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Wind Power News: April 2013
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.
Couple heartened by court wind decision
KINGSTON – Gail Kenney welcomed a court ruling last week that supports landowners’ right to seek compensation if their property values are lowered by wind turbines. But she admitted the ruling will likely not help the couple’s property assessment battle. Last Tuesday, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a lawsuit by landowners seeking compensation for lowered property values caused by a proposed wind energy development. The decision stated that residents could not sue for lost property values before a . . . Complete story »
PTC clarity to ease renewable energy additions, questions remain
New guidance on eligibility requirements for the production tax credit (PTC) should encourage stepped-up development of renewable energy projects, but lingering questions remain, and could prove stumbling blocks to new construction. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released new guidance for renewable energy projects that aim to meet eligibility requirements for the PTC – Notice 2013-29 – on 15 April, and released amended guidance on 25 April. The information included in these notices could help to encourage development of renewable energy . . . Complete story »
Holyrood plan to ban wind farms from scenic areas
Measures to control the location of wind farms have been included in the latest planning policies of the Scottish Government. Ministers have proposed extending the separation distance between wind farms and cities, towns and villages. They have also said no wind farms should be located in the 19 per cent of Scotland which is covered by national parks and National Scenic Areas. The policies are set out in the third National Planning Framework (NPF3) and draft Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine plan rejected
A proposal to erect a wind turbine in Skerne has been refused by a council committee. At a meeting of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Eastern Area Planning Sub Committee on Monday 29 April the plan to build a 61 metre to blade tip wind turbine in Skerne was rejected. The application, concerning agricultural land close to Spring Farm, Skerne was made by Harmony Energy. The application was rejected following a casting vote by committee chair, Councillor Nigel Pearson . . . Complete story »
Wind farms only opposed by 10 per cent of people, Government claims
Ministers have claimed that only one in ten people are opposed to onshore wind farms. The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published its “public attitudes tracker” survey which shows that a total of 68 per cent of people now support onshore wind, with just 11 per cent opposed. The poll found that 76 per cent of people support offshore wind, with just 7 per cent opposed. Overall, the poll found that support for renewable energy sources to . . . Complete story »
Councillors defer decision on substation for Trump-row wind farm
A decision on controversial plans that could see a substation built at an Aberdeenshire settlement has been further deferred. The facility at Blackdog, north of Aberdeen, would service a wind farm which is planned for Aberdeen Bay and has been heavily opposed by US entrepreneur Donald Trump. He says the turbines would ruin views from his golf course at Menie. At a meeting of Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine area committee on Tuesday, councillors decided to defer their decision to allow an . . . Complete story »
New York wind barely topped 25% capacity factor in 2012
Capacity (MW) Generation (GWh) Cap. Factor 2010 1240 2533 23.3% 2011 1310 2787 24.3% 2012 1363 3060 25.6% Note that these values reflect only available capacity. Considering installed wind turbines that have malfunctioned, burned up, collapsed, or otherwise taken out of operation would significantly lower the total capacity factors. Of note in the NYISO planning reports is that no addition of wind capacity is planned for past . . . Complete story »
Planning policies regarding location of wind farms are submitted to Scottish Government
Measures to control the location of wind farms have been included in the latest planning policies of the Scottish Government. Ministers have proposed extending the separation distance between wind farms and cities, towns and villages. They have also said no wind farms should be located in the 19 per cent of Scotland which is covered by national parks and National Scenic Areas. The policies are set out in the third National Planning Framework (NPF3) and draft Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), . . . Complete story »
Power line opposition updates volunteers ahead of meeting
Recently Block Rock Island Clean Line volunteers met to plan the informational meeting being held in Ottawa this evening, Tuesday, April 30. Members representing farmer land, impacted homeowners and concerned taxpaying citizens plan to disseminate updates to the community and others impacted by the high-voltage DC power lines during the meeting. The gathering, which is open to the public, will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Pitstick Pavilion, north of Ottawa on Illinois 23. Discussion of farmers potentially being in . . . Complete story »
Plan for £70 million wind farm lodged
Plans to build a new £70 million wind farm on Lewis were formally lodged today. 2020 Renewables wants to erect 14 turbines, each of three megawatt capacity, on the North Tolsta crofters’ grazings, some ten miles outside Stornoway. The company’s proposals were revealed by Hebrides News last year and now the firm has submitted an official bid for planning permission. The 42 MW windfarm, stretching from Loch Diridean down to the forestry plantation at the glen, would include access roads, a . . . Complete story »
