Wind Power News: November 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.
Friends of Lake District welcome refusal of plans to double size of wind turbines
Campaigners have welcomed planners’ decision to turn down an application to replace turbines at an existing windfarm with ones more than twice the height. RWE Innogy wanted to replace 12 existing structures near the southern boundary of the Lake District national park with six much larger ones. But South Lakeland District Council rejected the bid. RWE said the existing turbines are coming to the end of their working life. It proposed to ‘repower’ the Kirkby Moor site with half a . . . Complete story »
Major setback for wind farm protestors in Court of Appeal
People Over Wind (POW), the group set up to fight the erection of 18 wind turbines spanning 594 hectares from Ballyroan to Timahoe across Cullenagh Mountain, lost its judicial review in the Court of Appeal on Friday. Laois County Council initially rejected the planning application from Coillte to develop the wind farm. Coillte then appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála, which overturned the council’s ruling. POW then brought that decision to the High Court. After a ten-day hearing, the . . . Complete story »
Mt Emerald wind farm proposed for Atherton Tablelands gets conditional Federal approval
The Federal Environment Minister has approved a $380 million wind farm on the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland, subject to 35 conditions aimed at protecting native species. Developers RATCH Australia and Port Bajool hope to start building the 63-turbine Mt Emerald wind farm, near Walkamin, mid-next year, creating about 150 jobs during construction. The project secured state approvals in April subject to conditions relating to noise and proximity to dwellings. The minister has imposed a further 35 conditions aimed . . . Complete story »
Board delays Altamont repowering, seeks more transparency in siting
An application to repower a 5-square-mile section of the Altamont with up to 32 modern wind turbines has been continued to Dec. 10 in an effort to obtain more transparency concerning the science behind the decisions on where to site the turbines. The East County Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) met Nov. 19. It heard from applicant Altamont Wind LLC, Dyer Road residents, East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) representatives, and Alameda County staff on the application. Board president Larry . . . Complete story »
Cumbria towering turbines refused planning permission
Controversial plans to replace a windfarm in South Cumbria have been rejected. The 12 turbines at Kirkby Moor Wind Farm, which stands less than a mile outside the Lake District National Park, were installed in 1993. Energy giant RWE wants to replace the turbines with six 115m-high ones – a proposal which was met with objections from conservation groups, environmentalists and councils straight away. South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee has today refused permission to the proposal at a meeting . . . Complete story »
In Windham, state will look beyond local wind ban
There is no mistaking, however, town officials’ skepticism about wind power and about the state’s pursuit of renewable energy. In reference to Vermont’s energy plan, Windham officials pledge their cooperation but also note that it is “far from clear that these goals are either attainable or advisable.” And the town is unequivocal in its continued opposition to large turbines. “Windham has been studying commercial/industrial wind generation since 2004,” officials wrote. “Our 2008 town plan, re-adopted in 2013, contains a prohibition against this form of development based on the unique topography and settlement patterns of our town, our 10 years of research and knowledge and the support of the majority of our residents and property owners.” Complete story »
Fayette County could put a stop to any new wind energy projects
FAYETTE COUNTY – Wind energy company Optimum Renewables recently requested a special use permit to put up wind turbines within the county limits. That request sparked a discussion among residents and county leaders. “In light of the recent issues with the wind turbines going up in Fayette County, the supervisors have decided to put a moratorium in place which will stop any activity regarding commercial wind energy systems in Fayette County for six months,” Fayette County Zoning Administrator Catherine Miller said. . . . Complete story »
Wind, solar credit phaseout said to be under consideration for broader tax deal
A phaseout of both the wind production tax credit and the solar investment tax credit are said to be under consideration by congressional leaders in both the House and Senate as part of a broader deal to extend dozens of expired tax credits, a Democrat leadership aide and lobbyists briefed on the issue told Bloomberg BNA Nov. 24. Details of the proposal were still fluid, but talks were said to focus on gradually ramping down the 2.3 cent per kilowatt-hour . . . Complete story »
Degrading our defenses against climate change
In the past few weeks, two of the architects of Governor Shumlin’s energy policies acknowledged that the policies will have no impact on climate change. They disclosed, in separate interviews, that the purpose of the policies is economic development and not climate change mitigation. They neglected to disclose that these economic development policies will actually worsen the impacts of climate change in Vermont. I have spent the past three legislative sessions in the State House arguing for sensible energy policies . . . Complete story »
Consider solar energy and other green options to windfarms, say councillors in Cork
Off-shore windfarms and the use of solar energy should be considered instead of placing large wind turbines near rural communities in Co Cork. That’s according to Cork county councillors, who have written a letter to An Bord Pleanála ahead of a decision it will make on a planning application for a windfarm on the Cork/Kerry border. The letter is to be inserted into a report on the council’s attitude to the windfarm between Ballyvourney, Co Cork, and Kilgarvan, Co Kerry, . . . Complete story »
