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Wind Power News: March 2010
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.
Wellfleet selectmen ax turbine plan
WELLFLEET – The town’s $5.3 million wind turbine project is gone with the wind. The selectmen Tuesday, by unanimous vote, approved Selectman Ira Wood’s motion to spend no more money on the turbine project the energy committee has been working on since 2005, to thank the committee for all its work and to ask it to look into other “forward-looking technologies.” To date, about $30,000 of the $290,000 that town meeting voted to appropriate for studies on the wind project has . . . Complete story »
Wellfleet selectmen kill turbine plan
WELLFLEET – Five years of work to build a 400-foot-tall wind turbine on town-owned land overlooking White Crest Beach came to a crashing halt last night as selectmen voted unanimously to kill the project. “I embrace alternative energy and it grieves me to be supporting the end of this project,” Selectman Jacqueline Wildes-Beebe said. “There is a lot of risk for too little gain.” The risk, selectmen felt, was primarily to the character of that oceanfront stretch of towering bluffs and . . . Complete story »
Warning over impact of Monadhliath windfarm
The landowner whose Highland estate abuts moorland earmarked for a 33-turbine windfarm claimed yesterday the proposals would turn “a fragile wilderness into an industrial site”. Renewable Energy Systems (RES) wants to put up the turbines, each with a maximum tip height of 396ft, on land at Dunmaglass estate, four miles east of Loch Mhor in the Monadhliath. Highland councillors voted last week not to object to the firm’s plans, which will ultimately be decided by the Scottish Government. Sigrid Rausing, . . . Complete story »
Montville voters OK ordinance for wind energy
Regulations require mile distance between turbine towers and homes. MONTVILLE, Maine – Residents voted at Saturday’s annual town meeting to join some of their Waldo and Penobscot county neighbors in adopting a strict wind energy ordinance that would require mile-wide setbacks between wind turbine towers and homes. According to Montville First Selectman Jay LeGore, the vote was 90 in favor of the ordinance and 39 against, with a voter turnout he characterized as “typical.” Most of the discussion about the wind . . . Complete story »
Harwich’s savings from turbines far less than expected
HARWICH – A change in borrowing terms, decommissioning requirements and maintenance costs could dramatically cut the town’s estimated savings from two proposed wind turbines in North Harwich. Under revised financial assessments produced by the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC) – the organization expected to build, own and maintain the 400-foot-tall turbines – the town’s direct savings drops from $7.2 million to under $4 million over the 20-year life of the cooperative’s loan. The bulk of the reduced savings come from . . . Complete story »
Wind enthusiasts should watch what they wish for
The wind development industry is on the offensive – pressing its campaign to make rural Maine the power plant for New England. Its escalated efforts are, no doubt, due to the rising tide of citizen awareness and unfolding truth. The industry is getting some unwanted attention, the effect of which has been to spur industry representatives to supplement their deny, discredit and dismiss posture. In Somerset County, Highland Plantation is targeted for one of these developments. In fact, in a few . . . Complete story »
Wind farms produce 'fifth of expected electricity'
The first detailed study of onshore wind farms has found that 20 of the sites produce less than 20 per cent of their maximum output with some producing less than 10 per cent. Blyth Harbour in Northumberland is thought to be the least efficient wind farm producing just 7.9 per cent of its maximum capacity while Chelker reservoir in North Yorkshire operates at 8.7 per cent of its capacity. The figures were compiled by lobby group Clowd using data collected . . . Complete story »
Thorndike OKs strict wind ordinance
THORNDIKE, Maine – With no discussion and little fanfare, Thorndike residents voted at Saturday morning’s annual town meeting to adopt a comprehensive, strict wind energy ordinance that would require mile-long setbacks between wind turbine towers and homes. Although some of the estimated 100 people present said they were surprised there were no comments on the matter, others said the controversies – and conversations – sparked by wind development in other communities already have answered their questions. “I figured it’s been hashed around enough . . . Complete story »
Feeble wind farms fail to hit full power
The first detailed study of Britain’s onshore wind farms suggests some treasured landscapes may have been blighted for only small gains in green energy. The analysis reveals that more than 20 wind farms produce less than a fifth of their potential maximum power output. One site, at Blyth Harbour in Northumberland, is thought to be the worst in Britain, operating at just 7.9% of its maximum capacity. Another at Chelker reservoir in North Yorkshire operates at only 8.7% of capacity. . . . Complete story »
Thorndike votes for strict wind ordinance
THORNDIKE – With no discussion and little fanfare, Thorndike residents voted at Saturday morning’s annual town meeting to adopt a comprehensive, strict wind energy ordinance, which would require mile-long setbacks between wind turbine towers and homes. Although some of the estimated 100 people present said they were surprised there were no comments on the matter, others said that the controversies – and conversations – sparked by wind development in other communities have already answered their questions. “I figured it’s been hashed around enough . . . Complete story »
