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Wind Power News: December 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.
Rancho Cucamonga to permit wind turbines for larger properties
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – The city of Rancho Cucamonga will allow residents of larger properties to apply for a wind energy permit. For now, only owners of larger properties in “Very Low” or “VL” residential districts will be allowed to obtain a permit for a wind energy tower. Setback requirements would mean the tower would be placed in “large backyards” and not in front of a home, according to officials. The new systems are meant as a supplemental energy source for a . . . Complete story »
IRS revokes ruling finding facility-specific power purchase agreements are part of the facility
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently revoked Private Letter Ruling (PLR) 201214007, which found that facility-specific power purchase agreements (PPAs) are considered part of the underlying wind energy facilities and, therefore, no portion of the purchase price of the wind energy facilities should be allocated to the PPAs. In PLR 201249013, released December 7, 2012, the IRS determined that PLR 201214007 is not in accord with the IRS’s current views and that the portion of the purchase price that is . . . Complete story »
Jerry Brown readjusts his stand on the environment vs. business
SACRAMENTO – When Gov. Jerry Brown spoke to a crowd of beaming environmentalists and renewable energy advocates at the launch of a solar farm last year, he turned heads by praising another form of fuel: oil. It was a surprising pivot from the man credited with helping to usher in the modern environmental movement as California’s governor nearly four decades ago. Back then, Brown enacted the nation’s first energy-efficiency standards, signed strict anti-smog laws and blocked offshore drilling. But in his . . . Complete story »
A’Hunting we will go
Well, it’s just like the Government Grinch to try to steal the County’s Christmas spirit. On Dec. 21, it was announced that the Gilead Wind project at Ostrander Point had been approved. This opens the door to a whole new future of unstoppable Industrial Wind Turbine projects here. But we have no-one to complain to. Poor Todd Smith, our provincial member of parliament, is foaming at the mouth, but he has no-one to listen, and no parliament in which to . . . Complete story »
Environment Committee adds renewable energy to agenda
OLYMPIA – The House Environment Committee will take on all energy-related issues in the upcoming Legislature, including renewable energy standards and production. “Energy and environmental issues have a lot of overlap, so this shift makes sense,” said committee Chairman Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines. “Washington state is already a national leader in promoting energy technologies that both spur economic growth and help protect the quality of life we all cherish.” Among the new members of the committee is Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, . . . Complete story »
Birds, noise vs. wind power
I was very disappointed that the Phoenix chose to endorse subsidizing the wind power industry (see “What You Missed,” December 21, 2012). While I agree that the fossil fuel industry is environmentally destructive, using wind is little or no improvement, for a few main reasons – and I owe Robert Bryce credit for his extensive research and writing on the issue. First, those turbines slaughter huge numbers of birds, with an annual toll in the US estimated at 440,000 (according to . . . Complete story »
Report: Wind generation costs twice as much as government estimates
As lawmakers rush to hash out a deal to extend tax credits for wind energy generation, a new report shows that, once hidden costs are accounted for, the true cost of wind power generation is twice that of what previous government estimates have shown. “Once these hidden costs are included and subsidies are excluded, wind generation is not close to being competitive with conventional generation sources such as natural gas, coal or nuclear,” said George Taylor, lead author of the . . . Complete story »
1-year PTC extension in tax deal
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Vice President Biden have reached a deal on the tax portions of a fiscal cliff agreement. Republicans and President Obama and Democrats won and lost battles in the talks, with Obama and Democrats winning extensions on several middle-class tax breaks and forcing Republicans to agree to higher rates on wealthier households and on some investment income. But Republicans were able to raise the threshold for when the higher tax rates kick in, and . . . Complete story »
Northern Pass developers say they have new route
Developers of the Northern Pass hydroelectric project said on Monday that they have identified a new route for the 1,200-megawatt transmission lines through the North Country, but did not provide further details. In an announcement posted as a “project update” on the Northern Pass website, spokesmen for Northeast Utilities said, “We are in the process of finalizing this new proposal and will soon be prepared to announce its specific details. This proposal was created in consideration of concerns raised regarding . . . Complete story »
Vleermuizenleed door windmolens | Bats killed by wind turbines
HEIJNINGEN – Op last van de rechtbank in Breda komt er aanvullend onderzoek naar het aantal vleermuizen dat sterft door windmolenpark Sabinadijk in het Noord-Brabantse Heijningen. [bndestem.nl: De rechtbank in Breda legt de windmolens van het windpark Sabinadijk in Heijningen stil. De rechtbank vernietigt het besluit van de minister van Economische Zaken om niet op te treden tegen overtredingen van de Flora- en Faunawet.] Deskundigen schatten dat elk jaar 59 gewone vleermuizen en 17 zogeheten ruige dwergvleermuizen zich te pletter . . . Complete story »
