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Wind Power News: September 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.
State organization to study impact of wind farms in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania General Assembly’s nonpartisan research organization has a year to produce a comprehensive report on the impact of wind farms on the state’s landscape, wildlife and electric grid. The state House of Representatives directed the Joint State Government Commission to conduct the study with a vote of 181-11 this month. Legislators instructed the commission to cover certain basic details, including who owns wind turbines in Pennsylvania, how many there are, which agencies oversee them and how they are regulated. . . . Complete story »
Developer says Alexandria wrong to deny tower
A Portuguese wind-energy developer is asking a Grafton County judge to order Alexandria’s selectmen to grant it a building permit for a 262-foot meteorological tower. Though selectmen last year had given EDP Renewables conditional approval to build the tower, Selectmen Donnie Sharp and Michael Broome refused to second a motion by Selectman George Tuthill to grant the permit in July. EDP, which has proposed a $140 million, 15- to 25-turbine Spruce Ridge wind-power project in Alexandria, Groton and Hebron, said . . . Complete story »
Bats killed by wind turbines ‘because they mistake them for trees’
Hundreds of thousands of bats are being killed every year because they mistake wind turbines for tall trees, a study has suggested. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers were looking to find out why bats interact so closely with the moving blades of wind turbines. Before the construction of wind turbines, instances of bats colliding with man-made structures were rarely observed. However, hundreds of thousands are now killed annually, with most found dead beneath the . . . Complete story »
Utilities limit access as clean energy tests Japan’s grid
Shikoku Electric Power Co. (9507) will temporarily suspend grid access to new renewable energy projects, becoming the latest among Japan’s regional utilities to limit an influx that’s testing the nation’s electricity grid. Shikoku Electric will suspend responding to new applications from clean energy producers beginning tomorrow, the utility said in a statement on its website today. The decision, and a similar move last week by Kyushu Electric Power Co., threatens to undermine Japan’s push to expand renewable energy supply in . . . Complete story »
The fantasy of 100% renewable energy
Renewable energy is all the rage at the moment. Fears of global warming are ever present (and well-justified, I might add). Tax benefits for solar panels and wind turbines are at an all-time high. On Harvard’s campus, chants and rallies for divestment urge a shift away from fossil fuels toward renewables. With Denmark’s wind power production exceeding its consumption on certain days last year, there have been calls for the United States to go completely fossil-free and become solely renewable-powered . . . Complete story »
Windfarm could have “disastrous impact” on Scotland’s reputation
A charity has warned building giant turbines in one of the Highlands’ most picturesque areas could have a “disastrous impact” on Scotland’s reputation for spectacular landscape. The stark prediction from wild land organisation the John Muir Trust was delivered on the eve of a Holyrood debate on the issue. The trust said the proposed Talladh-a-Bheithe windfarm would ruin views from 5% of Scotland’s 282 Munros, including Buachaille Etive Mor and Schiehallion. It claims Rannoch Moor – celebrated in books such . . . Complete story »
Executive councilors raise questions about Hassan nominations
CONCORD – Executive councilors say they have concerns about Gov. Maggie Hassan’s nomination of two retiring lawmakers to the panel that has power over new energy projects. While both Sen. Bob Odell, R-New London, and Rep. Amanda Merrill, D-Durham, are outstanding public servants, District 1 Councilor Joseph Kenney, R-Wakefield, said, “It’s the wrong time and the wrong board.” Kenney said he has heard from hundreds of constituents. Odell’s nomination to the Site Evaluation Committee did not sit well with many, due . . . Complete story »
Developer plans 11,000-acre Nebraska wind farm
An international company has applied for permits to build a wind farm with 54 turbines in southern Lancaster and northern Gage counties. Volkswind USA Inc., through its Nebraska subsidiaries Hallam Wind LLC and Hallam Wind Two LLC, wants to build the wind farm on 7,000 acres of land in Lancaster County and 4,000 acres in Gage County, near Hallam and Cortland. More than 50 landowners already have signed leases, according to documents filed with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Department. Volkswind . . . Complete story »
Wind surplus won’t prevent approval of new turbines
A Devon council has admitted it is powerless to stop more new wind farms being approved despite official figures which suggest there are more than enough schemes in the pipeline to meet targets. Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, has disclosed in a letter that the UK is on course for a total of more than 15 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind farms compared with the total of 11-13GW he says is needed by 2020 to meet EU renewable . . . Complete story »
Bats may mistake wind turbines for trees
Some species of bats may mistake wind turbines for tall trees, and follow seemingly familiar air flow patterns to their doom. US researchers used thermal and infra-red surveillance cameras to observe bat behaviour around three wind turbines over three months, and report their results in today’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.. The surveillance footage showed bats most often approached the wind turbines from downwind, and tended to do so more when the wind speed was lower. The bats – . . . Complete story »