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Wind Power News: January 2015
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.
Letter to the Editor
So Ratch “believes” a majority of locals support the company’s Mt Emerald Wind Farm project? And that only less than 10 people object? Have they forgotten the hundred or so who turned up to object at the dodgy community consultation, the dozens who packed out the council meeting this time last year, the nine separate community groups which independently sought meetings with various Ministers at Community Cabinet in November, the hundreds who said NO in the community survey, the thousand . . . Complete story »
Meeting agrees protest for County Hall against Barna windfarm plans
A Poulanargid woman gave an impassioned speech at a windfarm action group’s meeting this week, issuing a warning against proposed developments. At the same meeting, Terelton locals were urged to attend a protest at County Hall next Monday and to lodge an objection to a proposed wind farm, with Cork County Council, before the February 2 closing date. The action group is concerned at the size and scope of the planned development, since permission was sought for the construction of . . . Complete story »
Vermont’s renewable energy policy worse than worthless
The Vermont Legislature has long been bent on saving the planet through government micromanagement of energy policy. The big issue this year appears to be passing a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that would require utilities to sell a set percentage renewable power (and thereby forcing customers to buy the more expensive product). The other issue, likely debated but not moved on this year, is a carbon tax designed to make fossil fuel use artificially expensive. According to a recent report . . . Complete story »
Michigan wind farms meeting goals, but disturbing neighbors
Michigan is on pace to meet its renewable energy targets, largely thanks to wind power, but issues of transparency and turbine placement have some asking whether the shift toward wind is a smart one. The Great Lakes State is well on its way to drawing 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the end of the year, as required by a 2008 law. Public Service Commission (PSC) Communications Specialist Judy Palnau said that achievement is thanks to a . . . Complete story »
Turbine plan refused over fears for birds
A plan for a 32-metre high wind turbine on land off Sea Lane in Friskney has been turned down. The application submitted by farmer Paul Roughton did not go before East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee but was determined under delegated powers by a case officer. Among the reasons given for the refusal is that the structure could pose a collision or disturbance risk to birds that feed on the neighbouring saltmarsh which is a site of special scientific interest. . . . Complete story »
Cape Wind supporters launch petition drive
Calling it a “Hail Mary” effort, a group trying to save Cape Wind’s $2.6 billion proposal to construct 130 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound has launched a petition drive aimed at convincing Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts, to reinstate her company’s commitment to purchase half the power produced by the wind project. “We need National Grid to be a leader to help Massachusetts transition from fossil fuels to alternatives like Wind,” states the petition, which directly addresses . . . Complete story »
Federal judge allows part of case against Kingfisher wind farm to proceed
A federal judge will let a nuisance complaint against a wind farm under construction in Kingfisher and Canadian counties go forward, although he dismissed another claim against Apex Clean Energy. U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti said a group of landowners failed to show the Kingfisher wind farm being built by Apex would trespass on their land. But their case can go forward on an anticipatory nuisance claim on health and safety grounds. The lawsuit is still in its early . . . Complete story »
Ending Ontario’s wind power “ripoff”
How do we ensure that when one government abuses its power, we don’t have to live with the consequences for a generation? Through the supremacy of our democratically elected legislative assembly in Ontario. In 2009, the Ontario Liberals misused their majority when they stripped municipalities of their long-standing land planning rights in order to impose the wind turbine experiment. They then used executive orders to hand out sole-sourced deals to line the pockets of their wind developer friends. These 20-year . . . Complete story »
One lawsuit settled, but no truce in wind energy debate
A lawsuit in which residents living near the Lake Winds wind plant south of Ludington claimed the facility was making people sick has been settled out of court. Cary Shineldecker, one of the plaintiffs in the case, isn’t allowed to discuss details of the settlement, but is still allowed to talk about the alleged negative health effects that can be suffered by those who live near such facilities. “What I think is different about this settlement is that, although the . . . Complete story »
Lack of customers puts CIRI wind farm plans on hold
A plan that once envisioned 33 turbines on the island west of Anchorage has stalled at 11. CIRI’s only customer is the Chugach Electric Association. Chugach says it’s taking all the wind power it can under present conditions. The other utilities have turned CIRI down. The Municipal Light and Power company says it’s not interested; the Matanuska Electric Association says it doesn’t pencil out for them, and the Golden Valley Electric Association is so far away that the cost of . . . Complete story »
