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Wind Power News: June 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.
Wind farm rules hearing draws crowd in Fond du Lac
FOND DU LAC – Wind farm advocates and critics packed Legislative Chambers at the City County Government Center on Monday to voice their opinions about proposed wind siting rules to be crafted by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. The rules would result in uniform wind siting standards for local units of government, replacing a patchwork of rules and moratoriums imposed by counties and towns around the state governing small wind power projects. The public hearings, scheduled around the state this week, . . . Complete story »
Power rationed on ‘green island’ Eigg after mild weather causes drought
It was hailed as Britain’s first “green” island and a glimpse of the what the future could hold for the rest of the country. But when the inhabitants of the remote Scottish island of Eigg put their faith in the wind and rain to provide all their electricity they did not reckon for one thing – mild weather. Now the 95 residents are being asked not to use kettles, toasters or other kitchen appliances after uncharacteristically mild weather caused a . . . Complete story »
Attorneys argue dismissal of Italy windfarm lawsuit
Penn Yan, N.Y. – Attorneys for the Town of Italy and a grassroots group of Italy residents told Yates County Superior Court Judge John Ark June 17 that a lawsuit filed by Ecogen LLC against the Town of Italy should be dismissed. Attorneys for Ecogen argued the company that has been working to develop a utility scale wind farm in the town should not be prevented from moving ahead with the project. Last fall, after several months of back and forth . . . Complete story »
Turbine faces uphill battle with neighbors
High school neighbors won’t see the test tower from their back yards, school officials said earlier this month, but that’s not what brought nearly two dozen Holden residents to the June 2 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Their concern is that the 196-foot meteorological (met) tower could lead to a much taller wind turbine on Wachusett Regional High School property, visible from homes in the Avery Heights-Jennifer Drive neighborhood. Residents of those homes are worried that it will drive down . . . Complete story »
Thanet Offshore Wind Farm gearbox faults ‘solved’
Vattenfall turbine Vattenfall said problems with turbine gearboxes had been overcome Gearbox problems which have plagued offshore wind turbines have been solved, a Swedish energy company has said. Vattenfall already owns the 30-turbine Kentish Flats wind farm and is about to finish installing the 100-turbine Thanet Offshore Wind Farm off Kent. At the Kentish Flats, turbines have had serious maintenance problems and some are on their fourth gearbox. A spokesman for Vattenfall said problems had been overcome. He said: “We . . . Complete story »
Wind farm petition circulating in Dixfield
DIXFIELD – A petition that calls for leaving the decision on whether the town should host wind farms up to a vote of residents is being circulated, Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said Tuesday afternoon. He said he was shown a petition at the board’s June 14 meeting by Dan McKay and Fremont Tibbetts. It aims to prohibit industrial wind projects. He said when it is presented to the board, possibly at the meeting June 28, it will be evaluated for its . . . Complete story »
Shoddy parts trip up major North Sea wind farm
Unforeseen problems at the Alpha Ventus wind farm have lukewarm investors reevaluating the billions of euros they have invested in offshore wind energy. Germany’s first offshore wind park was dealt a blow with the failure of two turbines due to inferior materials. The rough patch has energy executives scurrying to reassure Berlin and banks scrutinizing their billions in offshore wind energy investments. Less than two months after celebrating its opening, the Alpha Ventus test wind park in the North Sea . . . Complete story »
Jerusalem residents: ‘Protect our lands’
Jerusalem, N.Y. – People in the Town of Jerusalem will likely agree there are a lot of good things on the horizon in the town. Foremost, of course, is the announcement that Keuka Lake State Park was chosen from 19 other sites to be the home of the multi-million dollar Finger Lakes Cultural and Natural History Museum on April 21. One good thing leads to another. The long-empty Branchport School was purchased for use by the museum. Application for a grant . . . Complete story »
The ‘hippy’ wind farm tycoon receiving millions in subsidies
With a fortune estimated at close to £100 million, Dale Vince, a former hippy who once lived in a truck, is probably Britain’s most successful eco-tycoon. The self-styled ‘Zero Carbonista’ has made his money – make that lots of money – from a wind farm empire that stretches from Somerset to Scotland. Not everybody is delighted by his financial acumen, however. Vocal critics complain that his company’s rapid growth is one of the most glaring examples of the huge sums . . . Complete story »
Firms paid to shut down wind farms when the wind is blowing
Britain’s biggest wind farm companies are to be paid not to produce electricity when the wind is blowing. Energy firms will receive thousands of pounds a day per wind farm to turn off their turbines because the National Grid cannot use the power they are producing. Critics of wind farms have seized on the revelation as evidence of the unsuitability of turbines to meet the UK’s energy needs in the future. They claim that the ‘intermittent’ nature of wind makes . . . Complete story »
