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Wind Power News: August 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.
“Citizens rights” defeats UK government in landmark wind energy ruling
This week Christine Metcalfe, 69, a Scottish community councillor, scored a stunning landmark legal victory bringing to a halt the UK government’s unlawful and unpopular wind energy initiative. In effect, all British wind farm development is mothballed until grassroots public consent is granted – if ever. Below Christine provides her personal insights on this extraordinary long running battle in which Britain and the EU were ruled to have breached citizens’ rights, protected under the UN’s Aarhus Convention. A personal view . . . Complete story »
Concern as wind turbines fail to produce power
Campaigners have called for a new era of openness as it emerges some ageing turbines are producing nowhere near the power originally promised. Opponents to wind farms say there is a growing risk of turbines not meeting energy demands or having reached the end of their useful life being left as a blot on the landscape until planning permission expires. The call comes as RWE npower renewables becomes the first in the UK to produce data streaming of its turbines. . . . Complete story »
What’s polluting waterways in Ocotillo?
Thursday’s storm brought an unwanted surprise to residents of Ocotillo, where floodwaters swept through the desert town carrying a white, foamy sludge. East County Magazine photographer Jim Pelley lives in Ocotillo. He and other residents say that they have never seen the white foamy sludge before the Ocotillo Wind Energy facility was built. “What is it?” he asked. “What effect will it have on our sole source aquifer?” The underground aquifer provides the town’s only source of drinking water. Pelley . . . Complete story »
UN victory grandmother attacks Alex Salmond over wind farms
A Scottish grandmother who this week won a landmark victory at the United Nations that could slow the spread of wind farms has delivered an outspoken attack on Alex Salmond. Christine Metcalfe, from Argyll, accused the First Minister of attempting to “bludgeon” local opposition to turbines and driving a pro-wind farm agenda like an “express train”. The 69-year-old said she was “relieved” a UN committee ruled in her favour this week that the UK Government acted illegally by denying the . . . Complete story »
Nenagh residents form action group against P+G wind turbine plan
An action group opposed to the planned wind turbine at Procter and Gamble has been set up by residents in the affected areas. Nenagh Wind Turbine Opposition Group – www.nwtog.com – have held a number of meetings in recent weeks in response to these concerns and plans to hold a public meeting shortly. The group comprises residents from Coolaholloga, Richmond, Ardan Rua, Killnasalla, Wilton, Gortlandroe, Clonaslee, St.Conlon’s Road, Drom na Coille, and Dromin Road In a statement this week, the . . . Complete story »
Corporate welfare: $2.5 million to be refunded from subsidies for failed Nordex wind turbine plant in Jonesboro
The state of Arkansas will be repaid $2.5 million in subsidies that went to help Nordex USA start a wind turbine manufacturing plant in Jonesboro. Nordex decided to consolidate manufacturing in Germany as a result of uncertainty in the wind energy market. It will continue to use a facility in Jonesboro for service, warehousing and training. The hope had been the manufacturing plant would employ 750. The state put $3.91 million into the project – $2.51 million for site work, a . . . Complete story »
City to have wind farm say
Councillors in Swansea are to have an official say on a giant wind farm scheme off the Gower coast. The authority is to become a formal consultee on the Atlantic Array project. A report putting forward the idea went before members of the Development Management and Control Committee. The off-shore wind farm proposal has been earmarked for development in the Bristol Channel and will include the Gower coastline, along with Lundy and North Devon. The UK planning inspectorate will have . . . Complete story »
Glenchamber, Horn Burn and Gilston wind farm appeals meet mixed fates
The Scottish government has rejected plans for two Borders wind farms but allowed condition changes on a Dumfries and Galloway scheme. Energiekontor’s bid for 10-turbines near Ayton has been turned down. A 16-turbine scheme at Gilston Farm straddling the Borders-Midlothian boundary has also been rejected. However, RES has been allowed to amend some conditions imposed on its 11-turbine Glenchamber project between New Luce, Kirkcowan and Glenluce. The Horn Burn project from Energiekontor was described as “highly incongruous” in a “settled, . . . Complete story »
Owner of Delta wind farm files complaint against GVEA
FAIRBANKS – After feuds over buying and selling wind-generated electricity, the owner of a Delta wind farm has filed a complaint against the Golden Valley Electric Association. In a press release Wednesday, Alaska Environmental Power announced that it has filed an informal complaint with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska as a last resort after failing to reach an agreement to sell 25 megawatts to the electric utility cooperative. The wind farm, owned by Mike Craft, produces and sells less than 2 . . . Complete story »
Vattenfall submits plans for £190m wind farm
Swedish energy firm Vattenfall has submitted plans for a £190m 50-turbine wind farm in the south west of Scotland to the Scottish government. The company said the 170MW South Kyle Wind Farm could power more than 90,000 households in the UK. The farm would be based near Patna, Carsphairn, Dalmellington and New Cumnock. Vattenfall said the project would bring “lasting economic benefit to the local community”, if approved. Vattenfall’s UK Onshore Wind Development Director, Piers Guy, said: “Developments like this . . . Complete story »
