Wind Power News: May 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.
Native Americans occupy wind project
OCOTILLO – As the sun came down behind the mountains Wednesday, members of the Quechan Indian Tribe gathered west of here and occupied a portion of the area where a controversial wind-turbine project is being built to perform ceremonies in honor of the spirits. “We’ll be singing all night,” Quechan Nation tribal elder Vernon Smith said. “We have to do something for their spirits,” he said referring to Native Americans who are thought to be cremated in the vicinity. Please read . . . Complete story »
Donegal wind farm concerns go global as doctor warns of health concerns
Donegal’s wind farm concerns have gone global, with an Australian organisation warning of health concerns. Donegal County Council wants to designate 2,300 townlands in the county as being preferred for wind farm development – that’s half of Donegal. But a rural GP near Melbourne, an advisor to a group which opposes wind farms on medical grounds, has contacted donegaldaily.com to urge people here to fight against the turbine developments. There is so much concern in Australia that the country’s Senate . . . Complete story »
Wind power may not reduce carbon emissions as expected: Argonne
Adding wind power to the existing electric grid may not have the effect of reducing carbon emissions as much as expected, according to a new study published by researchers at Argonne National Laboratory. Because the wind blows inconsistently, power companies would have to turn fossil-fuel plants on when windmills fall still. Turning fossil-fuel plants on and off adds inefficiencies, producing carbon emissions just to heat up boilers before energy production can begin. “Turning these large plants on and off is . . . Complete story »
Editorial: Glad to see turbine plan scrapped
We were pleased to learn this week that the Suffolk County Water Authority has backed away from its plan to build a wind turbine at Laurel Lake in Laurel. The water authority announced plans earlier this year to build the turbine to help power its pumping station near the lake. While we recognize the need for alternative and renewable energies, sometimes you have to scrap a plan because it just doesn’t make any sense. That’s what we’d say about constructing . . . Complete story »
‘Monster’ turbines bid for Loch Ness hillsides
An energy giant wants to build wind turbines as tall as the London Eye on hills overlooking Loch Ness. One campaigner claimed last night that SSE Renewables’ proposal would “industrialise” the biggest tourist magnet in the Highlands if it was allowed to go ahead. The firm plans to invest up to £600million in two separate developments – on shooting estates on either side of the famous loch – and create more than 100 jobs. The largest of the two proposed . . . Complete story »
Claims on wind turbines ‘misleading’ – watchdog
Claims made by the company behind plans to build a wind farm near Gargrave were misleading, the advertising standards watchdog has ruled. Energiekontor UK included misleading information in promotional material on the amount of electricity likely to be generated from the proposed three turbines at Brightenber Hill, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled. The ruling, published on the authority’s website this week, upheld one complaint made by the Friends of Craven Landscape (FoCL), but dismissed four others, including claims about . . . Complete story »
Alex Salmond’s £46 billion green ‘gamble’ with Scotland’s economy
Alex Salmond is gambling with Scotland’s economy by placing a £46 billion “fantasy” bet on green energy despite its “catastrophic” record of making money, one of the world’s leading banks has told MSPs. Peter Atherton, Citigroup’s head of utilities research, said the SNP’s radical renewable power targets require up to £7 billion of investment a year but the figure at the moment is only £750 million. It is “borderline fantasy” that this difference can be made good because banks and . . . Complete story »
Residents hint at civil action against turbine proponents
Tom Shields is warning those who live near proposed industrial turbines to have their properties assessed as soon as possible. Shields, whose family has farmed in the community for six decades, warned residents they will need that information to file a class action lawsuit against IPC Energy and Niagara Region Wind Corp., both of which have turbine projects awaiting final approval from the province. He warned council the “horizon spoiling monsters” would create a bad news situation for the township, . . . Complete story »
Windfarm noise protection call: “Health and wellbeing” affected by noise from windfarms
The Assembly’s Petitions Committee report came after a consultation on the impact of noise from windfarm turbines. It received a large number of responses from the village of Gwyddgrug in Carmarthenshire, and visited two windfarms in the area. We were told that some people no longer enjoyed being outside in their own gardens, others were afraid that their homes would be devalued and some had sleep problems leading to mental and physical health issues. The health and wellbeing of people . . . Complete story »
Grassley: Wind power tax credit renewal unlikely until after election
WEST BRANCH – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley told employees at the Acciona Windpower wind turbine plant here that Congress will probably renew a key tax credit for their industry, but not soon enough to avoid a slump in business. Grassley toured the Spanish-owned wind turbine factory about one week after President Obama came to Newton to tour a wind tower factory and talk about the renewable energy Production Tax Credit. The credit provides 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour for power from . . . Complete story »
