| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind Power News: December 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.
Doldrums over for Cape Scott wind farm
North Island wind power development is no longer becalmed. The Nomis Power Corporation’s much delayed project recently received an environmental assessment certificate for the proposed Cape Scott Wind farm Project, which will allow construction to begin at last. This $280 million project will be located 11-kilometres north of Holberg and 45-kilometres northwest of Port Hardy, and will consist of up to 50 wind turbines that will generate up to 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power up to 30,000 homes. . . . Complete story »
Tracts anti-éolien à Vieux-Reng
Les habitants de Vieux-Reng en colère contre l’implantation d’éoliennes sur l’entité d’Erquelinnes ont décidé de passer la seconde. Après s’être réunis samedi matin, et avoir sollicité un entretien avec le maire mardi soir, ils seront dès 14 heures dans le village pour distribuer des tracts intitulés : « Non aux éoliennes, pourquoi ? À vous de juger ». Une distribution qui a vocation à s’échelonner sur plusieurs jours, les opposants au projet étant désireux de profiter de l’appel d’air des fêtes pour sensibiliser . . . Complete story »
Pas de trêve pour les opposants à l’éolien
[No truce for wind energy opponents (Haut-Languedoc)] L’association Reveihl (Réflexion et vigilance sur l’éolien industriel en Haut-Languedoc et Montagne-Noire, 60 adhérents) ne cesse de dénoncer «le manque de transparence et de démocratie» dans le dossier éolien du parc naturel régional du Haut Languedoc. «La plupart des décisions sont prises sans consultation de la population concernée et mêmes certains conseillers municipaux délibèrent sans réelle connaissance des dossiers». Divers élus ont pris la parole sur la nouvelle charte, lors de la ré-adhésion . . . Complete story »
Zone de développement éolien : la justice dit “non”
[The Marseille administrative appeals court cancelled the Roquetaillade et Conilhac-la-Montagne wind energy development zone.] La Cour d’Appel administrative de Marseille a annulé la zone de développement éolien (ZDE) de Roquetaillade et Conilhac-la-Montagne. La lecture du jugement a été faite le 20 décembre. Notons qu’il ne concerne en rien le permis de construire. La ZDE annulée avait été autorisée par arrêté préfectoral en décembre 2006. Elle prévoyait l’obligation d’achat, par EDF, de la production d’électricité -provenant des éoliennes- et la possibilité . . . Complete story »
Northern Pass mulls options
Northern Pass is now mulling its options after the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office reaffirmed a deal that will likely allow the forest society to keep a small sliver of land the company wants for a transmission line right-of-way. “We are studying other alternatives and taking a look at the response by the attorney general, but no decision has been made in terms of any action taken,” Northern Pass and Public Service of New Hampshire spokesman Martin Murray said Thursday. . . . Complete story »
Study claims to show health impact of turbines
In April of this year Stephen E. Ambrose, an acoustical consultant from Windham, Maine, drove down to Falmouth in his Toyota Camry. The license plate, which reads “BE QUIET,” was perhaps the first sign that he was sympathetic to the plight of abutters living next to the town-owned wind turbines at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. But that is even more apparent in a study of a nearby turbine in Falmouth Technology Park owned by Notus Clean Energy that Mr. Ambrose . . . Complete story »
Stress on the high seas; Germany’s wind power revolution in the doldrums
The construction of offshore wind parks in the North Sea has hit a snag with a vital link to the onshore power grid hopelessly behind schedule. The delays have some reconsidering the ability of wind power to propel Germany into the post-nuclear era. The generation of electricity from wind is usually a completely odorless affair. After all, the avoidance of emissions is one of the unique charms of this particular energy source. But when work is completed on the Nordsee . . . Complete story »
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar approves transmission line on north side of Steens Mountain
BURNS – The federal government has approved a 44-mile transmission line to carry electrical power from a proposed wind farm on the north side of 9,733-foot Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon’s high desert to an existing line in Harney County. But Thursday’s go-ahead by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to construct the 230-kilovolt line triggered sharp criticism from the Oregon Natural Desert Association, ordinarily a wind energy supporter. “We definitely think this is the right kind of project, but in the worst . . . Complete story »
Appeal of ZBA decision goes to trial
Neil P. and Elizabeth L. Andersen’s appeal of the decision earlier this year by the Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals to uphold Building Commissioner Eladio R. Gore’s determination that the town did not need a permit to build Wind 1 is heading to trial. Judge Robert C. Rufo of Barnstable Superior Court rejected both the Andersens’ and the town’s request that he issue a summary judgment in the case as a matter of law. He issued the ruling on Wednesday, . . . Complete story »
Wind farm proposal full of hot air
A Carcoar doctor is pushing New South Wales parliamentarians to reject the state government’s draft wind farm guidelines. The guidelines, labelled by the wind industry as among the toughest in the world, were released last week. Dr Alan Watts, who is also a member of the Flyers Creek Wind Turbine Awareness Group opposed to a $200 million wind farm development in the area, is now appealing to state members to crack down even harder on the proposed guidelines. In a . . . Complete story »
