Wind Power News: September 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.
Campaigners fight Loch Ness windfarm scheme
Campaigners fighting for a moratorium on new windfarm schemes at Loch Ness and the Great Glen have accused planning authorities of failing to fully investigate the damage they could do. They spoke out after a Holyrood committee snubbed their plea for better protection for the scenic areas. Activists fear the area’s vital tourism industry will be wrecked by the 500-plus giant turbines already built or proposed for the area. They were left dismayed when the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee . . . Complete story »
Stretham wind turbines plan set for refusal
Plans for two wind turbines, with a maximum height of 102 metres, in Stretham are set to be rejected. Applicant Chris Attle’s proposal, for Red Hill Farm, have been recommended for refusal when it is goes before East Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee. It also included a crane pad/turning area beside each turbine measuring 25 metres by 40 metres and a sub-station. The turbines would be decommissioned after 25 years. However, the proposal has been opposed by several councillors, as . . . Complete story »
National Grid urged to halt Mid Wales cable plans
Campaigners fighting plans to build windfarms and turbines across Mid Wales have called on National Grid to formally withdraw its plans. The Government threw out plans for four windfarms and an overhead pylon earlier this month, but Russell George, Montgomeryshire AM, said he wants National Grid to bring to an end its plans for a high voltage electricity connection line. The line would have carried energy generated by the windfarms to the national supply at Lower Frankton, near Ellesmere. The . . . Complete story »
Set record straight on Otis wind project
A new vote is coming up in Otis on Oct. 6 to determine whether the voters will grant the town permission to spend a quarter of a million dollars on land for the proposed wind turbine. There has been much confusion about the turbine in Otis, fueled by outside interference by an anti-wind group, minimal information of changes from the town as the project progresses, and a population that does not want to vote openly about this highly charged proposal. . . . Complete story »
Wind farm would disrupt Mercy Flight operation
In addition to the many negative consequences that have been voiced regarding the siting of industrial wind turbines in Yates and Somerset, I am very concerned that these turbines will preclude Mercy Flight from being able to operate in our area. Mercy Flight cannot land where there are wind turbines; the entire area will be inaccessible. Due to the size and placement of these turbines, many peoples’ lives will be at risk. I have first-hand experience of the invaluable service . . . Complete story »
Falmouth wind turbine to be shut down
FALMOUTH – One of the town’s twin wind turbines will be shut down after the Board of Selectmen voted Monday night to comply with a recent order to temporarily stop its operation. During a closed-door meeting, the board voted to appeal the Sept. 17 cease-and-desist order issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals while also voting to comply with that order in the meantime, according to a news release sent shortly before 9 p.m. by Town Manager Julian Suso. The ZBA . . . Complete story »
Niagara Board of Health to hear from wind turbine foes
LOCKPORT – Opponents of a Somerset wind power project will get a chance to express their views to the Niagara County Board of Health in October. But the Save Ontario Shores group will be limited to 20 minutes and must stick to scientific reasons for opposing the Apex Clean Energy project. Apex proposes erecting as many as 70 wind turbines, each atop towers as tall as 600 feet, in Somerset and the adjoining Town of Yates in Orleans County. The . . . Complete story »
Callard: Orleans will wait for town of Yates on wind issue
ALBION – A renewed effort by residents opposed to a wind energy project in Yates met with a similar response at the Orleans County Legislature Monday. Legislature Chairman David Callard said his board will not take a declarative position on the proposed Lighthouse Wind project without “definitive” indications of where the town and its people stand. Not when the county is itself fighting against the state on home rule issues intertwined with the wind project and the Article X process that . . . Complete story »
HEAT members and residents are fed up with loud noises during the night
A large group of worried residents and members of the Huron East Against Turbines presented council with information regarding the noise coming from 15 new wind turbines in McKillop Township, which they say are keeping some residents up at random hours of the night. HEAT members Jeanne Melady and Gerry Ryan expressed to the Huron East council their concerns with a presentation pointing out what they believe are inconsistencies relating to turbines, particularly the St. Columban Wind Project. Approximately 25 . . . Complete story »
Farmers seek lawmakers’ help on transmission line
Farmers near Boardman, Ore., hope state legislators will influence the U.S. Navy on the siting of a proposed transmission line. Growers in the area fear that the power line – which Idaho Power plans to build from Boardman to Melba, Idaho – will take roughly $30 million of irrigated farmland out of production. An alternative to this possibility involves repurposing an existing easement that runs across the Navy’s bombing range near Boardman. The size of the easement’s footprint would not have to . . . Complete story »
