| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind Power News: June 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.
Turbine pollution clause dropped after appeal
A planning condition imposed on a windfarm company which would have ensured turbines did not increase concentrations of emissions from a nearby chemical plant was dropped on appeal, The Courier can reveal. Fife’s first commercial windfarm is being constructed by Kennedy Renewables at Little Raith, next to Fife Ethylene Plant. The company bought the site from West Coast Energy, which successfully appealed Fife Council’s condition that 2010 Air Quality Objectives for benzene are consistently achieved at monitoring sites in Cowdenbeath . . . Complete story »
Turbine traffic worries being put to the test
The powers that be in the Swansea Valley are hoping there will be no fireworks on July 4 when huge lorries take to the roads. The date – synonymous with American independence celebrations – has been chosen for the test run of abnormal vehicle loads to the new wind farm at Mynydd y Betws, near Pontardawe. The trial, which is subject to weather conditions, will be supervised by officers from the Regional Roads Policing Unit. A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot council . . . Complete story »
Fears grow over power lines
Fears are growing that an energy firm’s proposed electrical network connections in East Lindsey could pave the way for far more disruptive developments in the future. RWE npower renewables maintains it has not yet chosen how it intends to connect its offshore Triton Knoll wind farm with a substation in Bicker Fen. However, a number of local councillors believe its preference is for the cheapest but most intrusive option, which would open the floodgates for dozens more wind farms to . . . Complete story »
Development association calls for moratorium on big wind in Northeast Kingdom
Wind proponents are a bit flustered this week after the Northeast Vermont Development Association’s board passed a resolution that recommends a three-year suspension on “new construction of industrial size wind turbines in excess of two hundred feet.” The suspension is an effort to slow down wind development in the northeastern part of the state, where projects like First Wind in Sheffield have polarized communities. “They’re completely dividing our communities … they’re pitting towns against each other,” said Dave Snedeker, planning . . . Complete story »
Fears for brolgas near wind farm
Birregurra residents are concerned a Colac district wind farm will harm brolgas and migratory birds. The Burnett family live at Birregurra, three kilometres from the nearest proposed turbine at the Mount Gellibrand wind farm. Nigel, Tanya and Jorda Burnett say they’ve been campaigning to protect brolgas since they found out the wind farm received approval about 12 months ago. “Unfortunately for us we knew about the permit a bit later on,” Jorda said. “We’ve been writing to ministers, writing to . . . Complete story »
Wind farm cash pledges ‘are bribery’
Conservationists have accused large power companies of effectively bribing communities into supporting wind farm developments, undermining the integrity of the planning process. Ramblers Scotland spoke out after energy firm SSE announced £50 million for community projects in the Highlands over the next 25 years, to coincide with the firm submitting two new wind farm applications to the Scottish Government. The applications are for wind farms in Inverness-shire – 83 turbines at Stronelairg, east of the Glendoe hydro scheme at Fort . . . Complete story »
Villagers revolt against wind farm
Villagers north of Grantham were informed this week of plans to construct huge, industrial-sized wind turbines near their homes. RWE Npower is proposing to build five turbines on land at Temple Hill, south-west of Brandon and north of Hougham. They will have a max height from base to tip of 126.5m (415ft). Villagers living within a 5km radius of the proposed site received a letter from the company informing them that they have “recently started to investigate the potential for . . . Complete story »
Controversial wind farm towers over Yarm villages
Villagers who fought to stop a controversial wind farm near Yarm are now learning to live in the shadow of the giant turbines. The five 125-metre wind turbines have been installed between the villages of Hilton and Seamer and will soon start turning, with the aim of generating power for around 7,000 homes. The long battle to block the turbine development suffered the final blow in May 2010 when the green light was given. A three-day public inquiry had been . . . Complete story »
Windfarm opponents claim: ‘we’ve been sidelined’
West Coast Energy has been rapped for reaching agreement to distribute potential profits from the Lingo Windfarm project to local communities. The company announced last week that 10 per cent of the net profits from the scheme will go to projects in the community council areas of Carnbee and Arncroach, Largoward and District, Boarhills and Dunino as well as Cameron. They say they have come to an agreement with “a progressive and positive group of local residents,” but two members . . . Complete story »
Wind symposium to help gauge public opinion; Still looking for local participants
Is a wind energy project proposed for Charlemont, Shelburne or Ashfield thought of differently than one in Wyoming, Minnesota or Michigan? A series of symposia organized by an environmental studies professor at Minnesota’s Macalester College will analyze public attitudes toward wind energy siting in different sectors of the country. One of the day-long sessions, July 26 at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, will give 30 participants from communities that include Monroe, Rowe, Heath, Charlemont, Hawley, Buckland, Ashfield, . . . Complete story »
