Wind Power News: September 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.
Wind farms spark debate
With more wind farms proposed in Tasmania, bush fire brigades need to plan for the increased fire hazard, particularly when wind turbines are proposed to be sited near forest or timber plantations. Lake Echo is the western boundary of the proposed Cattle Hill Wind Farm and east is predominantly cleared, open grazing land, but north of the wind farm is a rugged area with forested gullies. To the southeast of the site the forested areas have been logged and are . . . Complete story »
Why should foreign firms reap the rewards of wind?
Yet another windfarm application has gone public in the last few days in Belford, North Northumberland; the Lynemouth windfarm is nearing completion (as no-one locally will have failed to notice – it is visible for miles) and another application is expected before Christmas on our very doorstep at Edington, between Morpeth and Whalton. An article this week in The Telegraph points to massive government subsidy as the reason for the current explosion of windfarms across parts of Britain, or ‘dash . . . Complete story »
Utilities give away power as sun floods grid
The 15 mile-per-hour winds that buffeted northern Germany on July 24 caused the nation’s 21,600 windmills to generate so much power that utilities such as EON AG and RWE AG (RWE) had to pay consumers to take it off the grid. Rather than an anomaly, the event marked the 31st hour this year when power companies lost money on their electricity in the intraday market because of a torrent of supply from wind and solar parks. The phenomenon was unheard . . . Complete story »
Newry ordinance proposal would effectively ban wind projects
NEWRY – The Planning Board is proposing ordinance amendments that would effectively ban the construction of commercial wind power projects in the town. A public hearing on the proposal will be scheduled in October. Planners have hammered out changes to the Unified Development Review Ordinance, which governs land use and development, to incorporate wind projects. Their proposal draws on the work of an ad hoc Regional Wind Power Committee, comprised of representatives from five area towns. That group worked for more . . . Complete story »
County commissioners support small-scale wind project in Hudson Township
It was a breeze. In a unanimous vote Tuesday, Douglas County Commissioners adopted a resolution to support the development of a small-scale wind energy project in Hudson Township. The project, named Southwind Energy, LLC, was proposed as a Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) project. “Douglas County has tremendous potential for wind energy,” Land and Resource Management Director David Rush told the commissioners. “The C-BED project needs to be approved or supported by the county.” Craig and Kathy Damstrom proposed to construct . . . Complete story »
Windfarm ‘benefit’ package criticism
The firm behind plans for a windfarm near Kettle has been accused of ‘exploiting the hopes’ of young people. West Coast Energy – which hopes to build seven turbines at Devon Wood – is offering up to six scholarships to Carnegie College for students from Kettle, Kennoway and Star. But the bursaries will only be awarded if the windfarm receives planning permission from Fife Council. Last week West Coast held a drop-in session in Kettle Church Hall to give young people more . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines set to disrupt Cape roads
Western Cape motorists should prepare themselves for major disruptions during the next few years as massive loads consisting of wind turbine components are transported by road from harbours to wind-generating sites, many of them along the West Coast. Preparation work on the roads will include the “significant” restructuring of some intersections, along with the temporary removal of signs and fencing to accommodate the extremely long and heavy loads, the Windaba 2011 wind energy conference at the Cape Town International Convention . . . Complete story »
Gee calls for wind farm consultation
Member for Orange Andrew Gee has called for more extensive consultation on the proposed wind farms in the region. Mr Gee said he had received a number of calls from residents in the vicinity of the proposed Uungula wind farm midway between Wellington, Gulgong and Mudgee, complaining there had been insufficient consultation. The Uungula Wind Farm could comprise up to 300 wind turbines, enough to produce around 1500 gigawatts of energy. Mr Gee said while he supported the search for . . . Complete story »
Wind project spill cleaned up
SHEFFIELD, VT – An oil leak from a turbine on the Sheffield Wind Project now under construction has been cleaned up, according to a spokesperson for First Wind, the Boston, MA, company developing the project. Officials are blaming the leak on a mechanical problem. A tube inside a gear box leaked about 55 gallons of oil. The leak was discovered on Saturday. First Wind sought help from an environmental clean-up group from St. Johnsbury. The turbine is one of 16 . . . Complete story »
Electricity surcharge should go dark
Will Gov. Jerry Brown never relent in his quest for higher taxes and fees? His latest idea is a sneaky attempt to extend a 1.5 percent surcharge on electricity bills, which is set to expire Jan. 1, 2012. The surcharge, which raises $400 million a year for energy efficiency and renewable-energy research, costs the average homeowner about $1 to $2 a month. It funds the Public Interest Energy Research program at the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and . . . Complete story »
