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Wind Power News: January 2017
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.
Otter Creek says there’s no proof that wind turbines are responsible for dirty water
WALLACEBURG – Otter Creek Wind Farm officials held a media briefing on Monday afternoon to answer back about claims from citizen group Water Wells First that their wind farm project will be a threat to local water wells. Saying that they base their work on facts and scientific data, Otter Creek officials said there is no scientific proof that claims that vibrations from wind turbines cause well water to become dirty and full of sediment. Water Wells First has been . . . Complete story »
Bill would lock state into Shumlin energy goals
Legislators are seeking to write into law the previous governor’s goal of getting 90 percent of the state’s energy from renewable sources by 2050. The Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee is considering S.51, sponsored by committee Chair Chris Bray, D-Addison. It mirrors some of the more prominent goals in the state’s 2011 and 2016 comprehensive energy plans, which were written under the administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin. The 90 percent renewable energy goal is among them. Critics of the . . . Complete story »
Residents lose appeal over windfarm plan
A number of Ballingeary residents have lost their legal challenge against approval for a windfarm development in Co Cork. The resident’s concerns included fears about the environmental impact of the development and noise from the turbines. They disputed An Bord Pleanála’s June 2016 permission for a six-turbine windfarm, a substation, underground cables and associated development in the town lands of Derragh, Rathgaskig, Lack Beg, at Ballingeary. Following an earlier High Court decision, Framore Ltd, the developer, revised its planning application . . . Complete story »
Plans to ratify wind farm ordinance move forward in Clinton Co.
Clinton County leaders are moving forward with plans to ratify an updated wind farm ordinance. The new ordinance will be stricter than the ordinance already on the books. This includes how far wind turbines must sit away from homes and how much noise they can produce. Clinton County commissioners said they will let it go into effect without changes. If no action is taken, the ordinance will become law on Feb. 25. By state statute, the commissioners can vote to . . . Complete story »
Wind farm gains commissioners’ approval; $1 billion project will take shape in southeast part of Elbert County
In a public hearing that ended in applause from the nearly 100 attendees, the Elbert County Board of Commissioners approved applications from Rush Creek Wind Farm and Xcel Energy to build a $1 billion wind farm and accompanying transmission lines in southeast Elbert County between Simla and Limon. “I don’t think anyone has seen a nearly billion-dollar project walk into Elbert County in their lifetime,” Commissioner Chris Richardson said. The commissioners approved the project by a vote of 3-0 on . . . Complete story »
High Court backs Wellington City Council in rates battle with Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy’s High Court bid to cut the rates bill on two of its major wind farms has failed. In November the electricity giant, which is 51 per cent owned by the taxpayer, went to court to dispute the council’s rating policy for West Wind and Mill Creek, its two major wind farms at Makara. Meridian, which is headquartered on the Wellington waterfront, claimed the council had acted unlawfully when setting its policy for how rates should be collected on . . . Complete story »
Bord Pleanála grant permission for wind farms near Claremorris
An Bord Pleanála (ABP) have given the green light for three wind farms comprising 20 wind turbines located near Claremorris, which could have the potential to power 20 percent of homes in Mayo. PWWP Developments Limited were given planning permission for three separate applications to develop wind farms located north of Claremorris despite a number of objectors including Knock Shrine. The Cork-based development company were granted planning permission in October 2014 by Mayo County Council for a wind farm consisting . . . Complete story »
Threat of £600m turbine bill
Energy analysts claim that an independent Scotland would be saddled with a £600m bill to keep thousands of wind turbines turning because Westminster would not be prepared to send “international aid” to subsidise wind farms north of the border. Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, has said a second referendum is “highly likely” in a bid to retain Scotland’s membership of the EU after Brexit. A consequence of separation, however, could be that an independent Scotland has to fully support its . . . Complete story »
Apex still in the game; Silence is not surrender in wind farm proposal
GALIEN – Apex Clean Energy isn’t giving up its wind farm vision for southern Berrien County, despite personnel changes and months without contact with area townships. An Apex spokesman said his company is still interested in building a wind farm despite personnel changes and no contact with area townships in months. Albert Jongewaard said four company representatives associated with the proposed Galien Oaks wind farm project are no longer involved. He has taken over from Dan Blondeau, who is with the . . . Complete story »
Safety probe launched after collapse of 480-foot wind turbine in Ayrshire
The catastrophic collapse of a giant wind turbine is being investigated. A 480-foot high turbine came down in a storm – only the second windmill in Scotland to crash to the ground. The astonishing structural failure of the £2 million machine has prompted demands for information by the community in Barrhill. The Kilgallioch wind farm is operated by Scottish Power Renewables which had failed to alert the public to the incident for SEVEN DAYS. Luckily nobody was near the 160-ton . . . Complete story »
