Wind Power News: August 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.
County receives second wind farm petition
Representatives from No Wind Farms Montgomery County presented Montgomery County Commissioners with a petition Monday stating they are opposed to wind farms in Montgomery County. Commissioners accepted the hand-delivered petition but made no comment. During public comment at the conclusion of the meeting, and before the petition was presented, Commissioner John Frey said they had asked county attorney Dan Taylor to look into the 2010 Wind Energy Conversion Ordinance that governs the construction of wind farms. Frey reiterated what he . . . Complete story »
High Court challenge launched after wind farm is refused planning
A High Court challenge has been launched against An Bord Pleanala’s refusal to grant permission for a controversial proposed 25 turbine wind farm in Co Meath. North Meath Wind Farm Ltd had sought permission to develop an electricity generating wind farm at Castletownmoor, Co Meath. The project, which had attracted strong local opposition, consists of 25 turbines with a top height of up to 169m, as well as other associated works. North Meath Wind Farm claimed in the High Court . . . Complete story »
Take a stand: Wind projects represent a threat to north country’s economy
Wind turbines do not provide jobs. Developers do not want to pay the same share of taxes imposed upon homeowners, farmers or business operators. Instead, they will co-opt local industrial development agencies by paying massive, one-time fees that benefit no one except to perpetuate the staff and advisers of these agencies. Complete story »
Colorado City man electrocuted on top of Scurry County wind turbine
SCURRY COUNTY, Texas – A Colorado City man was electrocuted Thursday at a wind farm in Scurry County. It happened at an Invenergy wind farm in Camp Springs, which is east of Snyder, the company confirmed to KTXS on Monday. The Snyder Daily News reports that the victim was identified as 29-year-old Cody Lee Hubbard. Hubbard was working at the top of a wind turbine when he was fatally shocked. It took crews from Scurry County EMS, Snyder Fire Department, . . . Complete story »
Wind energy in California: The good news and bad news
Resistance to large-scale wind projects may be surprising, given California policymakers’ commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but pushback has been also seen in a score of states, including Vermont, which also prides itself on clean energy credentials. Resistance also comes from some residents in rural areas who say wind farms mar views and raise general quality of life issues. Complete story »
Wind energy in the doldrums
Germany prides itself on being a leader in transitioning to renewable energy. The country’s “Energiewende” wins high marks in opinion polls, even though the resulting higher electricity prices have been controversial. Germany ranks third in wind power capacity, after the much bigger China and United States. Producers blame the decline on a loophole in a new law which seeks to minimize the amount of subsidy for new wind projects. Complete story »
Bonackers vs. Big Wind
Nat Miller and Jim Bennett didn’t have much time to chat. It was about 8:45 on a sunny Sunday morning in early May, and they were loading their gear onto two boats—a 20-foot skiff with a 115-horsepower outboard, and an 18-foot sharpie with a 50-horse outboard—at Lazy Point, on the southern edge of Napeague Bay, on the South Fork of Long Island. “We are working against the wind and the tide,” Miller said as he shook my hand. The men . . . Complete story »
Why be against wind energy?
Why would you be against wind energy? Everyone thinks it’s a great idea. Why can’t these turbines be put in areas of vast nothing-ness? Why does Freeborn County need another proposed wind farm? Why put them in prime agricultural land? So, let me give you some of the whys many of us are against the proposed Freeborn Wind Farm project being in the southeast section of our county and Worth County. Health issues: Sleeplessness, noise, flicker effects, migraine headaches, heart . . . Complete story »
Grid cannot accommodate Horse Creek Wind Farm at current size
Avangrid’s decision to re-evaluate the scope of its Horse Creek Wind Farm project came out of left field for a few community leaders, and they criticized the developer for its lack of public outreach. Orleans Town Supervisor Kevin C. Rarick questioned why the developer didn’t tell the affected towns about its decision. The project looming over the town has played a crucial role in defining and dividing its community, Mr. Rarick said, and its impact warrants additional communication. The Town Council has debated potential additional wind energy facility regulations for more than a year and has considered adopting a new wind law. Complete story »
Dangers of wind towers overlooked
Wind turbines represent the greatest potential danger to Maine’s forest/tourist economy, yet almost no one has been paying attention to that danger. The danger is from turbine fires caused by friction build-up in the gear boxes and from lightning strikes. No one knows precisely how many turbine fires there have been because neither the federal government nor any state is required to record them. There is one valuable source that the public could consult: the Scotland-based Caithness Windfarm Information Forum – . . . Complete story »
