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.
Cheshire is seeking Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s help crafting a new energy bylaw
CHESHIRE – Town officials are seeking Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) assistance in hopes of codifying a new green energy bylaw, which would address all future proposals for clean energy developments inside the town’s boundaries. With no such law yet on Cheshire’s books, and several interested developers having found Town Hall in 2012, town officials are in agreement that the step should be taken. “[The bylaw] would allow us to address applications in a more thoughtful manner,” said Town Administrator Mark . . . Complete story »
Yavapai Ranch’s future could be pastoral, residential or industrial
Will the remote Yavapai Ranch turn into a huge subdivision, the state’s largest wind farm, or a cutting-edge astronomical observatory? Will the state’s largest land exchange finally become a reality so the 50,000 acres of public lands landlocked by the ranch can be consolidated into a single huge swath of pine forest and grasslands that will forever remain a place where the antelope roam? Or will all those acres become permanently landlocked by homes and riddled with access roads? The . . . Complete story »
Iberdrola to sell French wind parks to cut debt
Spanish utility Iberdrola is selling its French wind park unit to a consortium including General Electric for about 400 million euros ($529 million) in its drive to cut debt and keep an investment grade credit rating. The world’s largest operator of wind farms said in October it would sell some of its operations, slash investment and cut its workforce over the next two years in order to reduce debt by 6 billion euros to 26 billion by 2014. Iberdrola is . . . Complete story »
Government ‘must respect’ council wind farm rejections
Almost a third of wind applications initially rejected by councils are later given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government, it was claimed today. The Scottish Conservatives said the government – which aims to provide 100 per cent of energy from renewable sources – has overruled local authorities on 20 occasions over wind farm and turbine applications in the past year. The list includes three sites in East Lothian, at Cockburnspath, Dunbar and East Linton, although appeals against council refusals were . . . Complete story »
Trump row wind farm firm attacks delay on decision
The developers of a wind farm at the centre of a dispute between Donald Trump and Alex Salmond have hit out at officials for failing to reach a decision on the plans this year. The firms behind proposals for the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) off the coast of Aberdeen said they were “disappointed” at the delay and called on ministers to announce their decision as early as possible in 2013. Plans were first lodged for the renewables project . . . Complete story »
New moves on Northumberland wind farm plans
Moves to force energy companies to invest significantly more money into community benefits in return for wind farm approvals have been dismissed by anti-turbine campaigners in the region. Reports at the weekend claimed rural communities affected by wind farm proposals could receive millions of pounds in compensation from the developers – under new Government plans to limit the scale of public opposition to the controversial schemes. It is claimed the plans – which have been branded “bribes for blight” by . . . Complete story »
Private firms plan more wind farms, free zone in Tilaran
Famous for its winds, the town of Tilaran, in Guanacaste, has become a magnet for wind turbines that generate electrical energy. Jovel Arias, the local mayor, stated that because of the area’s windy conditions, there are many investors interested in developing wind-powered plants. Currently, there are four private plants in the area, besides the Tejona Wind Farm that belongs to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE). The construction of a new project, called Chiripa, is also planned for this coming . . . Complete story »
Bill seeks to ban wind projects
MONTPELIER – Opponents of ridgeline wind development will introduce a bill in the Senate next month that seeks a temporary ban on the installation of turbines on Vermont’s mountaintops. A similar legislative maneuver during the last session never gained traction. But lawmakers pushing the three-year moratorium say positions have since evolved. And a legislative end-run around the regulatory process that governs energy projects, key elected officials say, looks to have majority support in the 30-member body. “I have been told by . . . Complete story »
Wind credit proponents prepare for ‘fiscal-cliff’ agreement without extension
An energy security group told The Hill on Friday that it does not expect the one-year wind credit extension it has supported to make it into a “fiscal cliff” deal. The Truman National Security Project’s Operation Free campaign is preparing to fight for a retroactive extension to the credit next Congress. Michael Wu, the group’s advocacy policy director, said the extension would likely be left out of a short-term agreement to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases set to . . . Complete story »
The cost of too much wind rises
Wind is free. Converting it to electricity is not. It appears the cost falls to us, even for power we do not want or need. The generators of wind power demand we pay for electricity they do not make, and ensure their profits from taxpayer subsidies they do not receive. The federal government this month reaffirmed this is the desired policy, whatever alternative plans people in the Northwest might make. Blame sun and gravity. In spring snow melts, wind blows, . . . Complete story »
