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.
Lower Loxley: Activists set to fight turbine appeal
Wind turbine activists are set to object to the most recent appeal to a planning application for a new turbine at Lower Loxley. Uttoxeter Rural Parish Council along with the Uttoxeter Wind Turbine Action Group (UWTAG) are preparing their objection to the turbine at land south of Carry Lane, Lower Loxley. Keith Flunder of Staffordshire Turbine Action Group (STAG) also confirmed STAG would be opposing the application. A statement from Bramshall Against Turbines said: “Hallmark Power have now put in . . . Complete story »
We’ll fight plans for three wind turbines, say Cumbrian campaigners
Campaigners have vowed to fight plans for three new wind turbines. The site, to the north west of Aspatria towards Westnewton, is very close to three existing turbines fiercely opposed by more than 1,800 people. The company Airvolution has not yet submitted a formal planning application. But it is organising a public meeting at Aspatria Rugby Club to talk about what it hopes to do. It believes the Lancarr site, just off the A596, is suitable for three turbines – . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine fury at inspector
Campaign groups and councillors have rounded on a government planning inspector for accepting a smaller proposal for eight wind turbines as part of a wider public inquiry into the 10 turbine project at Hemswell Cliff. The project was called in by Local Government & Communities Minister Eric Pickles after complaints from nearby residents concerning the project from RWE NPower. It will be the subject of a public inquiry in January. West Lindsey District Council’s planning committee last week backed an . . . Complete story »
No vote powers more wind farm investment
A London-based renewable energy investor is eyeing wind farms in Scotland and said the no vote in the independence referendum will make it easier to raise money to buy assets in the sector. Greencoat UK Wind said it is looking at a number of wind farms in Scotland, which it thinks could be put up for sale by owners who want to recover the heavy costs of developing such assets. Steve Lilley, a partner in the fund that manages Greencoat . . . Complete story »
North Coates Flying Club may be forced to close if wind farm compounds go ahead
Campaigners insist changes to plans to build works compounds for an offshore wind farm don’t go far enough to lift the threat of closure hanging over their airfield. As reported, North Coates Airfield could be forced to close if renewables firm SMart Wind goes ahead with its proposal, airfield representatives fear. The company initially proposed locating three works compounds close to the runway at North Coates to enable it to lay cables for the Hornsea offshore wind farm. SMart Wind . . . Complete story »
Devaluation of wind farms to hit government coffers
A sudden and dramatic drop in the value of Kern County’s massive wind energy farms will strip millions of dollars out of government coffers this fiscal year. The Kern County Assessor-Recorder’s office has warned county officials that they expect to drop wind energy property value by $777 million less than three months into the fiscal year. County budget officials estimate that will strip $1.8 million from the county’s main operational fund and $900,000 from taxes used to run the Kern . . . Complete story »
O’Brien County labors over proposed energy ordinance
Often contentious discussions over two MidAmerican Energy Company (MEC) 345,000 volt (345 kV) substations earlier this year forced O’Brien County Supervisors into creating one all – encompassing ordinance, targeted at regulating every conceivable energy installation any utility company might build in the County. The two 345 kV facilities in question are the Highland wind farm transmission substation and the MVP #3 switching substation northeast of Sanborn. Because of landowner concerns expressed during those April and May discussions, the Board understood . . . Complete story »
Seneca Mountain Wind pulls the plug
Seneca Mountain Wind has removed its MET wind measurement device from its Ferdinand location. The company also confirmed it has not started construction or site preparation at any of the other three MET sites authorized under a certificate of public good (CPG) issued to Seneca Mountain Wind by the Vermont Public Service Board. In a letter dated Thursday, Karen Tyler, an attorney with the Burlington law firm of Dunkiel Saunders Elliott Raubvogel and Hand PLLC states, “SMW (Seneca Mountain Wind) . . . Complete story »
Outlander author Diana Gabaldon joins fight against vast Rannoch Moor wind farm
Plans for a controversial wind farm on Scotland’s iconic Rannoch Moor are attracting fierce criticism from experts and celebrities, including Outlander author Diana Gabaldon. Outlander author Diana Gabaldon has condemned plans for a wind farm near Loch Rannoch where scenes for the new epic TV serialisation of her work were filmed. If approved, the Talladh a Bheithe wind farm would see 24 wind turbines, each 125m tall, together with 12.8km of wide access tracks, buildings and infrastructure, industrialise a vast . . . Complete story »
Wind farm money application called difficult
At least one business in eastern P.E.I. that received money from a government fund set up in compensation for a wind farm in the area found the process cumbersome. Seven projects were selected for funding from the Northside Windmill Enhancement Fund, which is designed to boost economic development in the area around the new windfarm in Hermanville. The P.E.I. Energy Corporation has budgeted $125,000 per year for the next five years for the fund, and the seven projects will share . . . Complete story »
