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Wind Power News: April 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.
Power cooperative grows membership, begins to map plan
Wednesday’s meeting of Vineyard Power, a fledgling cooperative formed just last year to chart a stable energy future for the Island, took place just hours after U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar gave final approval of Cape Wind. Leaders of the group unveiled preliminary plans for a Vineyard-owned wind farm. The plan calls for building 17 wind turbines between three and 15 miles off the Island’s south shore, with a goal of making the Island energy-independent within five years. . . . Complete story »
Nova Scotia's tough new renewable energy targets also target the health of rural residents
Nova Scotia’s energy minister was delivering a prepared speech atop Dalhousie Mountain, Pictou County last Friday when he suddenly stopped to observe, “My god, it’s quiet isn’t it?” Bill Estabrooks was standing beneath the barely-turning blades of a 400-foot wind turbine. Six of nine turbines in the distance stood stock still. Seemingly unaware of the irony, Estabrooks touted provincial plans for more industrial wind factories. The NDP hopes that within 10 years, 40 percent of our electricity will be produced . . . Complete story »
Alliant official: Wind energy is not cheaper
FORT MADISON – On the day President Obama stopped at Siemens and touted advancements in wind energy, a hard truth came to light on the other side of town. Wind energy is not cheaper. At least that is what Tom Aller of Alliant Energy/Interstate Power and Light told a crowd at St. Mary’s Parish Center in Fort Madison. The Iowa Utilities Board held a meeting for the public to ask questions and discuss a proposed 11.7 percent increase in electric rates. . . . Complete story »
Lincolnshire windfarm rejected to help autistic boys
A North Lincolnshire windfarm plan has been rejected because of the “serious effect” it would have on eight-year-old autistic twin boys living nearby. Anita and Trevor Glathorne, whose Burton upon Stather home is already overlooked by one windfarm, said the rotating blades affected their sons. The planning inspectorate dismissed the appeal solely because of the impact the farm would have on Lewis and Ross. Developer Ridge Wind said it was disappointed with the decision. ‘Spinning objects fixation’ The developers appealed . . . Complete story »
Ira wind farm put 'on hold'
Vermont Community Wind Farm announced Monday it had “no current plans to proceed” with building what would have been the state’s largest wind farm in and around Ira. Spokesman Jeffrey Wennberg said the company was too uncertain about certain aspects of the permitting process to go forward, but that developer Per White-Hansen would hold onto leases associated with the project. “There’s a potential to bring the project back, but circumstances would have to change,” Wennberg said. “He’s not selling the . . . Complete story »
Save the Highland Mountains
LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP, MAINE – My family has a long history with Yale. My great-grandfather was the first professor of German, my grandfather graduated in 1900, my father in 1938 and my brother in 1968. All of these relatives had – and those still living still do – a great affection for the Great North Woods of Maine. In fact, it is this long history of the Carters’ love of Maine that brought me and my family to Maine over 30 years ago. We . . . Complete story »
Ex-PUC head enriched by utility company
AUGUSTA, Maine – While he was Maine’s chief utilities regulator, Kurt Adams accepted an ownership interest in a leading wind energy company. One month later, in May 2008, he went to work for that company, First Wind, as a senior vice president. Adams was chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission for three years beginning in April 2005. Before that, he was the in-house counsel for Gov. John Baldacci, who appointed him to the commission. It’s not clear how much the . . . Complete story »
Green project offends Indian farmers who lose land to windmills
A Dutch bank that bought carbon offsets to neutralize its carbon footprint was unaware that poor Indian farmers had been aggrieved by the green project. Maharashtra, India – Like his father before him, Yashwant Malche has worked the same piece of land on this parched plateau a day’s drive and decades away from Mumbai. As an adivasi, or tribesman, he and his ancestors have been relegated to desolate land like this, mostly left out of India’s modernization. But in 2007, strangers . . . Complete story »
Holland's Windmill Island deemed unfit for modern windmill
HOLLAND – The historic DeZwaan windmill at Windmill Island Gardens will not be getting a high-tech neighbor. The Holland Board of Public Works on Monday decided not to construct a wind turbine at the downtown attraction, after an analysis of data collected over a year’s time found wind speeds were simply too low to make the project cost effective. It’s the second time in three months the BPW has pulled the plug on a proposed wind energy project because wind speeds . . . Complete story »
National windmill policy equivalent of going to war in sailboats
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tn.), in advance of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, this Thursday, April 22, delivered an address on Tuesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate in which he introduced Going to War in Sailboats: Why Nuclear Power Beats Windmills for America’s Green Energy Future, a book compilation of five major addresses he delivered recently on various aspects of nuclear power as the solution to America’s green energy future. The following remarks are as-prepared: “During 2009, . . . Complete story »