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Wind Power News: April 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.
Proposals for wind turbines on Haverigg prison land turned down
Resubmitted plans to build five 100m-high wind turbines on Haverigg prison land were rejected by a planning panel yesterday. Scores of residents attended the Copeland Borough Council planning meeting which saw applicant Partnership for Renewables’ windfarm dreams dashed again. It comes after the panel threw out PfR’s plans for 120m-high turbines in September – also because of concerns over “visual impact”. Planning officer John Groves, who had recommended the application for approval, asked the panel at St John’s Church, Hensingham, . . . Complete story »
County Durham families object to plans for wind farm near to Woodland Village
Plans to erect a wind farm near to a County Durham village have been met with opposition. Leaders from Durham County Council will met next week to discuss proposals to install four wind turbines on agricultural land between Woodland Village and the edge of Hamsterley Forest, in Teesdale, County Durham. Community groups and people living close to the site are objecting to the plans by Banks Renewables. The group plans to erect four 125m wind turbines on the site which . . . Complete story »
Local group puts wind farms on political agenda
Prospective parliamentary candidates in the south of Scotland have been asked for their view on energy and wind turbines in particular, by the Borders Network of Conservation Groups (BNCG). All candidates in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk seat and the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency were sent a questionnaire on energy policy and BNCG have published the responses. Three of the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk candidates did not respond – Michael Moore, Jesse Rae and Peter Neilsen – while the . . . Complete story »
Company to present wind farm proposal in Stark County
Frank Kirschenheiter, who’s president of the Richardton city commission, likes to take in the view from his front porch. “They’ll be sticking from over the top of that hill,” Kirschenheiter said. His view could soon be obstructed by wind turbines. “It makes no sense to have a wind farm in the middle of a community of residents, rather than out in the country like everywhere else in North Dakota,” Kirschenheiter said. His main issue with the wind farm… “Location, location, . . . Complete story »
Warning Angus Glens windfarm would have ‘adverse impacts on Cairngorms National Park’
Scottish Natural Heritage has delivered a damning verdict on plans for a major windfarm in the Angus glens. Dr David Bale, area manager for Tayside and Grampian, said the proposed Macritch Hill windfarm would have a significant adverse impact on the Cairngorms National Park. He said: “The turbines of Macritch would be introduced at distances of around 7km into views that are fundamental to the experience of the Angus Glens and hills such as Dreish and Mayar. The close proximity . . . Complete story »
Committee defeats Missouri House bill that would stop wind energy project
When the Missouri House Energy and Environment Committee on Tuesday voted down a bill that would have prohibited the use of eminent domain for Grain Belt Express Clean Line’s proposed wind power transmission project, company officials said the bill’s rejection amounted to a show of support for the project. The committee voted down HB 1027, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Frankford. “With the vote this morning Missouri lawmakers have demonstrated that they stand behind market based solutions to bring low-cost, . . . Complete story »
Freedom assessors table wind farm abatement
Freedom – A panel of two town selectmen-assessors postponed any action on a $2.9 million abatement request from the owner of a three-turbine wind energy development here. Beaver Ridge Wind LLC contends that the town should have factored depreciation into the value of its 6-year-old wind farm at a rate of 5 percent per year. The company says the depreciation scale is consistent with other wind developments in Maine. Instead, the town has held the valuation steady at $9.87 million for . . . Complete story »
Ranch sues county over wind turbine setbacks
A local ranch has filed suit against Marion County in an attempt to reverse wind energy zoning changes it alleges increase safety hazards. “We’re concerned about the health, safety, and welfare of these and want to be sure it’s properly protected,” said Robert Titus, Wildcat Creek Ranch, LLC attorney. He declined further comment. County commissioners amended the regulations in March by reducing the minimum distance between a wind turbine tower and a leaseholder’s residence from 1,320 feet to 500 feet. . . . Complete story »
County opposed to wind tax changes
The county board came out in strong opposition Tuesday to a state bill that would change how counties receive funds through the energy production tax. The county will send letters to Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders voicing the county’s opposition to bills that would reduce the wind/solar generation tax from 12 cents to 5 cents per kilowatt hour and replace the funds with state aid and property taxes. “It could have a large impact on Mower County,” said Commissioner . . . Complete story »
County votes to support revised wind project
BAD AXE – County commissioners on Tuesday kept up their side of a deal that would help the county avoid being sued by a wind energy developer. They gave unanimous support to Geronimo Energy’s new plans for wind turbines on the west side of the county, as part of the terms attorneys drew up in an agreement reached two weeks ago that relieves the county from due process claims made against it by Geronimo. Honoring the developer’s part of the deal, . . . Complete story »
