider forcing renewable energy groups to set up a community fund in exchange for planning permission. Alnwick Council is looking into a scheme which could see around £100,000 a year paid to residents’ groups in return for planning permission for even small wind farms. The money would come from community fund conditions attached to any renewable energy companies given the green light to build turbines in Northumberland. On January . . . Complete story »
Vision is still hazy for wind farms
Despite some bad news in the energy bill signed by President George W. Bush last week, construction will continue on Bureau County’s wind farms, at least for now. By large margins, both the House and Senate approved the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. Biofuels boosters were heartened by a five-fold increase in the production of ethanol. The mandate for U.S.-grown biofuels is 36 billion gallons per year by 2022, up from the current level of . . . Complete story »
Date set for wind farm public inquiry; Fallago Rig application was rejected by SBC
A two week public inquiry is to be held to decide the fate of a controversial development in the Lammermuir Hills. Planning permission for a windfarm at Fallago Rig was rejected when the application came before members of Scottish Borders Council earlier this year but now North British Windpower Ltd have lodged an appeal. The applicant had already reduced the number of turbines in the proposed development to 64 in an attempt to find favour with SBC, but the changes . . . Complete story »
Wind farm opponents win first battle
The wind blowing through Gillespie County won’t be used to generate power anytime soon, that is if Robert Weatherford has his way. Weatherford is president of Save Our Scenic Hill Country, a group committed to keeping wind farms out of the Texas Hill Country. “We think that it would significantly impact the scenic beauty of this area,” Weatherford said. One of the areas being considered by energy companies for wind farming was the hills north of Fredericksburg, near Enchanted Rock . . . Complete story »
Anger as heritage agency likely to cut objections
Leading environmentalists expressed horror yesterday that Scottish Natural Heritage was likely to lodge fewer objections to planning applications that could have an impact on the nation’s wild landscapes. The agency, which is approached as a statutory consultee on more than 3,000 applications a year, is reviewing its policy in the wake of an academic report it commissioned to examine its internal planning procedures. Angry critics insisted that input into substantive planning issues affecting the natural environment is SNH’s main purpose. . . . Complete story »
City's wind speeds measured; turbine sites reviewed
(Editor’s note: This report was provided by the city of Salem.) In January and again in the spring, a sophisticated wind-measuring device will be sited on the roof of the South Essex Sewage District (SESD) plant on Fort Avenue. SESD treats domestic waste from five member communities: Salem, Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead and Peabody. This effort to collect wind speed and quality data is the second step in the city of Salem’s effort to locate a wind turbine. The study is . . . Complete story »
Should wind turbines be put up in Belvoir?
Herbert Lindlahr (pictured below), project director of wind farm developer Infinergy: “Climate change, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is the biggest challenge facing us today. If the proposed wind farm at Thackson’s Well Farm, Long Bennington, would be constructed, this area would do its bit in fighting this global threat, preserving the UK landscape for future generations. The wind farm, comprising ten state-of-the-art turbines, would generate clean, green electricity for up to 12,800 homes and replace up . . . Complete story »
