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Wind Power News: April 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.
Farmer attempts to end life
A farmer attempted to immolate himself on the Collectorate premises here on Thursday. Balamurugan of South Vaagaikulam near Maanur said a windmill firm, which was installing wind turbine generator, had formed a road via his farm after damaging the fence without getting his consent. He was allegedly threatened by goons hired by the firm and he could not enter his farm due to the presence of these goons. “When I filed a complaint with the Maanur police seeking action against . . . Complete story »
Could an offshore wind farm in SLO County hurt endangered whales?
Two companies are eyeing the Central Coast as a promising location for the first offshore wind farm on the West Coast – a move that concerns conservationists and the local fishing industry. Their fears? Miles of underwater cables could trap whales. Constant underwater noise might interrupt sea life navigation and communication. Birds could be killed by spinning windmill blades, and access could be lost to large swaths of fishing grounds for black cod and swordfish. Federal waters off the Central Coast . . . Complete story »
Deepwater confronted; Fishermen ask trustees to fight offshore wind farm
A representative of the Rhode Island company that is planning a 15-turbine wind farm 30 miles off Montauk faced sharp questions from fishermen and other residents at the East Hampton Town Trustees meeting on Monday, as well as from the trustees themselves. A lengthy presentation and a subsequent question-and-answer session occupied more than half of the nearly four-hour meeting, as fishermen voiced fears of disruption and even the outright destruction of their livelihood. “We’re at the very beginning of what . . . Complete story »
Proposed Derryadd wind farm could affect tourism in Longford
Local residents who will be affected by Bord na Mona’s proposal to erect 28 wind turbines on the bogland at Derryadd attended a public meeting yesterday evening in Lanesboro, where they discussed the implications of the wind farm on the local area. The meetings included a presentation by the Golden Eagle Trust, suggesting that the area would serve well as a wetlands wilderness park and a tourist asset instead. Sue Moles from the National Wildlife Service also attended the meeting . . . Complete story »
Landowners have uncertainty, concerns regarding potential impact of wind turbines on water wells
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley wants residents in north Chatham-Kent concerned about the impact of wind turbines on their water wells to get answers. Municipal council recently backed a motion brought by Wesley to have Mayor Randy Hope send a letter to Glen Murray, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, requesting the MOECC provide some expertise on this matter. Wesley told The Chatham Daily News on Thursday that to be clear, this has nothing to do with the North Kent 1 . . . Complete story »
Falmouth wins turbine nuisance case
FALMOUTH – A Barnstable Superior Court jury on Thursday sided with Falmouth officials in a lawsuit over one of the town’s wind turbines. Despite the decision, the turbine known as Wind 1 – one of two turbines at the Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Facility – must remain shut down as the town battles its own Zoning Board of Appeals in Land Court and faces off with neighbors in a morass of additional legal challenges. The case focused on whether Wind 1 was a nuisance . . . Complete story »
Town council delays action on scenic designation and tall structures amendment
CLAYTON – The Town Council delayed taking any action on whether to apply for scenic-area designation pending an information session in June. A small crowd of people with concerns about the town pursuing a Scenic Area of Statewide Significance designation through the state Department of State waited outside Wednesday while officials held an executive session for personnel matters, but left after board members said they would schedule the information session and take no action on the designation during the meeting. Town . . . Complete story »
French company launches second bid for Highland windfarm
A French company that had plans for a giant 23-turbine windfarm near Beauly refused at a previous Scottish Government inquiry is to try again with a project half the size next week. The fresh appeal follows Highland Council’s failure to make a decision about a 10-turbine alternative scheme within a four-month time limit. Druim Ba Sustainable Energy (DBSE) will argue its case at the new public inquiry in Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire. It hopes to build towers up to 414ft tall nearby, . . . Complete story »
Plan for Radnorshire wind farm rejected
A proposed wind farm near common land in Radnorshire has been rejected by councillors. Hendy Wind Farm Limited was seeking planning permission for seven turbines with blades reaching 110 metres high, on land off the A44 at Llandegley near Llandegley Rhos Common and said it had the support of land owners. The wind farm would have provided electricity for 10,000 homes for 25 years and permission could be renewed after that. But Powys council’s planning committee, meeting at County Hall, . . . Complete story »
Annette Smith: The winds of woe
Prospective neighbors of wind turbines heard all the promises: “Quiet as a library.” “Like a baby’s breath.” “The same decibel level as a refrigerator.” The more brazen wind developers claimed “you will not hear them.” Then the four hundred and fifty foot wind towers with their bus-size nacelles and three-bladed fans were built. Sixteen in Sheffield, four on Georgia Mountain, twenty-one in Lowell. And neighbors learned the truth. Yes, you can hear them. They sound like “a jet plane that . . . Complete story »
