Wind Power News: Americas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch 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.
Eureka Township awaiting wind ordinance recommendations
EUREKA TOWNSHIP – As officials come close to updating this township’s 200-plus page zoning ordinance, one element of that ordinance continues to be discussed and reviewed – wind energy. The Eureka Township Planning Commission has spent more than a year working to update “Ordinance 79” – a 251-page document containing all of the township’s zoning laws. However, the section on wind energy is being given additional focus following concerns brought forward from members of the public. During Wednesday’s meeting, Planning Commission Chairman Duane . . . Complete story »
N.J. amps up wind fight, overriding beach towns balking at farms
Offshore wind farm developers are finding one more thing in common with the fossil fuel industry: community backlash on both sides of the Atlantic. Much like the resistance to fracking in parts of the U.S. and the U.K., oceanfront towns have fought against power lines running ashore from wind farms, even as the massive turbines themselves are mostly out of sight. In a dramatic move Thursday, New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation that strips coastal communities of the . . . Complete story »
Chair of controversial council that controls RI’s 400 miles of coastline just stepped down
PROVIDENCE – The chairwoman of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Management Council has stepped down, leaving at a time when the agency has come under searing criticism over some of its decisions. Jennifer Cervenka, an environmental lawyer with a practice in Providence, submitted her letter of resignation to Gov. Dan McKee on Wednesday. Cervenka declined an interview request. In the two-page letter to the governor, she did not give a reason for her decision. “I leave the council knowing it is doing . . . Complete story »
Murphy signs bill ending local control of wind power lines
New Jersey’s governor has signed a measure that would remove most local control from where and how offshore wind energy projects come ashore. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced the move in a prepared statement sent out Thursday night. Aside from granting local communities a public hearing on an offshore project that comes ashore in their town, the measure strips those communities and their elected officials of most, if not all control over where and how the project’s power lines and . . . Complete story »
New Biden permitting boss looks to ‘rebuild interagency muscle’
The Biden administration’s new permitting coordinator wants to whip agencies into shape so they can move faster on infrastructure projects that line up with the president’s agenda, especially offshore wind farms. Christine Harada, the newly-minted executive director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, also said she’s intrigued by the idea of getting the agency involved in sectors that are priorities of the Biden administration, such as critical element mining and lead water pipe replacement. The council’s role is to . . . Complete story »
Gratiot County couple shares wind turbine story with Cato Township
CATO TOWNSHIP – As the Cato Township Planning Commission continues to work on amending its wind energy ordinance, a Gratiot County farming couple attended a July 14 meeting to share their experience. Dan and Nancy Welke live in Merrill, Lafayette Township, where they say they have one turbine less than 1,600 feet from their home and another one about 2,600 feet away. They say they have been “battling” with DTE Energy and Gratiot County officials for the last year and a . . . Complete story »
County residents still opposing wind and solar towers
Washington County Commissioners met Tuesday, July 13 for their regular weekly meeting. Bill Dorrenbacher opened the meeting with a reading and a prayer, which was followed by the “Pledge of Allegiance.” In public comment, Sally Strand spoke about wind and solar towers. She felt there should be more solar towers, although they want neither on their land. Strand also said they want more transparency from the companies – wanting to know how many they want to put up, how tall, . . . Complete story »
Commissioners consider solar, wind farm regulations
Leavenworth County commissioners could implement regulations for commercial solar and wind energy farms. Commissioners discussed proposed regulations during a work session last week. No formal vote was taken. Commissioners seemed ready to move forward with regulations for solar farms. But developing regulations for wind farms may take longer. One commissioner, Mike Stieben, believes commercial wind farms should not be allowed in the county. “I personally think we should prohibit them,” he said. Commission Chairman Mike Smith said he believes regulations . . . Complete story »
Bernhardt: Trump tried to boost offshore wind, not kill it
Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt defended the Trump administration’s lengthy review of America’s first offshore wind farm in an interview yesterday, saying the additional environmental analysis he ordered was intended to strengthen the project against legal challenges rather than kill it. The Trump administration had initially planned to complete a review of Vineyard Wind in the summer of 2019. But Bernhardt surprised the project’s developers, who proposed a $2.8 billion wind farm near Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., by expanding a government . . . Complete story »
Atlantic Winds offshore wind array will steer clear of LBI for now
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind’s array of 111 turbines will be built in the southernmost portion of the company’s federal lease, 12 miles off Absecon Inlet, and probably will not be visible to Long Beach Island visitors during the summer tourist season. This was the upshot of a virtual open house held Tuesday, July 13. The open house consisted of a number of virtual rooms that participants could click on and enter on such subjects as visibility, environment, development and timeline, . . . Complete story »
