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.
Jersey wind power mast options explored
Plans to put a mast on an offshore reef off Jersey’s coast to measure wind strength have been delayed after concerns were raised. Jersey States and Jersey Electricity planned to erect a 30ft (9m) high mast on the Ecrehous reef. The two-year project aims to establish the potential power of the wind and if it could be used for renewable energy. Work has been delayed while consultations are held with interested parties. Willie Peggie, director of the Environment Department, said . . . Complete story »
Fund of £300,000 to help with rise in wind farm applications
A fund to help planning authorities deal with large numbers of wind farm applications has been opened. The Scottish government has made £300,000 available for authorities dealing with a significant rise in wind turbine planning applications. It comes after Aberdeenshire and Fife Councils asked for a temporary halt to new applications, after being deluged by proposals from developers. Amongst other uses the money can be spent on more staff and faster advice. Earlier this year Aberdeenshire Council asked for a . . . Complete story »
It was a close vote
I offer a different perspective on Angus King’s displeasure with an anti-King TV ad featuring Record Hill Wind in Roxbury. Kathy Sutton, wife of John Sutton (chairman of the Board of Selectmen for Roxbury), says some of the people in the ad are not even from Roxbury and so, essentially, why should their opinion count? But four of the five people live at Roxbury Pond full time or for half the year, and are part of the town who pay . . . Complete story »
Endangered Indiana bats battered by bat-killing disease
The Indiana bat was first listed as a federally endangered species in 1967, when people still purposefully killed entire colonies of bats “for fun” or out of a mistaken belief that they were “vermin.” Measures to protect the colonies, such as the gating of important hibernating sites, have helped to reduce those losses. But many threats remain, including logging of summer roosting trees and pesticide spraying of insects that bats depend on for food. In recent years, the boom in oil and gas fracking in the eastern states, as well as wind-energy installations that kill bats with moving turbine blades, have created new hazards for the animals. Complete story »
Turbine puts the wind up council
LLandovery town councillors say they share the concerns of protesters objecting to plans for a wind turbine on the hills above the town. Rumours are rife that plans for a 35m turbine situated at Pen-y-Gaer Farm are about to be submitted to Carmarthenshire county council. Town clerk Henry Caldecote stressed that the application had not been registered at County Hall yet. “So in practical terms it does not exist,” he added. Cllr Robin Ennion said he was aware of 63 . . . Complete story »
Wind farm ‘conflict of interests’ denied
Controversial plans to build a ten turbine wind farm on land in Hemswell Cliff have caused another row after the council were accused of causing a ‘conflict of interests’. Back in July, RWE Npower Renewables submitted the application to build the farm on land 13km east of Gainsborough after months of suitability and consultation. Now, the revelation that West Lindsey District Council have employed a consultant from North East Lincs Council has caused concern – as they outsource such work . . . Complete story »
Times change, minds change about wind turbines
The mostly positive feelings that greeted pioneering wind turbines on the Bruce Peninsula have been replaced by opposition as proposals for hundreds of the machines come to light. It was a cold and blustery day in late November 2006 on the wind-swept Ferndale Flats, but a good crowd had gathered to mark the completed construction and startup of two more commercial wind turbine on the Bruce Peninsula. The big Danish-made Vesta turbine blades throbbed deeply overhead. Nobody was bothered by . . . Complete story »
Public generates ideas at wind zone hearing
FAIRGROVE – Although there are no wind development projects set yet for Fairgrove Township, steps are being taken for the future. During public participation at Fairgrove Township Planning Commission’s hearing Tuesday, one of the key concerns of several of those who spoke were the different distances for setbacks for participating property owners to have leases for proposed wind development compared to setbacks for non-participating property owners and roadways, and also some wording changes in some sections. The public suggested increasing the . . . Complete story »
Energy proposal raises debate over costs, jobs
Among outspoken foes is Conrad Mallett, a Democrat and former state Supreme Court justice. He agrees with Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette that the issue should be handled by the legislature instead of added to the constitution. "I'm very disturbed that we're going to be making substantive energy policy on the fly," Mallett said. Lawmakers ordered the state's energy suppliers four years ago to generate 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2015. Consumers and DTE have invested in wind farms, which probably will account for most of the green power they produce. They say the existing deadline is achievable, but the 25 percent requirement would require 3,100 more wind turbines spread over an area 17 times larger than the city of Grand Rapids. Complete story »
Obama blocks Butter Creek wind farm construction
Citing threats to national security, President Barack Obama issued an executive order Friday blocking construction on the Butter Creek Wind Project, south of Hermiston near the Boardman Bombing Range. The Ralls Corp., a Chinese company that owns the project, was ordered to stop all operations at the site July 25 by the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, according to the order obtained through federal court documents. The order cited risks to the United States through the sale . . . Complete story »
