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Wind Power News: February 2012
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.
Local opposition to onshore windfarms has tripled, poll shows
Local opposition to onshore windfarms has tripled since 2010, a new Guardian poll reveals, following a series of political and media attacks on the renewable technology. However, a large majority of the British public (60%) remains firmly in favour of wind power, while also opposing the building of new nuclear or coal power plants in their local area. The poll shows that the national debate over wind energyis becoming sharply polarised, with the percentage of Britons strongly supporting the building . . . Complete story »
We need capitalism, not cronyism
One example of a tax earmark that should be eliminated is the Production Tax Credit (PTC) that goes to the wind industry. Yet, some Republican and Democrat members of Congress, not surprisingly from “wind states,” are pushing for yet another multi-year extension of the PTC, a multi-billion dollar handout to Big Wind. The PTC manipulates the energy market, drives up electricity bills for consumers and businesses, and creates a dangerous economic bubble. The PTC is a huge subsidy. Applied to oil companies, it would be the equivalent of giving $30 for every barrel of oil produced, according to the Heritage Foundation. The PTC has existed for the past 20 years, but it has not succeeded yet in making unsubsidized wind competitive. Politicians who pretend that a few more years of the PTC will make wind competitive could be right, but that is not a responsible bet to make with taxpayer dollars. Complete story »
Isle of Wight proposal exposes dogma of windfarm argument
The trouble with wind, said Dave Green, is it polarises opinion. “People get dogmatic,” said the man whose job it is to make the Isle of Wight energy self-sufficient within a decade. “They fixate on the wrong things. It all gets very confrontational.” He’s not wrong. In Wellow and Thorley, adjoining ribbons of attractive stone cottages and neat1970s bungalows strung along a quiet country B road in West Wight, half the buildings sport protest signs and a dozen more are . . . Complete story »
Downsized wind farm gets nod
The Moyne Shire Council has given the go-ahead to a wind farm near Mortlake, with fewer turbines than originally planned. Late last year, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned the council’s decision not to extend expired planning permits for the Salt Creek Wind Farm, and last night the council approved amended permits. The developer, NewEn, now has until the middle of next month to begin construction. Moyne Mayor Jim Doukas says the smaller wind farm will have less impact . . . Complete story »
Crash closes I-81 in Susquehanna County
A tractor-trailer crash closed Interstate 81 for hours Wednesday in of Susquehanna County. According to PennDOT, I-81 south was closed between the Lenox exit (211) and the Glenwood/Lenoxville exit (206). State police said the driver of a sport utility vehicle lost control on the snowy road and spun around before hitting a guide rail. The tractor-trailer then hit the SUV and both vehicles went through the guide rail and down an embankment. Troopers said the SUV rolled several times before . . . Complete story »
Inconvenient truths associated with wind turbines
Re Wind turbines are safe (Feb. 21, Times-Reformer). In his recent letter to the editor, Chris Forest, vice-president of communications for CanWEA, indicated that industrial wind turbines are safe, that they facilitate the building of a “stronger, cleaner and more sustainable energy system,” and that they are good for the economy. I have been researching and addressing concerns associated with industrial wind turbines for the past six years and have come to the conclusion that there are many inconvenient truths . . . Complete story »
Study: Wind turbine collisions causing bat deaths, not low pressure field
Wind farms are associated with high numbers of deaths among migrating bats, with annual mortality estimates ranging as high as tens of thousands of bat deaths at some wind farms. A research team based at Illinois State University, which included University of Iowa scientist David Meyerholz, D.V.M., Ph.D., used forensic pathology to determine the cause of bat deaths at wind farms. The study, published in the March issue of the journal Veterinary Pathology, concludes that traumatic injury from collision with . . . Complete story »
Rhode Island adjusts wind farm area
PROVIDENCE—A number of state officials met at the Save the Bay building on upper Narragansett Bay Friday afternoon to announce the removal of Cox’s Ledge from the area of consideration for Deepwater Wind’s offshore wind project. Cox’s Ledge, a popular spot for Rhode Island commercial fishermen, was taken out of the proposed ‘Wind Energy Area’ (WEA), preventing the construction of wind turbines in an environment which is vital to the commercial fishing industry. “Cox’s Ledge is the crown jewel of . . . Complete story »
Local people unite to oppose wind turbines in our area
In Issue 13 we reported on a proposed 90m wind turbine development at Greenhills Farm, Kilton Lane, Lingdale. Recently the proposal was turned down by Redcar & Cleveland planning committee by six votes to four. Objections were raised by Kiltonthorpe and Lingdale residents as well as Local Councillors. Now residents in Saltburn, Marske and New Marske are joining together to oppose new wind turbine development sites that have been indicated as appropriate by the Northern Energy Initiative commissioned by councils . . . Complete story »
Saskatchewan wind developer can seek damages over failed injunction against development
The Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench has ruled that the Red Lily Wind Farm may pursue a claim for damages against David McKinnon based on his undertaking as to damages given when he obtained a injunction against the wind project. McKinnon commenced a putative class action, claiming that the wind turbine farm caused adverse effects on human health. He sought and obtained an ex parte injunction (i.e. without Red Lily being present), one of the conditions of which being the . . . Complete story »
