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Wind Power News: May 2014
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 farm plan is blown away by Eric Pickles
Campaigners have been celebrating after plans for 10 giant wind turbines on the outskirts of Scarborough were thrown out last week. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, overruled a planning inspector who recommended that the scheme should go ahead. If it had gone ahead it would have seen 10 126 metre high wind turbines built on the Yorkshire Wolds between Malton and Scarborough at Heslerton. Mr Pickles said that the plans ‘would introduce a highly intrusive . . . Complete story »
One farmer weighs pros and cons of wind turbines
Wind turbine company NextEra Energy is considering whether to build a $200 million wind energy project in the town of Catlin in Chemung County. The town board is finalizing the details of a new zoning law that will allow the project to move forward. So local farmers are weighing whether or not to allow the turbines on their property. It’s a windy day as Dan Teed makes his way up the side of a gravel road. Tall, twirling turbines stand . . . Complete story »
Residents say ‘tide is turning’ in battle over wind farms in East Lindsey
Angry residents say the tide is “beginning to turn” in the fight against wind turbines in East Lindsey. Forty-two wind farms have already been constructed in the district, while 20 more are currently being planned. Another 43 on top of that are in scoping or screening, 24 are at the appeal stage, nine have been refused, 13 have been approved while ten have been withdrawn. This means that there are a total of 161 wind farms, wind farm applications or . . . Complete story »
Heed painful lessons from Indiana on wind farms
This is a tale of two cities and counties, with one city and county thrown in for comparison. The two subject areas are similar in size and their economies are congruent. Both have faced hard economic times and lost a major industry. In both cities the two major employers have overcome economic struggles and are viable entities. The present unemployment rate of the two is below the national average. The two subject cities are my hometown of Gadsden and my . . . Complete story »
‘True’ air pollution arrives
Once again, our communities suffer as a group when our elected and appointed representatives overlook the big picture. The state of Minnesota’s 2025 agenda, for those who don’t know, is our elected leaders’ dream of 25 percent Green Renewable Energy by the year 2025. Long-term goal, but short-sighted at best. Wind farms get rubber-stamped under the guise of clean energy, added jobs and local community growth – and don’t forget improved infrastructure. I, for one, would hate to see how . . . Complete story »
Migrating birds safe from wind farm — for now
Millions of migratory birds that pass over south Texas each year caught a break last month when Baryonyx Corporation withdrew its permit applications for the GOWind offshore wind farm project in the Lower Laguna Madre region. Baryonyx, a renewable energy company with projects in the Texas panhandle, north central Texas and along the south Texas coast, had been pursuing the approval of its permit application from the United States Army Corps of Engineers to install up to 303 wind turbines . . . Complete story »
Appeal against rejection of Solwaybank wind farm plan
A renewable energy firm is to appeal against the rejection of plans for a 15-turbine wind farm near the border between Scotland and England. Dumfries and Galloway Council refused permission for the scheme at Solwaybank in February because of seismic and radar concerns. Developer RES said both objections had now been withdrawn. RES said the wind farm, south west of Langholm, could provide enough power for 19,000 homes. It said the Scottish government has withdrawn objections that wind farms would . . . Complete story »
Iberdrola officially scraps New Hampshire wind project
Iberdrola Renewables has decided to abandon its Wild Meadows wind project, which the company was working to develop in Danbury and Alexandria, N.H. The 75.9 MW project would have become Iberdrola’s third wind farm in New Hampshire: The 24 MW Lempster and 48 MW Groton projects were commissioned in 2008 and 2012, respectively. However, it appears the developer has had to contend with local opposition and regulatory hurdles in the state. Iberdrola released the following two-paragraph statement regarding its decision to stop pursuing . . . Complete story »
Residents state views on wind farm lawsuits
The town council’s public comment time was filled the past two weeks, first with supporters of the Cape Wind turbine project, then with opponents. They wanted to let the council know their views before its executive session to consider an appeal of pending litigation. The council postponed the session from May 15 to May 22, which allowed for the additional comments. The results of the session will not be released immediately, Assistant Town Attorney Charles McLaughlin said. At the May . . . Complete story »
The wild west of wind
The temptation of saving thousands of dollars in electricity costs prompted dozens of Massachusetts communities to invest in green energy technology in recent years, but cities and towns are realizing that no energy consumption comes without a price. Unanticipated impacts of shadow flicker and noise have caused tensions in some communities where turbines were initially welcomed. In others, mechanical failures are testing taxpayers’ patience and stretching municipal budgets. The lesson that so many local communities are learning as they attempt . . . Complete story »
