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Wind Power News: August 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.
Borders national park bid looks to be non-starter, meeting told
A suggested bid to boost tourism by creating Scotland’s third national park in the Borders looks to be a non-starter, according to Scottish Borders Council chiefs. It is now two years since conservation groups opposed to the ongoing proliferation of wind farms blighting the region’s scenery joined forces to call for the creation of a national Park roughly within the boundaries of the former county of Roxburghshire but excluding Hawick. If their campaign were to succeed, that area – currently . . . Complete story »
Plug pulled for now
AVON – A proposed wind farm near Avon has pulled its application for a state permit, one week after nearly 300 people attended a sharply divided public hearing for the project. Prevailing Winds investors withdrew their application Tuesday with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The move came shortly before the three-member PUC held its regular meeting that morning in Pierre. Prevailing Winds LLC filed an application June 28 with the PUC for a state facility permit. Sioux Falls attorney . . . Complete story »
Does wind energy have a future in Connecticut?
Greg Zupkus stood in the shadow of one his company’s wind turbines. A low hiss came from the turbine’s cooling fan, and in the distance, sporadic gun shots popped off from the adjoining hunting club. But the turbines, surrounded by fields and forest, and turning in the light summer breeze were, for the most part, quiet. “People will see the turbines are just sitting here minding their own business,” Zupkus said. “They’re going to be here 20-plus years.” When they . . . Complete story »
Wind project is dividing the community
I also am a resident of Windham and I have a very different view from a recent commentary (“What kind of community will Windham be?” Aug. 23) concerning what our community will be like with 20 wind turbines (over 600 feet tall) constructed here. The present plan indicates that three quarters of Windham homes will be within two miles of the turbines, the heaviest density in all of New England. I am especially puzzled by the belief that jobs will . . . Complete story »
Critics blast power costs from nation’s first offshore wind farm
One of the towering turbines on the nation’s first offshore wind project was unlocked and started to spin Monday in the ocean waters off Rhode Island as the project begins months of testing prior to generating commercial clean energy. Although President Barack Obama hailed the project as a renewable energy milestone, critics are awaiting a new hearing in the weeks ahead as they continue a legal fight against developer Deepwater Wind. Those opposed to the project say it contains a . . . Complete story »
County Planning Board disapproves of Brownville’s new proposed wind laws
CLAYTON – The Brownville Town Board submitted an application for a zoning law amendment to the Jefferson County Planning Board, including regulations on wind energy facilities, but the planners voted to disapprove the application and recommended a list of revisions for approval during their monthly meeting. The amendment, which department Senior Planner Andy R. Nevin said was submitted Aug. 1, will regulate aspects of each wind energy facility including location, size and required permits to protect public health. Eight out of . . . Complete story »
Surprise at windfarm consent expiry
Stuart Brown says he’s surprised Contact Energy have let its consent for the proposed Waitahora windfarm lapse. “We realised Contact had shelved the project a while ago, but it surprised us when they let the consents go in April,” Mr Brown, the chairman of the Waitahora-Puketoi Guardians, told the Dannevirke News. The Environment Court granted Contact a consent for the Waitahora windfarm in December 2010, after an earlier proposal had been turned down, allowing for the erection of 58 125-metre-tall turbines, . . . Complete story »
Rosenberg: Renewable energy is economically infeasible for Long Island
The companies that want to bring renewable energy to Long Island are discovering what our real estate developers have known for decades: great on paper, tough to implement. For Deepwater Energy of Rhode Island the latest decision to postpone LIPA’s vote on their second offshore wind farm proposal must be particularly galling. Two years ago they thought they had a slam dunk with a proposal far off the coast of Montauk. They reminded critics it would be out of sight . . . Complete story »
Wind farm would further harm nature
A proposed wind farm won’t harm wildlife? Baloney. Ask the Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology people about mangled and dead birds. First of all, today’s construction methods kill, grind up and bury every living thing that can’t escape, like baby birds in their nests. Then there’s the permanent blight of ugly turbines ruining the landscape. Third is the ongoing destruction of vegetation that butchers living things. What might survive the slaughter machines is sprayed with deadly herbicides. . . . Complete story »
Willacy County will require wind farm companies to keep roads maintained
RAYMONDVILLE – For years, tractor-trailers have hauled wind turbine parts across much of Willacy County. They’ve rumbled along county-owned roads en route to wind farms springing up in the so-called “wind capital of Texas.” Now, county commissioners want to “make sure” the wind farms properly maintain the county’s roads, County Judge Aurelio Guerra said. So commissioners are requiring wind farm developers to agree to maintain the county’s roads and bridges as part of their tax abatement contracts. “You have heavy equipment . . . Complete story »
