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Wind Power News: December 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.
Windy liability
Regarding “W. Texas winds to light up region” (Page A1, Sunday), the article on Texas’ new 3,000-mile electricity transmission Competitive Renewable Energy Zone network mentions its cost ($6.8 billion, almost one-third over budget) but fails to explain its wholly unnecessary nature. Every ratepayer in the state will pay $7 per month for years for this monument to cronyism. Wind power generation in Texas was mandated by a 1999 law championed by Enron to set the table for its fledging subsidiary, . . . Complete story »
Northern Pass transmission line clears regulatory hurdle in New Hampshire
The group that manages the power grid in New England said Tuesday it’s confident the proposed Northern Pass transmission line through New Hampshire can reliably connect to the existing system. ISO New England said in a letter dated Tuesday it has approved the interconnection application made by Northeast Utilities. It means Northeast Utilities can continue pursuing the project and is just one of many regulatory steps the company must clear on the way to final approval. Northern Pass said it . . . Complete story »
Temple, New Ipswich ordinances derailed wind plan
This week’s news that a revised plan for Antrim Wind may be paved by town voters as part of a wind ordinance in March caps a year in which wind developments grabbed their share of the headlines. While the Antrim project may have new life, the development planned to straddle New Ipswich and Temple is almost certainly not going forward, according to the developer. New Ipswich and Temple, like Antrim, spent a good amount of the year waiting on the . . . Complete story »
Hawk Watch program cancelled in Ramona for 2014
After 20 years, Hawk Watch, a popular wildlife educational program in Ramona featuring hawks, owls and eagles, has been cancelled for 2014. Visitors can still go birdwatching on their own at the Ramona Grasslands Preserve, but there will be no organized presentations or up-close looks at captive birds of prey. Wildlife Research Institute, which ran the program, announced the cancellation on its website with no explanation. But the decision likely stems from trouble raising funds for the nonprofit after news . . . Complete story »
Bristol residents question offshore wind project
BRISTOL, Maine – A committee appointed by the Bristol Board of Selectmen plans to determine whether the town has any say over a proposed offshore wind project 2 ½ miles off Monhegan Island – and 10 miles away from Bristol. Maine Aqua Ventus has proposed a 270-foot-tall advanced composite wind tower on a floating concrete base, featuring two turbines designed to generate 6 megawatts each. It would be built using the University of Maine’s VolturnUS technology. Energy from the pilot project would . . . Complete story »
Two communities divided
NARRAGANSETT – The last two forums that addressed Deepwater Wind’s proposed Block Island Wind Farm showed two communities divided on the project’s merits. When the vetting of Deepwater Wind’s five-turbine wind farm transitioned from Narragansett Town Hall to state agencies, New Shoreham residents added a new perspective to the conversation that offered a counterpoint to the vocal opposition of Deepwater Resistance, a political action committee formed in Narragansett. There were exceptions, but most New Shoreham residents spoke in favor of the . . . Complete story »
Ordinance could revive Antrim Wind project
ANTRIM – Wind energy may get a new life in Antrim after a petition warrant article with 42 signatures was submitted to go before voters at Town Meeting in March. The language asks residents to amend the zoning ordinance to allow the development of commercial wind farms. The ordinance could pave the way for another Antrim Wind project, this one with nine turbines on the Tuttle Hill ridge line and Willard Mountain. Earlier this year, a proposal with 10 turbines was . . . Complete story »
Carbondale eyes ‘energy tax’ to fund projects
CARBONDALE – Town trustees, eager to find new ways to encourage local residents to make more use of alternative energy technologies and energy conservation tactics, are taking a look at the idea of an “energy tax” or utility fee assessed against local consumers. Details of the proposed new tax are far from worked out, and the trustees have been in talks with representatives of the Community Office of Resource Efficiency (CORE) and the Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) about . . . Complete story »
Cheers ring out as turbine is rejected
The rejection of a proposed 79m wind turbine in Melton Road, Long Clawson, was met with applause and cheers by delighted residents at a Melton Council planning meeting. It was one of two wind turbine applications to be refused – the other was on land west of Vale View Farm, Old Dalby. A further wind turbine at Easthorpe and the installation of solar panels at Thorpe Satchville were approved while a decision over a fourth wind turbine at Six Hills . . . Complete story »
First Wind’s Kahuku Wind Farm still not back up to speed
First Wind’s 30-megawatt Kahuku Wind Farm on Oahu’s North Shore, which has been hampered by a fire that destroyed its battery warehouse last year, is still only running at a capacity of 5 megawatts, a spokesman for the Boston-based renewable energy company told PBN. Originally, First Wind said it would be back at full capacity by the end of 2013. “We had hoped that would be the case,” said John Lamontagne, spokesman for First Wind. “We hope that it can . . . Complete story »
