Wind Power News: February 2016
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.
House Dems’ wrangle renewable energy bill past opposition
SALEM – Lawmakers in the Oregon House used a last-ditch maneuver Thursday evening to revive a renewable energy bill that had stalled due to Republican opposition in the Senate. Last week, the House passed a bill that would double the state’s renewable energy mandate to require the state’s two investor-owned utilities, PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric, to use sources such as solar and wind to serve 50 percent of their customers’ energy demand by 2040. It would also require the two . . . Complete story »
DTE eyeing land for new wind energy project
HURON COUNTY – DTE Energy is eyeing more than 20,000 acres across four townships for a new wind energy project. The utility sent a letter dated Feb. 24 to the county requesting a wind energy overlay district, which, if approved by county planners, would deem areas suitable for construction of a wind project. The county planning commission is set to review DTE’s request on Wednesday. Included in DTE’s request is a map showing property easements for wind energy the utility has . . . Complete story »
City, COSADC seek $2.7M judgment in wind power lawsuit
What began as a promising multimillion-dollar economic venture to generate hundreds of wind energy-related jobs in San Angelo turned into an undertaking that blew south. The city of San Angelo Development Corp. and the city are seeking to recoup more than $2.7 million in damages, attorneys’ fees and minor costs resulting from a 2009 investment to bring a wind turbine tower fabrication plant to town. COSADC and the city hope to recover the money through a summary judgment hearing scheduled . . . Complete story »
Coalition seeks loosened wind energy regulations
A coalition of business, labor and civic leaders braved a windy morning Friday to call on Lancaster County leaders to approve policies that will allow wind energy development in the county. The group has begun collecting signatures for a petition that expresses support for “balanced policies that allow wind development” in Lancaster County. The Lancaster County Board approved regulations Nov. 10 that establish noise limits of 40 decibels in the day and 37 at night for wind turbines. “Lancaster County . . . Complete story »
Neighbor talks about his concern over living near wind turbines
The strong winter storm that hit Michigan this week may be the cause of a wind turbine collapse on the east side of the state. The turbine that fell is part of the Harvest One farm near Pigeon, in Michigan’s thumb. The turbine provides power to Wolverine Energy in Cadillac and is owned by a company in Iowa. Thursday, the 440-foot tall structure came crashing to the ground. Only a portion of the tower at the base was left standing. . . . Complete story »
Drawing a line
Three Southern New England states want to turn Maine into their wind plantation, and Central Maine Power and Emera Maine appear to be enthusiastic supporters of that plan. Last November, a consortium of agencies and electric utilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island issued a Request for Proposals to deliver at least 5,000 gigawatt hours of clean energy to those states, with proposals due by Jan. 28, 2016. According to Friends of Maine’s Mountains, developers now have responded with over . . . Complete story »
APPEC ‘cautiously elated’ tribunal decision finds turbines will harm bats and turtles
An appeal of wpd’s White Pines Industrial wind turbine project has been upheld in part and supporters are “cautiously elated”. Orville Walsh, president of the Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County, (APPEC), said in an email to supporters, that in the decision, issued late Friday afternoon, the tribunal found the project will cause serious and irreversible harm to Little Brown Bats and to Blanding’s turtles. The Environmental Review Tribual hearing for wpd’s 27-turbine wind project in Athol and South Marysburgh . . . Complete story »
We expect answers from turbine builders
For years, leaders and residents of the Thumb have heard about what kind of good neighbors the companies building wind turbines can and will be. Helpful, courteous and with money to hand out to people who allow them to erect wind turbines on their property. Well, that friendly service will be needed as two different companies explain how their turbines, in a span of six days, either fell to the ground or lost a blade. Never did we think it . . . Complete story »
Opponents of wind turbines launch GoFundMe campaign to help with legal costs
MANVERS TWP – Opponents of industrial wind turbines planned for Manvers Township are appealing to the public to help them continue their legal battle to keep the huge turbines out of their community. But, that fight, which has lasted six years has drained their finances. Paul Reid of Manvers Wind Concerns, a community-based group of citizens trying to stop the turbines from being built emailed This Week on Thursday (Feb. 25) to say the group has launched a GoFundMe campaign . . . Complete story »
Bram Towbin: Derailing public advocacy
Initiating this investigation shows a complete lack of judgement or an overt conspiracy to smear someone who has dedicated their lives to the public good. Either way, that individual needs to be terminated. It is not enough to simply issue a press release saying the matter is dropped. A citizen has been dragged in front of the public on the taxpayers’ dime for some opaque private agenda. We need accountability. Complete story »
