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.
Appeal is made on Kirkharle wind farm plans
Developers hoping to build a controversial wind farm are taking their plans out of local control after a council failed to decide on it. RWE npower renewables has appealed over Northumberland County Council’s failure to decide its application for eight 125m turbines on two sites near Kirkharle. The application for land to the east of Bavington Hill Head Farm and land to the west of Northside Farm has been with the authority and its predecessor Tynedale Council since November 2008. . . . Complete story »
Ram raiders damage wind farm
Police are hunting a gang of thieves who rammed their way into a wind farm, damaging or stealing £300,000 worth of equipment. Four transformers worth £120,000 were taken during the raid on the EDF wind farm at Cold Northcott near Launceston. A further £180,000 of damage was caused during the theft on Saturday evening. Police say a flatbed Iveco lorry with a Hiab crane was stolen from business premises on the A3082 Par Moor Road, in Par near St Austell. . . . Complete story »
Wind of change hits turbines plan after protests on Shetland
Developers have scaled back a major wind farm planned for Shetland after islanders raised concerns about the impact of the project. The Viking Energy Partnership submitted plans last year to build 150 turbines on the Shetland mainland. But a revised plan unveiled yesterday to be sent to the Scottish Government for approval includes 23 fewer turbines, a smaller area and a shorter carbon payback time. Campaigners claimed that the development would cause too much damage to the island environment. But . . . Complete story »
PGE withdraws Rock Creek wind farm petition
Portland General Electric has withdrawn a petition related to the Rock Creek Wind Farm in Gilliam County. PGE (NYSE: POR) filed the petition for a one-time waiver of the Oregon Public Utility Commission competitive bidding guidelines for new energy resources on Sept. 2, reflecting a need to execute a time-sensitive agreement for the acquisition of the development rights assets for the Gilliam County project, which could ultimately encompass 68,000 acres. The rights are owned by Renewable Energy systems Americas Inc. . . . Complete story »
ARC turbine is denied; OKH Regional Commission overturns Dennis decision
DENNIS – The Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District Commission, on a 3-1 vote Tuesday afternoon, annulled the Dennis Committee’s Aug. 25 approval of Aquacultural Research Corporation’s application to build a 600 kW wind turbine on its property adjacent to Chapin Beach. Rosemarie Austin of Spadoni Way in Dennis led the opposition to the turbine, claiming in her appeal it would be, “non-conforming to the [Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District] Act. It is disruptive and obtrusive to all surrounding population . . . Complete story »
Landscape fears prompt offshore wind projects plea
The Scottish Government has been told it must commit to offshore wind development if it is to avoid scarring the landscape of communities like Perthshire. A little over a week ago, it appeared to herald a new era of onshore wind farms as energy minister Jim Mather announced an EU drive to increase consenting rates in a bid to achieve carbon reduction targets. However, First Minister Alex Salmond unveiled an industry-led Offshore Wind “route map” on Tuesday aimed at galvanising . . . Complete story »
Ward 2 weighs in on wind power
Ward 2 council candidates for the upcoming municipal election have weighed in on Walmart’s proposed wind turbine, with every contender expressing concerns about the project. The Post contacted Councillor Peter Thoem, Dave Bedini, Marianne Meed Ward and Shannon Gillies to get their reactions to the 80-foot-tall wind turbine being proposed on the property of the Fairview Street Walmart. Walmart Canada told the paper last week that it hopes to have the wind turbine installed this fall. The 20-kilowatt turbine will . . . Complete story »
Blowing it in the wind
Be afraid, be very afraid, of our politicians’ desperate infatuation with wind. It is going to cost you billions. That’s made clear in an interesting analysis in Britain’s Sunday Telegraph of the numbers in the “world’s largest wind farm” off the Kent coast. The array of 100 turbines, each the height of the Blackpool Tower is touted to produce 300 MW of electricity, enough to power 200,000 homes. If, of course, the wind is blowing. The government’s own statistics showed that . . . Complete story »
Windfarm plans policy must change say Cumbrian campaigners
Anti-windfarm campaigners are hoping for a change in government policy towards wind turbines following the defeat of a controversial scheme for Cumwhinton, near Carlisle. Planning inspector Paul Griffiths threw out proposals in March for three turbines up to 377ft high at Newlands Farm, near junction 42 of the M6. He said the windfarm would have a “significant detrimental impact” on nearby Cringles Farm and Beech Cottage. Cringles Farm would have been only 420 metres from the nearest turbine. Since the . . . Complete story »
Questionable tactics
With the exposure of alleged tampering of public documents within the Union County government between the planning department and Horizon Wind, it begs the question – what was in those e-mails? The larger issue is Horizon Wind and some of its tactics regarding the potential Antelope Ridge Wind Farm. We continually see Horizon flinging money at every opportunity, such as the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, chamber banquet, Union County Fair and the Huckleberry Festival. At a ballot measure meeting, a letter . . . Complete story »
