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Wind Power News: June 2009
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.
Tilting at green windmills
WASHINGTON – The Spanish professor is puzzled. Why, Gabriel Calzada wonders, is the U.S. president recommending that America emulate the Spanish model for creating “green jobs” in “alternative energy” even though Spain’s unemployment rate is 18.1 percent – more than double the European Union average – partly because of spending on such jobs? Calzada, 36, an economics professor at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, has produced a report which, if true, is inconvenient for the Obama administration’s green agenda, and for some budget assumptions . . . Complete story »
Beware the wind industry, blustering across the Berkshires
There are moments when I am so outraged I don’t know what to say first. That happened when I read that Don McCauley, head of Minuteman Wind, was shopping his Savoy wind project to the towns of Wellesley and Concord in eastern Massachusetts. He wants them to invest in the five-turbine facility planned for West Hill. Those are two of the state’s richest towns. The average new house in Wellesley – Don McCauley’s home town – is 4,600 square feet. Median prices . . . Complete story »
Rock legend campaigns against windfarm plans
Rock legend Robert Plant is backing a local residents’ campaign to prevent the largest windfarm in Wales being built outside Aberystwyth. The famous singer from rock band Led Zeppelin attended the public exhibition in Furnace held by developers, Airtricity, on Wednesday over its highly-controversial plans to build up to 80 turbines on land near the Nant-y-Moch reservoir. The company also needs to build wide access routes for the windpower plant through land near his home in the picturesque Artists Valley. . . . Complete story »
Holyoke eyeing wind turbines on Mt. Tom; City to investigate effects on plants and animals
Holyoke is considering placing wind turbines on Mount Tom in order to generate energy for Holyoke Gas and Electric Company. However, concerns over the well-being of native plant and animal life might stop this idea in its tracks. Jody Casper of Easthampton regularly enjoys the beauty of Mount Tom, whether hiking through it or simply looking up at it. She lives at the foot of the mountain and said she’d have no problems with windmills being placed on Mount Tom. . . . Complete story »
NWS acknowledges negative effect of turbines on weather radar
SHELDON – Short of an extreme weather emergency, radar interference from Wyoming County’s wind farms isn’t expected to be much of an issue, a National Weather Service meteorologist said Monday. Officials from the NWS released a statement last week describing the effects of wind turbines on its Buffalo-based radar. The issue is probably most visible as “storms” usually located above the towns of Sheldon, Wethersfield and Eagle during weather reports on Buffalo and Rochester television newscasts. “From a day-to-day perspective it’s . . . Complete story »
State planners get feedback on wind power
BUZZARDS BAY – Massachusetts officials last night heard mostly praise with a smattering of criticism and suggestions for their plans to harness wind energy on state-owned land. “Be sure that the cities and towns are well-informed while the projects go forward on state land,” Bourne Town Administrator Thomas Guerino warned the officials during a public hearing at Massachusetts Maritime Academy attended by about 75 people. Gov. Deval Patrick has called for the development of 2,000 megawatts of wind power in the . . . Complete story »
State looks to fast-track wind power projects; Hilltown officials worry locals will lose power in new siting process
As the state moves forward with proposed legislation for siting wind turbines, planning board officials in some hilltowns want a public hearing in western Massachusetts, where the mountains, open space and vast areas of state-owned land could be prime locations for commercial windmills. Last month, the Rowe, Heath and Hawley planning boards all sent letters to legislative co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications expressing concerns that the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act would ’significantly restrict Massachusetts communities’ home rule . . . Complete story »
