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.
Wind farms ‘can wipe one-third off house prices’, MP claims
Wind farms knock as much as one third off the value of nearby homes, an MP has claimed. Geoffrey Cox, Conservative MP for West Devon and Torridge, said constituents had been told by estate agents their homes were worth “significantly less” due to turbines being built in the vicinity and that it was an “injustice” that they lose out while developers and land owners potentially pocket millions. “An increasing number of people are coming to me with clear evidence that . . . Complete story »
Climate policies helped kill manufacturing, says Maurice Newman
The unprecedented cost of energy driven by the renewable energy target and the carbon tax had destroyed the nation’s competitiveness, Tony Abbott’s chief business adviser has declared. Maurice Newman also says climate change policies driven by “scientific delusion” have been a major factor in the collapse of Australia’s manufacturing sector. “The Australian dollar and industrial relations policies are blamed,” Mr Newman said. “But, for some manufacturers, the strong dollar has been a benefit, while high relative wages have long been . . . Complete story »
Wind-farm operations improperly curtailed by Duke Energy Indiana, suit claims
An Indiana wind farm has filed a federal lawsuit against Duke Energy Indiana for unspecified damages, claiming that Duke (NYSE:DUK) is violating agreements it made requiring it to buy a portion of the power produced by the 130-megawatt project. Duke is studying the complaint and expects to “aggressively defend” itself in the suit. The Becton County Wind Farm, owned by Orion Energy Group and Vision Energy, was built in 2008, spurred by an agreement with Duke to buy the power . . . Complete story »
Green Haworth wind turbine would trick defence radar, says MoD
A proposed wind turbine would trick nearby Ministry of Defence radars into thinking planes were in the air, it has been claimed. The 36.6m turbine, planned for Tops Farm, Cross Edge, Green Haworth, would be 21 miles from Warton Aerodrome, and would cause ‘unacceptable interference’ with the air traffic control radar there, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The statement also said: “Wind turbines have been shown to have detrimental effects on the performance of Ministry of Defence . . . Complete story »
Norma Schmidt testifies at Armow Wind appeal hearing in Kincardine
Norma Schmidt spoke emotionally and haltingly Friday, Dec. 20, as she testified before the Environmental Review Tribunal which is hearing evidence at the appeal against the proposed Armow Wind development in Kincardine. A resident of Underwood, in the Municipality of Kincardine, and surrounded by wind turbines with the Enbridge Ontario Wind project, she had a stack of information and documentation that she wanted to submit to the tribunal, outlining the health effects she has suffered since the Enbridge project went . . . Complete story »
Historic Scotland opposing Eassie wind turbine plan
A major consultee has objected to a single-turbine development in the Angus countryside. A 77-metre turbine is planned for land at Ingliston Farm, Eassie, and an application has been submitted to Angus Council. However, Historic Scotland has objected, with officer Rory McDonald airing concerns about the turbine’s effect on the setting of three scheduled monuments. The turbine would be located 500m north of the Castleward burial mound and 1.1km to the west of the Denoon Law fort and Wester Denoon . . . Complete story »
Ill wind blowing for Scotland’s heritage
The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is a magnificent area of extensive bog habitats in northern Scotland where, over millennia, plant material has been laid down in the waterlogged conditions to form deep layers of peat and stored carbon. This area is home to many rare birds and other wildlife: in summer it is alive with the “tew-tew-tew” calls of greenshanks, while divers wail from the many lochans and golden eagles soar overhead. It has been designated under European . . . Complete story »
Wurzels manager Sil Wilcox fights proposals for wind turbine at Laverton farm
The manager of Somerset legends, The Wurzels, has began a campaign against plans to build a 66m wind turbine near the village of Laverton. Sil Wilcox and his wife Fi, who live in the area, said they have held several meetings with villagers of Laverton and Norton St Philip in the past few weeks about the proposals. The wind turbine, if given the go-ahead, will be situated at Hillbrow Farm, near Laverton. A planning application is due to be submitted . . . Complete story »
‘Concrete monstrosities vandalising our moors’ – Holmfirth painter Ashley Jackson hits out at growth of wind turbines
The moors are famously his cathedrals. But now Yorkshire’s most famous artist, Ashley Jackson, has hit out at the despoiling of them by the growing prevalence of wind turbines. Mr Jackson, Holmfirth’s best-known resident, says he has opposed their introduction from the very first day. He said: “I go up on the moors regularly and there are fewer and fewer skylarks and curlews. They are always being sucked into these awful things. “They are concrete monstrosities vandalising our moors but . . . Complete story »
Last call to attend Pilrow wind farm appeal
A last call has gone out to residents ahead of an appeal against the refusal of plans for a wind farm near Burnham. Broadview Energy appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after Sedgemoor District Council blocked its plans for four 130m turbines at Pilrow Farm near Rooksbridge in April 2013. SDC planning officer Rebecca Miller said the project was rejected because it would “represent an unacceptable visual intrusion into the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels.” Broadview’s appeal will be heard . . . Complete story »
