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Wind Power News: July 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.
Politicians vow to support campaigners
A claim that ‘lives have been destroyed because of government inaction’ was made by Fianna Fáíl European Election candidate Kieran Hartley at the anti-windfarm public meeting in Aughrim. Mr Hartley said that ‘absolutely nothing has changed’ in the past two years since the previous Ballymanus Wind Farm application and he called on local councillors to propose a motion to amend the County Development Plan. Cllr Sylvester Bourke took issue with this and what he felt was an implication that the . . . Complete story »
Windfarm review
Kerry County Council (KCC) has confirmed that it will commence the process of reviewing its renewable energy policy on windfarms. Council management briefed the members of KCC on the matter following last Monday’s monthly meeting at the Council Chamber in Tralee. The process will begin with a Landscape Character Assessment, and it is planned that this phase will be complete by the end of 2017. A Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) prepared by KCC in 2012 found that “The majority of . . . Complete story »
Locals overjoyed that wind turbine planning is quashed
The residents of Clonroche are overjoyed that a proposed wind farm won’t be built in their area following legal wrangling. A spokesperson for Clonroche Against Wind Turbines said that a decision by Wexford County Council to refuse permission for the windfarm had been appealed to An Bord Pleanala who overturned the decision and granted permission. ‘In April 2017 An Bord Pleanala overturned Wexford County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a Windfarm on Ballinclay Hill, Clonroche. This came as . . . Complete story »
Pownal residents say green ‘model communities’ program not local, rolled out illegally
POWNAL, Vt. – It came dressed up as a local initiative to spur Vermont’s first “climate change economy,” but some residents say the Climate Economy Model Communities Program originates from Montpelier and is being implemented illegally. The Vermont Council on Rural Development wants to turn Vermont towns into model communities for climate change. In April, the statewide group selected the small southwestern town of Pownal to be the first success in what it calls the Climate Economy Model Communities Program. The . . . Complete story »
Residents’ warnings on turbines
A number of residents affected by the controversial Raheenleagh Wind Farm near Ballycoog and Croghan shared their experiences with those living along the route of the proposed Ballymanus Wind Farm during last Thursday night’s meeting. Paddy Condren from Ballycoog said that he wouldn’t like to be any closer than he is to the turbines and said that he is aware of many families who say that it is like living with a constant airplane sound overhead. ‘The noise never goes . . . Complete story »
Concern over proximity to heritage sites
The archaeological value of the rural areas included in the Ballymanus Wind Farm plan were outlined by archaeologist Yvonne Whitty at the public meeting in Aughrim. Ms Whitty expressed concern of the proximity of many of the proposed turbines to rich heritage sites, including Neolitic rock art which would date back 5,000 years. She said that there are a number of ringforts in the area of Preban which date back to between the sixth and eleventh centuries, that looks like . . . Complete story »
More competition & Northern Pass commits $10M to help low-income Mass. customers
Northern Pass Transmission’s competition to import hydropower from Canada to the New England grid came out in full force Thursday in a flurry of news releases as several more utilities announced they will compete in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Request for Proposals. Thursday was the deadline to compete. The solicitation seeks proposals for clean energy generation and transmission to deliver to Massachusetts ratepayers as required by a law passed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. TDI-New England and Maine Central Power . . . Complete story »
Fundraising campaign is launched
At Thursday’s public meeting about the Ballymanus Wind Farm application, a fundraising campaign to cover the cost of potential High Court Action was launched. South Wicklow Wind Action Group (SWWAG) appealed to all concerned local residents opposed to the wind farm to contribute. SWWAG’s PRO, Richard More O’Ferrall, said that the group believes the plans can be stopped but fears that ABO Wind Ireland Ltd will take a High Court case if refused by An Bord Pleanála this time. ‘We . . . Complete story »
Minister blows away Laois councillors’ wind farm ban
The Minister who played a big role in Leo Varadkar becoming Taoiseach has rejected Fine Gael–led opposition to wind power in Laois. Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Eoghan Murphy has ordered Laois County Council to drop what would be an effective ban on wind farms from the Laois County Development Plan. Minister Murphy has moved to delete a proposal inserted in the new plan. He has also wants to impose a windfarm map of the county rejected . . . Complete story »
Fort Drum officials talk wind turbine challenges, plans to work with developers
The turbines at the Maple Ridge wind farm could be seen in blue dots on radar screens, flickering as the turbine blades turned. Each of the moving turbines displayed similarly to a moving airplane, creating some stress as the radar system tracks all aircraft within its viewing range of 160 miles. If overloaded, the system may drop legitimate aircraft to follow the turbine movements. Complete story »
