| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind Power News: September 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.
Creating jobs that aren’t gone with the wind
Last month’s announcement from Siemens Corp. that it was laying off workers at its wind turbine nacelle manufacturing plant in Hutchinson painfully reminded us of the economic challenges Kansans face – slow economic growth, sluggish hiring and firms unwilling to invest – in the current economic climate. Now, nearly 150 families that came to rely on Siemens for their income and support are without either, and my heartfelt condolences go out to them. In response to my statement that industry-specific . . . Complete story »
Renewables can’t meet world’s demand, says Bryce
KEARNEY – Robert Bryce is a true believer that renewable resources cannot meet the growing global demand for energy. Density – the ability to generate a lot of power on a small footprint – is critical, he said, and wind, solar, biofuels and similar industries don’t fit that blueprint. Bryce, an Austin, Texas-based journalist and author, spoke this week in Kearney at the Nebraska’s Energy Future program hosted by the Platte Institute for Economic Research. He worked 12 years at the Austin Chronicle . . . Complete story »
Protesters mourn ‘death of desert’
OCOTILLO – Protesters in grim reaper costumes stood silently holding signs early Saturday as 18-wheelers carrying wind turbine materials made hairpin turns off of Interstate 8 on their way to the construction site of a roughly $600 million wind energy project being built near Ocotillo. The protesters held a mock funeral procession to mourn what they see as the loss of the Ocotillo desert, and “to demonstrate to the public that we are really unhappy with National Public Lands Day being . . . Complete story »
Group to study errors behind ‘$2M mistake’
The group that was instrumental in bringing a municipal wind turbine to Portsmouth has been directed to undertake a study to show the errors in the procedure that led to what has been called “a $2 million mistake.” The request for the study came from the taxpayer group Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, which also asked the council to draft an ordinance that would prevent such a “mistake” in future bond issues. “Most people realize that the wind turbine is in trouble,” . . . Complete story »
Deciding new wind farm rules may take two more meetings
BELVIDERE – A sometimes emotional public hearing on revised wind farm regulations lasted almost 3 ½ hours Sept. 25 and didn’t come close to being concluded. Members of the Boone County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to adjourn the meeting to 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Belvidere City Hall, 311 Whitney Blvd, downtown. And since the board wasn’t confident a second hearing would do it, the planning staff already is looking to the possibility of a special meeting on Oct. . . . Complete story »
The hush-hush map that paints Scotland green
It is the map of the country which lays bare for the first time the full extent of the Scottish Government’s drive to convert the nation to wind power. Scotland’s familiar rugged outline is peppered with at least 535 huge wind farms – taking up an estimated three to five per cent of the total land mass of Scotland – many of them located in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Officials at Government quango Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) published the “wind . . . Complete story »
Rep. Mike Pompeo: Wind tax credit harms economy
Siemens’ decision to lay off a number of employees at its wind-turbine nacelle plant in Hutchinson is a terrible blow to the workers and their families. Losing a job is scary and can have an enormous impact on families and on communities. That’s why I am fighting for smart public policies to ensure that good jobs are available for all who want to work. Current policies have resulted in more than 23 million people unemployed or underemployed in the United . . . Complete story »
Concerns over wind farms are not just all hot air
I love windy weather. Trees shake, fields shiver, and the river out back races. It feels like you might get whisked off at any minute to see the Wizard of Oz. It’s an ill wind that blows no good. But concerns about Ireland’s rapidly growing wind farm industry aren’t just bluster. We need to be careful not to lay on our land ugly monstrosities of questionable productivity. The signs are good that we realise this. An Bord Pleanala recently overruled . . . Complete story »
‘Turbine rejection should kill off £230m windfarm’
The decision to reject a turbine proposal was today described as a “fatal blow” for a £230 million windfarm plan. The Trump Organisation said it “commended” Aberdeen City Council for unanimously opposing the Tarbothill scheme, near Blackdog. The Ministry of Defence had warned that the 80ft mast would interfere with radar and stop the Royal Air Force from being able to provide a full air surveillance service The Trump Organisation is opposing plans for an offshore windfarm with 11 turbines . . . Complete story »
Sany vows legal battle as Obama blocks wind farms, Xinhua says
Sany Group Co., China’s biggest machinery maker, will use all legal efforts to win compensation after U.S. President Barack Obama barred the building of wind farms near a navy base in Oregon, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The farms pose no threat to U.S. national security and Obama’s move was probably made to serve his election campaign, Xinhua cited Zhou Qing, a legal official with Sany, as saying. Zhou said his company will seek a “fair and square result,” . . . Complete story »
