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Wind Power News: May 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.
Recently introduced legislation
SB 98, Changing Setback Limits and other Regulations Applicable to Wind Energy Systems. This bill imposes additional requirements on the PSC’s rules governing local regulation of wind turbines. The bill requires the restrictions under the rules to provide reasonable protection from any health effects associated with wind energy systems, including health effects from noise and shadow flicker. The bill eliminates the requirement for the PSC to promulgate rules regarding setback requirements, and requires instead that the owners of certain wind . . . Complete story »
PNM faces showdown with regulators: record in renewable energy questioned
SANTA FE – New Mexico’s largest electricity company faces a showdown this week with state regulators over how little renewable energy it produces. Jason Marks, a member of the state Public Regulation Commission, on Tuesday said Public Service Company of New Mexico had failed to meet government requirements for solar energy development. Worse still, the giant with 500,000 customers had come up short while two electric companies with smaller market shares were complying with the state’s rules for renewable energy, he . . . Complete story »
Pylon protesters march on capital
Protesters from Oswestry and the Border Counties marched on Cardiff last week as they took their fight against proposed 48 metre high pylons to the Welsh Assembly. They joined forces with protesters from mid-Wales in what proved to be the largest ever protest seen at the seat of the Welsh Government, with almost 2,000 people urging the Senedd at Cardiff Bay to review its wind farm policy. Pylons carrying 400,000 volts are set to form a scar across the face . . . Complete story »
County needs more info about Arran Wind Project
Bruce County council says it needs more information from the developer of the Arran Wind Project before it can complete its portion of the community consultation form under the Renewable Energy Act. After a meeting of the county’s agriculture, tourism and planning committee May 19, Warden Mike Smith said council raised a number of concerns with wind developer Leader Resources in late March and have yet to hear back. Smith said the county wants information about road entrances to proposed . . . Complete story »
Commission sticking with wind-only EEZ
Maryville, Mo. – Nodaway County continues to work toward state approval of a pair of Enhanced Enterprise Zones that would create significant property tax abatements for wind energy developers as well as similar tax breaks for both wind wind farms and specialized types of agriculture and industry in the northwest part of the county. On Friday, the three-member County Commission met briefly with Lee Langerock, executive director of the Nodaway County Economic Development Corp., and Jeff Mehlenbacher, superintendent of Northeast Nodaway . . . Complete story »
Will wind farming hurt real farming?
A study by Boston University’s biology department estimates that bats save the agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year by preventing insect damage. Based on post-construction bat mortality studies, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission has reported that each wind turbine is killing between 40 to 50 bats a year. Wisconsin’s 314 industrial turbines have increased bat mortality by over 14,000 lives annually. Assuming the bat population in Mason County is comparable to Wisconsin’s, Lake Winds Energy Park’s 56 turbines . . . Complete story »
Locals hope reforms take wind out of turbines
A Victorian council battling a wind farm proposal is planning to test in court the Baillieu government’s tougher position on noise emissions from the giant turbines. Moyne Shire, in the state’s southwest, has been fighting a proposed 12-turbine wind farm at The Sisters since 2009, when it rejected the application from Wind Farm Developments. Next week it will seek to have the plan dismissed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on the basis it contravenes new noise guidelines implemented . . . Complete story »
'Get out'
Fort William First Nation members say they want Horizon Wind Inc. to take their plans for a wind farm on the Nor’Wester mountains somewhere else. The First Nation community held a discussion panel with spokespersons from Horizon Wind at the Fort William First Nation Community Centre on Monday. More than 100 people attended the meeting along with Anishinabek Police Service officers. Officials with Horizon had planned to present a slide show, but the agenda soon changed. Instead, community members lined . . . Complete story »
Debate over Tableland turbine noise reports
Wind farm protesters in the Walkamin area are watching closely to see how Tablelands Regional Council reacts to conflicting noise reports from another wind farm proposal near Ravenshoe. Transfield Services’ plans for 17 turbines at High Rd, Tumoulin, near Ravenshoe are due to go before the council tomorrow. Transfield says the noise would be equivalent to a quiet suburban street but Dr Bob Thorne, of Noise Measurement Services, has analysed data from Transfield’s noise experts and has “real concerns”. “From . . . Complete story »
Highland Wind a challege to 'environmental' groups
I suspect that in the future some ambitious person will write a history of industrial wind power in Maine and in that book will be a chapter on the Highland Wind project in Highland Plantation. The cast of characters, the plot and the long winding road to resolution will make for an interesting read. Angus King, past Maine governor, and Robert Gardiner, former director of the state’s Bureau of Public Lands – now turned wind developers – versus the critters on the . . . Complete story »
