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.
Changes to wind energy ordinance could be on horizon
Seven years ago, a consortium of Grundy County officials drew up a zoning ordinance that paved the way for two large scale commercial wind farms—one near Wellsburg, which has been in operation since 2014, and one yet to be constructed project on the other side of Highway 175 in Melrose and Felix townships that was approved at the April 11 meeting of the Board of Supervisors. In both cases, the developers faced strong public opposition, and the supervisors overruled earlier . . . Complete story »
PSC approves Mark Twain line, county remains in opposition
Marion County’s stance opposing a proposed power line running from the Palmyra area west remains intact despite a decision this week by the Missouri Public Service Commission to approve the project. The PSC voted 5-0 in favor of the Mark Twain Transmission Project – a 95-mile, 345,000-volt transmission line project from Palmyra to Kirksville and north to the Missouri-Iowa border submitted by Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI). The PSC’s unanimous approval of a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) to . . . Complete story »
U.S. official: Proposed wind farm off Long Beach a top priority
The top U.S. official for offshore energy declared Thursday that a proposed wind farm off Long Beach is her office’s “top priority.” Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, told a group of around 50 stakeholders at the Garden City Hotel that her office’s renewed urgency was based on the state’s willingness to site the project, a plentiful wind resource in the Atlantic Ocean and high demand for the energy in the downstate region. “New York . . . Complete story »
Wind debate: Incentives blowing a hole in Oklahoma’s budget
Overly generous. That’s how the head of one of the nation’s largest wind energy trade associations recently described the wide array of tax incentives that the state of Oklahoma has given to the wind industry. Among our nation’s four largest wind energy-producing states – Texas, California, Iowa and Oklahoma – Oklahoma’s package of tax credits for wind energy development is excessive and unrivaled. Oklahoma checks almost every possible box, as we are the only state to offer a zero-emission tax credit, an . . . Complete story »
Apex scopes out 2nd wind turbine project near Albion
Apex Clean Energy disclosed this week that it’s examining the feasibility of a potential wind energy project in and around the Town of Barre, in central Orleans County. Apex representatives have spent the past few years working in Orleans County, where they have talked to hundreds of local residents who are interested in bringing more wind energy to their county, according to company president and COO Mark Goodwin. The county has a strong wind resource, Goodwin said in a press . . . Complete story »
Fire breaks out at Wind Turbine near Derrykeighan
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service were called at around 8:30am this morning to reports of a fire at a wind turbine on the Castlecatt Road near Derrykeighan. While Firefighters did attend the scene, there was no action taken. NIE Networks engineers were also on scene and isolated the turbine’s electricity supply. There is no further information at this time. Complete story »
Plans submitted for 465-foot-tall wind turbine in No. Smithfield
NORTH SMITHFIELD – It’s a project that’s been discussed for years – creation of a wind turbine on land near Dowling Village along Eddie Dowling Highway. This week, the idea edged much closer to reality as Wind Energy Development LLC sought a special use permit for creation of a 465-foot-high structure on property owned by Ruth Pacheco. The Planning Board gave its blessing to the proposal at an April 7 meeting, unanimously voting to recommend that the Zoning Board issue . . . Complete story »
Apex eyes Barre for new wind project site
BARRE – Apex Clean Energy has announced it’s seeking to discuss the feasibility of a wind project in the town of Barre. The project, called Heritage Wind, will be the second project proposed by Apex in Orleans County. The first is Lighthouse Wind, a highly-contested project in Yates and Somerset. “Apex has spent the last few years working in Orleans County, and we’ve talked to hundreds of local people who are interested in bringing more wind energy to their county,” said . . . Complete story »
Plans for major wind farm project for Lincolnshire withdrawn
A renewables firm has announced that its plans for eight wind turbines on farmland near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire have been shelved. Two different wind farm developers have brought forward schemes for the proposed Brown’s Holt project between Corringham and Yawthorpe villages inn the past five years. But now RES has announced the withdrawal of its planning application to West Lindsey District Council – claiming it would have invested £9 million into the local community over its 25-year lifetime. RES has . . . Complete story »
Cape Wind appeals state board’s denial of transmission approvals
Cape Wind, the offshore wind project planned for Nantucket Sound, has not given up despite some serious setbacks, and this week appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court a state board decision denying the project’s request for extensions of critical subsea and on-shore transmission facility approvals. In an appeal dated Tuesday, Charles Dougherty of the Boston-based Cape Wind Associates asked the state’s highest court to reverse the April 6 decision of the Energy Facilities Siting Board and remand the case to . . . Complete story »
