| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind Power News: October 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.
Offshore wind farms may be scrapped due to budget cap, ScottishPower warns
Several proposed offshore wind farms may be scrapped in coming months because the Government is not awarding enough subsidies, the head of energy giant ScottishPower has said. Keith Anderson, chief corporate officer, said it was cutting the size of its planned 240-turbine East Anglia offshore wind farm because the budget for subsidies to be awarded this year was “not big enough”. The project could be scrapped altogether if it did not secure a subsidy contract this year. Those offshore wind . . . Complete story »
‘Nightmare’ wind farm plans aired
A campaigner hoping to block plans for a wind farm near Kilry has spoken of experiencing an emotional rollercoaster. Two public consultation events were held by developers Wind Prospect Ltd in relation to the proposed 14-turbine Saddle Hill project. The energy firm has said the meetings, held over Tuesday and Wednesday last week at Kilry and Glenisla village halls, respectively, were attended by a combined total of about 100 people. Jo Campbell-Mackenzie, who lives near the site which straddles the . . . Complete story »
Underwater mics to study turbine impact
OCEAN CITY – After a successful test in the Chesapeake last week, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science researchers next week will drop microphones off the coast of Ocean City to begin to study the possible short- and long-term effects of the future offshore wind energy farm on marine mammals including whales and dolphins. In August, a future wind energy farm off the coast of Ocean City cleared a significant hurdle with the successful lease of the designated Maryland . . . Complete story »
Dept of Defense objects to Great Bay wind project
Dear Secretary Foxx*: Pursuant to Section 358 of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Public Law 111-383), as amended, and as implemented by Part 211 of title 32, U.S.C., the Department of Defense objects to the Great Bay Energy Center project identified as Aeronautical Study Number 2013-WTE-7362-0E. I instructed my staff to enter an objection in your Obstruction Evaluation/Airport-Airspace-Analysis computer system. I have determined that the proposed project, even if mitigated as offered by the . . . Complete story »
Wind project pulled from San Bernardino Mountains
A proposal that would have placed 71 wind turbines on the north slope of the San Bernardino Mountains has been withdrawn by its owner, according to the Bureau of Land Management. The 126-megawatt North Peak Wind project, which would have occupied about 16 square miles of the Juniper Flats area between Lucerne Valley and Apple Valley in San Bernardino County, was pulled from consideration by the BLM by its Austin-based owner E.ON Climate and Renewables last Friday. The project had . . . Complete story »
Study suggests halting wind, solar projects
Wind and solar power are providing less than 4% of Ontario’s power but account for 20% of what Ontarians pay, according to a study released Thursday by the Fraser Institute. And costs will only continue to rise unless the province takes action, the report’s authors say. “That’s a good deal for wind and solar producers but a raw deal for consumers,” said Tom Adams, an energy analyst and study co-author. Adams said their analysis also found that new hydroelectric projects . . . Complete story »
Marshall Wind permit application withdrawn again
Dear Steve* On behalf of Marshall Wind LLC I would like to withdraw our CUP application for our wind project in Perry. Regards Kurtis Sherer Vice President Marshall Wind LLC 102 Balfour Drive Norwalk, Iowa, 50211 *Mr. Steve Tibbles Building Official City of Perry 1102 Willis Ave. P.O. Box 545 Perry, IA 50220 Download original document Complete story »
Wildfowl trust sheds light on the struggle of Bewick swans as numbers tumble
Power lines, wind turbines and intensive farming have all played a part in a “dramatic fall” in the number of Bewick swans coming to the UK. The swans are the smallest and rarest type seen in the UK and their numbers have plunged by a third since 1995 – according to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust – from 29,000 down to 18,000. The birds arrive in significant numbers at the trust’s reserve in Welney every winter on their annual 3,700 . . . Complete story »
Audience rejects wind farm plan at public debate
More than 100 people turned out at a public debate on proposals for a wind farm in the hills above Helensburgh – and voted against the idea. The meeting, held in the Victoria Halls, was hosted by Helensburgh Community Council last Thursday, October 23. The developers – Helensburgh Renewables and Green Cat Renewables – and land owner Luss Estates debated with community opposition group Turbine Evaluation Group – Helensburgh and area (TEG-H) and answered questions from residents on a number . . . Complete story »
Wind farms seeks to expand
Windbourne Energy will expand its proposed Marion County wind farm south of US-50 if the county commission approves a recommendation made Thursday by the county planning commission. The expansion would venture into land Governor Sam Brownback declared off limits to wind energy development in 2011, reserving a vast expanse of tallgrass prairie for future tourism development. Brownback’s “Tallgrass Heartland” reserve includes Marion County east of US-77 and south of US-50 from Florence to Peabody. The governor’s moratorium is voluntary, and . . . Complete story »
