Wind Power News: January 2011
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.
Turbine plans worry fishermen
NEW BEDFORD – Wind turbines could one day straddle thousands of miles of rich fishing grounds in the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket if federal plans to accelerate growth in the offshore wind industry are realized. But the sheer size of the area that is open to wind projects has many in the fishing industry worried about their future. An open meeting at the whaling museum this afternoon will offer both fishermen and the general public a closer look . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine dispute goes to court
UNION BEACH – And so it begins. The dispute over the proposed construction of a 1.5-megawatt, 262-foot high wind turbine, reaching 380 feet at peak height, by the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority in Union Beach will now be argued in the courts. The BRSA has filed suit against the Union Beach Planning Board in response to a recent decision by the board to deny the BRSA’s application to subdivide and consolidate a portion of land on a neighboring property. The . . . Complete story »
University gives ultimatum to wind turbine project, public forum to be held Monday
After seven years of planning, the University has given an ultimatum to its proposed wind turbine project, possibly ending the project’s existence due to budget concerns. The project, which would provide at least 1.5 megawatts of electricity for campus use, has an estimated cost of about $5.2 million by the University’s calculations – a number that is $700,000 more than what was budgeted. As a result, the University has asked the Student Sustainability Committee, or SSC, to forward a $700,000 grant . . . Complete story »
Grey Highlands appeals energy ruling
Grey Highlands is appealing a ruling by the Ontario Energy Board to allow wind energy developer International Power Canada to use municipal road allowances for distribution lines from its Plateau Wind Project in the Maxwell Feversham area. “We are pleased that the mayor and council are requesting a review of the Ontario Energy Board decision,” said Virginia Steward Love, a spokesperson for Preserve Grey Highlands Citizens Alliance Inc. following a recent council meeting. She said the decision to appeal is . . . Complete story »
Fears new pylons will scar Norfolk and Suffolk landscapes
Giant overhead power lines could scar some of the “most treasured landscapes” in Norfolk and Suffolk if they are built to take electricity from new offshore windfarms to the national grid, rural campaigners have warned. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has urged local government minister Eric Pickles to press for power to be sent via underground cables rather than much cheaper pylons. The CLA claims National Grid (NG) is planning to put a network of “large scale” overhead . . . Complete story »
Interior official addresses Wyoming Infrastructure Authority on wind energy, transmission lines
A top Interior Department official will be in Wyoming this week to talk about the Obama administration’s push for renewable energy and transmission development on federal lands. Steve Black, an aide to department head Ken Salazar, will speak at the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority’s annual winter board meeting in Jackson. “That’s huge, and we’re fortunate to have him agree to come,” said Loyd Drain, executive director of the Infrastructure Authority. “Former Gov. (Dave) Freudenthal has spent a lot of work with . . . Complete story »
County rights — Wagner’s bill must be rejected
The Senate’s Commerce and Labor Committee must act quickly Monday to knock the wind out of Sen. Frank Wagner’s controversial Senate Bill 862. If adopted as currently proposed, the vaguely written legislation would essentially require local governments to adopt ordinances that are consistent with the state’s renewable energy priorities. Fortunately, this controversial legislation hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Virginia Association of Counties is urging localities across the Commonwealth to oppose Wagner’s bill. VACO correctly argues Wagner’s bill would weaken local government . . . Complete story »
National Forest extends comments on wind turbines
Annette Smith of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, dressed as a brown bat, made her way around a conference room distributing leaflets warning those in attendance of the dire consequences utility-scale wind projects have on the bat population. The silent protest took place during a recent open house sponsored by Green Mountain National Forest officials at the Howe Center in Rutland. Officials were seeking input on a supplemental draft environmental impact statement released by the U.S. Forest Service assessing the . . . Complete story »
Wind farm proposed in Pasquotank and Perquimans counties
A company from Oregon is eying property in eastern North Carolina for what would become the state’s first wind farm. Iberdrola Renewables has filed paperwork to get 20,000 acres of land near Elizabeth City, where the turbines would create enough power for 55,000 homes. “Developing our green economy is a cornerstone of my vision for North Carolina’s economic future,” Governor Bev Perdue said in a press release from Iberdrola Renewables. “Projects such as the proposed Iberdrola Renewables’ wind farm can . . . Complete story »
Energy program shut down after questions raised about politics, effectiveness
A program funded by a $3 million government grant to market home energy retrofits in Maine abruptly shut down its operation late last week. Records show that almost six months into its first year of the no-bid contract under the grant, the Maine Green Energy Alliance had signed up only 50 households for energy retrofits, but had promised in its contract to have 1,000 signed up in 12 months. An investigation by the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting into . . . Complete story »
