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Wind Power News: November 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.
Grain Belt playing offense as local hearings loom
Facing stiff opposition from local landowners and county commissions, the Houston-based company seeking permission to construct and operate a wind energy line through northern Missouri is playing offense as local hearings loom. Developers of the Grain Belt Express (GBE) are touting soaring economic benefits to Ralls County one week ahead of Missouri Public Service Commission hearings in Monroe City and Hannibal on Dec. 7, where many locals are expected to disavow the project again. The company behind GBE – Clean Line . . . Complete story »
Bill would limit turbines near bases
YATES – Citing concerns that a planned 201-megawatt wind turbine installation in northwestern Orleans County and northeastern Niagara County would imperil operations at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence said new legislation would seek to curb wind projects near military installations. The introduction of the Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act drew support from Yates and Somerset – communities whose governments and a majority of the surveyed residents have opposed the Lighthouse Wind project. According . . . Complete story »
Progress with landowners on wind power reported
Reporting to Lincoln County commissioners earlier this month, the project development manager for Pattern Development, said she’s made a lot of progress with landowners on Pattern’s portion of the Sun Zia transmission line project this past month to develop anchor tenant agreements in Lincoln County and Torrance County. “We’re getting the (Sun Zia Transmission Line) project pulled together and off the ground, Loralee Hunt said. Pattern, described in a company presentation as the leading independent wind, solar and transmission development . . . Complete story »
One wind turbine kills up to 29 birds a year
A study focusing on three wind turbines in the Jura mountains in western Switzerland has shown that on average each one causes the death of 14 to 29 birds a year – almost triple previous estimates. Migration periods were associated with more deaths but visibility could also play a role. Small, nocturnal migratory birds were the main victims, according to the study results – carried out by the Swiss Ornithological Institute for the Federal Office for the Environment – released . . . Complete story »
Sand Beach supervisor disagrees with wind petition tactics
HURON COUNTY – A Sand Beach Township official has taken issue with how a recent petition against changes to the township wind ordinance was circulated. Township Supervisor Wade Mazure complained to the Huron County Board of Commissioners last week about a wind developer that he says hired someone to circulate a petition there. Bryan Garner, manager of communications for NextEra Energy Resources, said that the company did support the group that circulated the petition, which, he said, was comprised of citizens. . . . Complete story »
Site Evaluation Committee takes on wind project debate
The state’s Site Evaluation Committee is set to start its deliberations on a nine-tower wind project in early December. Antrim Wind, a project that, if approved, would be erected on the Tuttle Hill and Willard Mountain ridgeline and produce up to 28.8 megawatts of energy, is close to wrapping up its second go-around with the state siting committee, which provides energy projects of a certain size permits to operate. Pamela Monroe, administrator for the SEC, said in an interview Monday . . . Complete story »
Proposal would put hurdle in front of wind farm
Wayne County residents will have an opportunity to give their opinion of wind farms during a special meeting of the Wayne County Advisory Plan Commission next week. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 in Commissioner’s Chambers at the Wayne County Annex Building. The public hearing will give those interested or affected by the proposed changes to the county’s ordinance regarding large wind turbines a chance to share their thoughts. EDP Renewables North America LLC, the company . . . Complete story »
Boulevard planners raise concern over county’s climate action and renewable energy plans, cite environmental justice disparity
The Boulevard Planning Group voted unanimously to send a letter to County officials voicing concerns that the County’s Climate Action Plan and Comprehensive Renewable Energy Plan will adversely impact the Boulevard/Jacumba area, where mostly low-income residents have already been “disproportionately targeted” for 31 major energy–related projects planned, approved or built in the past decade, according to a letter signed by BPG Chair Donna Tisdale. Those include massive industrial scale wind and solar projects that scrape bare thousands of acres, along . . . Complete story »
Hydropower, wind owners urge subsidies under New York’s clean energy plan
Existing wind farms, hydropower plants and biomass generators want New York to pay them for their contributions to meeting renewable energy targets. If not, they may sell the power they generate to other states or, in the case of wind farms, shut down entirely. Owners of wind and hydro plants lodged their objections to the state’s current framework to achieve a 50 percent renewable electricity by 2030 goal in comments filed this month with the state Public Service Commission. Gov. . . . Complete story »
Vermont’s all-renewable claims based on uneven RECs market
As Vermont races to become the nation’s first all-green-energy state, reports that municipalities are reaching the goal may be overblown. Claims that some municipalities in the Green Mountain State draw 100 percent of energy from renewable sources may technically be true, but with an asterisk. Kevin Jones, professor of energy technology and policy at Vermont Law School, says such claims involve an accounting of renewable energy credits and are misleading, especially in Burlington. “What Burlington Electric Department is doing is . . . Complete story »
