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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.
“Mountain Manifesto” claims the high ground
A new kind of nature book is hitting the stands. “The Mountain Manifesto: A Call to Protect the Green Mountains” is a detailed statement that aims to elevate the level of discourse around ridgeline development for industrial wind from the corporate bottom line of dollars and cents to a new, moral bottom line, charging Vermont with selling its soul – the mountain forests. “The Mountain Manifesto” came about the old-school Vermont way, that began with a conversation around a kitchen table . . . Complete story »
Another township goes to court over wind energy in Tuscola County
CARO – A second lawsuit in as many months has been filed against another township in connection with a NextEra Energy Resources LLC plan to build a $200 million wind farm in central Tuscola County. This time it is Ellington Township officials being sued in Tuscola County Circuit Court. In February, a lawsuit was filed against Almer Charter Township officials by NextEra Energy in U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, Bay City. A quo warranto lawsuit injunction was . . . Complete story »
Power line plan includes Haverhill
Haverhill – A Massachusetts power company is proposing to build a new 112-mile-long power line that would cut through an 8.9-mile corridor of eastern Haverhill on its way from the Canadian border to southern New Hampshire to deliver electricity to the Massachusetts market. National Grid on Tuesday unveiled a proposal that it said would largely take advantage of a pre-existing transmission and right of way corridor to string the lines that would transmit Canadian hydro- and wind-generated electricity to the Bay . . . Complete story »
Wind still fills sails of Wynne arrogance
Only in Kathleen Wynne’s Ontario would we still be spending money we don’t have, to build wind farms few people want, to generate electricity we don’t need. And yet that’s exactly what’s happening six months after the government halted its green energy policy. Planning for five new wind turbine developments continues despite admission from the Wynne government that Ontario won’t use the electricity these turbines will generate. Indeed, if history is any indication, the excess electricity generated from turbines yet . . . Complete story »
Timahoe wind turbine refused by An Bord Pleanala
An Bord Pleanala has upheld a decision by Laois County Council to refuse permission for a wind turbine in Timahoe. Andy Dunne, director of the Environmental Agricultural Engineering Consultancy Ltd, 7 Kellyville Park, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise, was refused permission by the council to erect one 500kW wind turbine, with an overall tip height of 93.5m, at Knocklead in Timahoe. The council said that the plans were in contravention of the Laois County Development Plan 2011-17. The council ruled that the . . . Complete story »
No big impact expected in Mass. after Trump energy order
PITTSFIELD – A federal overhaul of energy regulations won’t change things too much for consumers in the Berkshires as the state continues marching toward a clean energy future. But President Donald Trump’s executive order on Tuesday loosening restrictions on coal plants and prompting a review of the former administration’s Clean Power Plan may affect how Massachusetts competes economically with the rest of the country. “Other states without state emissions mandates now have no federal mandates,” said Dan Dolan, the president of . . . Complete story »
Northern Pass critics and supporters hail National Grid transmission project
BERLIN – The announcement Tuesday by National Grid that it was looking to bring hydro-electric power from Canada via New Hampshire into southern New England was hailed by both supporters and critics of the similar Northern Pass transmission project, albeit for different, contradictory reasons. National Grid officials said Tuesday they wanted to use their existing rights-of-way to bring the power from Canada into New Hampshire. By comparison, Northern Pass would bring hydropower along a 192-mile long route into the state. Some . . . Complete story »
Fort Drum land use study outlined at public hearing
Some of the meeting attendees were particularly interested in the researchers’ efforts to review wind turbine projects. Jack Woodward, a Wellesley Island resident, said he was worried about how turbines might affect the post’s operations. “I hope it’s an honest, open land use study that takes into account the local issues,” he said. Donald J. Metzger, a Lyme resident who has regularly opposed wind projects in the north country, asked for researchers to look into multiple wind projects on both sides of the border within the study range. Complete story »
Campaigners hail withdrawal of Almscliffe Crag wind farm plan
Campaigners are celebrating the withdrawal of plans for wind turbines to be installed near Alsmliffe Crag. Huddersfield based company DC21 applied two years ago for permission to put up two 48 metre turbines on land 1.8km north west of the landmark, near Rigton High Moor. The proposed site was on Green Belt land up to 68 metres higher than the Crag itself – leading the Save the Dales group to warn that the resulting turbines would ‘tower over’ the popular . . . Complete story »
How do wind turbines affect land loss?
I hope someday the Register will provide us with an article about how much of Iowa’s precious soil is lost to have renewable energy systems installed on the land. How much land is lost when a hole is dug and filled with tons of steel and concrete to provide a base for a windmill, and then this land loss is multiplied hundreds or thousands of times as more windmills are installed and new wind farms are established? In addition to . . . Complete story »
