Wind Power News: May 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.
Nebraska wind farm project on hold over local opposition, legal review
LINCOLN – A second Nebraska wind farm has been put on hold, in part because of local opposition to the project. Last week the Cherry County Planning Commission put off consideration of a 50-megawatt farm planned in the Sand Hills near Kilgore pending a review of public notice requirements. The commission held a public hearing on the project Tuesday but decided to delay a vote on a conditional use permit until it could be determined whether the Nebraska Game and Parks . . . Complete story »
Environmental commissioner speaks at Lake Huron coastal conservation conference
Ontario’s environmental commissioner made a stop in Port Elgin to open the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation’s biennial conference. Dianne Saxe delivered the keynote address, outlining her role as the provincial environmental watchdog, including tips for making public comments stand out to government decision makers. Saxe says provincial ministries have improved their compliance with the Environmental Bill of Rights since she was appointed to her post late last year, adding there were obsolete notices on the books dating back . . . Complete story »
Work continues at Ferndale turbine
Engineers continue to work at a leaning turbine near Ferndale. Aaron Boles, vice-president of communications and investor relations with Capstone Infrastructure, which owns the three-turbine development at Ferndale, said beginning next week, engineers will start to take core samples of the foundation to determine what caused it to tip and to decide what steps can be taken to remedy it. In early April, it was discovered that the turbine was leaning after electronic communications with it were interrupted and members . . . Complete story »
Windmill on fire near Palm Springs
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – A wind turbine south of I-10 near the entrance ramp to Highway 62 caught fire Friday afternoon. Witnesses say the windmill is located near Pipeline Road and Kellogg Road near Palm Springs. Crews say the turbine was still smoking as of 7:40 p.m. We have a crew on scene and will bring more details as they come. Stay tuned to News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 for the latest details. Complete story »
Turbine failure in Sebewaing Township
Contractors for DTE Energy Co. dismantled a wind turbine in Sebewaing Township this week after a gearbox failure. The GE brand turbine located near the intersection of Sebewaing and Gettel roads is one of 44 in Brookfield Wind Park, located in Brookfield, Fairhaven, Grant, Oliver, Sebewaing and Winsor townships. DTE bought Brookfield, which was previously called Pheasant Run II, from NextEra Energy Resources L.L.C. in 2014. Jennifer Wilt, lead communications specialist, DTE, told The Advertiser that the blades had to . . . Complete story »
Grafton residents upset about private meeting held with Iberdrola
Some members of the Select Board and meeting attendees snapped at each other Thursday night. The main discussion was around who would fill the vacant Select Board chair seat and suspicion that Vice Chairman Al Sands had a private meeting with Iberdrola Renewables, the company that is interested in building a wind-turbine project in Grafton and Athens. At the beginning of the meeting David Muelrath read aloud the Unilateral Communications-Public Body guidelines that’s listed in the Town of Grafton Code . . . Complete story »
Turbine talk dominates town hall
Penn Forest Township residents are frustrated and even outraged over the recent news that a wind farm has been proposed literally in their backyards. On Thursday, the issue dominated a town-hall meeting held by state Rep. Doyle Heffley in the township. Residents raised questions, concerns and urged Heffley to help them in their fight. “Why are they picking on Penn Forest Township with the pipeline and the windmill?” Jerry Santos asked. Atlantic Wind has proposed building 40 wind turbines as . . . Complete story »
PSB will investigate reports of dangerous ice on Georgia Mountain wind turbines
The Public Service Board has opened an investigation to determine if the Georgia Mountain Community Wind project operated in violation of its state permit this winter. The PSB says a nearby resident told the board in March that the turbines were spinning with dangerous amounts of ice on the blades. In April the owners of the wind project said the turbines did not have to be turned off when there was ice on the blades. They said the turbines only . . . Complete story »
Appeals court rips BLM review of contested Oregon wind project
A federal appeals court has ruled that the Bureau of Land Management’s review of a controversial wind power project in southeast Oregon “did not adequately address impacts to the greater sage grouse,” throwing the future of the project BLM approved nearly five years ago into doubt. The 25-page ruling issued yesterday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals adds more fuel for critics who say the Obama administration has rushed to approve wind, solar and other renewable energy projects . . . Complete story »
Irasburg Ridgeline Alliance leaders enter Orleans-2 house race
NEWPORT CITY – Dr. Ron Holland and Judith Jackson of Irasburg launched their campaign as Democrats running in the two-seat district of Orleans-2. Holland, 71, and Jackson, 69, will face two incumbent Republicans, long-time Rep. Michael Marcotte of Coventry and two-term Rep. Gary Viens of Newport City. The district serves Coventry, Irasburg, Newport City, Newport Town and part of Troy. They say they are not running against Marcotte and Viens but rather to change the way corporate lobbyists have sway over . . . Complete story »
