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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.
Cost recovery bylaw for wind turbines given first and second readings
A cost recovery bylaw aimed at “renewable energy generation facilities” was given first and second reading at Huron East council at its Sept. 21 meeting. The bylaw, aimed at recouping expenses incurred by the municipality when it reviews applications to install facilities or created by damages to municipal infrastructure during construction, came from Huron East solicitor Greg Stewart with consultation from Kristi Ross, the lawyer representing Huron East Against Turbines (HEAT). Ross recommended changes to the original bylaw, which will . . . Complete story »
‘Stop’ say windfarm protesters
A protest group set up to oppose plans for a windfarm in The Lenches has challenged developer Scottish Power Renewables to show it “possesses a social conscience” and withdraw its application. Vale Villagers Against Scottish Power (VVASP) has urged the energy giant to scrap its plans after claiming that two independent reports had said the turbines would be detrimental to the area. VVASP has pointed to two reports compiled by MAS Environmental, on behalf of Wychavon District Council, which looked . . . Complete story »
Skepticism remains about state’s revised wind plans
A shift in the Patrick administration’s wind energy development focus from state waters to federal waters came as welcome news last week to Islanders concerned about possible nearshore wind energy projects near Martha’s Vineyard. The final version of the state’s Ocean Plan, released in January, designated only two wind energy areas suitable for commercial scale development in Massachusetts state waters. Both are in Dukes County waters. The area designated as the Gosnold Wind Energy area is west of Cuttyhunk Island. . . . Complete story »
Appeal coming on DEP approval of Spruce Mt. wind project
An appeal is expected shortly on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s recent approval of a wind power project in Woodstock. “I fully expect there will be one,” said Dawn Hallowell, a DEP project manager. Such an appeal on the Patriot Renewable project could take months, she said, and could ultimately end up in court. “The battle ahead of them is long,” Hallowell said Tuesday. The 11-tower Spruce Mountain LLC project has been approved under town ordinances, but DEP must . . . Complete story »
At Large : Is wind energy the future?
The unalloyed partisans on each end of the Horseshoe Shoals wind farm debate have little to offer the rest of us who must find a way to evaluate this impressive proposal. For us, it is a calculus of possibilities, probabilities, and certainties. For many of them, wind is the hot idea and, in its faddishness, the next big thing, indeed the only thing: Wind will save the globe, it will save lives, it will create jobs, and it will revive . . . Complete story »
Shear Wind project faces delay
A shortage of wind turbines has meant one of Nova Scotia’s proposed wind farms will be delayed, but the company running the operation will deliver the amount of electricity it promised to Nova Scotia Power, The Chronicle Herald has learned. Shear Wind Inc. will erect only 12 of 27 turbines by Dec. 31, and the remainder will be installed by March 31, 2011, company president Mike Magnus said Tuesday night after a presentation at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. Despite . . . Complete story »
Secretive Power Authority sabotages its case for wind turbines
If there was ever a lesson in how to sabotage potential support for a controversial project, the New York Power Authority exemplifies it. By refusing to release the most basic details about proposals to place wind turbines in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the authority has frustrated both government officials and citizens, to the point that opposition is becoming the norm. Gov. David Paterson, who appoints the power authority’s trustees, should push them to release, at a minimum, non-competitive information . . . Complete story »
Packed meeting hears about Ballaugh wind farm plan
About 200 people packed into Ballaugh parish hall to hear the boss of a renewable energy company give a presentation on its plans to build a windfarm on the Isle of Man’s north west coast. Ocean Electric Power’s chief executive Chris Bale outlined a £30 million scheme which would see up to 10, 130-metre high wind turbines erected along the coastline between Jurby and Ballaugh. He said the proposal would help the Manx Government meet its Tynwald commitment to have . . . Complete story »
Wind energy expert’s support for campaign
An energy and industry expert addressed residents concerned about plans for four wind turbines near Arborfield at a public meeting earlier this month. Professor Michael Jefferson spoke to members of Householders Against Rushy Mead (HARM) about wind energy and its impact on local areas at Bearwood College Theatre on Thursday, September 16. The talk, titled ‘A Cool Look at Wind’s Pretensions’, posed the question “Is Rushy Mead sited badly”. Jan Heard, member of HARM, said: “The very clear answer is . . . Complete story »
Action group fights turbines
‘Stop the turbines’ is the rallying call of an action group fighting proposals for a windfarm near Melton. Peel Energy wants to build up to 10 410ft tall turbines on the former Asfordby mine site. Campaigners fighting the proposals have set up an action group, under the banner STOP, to rally support with thousands of flyers being delivered to local households. The flyers, entitled Wind Turbine Threat, claim how residents will affected and in which areas they live in as well . . . Complete story »
