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Wind Power News: March 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.
Will CT catch or miss the boat on offshore wind energy?
Connecticut has a love-hate relationship with wind power. Okay, so far it’s mostly hate. While wind power is soaring nationally – now accounting for the most renewable generating capacity in the U.S. electric grid – eclipsing hydro for the first time late last year, Connecticut has been a laggard. There are just a couple of utility-scale turbines in Colebrook – the upshot of citizen opposition followed by a three-year moratorium while siting regulations worked their way through the state’s bureaucracy. . . . Complete story »
Enough is enough when it comes to wind turbines
It is time to clear something up. Huron County Wind Resistance is a group of residents of Huron County, a good number of them are farmers. We have our personal reasons for joining and it is not driven by the hope or promise of big money. Our common thread is “Enough is Enough.” We are not out to bash anyone, but it seems we are the object of bashing. Don’t people or groups have a right to their opinions? When . . . Complete story »
Wind farm worker dies after falling from turbine
A worker has died after falling from a turbine at the UK’s largest onshore wind farm in East Renfrewshire. The 25-year-old Spanish man was pronounced dead at Whitelee Windfarm, near Eaglesham, on Wednesday morning. The turbine is understood to have been undergoing maintenance at the time. A Scottish Power spokesman said: “We can confirm that there was an incident this week at Whitelee Windfarm. “Our thoughts go out to the family of the person involved.” The wind farm is owned . . . Complete story »
Garrett County working toward reducing electricity costs
GRANTSVILLE – Garrett County is working toward reducing electricity costs through a program that will determine if Swanton and Grantsville can support community wind turbines. The county is participating in the Maryland Energy Administration’s Anemometer Loan Program and was awarded state-owned anemometer towers that were installed in the communities in September. “The anemometer loan program is an excellent resource for local governments, businesses and nonprofits interested in community scale wind projects,” said Mary Beth Tung, director of Maryland Energy Administration. “The . . . Complete story »
NextEra Energy exploring possibilities for wind farm near Concho
CONCHO – A company that bills itself as the world’s largest renewable energy provider is exploring the possibility of constructing a wind farm near Concho. NextEra Energy Resources, of Juno Beach Fla., also owns Florida Power and Light, a power company with a portfolio of natural gas and nuclear generating operations, as well as utility-scale solar installations in Florida that serves 10 million customers. The company also owns 110 wind and solar installations in 29 states and in Canada. The Fortune . . . Complete story »
Competition will be ‘fierce’ for green contracts
The man behind a 12-year-old plan to build a major wind farm near Medicine Hat says he expects competition to be “fierce” as the province prepares to open a process to award green power contracts. At the same time, Naturener CEO Jose Maria Sanchez Seara tells the News e expects his company’s planned 210-megawatt Wild Rose Wind Farm to garner serious consideration in the process that officially begins today. By the end of the year, the province plans to enter . . . Complete story »
Many in favor, few opposed to wind power off coast
(March 31, 2017) More than 100 people spent about four hours at Stephen Decatur Middle School during one of the nicest Saturday afternoons in recent memory to give Public Service Commission representatives their thoughts on the two wind farms proposed off the coast of Ocean City. More than 30 people gave testimony during the afternoon, with most comments favoring any offshore project, while only four offered criticism. One of the people giving the project a lukewarm reception was Ocean City . . . Complete story »
Tompkins welcomes renewable energy projects, with some reservations
Let that be a warning to other municipalities as they consider renewable energy projects within their borders, said an official who, in retrospect, wishes … Complete story »
County prepares to take on permitting for larger wind farms
Pipestone County is considering changing its zoning ordinance so it can grant permits for larger wind projects. Currently, the county handles permitting only for projects less than 5 megawatts (MW), leaving anything larger for the state, but state statute allows counties to permit wind projects up to 25 MW. The county board approved a resolution during its March 28 meeting indicating that it is preparing to adopt standards that exceed those of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and assuming responsibility . . . Complete story »
Residents push back against wind farm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Residents opposed to a massive wind farm on the Cumberland Plateau lobbied against a proposed bill, urging them to oppose the plan. The 23 turbines would be built on 1,800 acres of land near Crossville known as the Crab Orchard Wind Project which would be put on private land that will be leased from owners. At the Capitol on Wednesday, lawmakers met to discuss state policy related to regulating wind energy. “I live right in the epicenter . . . Complete story »