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Wind Power News: April 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.
Dutch pension fund quits much-delayed 396-MW wind project in Mexico – report
Dutch pension fund manager PGGM is abandoning a 396-MW project in Mexico after several years of delays due to community resistance, Dutch media reported this week. The fund is withdrawing the EUR 250 million (USD 285m) it had earmarked for the 132-turbine Eolica del Sur wind power project in Oaxaca state. This is the successor to the Marena project that attracted many community complaints and significant opposition. Apart from PGGM, the project consortium also includes Macquarie and Mitsubishi Corporation (TYO:8058). . . . Complete story »
Potential wind project met with uncertainty in Barre
BARRE – With the recent announcement of Apex Clean Energy looking at Barre for a wind farm site, Supervisor Mark Chamberlain doesn’t know if the town will support the proposed project or not. “I’m sure it’s like Somerset,” he said. “I remember driving down Somerset, and you go down one road and there are all the signs for it and you go down another road and you see signs against it. “We have not in any way surveyed the town,” he . . . Complete story »
Co Antrim wind turbine catches fire
This striking image was captured by an engineer from Northern Ireland Electricity, after he attended the scene of a burning wind turbine in Co Antrim. The blaze took place around the Castlecat Road in a part of rural north Antrim called Derrykeighan, a few miles east of Coleraine. Two fire engines from Coleraine were dispatched to the scene at around 8.30am, but the fire brigade said that they did not need to take any action when they arrived. Northern Ireland . . . Complete story »
Power company walks on controversial Montney wind farm
An independent power company is walking away from a controversial wind project proposed in a rural area near Fort St. John, saying they failed to win the community’s support. While relatively small, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Canada’s seven-turbine Montney Wind project encountered considerable pushback from rural residents since it was proposed last year. Patrick Henn, development manager with Renewable Energy Systems Canada, Inc., said his company made the decision to “pause” the project in early April. He said the project . . . Complete story »
Apex seeks second Orleans County wind power project
BARRE – A Virginia company whose first proposed local wind power project has sparked massive controversy is planning a second project a few miles away. Apex Clean Energy announced this week it wants to build a 200-megawatt wind project in the Town of Barre, in south-central Orleans County, south of Albion. Heritage Wind, as the company is calling the project, would have the same power generation capacity as Lighthouse Wind, the project planned for Yates, in the northwest corner of . . . Complete story »
No means no for wind farms, says council
An Elgin County community that stands to gain a wind farm it doesn’t want has told regulators they should count native endorsement of a project only if the bands have claims near the planned site. Dutton Dunwich says any future renewable-energy rules should also require municipal support before any contract can be awarded. Still steamed by a 20-turbine project awarded to Chicago-based Invenergy this month, Dutton Dunwich wants the province to do more than just tweak rules for Large Renewable . . . Complete story »
How critical is turbine effect on bear habitats?
GRAFTON – Do black bears and commercial wind projects mix? There was no clear answer Wednesday night during a talk by a famed New England black bear expert brought in to help raise awareness by the Grafton Woodlands Group, which is fighting Iberdrola Rewewables’ plan to build 28 wind turbines on a high elevation ridge between Grafton and the town of Windham. Ben Kilham of Lyme, N.H., gave a fascinating talk – “The Social Black Bear” – about his work with black bears, . . . Complete story »
Proposed locations discovered for Windmills
Some new information was learned – but more questions remain. That was the feeling of most after attending a meeting last Wednesday at the Fairfield Glade Conference Center, held by Apex Energy to explain to the residents their progress of the Construction of the Industrial Wind Farm they plan to build in Crab Orchard. The attendance for this meeting was approximately 25 people. Earlier in the day, Apex held another meeting at Crab Orchard and 4 people attended that meeting. . . . Complete story »
SunEdison, owner of Sheffield Wind Farm, goes bankrupt
The multinational corporation that owns wind turbines in Sheffield has declared bankruptcy, but energy experts predict the development will have little effect on the structures. SunEdison, a subsidiary of which called TerraForm Power owns the Sheffield wind generators, filed last week for bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of New York’s bankruptcy court. The company owes upstream suppliers $321 million, according to an industry analyst. In the bankruptcy filing, SunEdison said it will be selling “non-core assets.” TerraForm Power owns . . . Complete story »
Huron-Kinloss reaffirms its no wind turbine stance
The Township of Huron-Kinloss has reaffirmed its stance as an unwilling host for wind turbines. The decision was made during the April 18, 2016 council meeting, following notification of Huron-Kinloss’ designation as a potential site for future projects by Ontario’s electricity market regulator, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). During the regular council meeting Monday night, Huron-Kinloss was informed that the IESO had designated the municipality, along with all of Bruce and Huron counties, as ‘Low Area Capability’ for large-scale . . . Complete story »
