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Wind Power News: December 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.
Oklahoma taxpayers react to wind energy tax increase
OKLAHOMA – “A tax is a tax, if Oklahomans are only getting a portion of the energy that’s using, I mean making, I don’t see how there’s a benefit,” Oklahoma tax payer, Kelly Eakin says. Although wind energy is a cleaner source of energy, Kelly Eakin says he doesn’t feel that he should have to pay more money to use it. “Why do they need us to pay the extra money? I don’t think its right,” Eakin says. Congress passed a . . . Complete story »
Stark County residents unhappy about wind farm approval
Many people don’t like wind farms anywhere near their property. Stark County’s Commission and the Planning and Zoning Board approved NextEra’s 87-turbine wind project last week. And they say there a some hurt feelings. Commissioners say the choice for green energy was one of the most difficult decisions they’ve made. No matter what was decided on the wind farm, commissioners say one group would have left unhappy. “Stressful, a big decision had to be made, and hopefully we made the . . . Complete story »
New regulations likely for potential wind farms in Davison County
Davison County is getting serious about its wind tower ordinances. While county residents west of Mitchell await a decision to allow or block a $40 million, 9- to 11-turbine wind farm, the Davison County Planning and Zoning office is working to establish a set of 12 additions to the county zoning ordinances. The 12 additions will set guidelines for any future wind farm builders in the county, such as the recently proposed project from Minnesota-based Juhl Energy. Bathke said the . . . Complete story »
Zoning board denies wind turbines applications
After 40 days of hearings, the Bureau County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) recommended denial of all of the 127 applications of Walnut Ridge Wind LLC (WRW) to build industrial wind turbines. The ZBA considered the testimony of dozens of witnesses and experts on the impacts of such turbines. Six different people who live near projects in Illinois and Wisconsin testified the turbines cause extreme noise, flickering shadows, vibration and sleep deprivation. They suffered from symptoms commonly known as Wind . . . Complete story »
Clean energy, not so much
Eugene Robinson claims that “a new clean-energy economy is . . . taking shape.” In reality, “clean energy companies” continue to disappoint investors. “Clean energy companies” cannot compete on the strength of their expensive, unreliable power, so they seek out governmental favors. At the behest of industry lobbyists and environmental groups like the Delaware Nature Society and Sierra Club, Delaware requires electric companies to buy increasing amounts of power from “renewable” sources, resulting in new wind power developments in Pennsylvania . . . Complete story »
Nelson wind turbine plan thrown out
Campaigners have won their fight to stop a wind turbine being built in the countryside above Nelson. The developers DC21, of Huddersfield, wanted to put a wind turbine on land off Back Lane, in Southfield, but the proposal was turned down by the Nelson area committee. The firm took the decision to a planning inquiry in August, and the inspector has now ruled in favour of the objectors. At the inquiry 40 residents voiced their concerns, arguing that the “monstrous . . . Complete story »
Our view: N.J. consumers should watch out for wind-energy subsidies
The latest push by the state Legislature for a tiny wind-energy demonstration project off Atlantic City abandons some bad-government practices but raises new suspicions. The bill, passed in the year-end legislation rush, was amended to drop a couple of egregious and arrogant provisions that were opposed by this newspaper in the spring. The original bill sought to eliminate a Board of Public Utilities cost/benefit review of the project. It also would have ordered the BPU to approve a wind project . . . Complete story »
Some success, some delay in regional solar, wind projects
The year 2015 has been a year in which the region has seen a boon in the construction and use of alternative energy sources. Businesses large and small have embraced solar energy, and a company looking to build a wind farm is once again adapting its plan and hoping for approval. Here is a town by town review. First in the state A dream conceived a handful of years ago by former Peterborough Selectman Joe Byk, the solar array on . . . Complete story »
Year ahead set to be ‘major challenge for renewables’
It has been a momentous and controversial year for energy and the environment, culminating with a global deal to reduce carbon emissions. Nationally, since coming to power, the Government has taken a sledgehammer to the renewable energy policy. Freed from the “green” instincts of the Lib Dems during the Coalition, the Conservatives have slashed electricity subsidies, dished out licences for fracking and signed a deal to let foreign state power companies build a nuclear plant in Somerset. For the landscape . . . Complete story »
Group loses bid against minister’s OK of Greenfield wind project
A community group’s appeal of a permit for a wind project in Colchester County has been rejected. The Friends of Harmony/Camden, Greenfield and Surrounding Areas were appealing the provincial energy minister’s approval in November 2014 of a two-turbine, 3.2-megawatt wind project in Greenfield, Colchester County, via the now-defunct Community Feed-In Tariff Program. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board released its decision Tuesday, ruling that the project is allowed to operate. The board noted in its decision that, despite the . . . Complete story »
