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Wind Power News: September 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.
Hearing requested on wind turbine siting rules
Recently, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) gave its approval to a set of “administrative rules” that will be used to enforce 2009 Wisconsin Act 40, a new law governing the placement of wind turbines in Wisconsin. Act 40, as you may recall, was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle earlier this year in an effort to set consistent guidelines for local regulation of the siting of certain wind turbines and wind farms throughout . . . Complete story »
‘First Wind’ offer stilled by objections
BRIMFIELD – Around 250 turned out at the Brimfield Elementary School to weigh in on a controversial wind turbine project during a Board of Selectmen meeting and public information session on Wednesday, Sept. 29. The only item on the agenda was for the board to decide whether or not to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Wind Development, the Boston-based company looking to build between eight to 10 wind turbines, each 400 feet tall and producing up to 30 megawatts of . . . Complete story »
Exhibition of plan for new wind farm
A wind farm proposed near the Torridge village of Meddon will be the subject of an exhibition. Wind Ventures Ltd are hosting a meeting with nearby residents about plans for the Harbour Cross Wind Farm, which will include six turbines, each up to 126m tall on the north east of the hamlet. The company will be submitting a planning application for a temporary wind monitoring mast and carrying out surveys before they seek permission for the turbines. Daniel Baird, project . . . Complete story »
Wind proposal gets blowback; Board votes not to accept money
BRIMFIELD – After hearing three hours of mostly opposing comments from residents, selectmen last night voted unanimously not to accept $30,000 from First Wind, the company hoping to build several turbines in town. The funds would have been used to study the financial impact of a wind energy facility on West Mountain, near Steerage Rock. About 160 people attended the public hearing at Brimfield Elementary School, most speaking in opposition to the project that would site eight to 10, 400-foot wind . . . Complete story »
Panelists lambaste state about wind power studies
RUMFORD – Panelists at a wind energy forum Wednesday night lambasted the state for not conducting more studies on the potential impact of wind farms and Dr. Dora Ann Mills, the state’s chief medical officer, for not pursuing possible health issues related to them. The panelists warned that wind energy would be both more expensive and result in greater pollution. About 50 people turned out for the decidedly one-sided presentation on potential wind farm development in Rumford and other locations in . . . Complete story »
Willow Creek told it must quiet down
A reluctant Morrow County Planning Commission finally spelled it out for Invenergy, the developer of the Willow Creek Wind Project: not only is the project too loud for nearby homes, but Invenergy will be paying for another noise study once its six-month grace period is up. The 72-megawatt project and four of its neighbors in the Willow Creek Valley north of Ione have been locked in a struggle over noise since before the turbines began turning in late 2008. After . . . Complete story »
Endangered eagle halts eastern Oregon wind farms
The endangered golden eagle has grounded the first wind farm in Wasco County, and is throwing another in Gilliam County into doubt. Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended that the Oregon Department of Energy allow wind turbines no closer than 6 miles to a golden eagle nest. The letter concerned the Summit Ridge wind farm in Wasco County, being developed by LotusWorks of Vancouver, Wash. Studies detected federally protected gold eagles, as well as bald eagles, in . . . Complete story »
Brimfield rejects wind project funds
BRIMFIELD – After hearing three hours of condemnation from residents about a wind farm for West Mountain, selectmen unanimously rejected a $30,000 payment offer from the developer to study the project, prompting the leader of the opposition to declare the fight over. Virginia Irvine, who organized No Brimfield Wind, said she believes the involvement of town residents and the research they were able to do and share over the Internet in just the past few months stopped selectmen from entering . . . Complete story »
Windfall: documenting the backlash against wind energy
On January 25, I got an email from Charlie Porter, a Missouri-based horse trainer. The issue: noise from wind turbines. His emails said that in 2007, a phalanx of wind turbines had been around his family’s farm near King City and that “The overwhelming noise, sleep deprivation, constant headaches, anxiety, etc., etc., etc., forced us to abandon our home/horse farm of 15 years. We had to buy a house in town, away from the turbines and move!” I called Porter . . . Complete story »
Opponents blow hard against wind power
BRIMFIELD – Through their comments, cheers, hand-held signs and jeers the vast majority of the more than 200 residents packed into Wednesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting made clear their strong opposition to a wind farm proposed for the top of West Mountain. Although the project had a few supporters, the far more numerous opponents mentioned noise, a permanent change in the landscape, blasting that could affect water wells, the end of hiking near Steerage Rock and the unknown as reasons . . . Complete story »
