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Wind Power News: February 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.
Supreme Court: Challenge to wind farm development referred to CJEU
A woman who brought a challenge to the development of a wind farm beside her home has had her case referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Ms Edel Grace and Mr Peter Sweetman brought a challenge to a permission granted by An Bórd Pleanála to permit the development of a wind farm on lands owned by Coillte; intended to be developed and operated by ESB Wind Development Ltd High Court As required by s.50 of the . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine project stalls following petition
Marlette Township will be voting on a wind turbine ordinance, among other updated ordinances, in the upcoming May 2 special election. The ordinance will allow more opportunity for wind farm development in the township if approved. After community members opposed the proposed ordinance change, a resident collected signatures and created a petition, causing the township to push the ordinance to a public vote. Only 89 signatures were needed to pass the referendum, but 174 were collected. Tereasa Rumppz, of Marlette . . . Complete story »
Chateaugay, Bellmont officials receive complaints about noise generated by Jericho Rise Wind Farm
CHATEAUGAY – The town of Chateaugay will be investigating the level of noise generated by the Jericho Rise Wind Farm after receiving several noise complaints. Town Supervisor Don Bilow said that the town would be seeking an independent third party to conduct noise tests for the Chateaugay portion of Jericho Rise wind farm. Twenty-nine of the wind farm’s 37 turbines are located in Chateaugay, with the other eight in Bellmont. Both the town of Chateaugay and the town of Bellmont have . . . Complete story »
Judge: zoners will decide if turbines can be built on Bethlehem’s watershed
The emotionally charged hearings over whether wind turbines could be built on the land surrounding Bethlehem’s water supply may move from a fire hall to the more secure Carbon County Courthouse. But the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing Board – not an independent hearing examiner as the applicant, Atlantic Wind, requested – will continue to preside over the case, Judge Steven R. Serfass ruled. Serfass dismissed a legal challenge that questioned whether zoners can make a fair decision after five raucous public . . . Complete story »
Bolt fatigue blamed for collapse of Vestas 3MW turbine in Sweden
Sweden’s Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) has blamed fatigue in bolts on the tower of a Vestas V112-3.0MW turbine that collapsed in late 2015, highlighting inadequate assembly. The turbine collapse at the 98MW Lemnhult wind farm south of the town of Vetlanda in Jönköpig county on Christmas Eve 2015 was the first such incident involving one of Vestas’ MW-class machines. The SHK in a summary of its investigation said bolts that had held together the flange between the first and second . . . Complete story »
Water Wells First shames Wesley
The grassroots Water Wells First group has taken full aim at long-time Wallaceburg politician Jeff Wesley for comments he wrote in a letter to the editor in the Courier Press a few weeks ago. Water Wells First on Feb. 24 named Wesley as the second recipient of their Shame Award. The organization created an award with an attached figurine of the fictional character Pinocchio to it to illustrate their frustration. Water Wells First spokesperson Kevin Jakubec said they’re singling out . . . Complete story »
Conneaut assessing damage from turbine lightning strike
CONNEAUT – Administrators in Conneaut are assessing damage to the city’s wastewater treatment plant caused by lightning that struck a wind turbine adjacent to the plant early Saturday morning. The turbine, which supplements electricity used by the sewage plant, lost a blade when lightning hit about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. A power surge penetrated the plant and might have affected some equipment in the building, City Manager James Hockaday said Monday. “We’re still waiting for a summary,” he said. “There is no . . . Complete story »
6 Investigates: They’re huge. And, they’re here.
NUECES COUNTY – The Chapman Ranch Wind Farm is going up south of town and while the 81-turbine system will generate millions of kilowatt hours for retail providers, statewide, there are few regulations governing its operation. The reality is hitting home for Javier Ojeda, whose 60 acre ranch is about a mile from the site, which will cover dozens of acres in Nueces County just outside the City of Corpus Christi’s jurisdiction. Ojeda’s concerns began the day the drainage ditch . . . Complete story »
Wind farm appeal
A wind farm on the outskirts of Hilltown could still be on the cards as an appeal against its refusal will be heard later this year. A notice of opinion to refuse planning permission for 12 wind turbines off the Mullaghgarriff Road was issued by the then Minister of the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) Chris Hazzard last November. However, the applicant ABO Wind Ltd wished to “have the opportunity to appear before and be heard by the Planning Appeals Commission . . . Complete story »
Legislation would boost standard for renewable energy
Minnesota’s renewable energy standard would jump to 50 percent by 2030 under legislation announced Monday by Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, though it will likely face a stiff challenge in the Legislature. The state’s current renewable energy standard – created in 2007 – calls for 25 percent of Minnesota’s electricity to be produced from renewable resources by 2025. Currently, more than 21 percent of electric power comes from such sources as wind and solar. The bills would raise that percentage to 50 percent . . . Complete story »
