Wind Power News: July 2008
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.
Prop. 10 looks ‘green’ but it’s the wrong shade
Does T. Boone Pickens have a bone to pick with San Jose? It looks that way. The billionaire oilman turned pitchman for alternative energy is the force behind Proposition 10, the initiative on the November ballot that calls for floating $5 billion in bonds to develop alternative energy. As it happens, he’d also profit from it. Part of the proposal is to divvy up $200 million equally for demonstration projects in eight California cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, . . . Complete story »
Wind farms get subsidies
Currently, the UK Government is looking at ways to curb the outrageous profit making of the UK energy companies taking advantage of the hike in gas and oil prices.An article (Post, July 26) reported that, according to Environment Agency Wales, greenhouse gas emissions in the Welsh energy sector have reduced by 30 per cent over the past 10 years. Another article in the above edition reported that the energy company Npower was once again trying to get planning permission for . . . Complete story »
Chile, Spain sign wind energy pact
Chile and Spain will spend more than $1 billion to set up Latin America’s largest wind farm in this Andean nation, EFE news agency reported. Spain’s energy firm Grupo Enhol and Chile’s Haciendas Talinay Wednesday announced their joint venture Eolica Talinay that would have a capacity to produce 500 megawatts of electricity. The project would be built in three phases near the city of Ovalle, some 411 km north of Santiago. It would start in 2009 and would be completed . . . Complete story »
Energy plan ads just a bunch of wind?
Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens is on a mission, and wants you to support his energy plan away from imported oil and towards natural gas and wind power. But commentator Will Wilkinson says to be wary of what you hear. Listen to this story [on the Marketplace website] TEXT OF COMMENTARY Scott Jagow: Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens is on a mission. Yesterday, he said he was creating an army of people to lobby for his energy plan. That plan . . . Complete story »
Forget wind power, go solar
It’s good news that Caribbean Utilities Company is considering taking a look at alternative measures to produce our electricity. CUC is looking to wind power to help bring down the high price of electricity in the Cayman Islands. It is interesting to us that CUC is considering wind power after concluding after a year-long study in 2003 that wind energy was uneconomical, then. While wind energy is safe, inexhaustible and free, it also has some downsides. Wind speed is and . . . Complete story »
CUC inviting wind power proposals for Cayman
Record-breaking fuel costs have pushed the Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) to consider the possibility of harvesting wind power in the Cayman Islands. CUC is seeking experienced and qualified wind-generation companies worldwide to look at investing in windmill infrastructure capable of producing up to 10 megawatts or about 13 percent of Cayman’s current generation capacity. Wind turbines have become an increasingly familiar addition to the landscapes of North America and Europe but in the Caribbean wind power is still very much . . . Complete story »
Move to put up 32 wind turbines
Plans for a third ten-turbine wind farm have been announced by developers in an area which could see a total of 32 machines erected. E.ON UK is hoping to build its latest wind farm north of Great Stainton, close to the Al motorway between Newton Aycliffe and Bradbury. According to E.ON, the ten 125m structures could produce power for 11,000 homes, displacing 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. An exhibition takes place next month and E.ON’s project developer, Charley . . . Complete story »
Not much benefit to wind turbines
The Intelligencer’s July 25th editorial, “Trenton should carefully consider wind energy” is as ill-informed about wind turbines as the title suggests. Wind energy concerns Prince Edward County; Picton, not Trenton, is the seat of government; and the highly proclaimed economic benefits of wind farms are questionable. The financial gains are modest. Lump-sum payments under amenities agreements do little more than compensate for the cost of new or improved infrastructure. After the wind farm is constructed, there remain only a few . . . Complete story »
Zoning for wind energy: Bylaw change may help fill industrial park
GREENFIELD – How do you attract renewable energy generators like windmills to the town industrial park? The Greenfield Redevelopment Authority thinks allowing taller structures will help. It proposes changing zoning laws to allow, by special permit, structures taller than 50 feet. Authority Chairman William Martin said there are companies currently located in the park that are interested in investing in onsite energy generation for themselves, but are restricted by the current law. He believes that law could be preventing other companies . . . Complete story »
Shoreline turbines may double
Plans are in the works to double the number of Kruger Energy Company’s 44 wind turbines along the Lake Erie shoreline. The Chatham Daily News learned Wednesday the Quebec- based company plans to submit its project expansion proposal to the Ontario Power Authority before November. Jean Roy, Kruger’s vice-president of operations, said the current $270-million project will be fully operational by late September. Roy, along with other top company officials, including vice-president Jacques Gauthier of Montreal, held a wind farm . . . Complete story »
