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.
Unintended consequence: Wind turbines are impacting the health of Ontarians
There is a real possibility of a future with hundreds of Industrial Wind Turbines (IWTs) surrounding the greater Ottawa area. Quite a picture. Let me tell you a story. I live in the small community of North Stormont, just south of Ottawa. I have lived and worked in the Ottawa area for 25 years. The call of a rural life was strong when I bought our home in this peaceful community. I had hoped to retire here. I loved it . . . Complete story »
Residents protest Lake Erie wind energy project
DUNKIRK – Yellow signs lined the street along the Lake Erie shoreline Saturday as community members gathered to protest a planned wind farm project along the shore. A few dozen concerned citizens gathered in Dunkirk’s Memorial Park for the rally. The protestors were met with a warm response from locals passing by on West Lake Shore Drive. “Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie,” the group responsible for the event, held another protest in the Town of Hamburg just last . . . Complete story »
What’s ‘reasonable and prudent’ when it comes to Dominion offshore wind project’s costs?
Dominion Energy is seeking approval to build what will be the largest offshore wind power project in the United States off the coast of Virginia Beach, pitched by the company, some lawmakers and business groups as key to positioning Virginia as a hub for an industry on the cusp of a boom. But with hearings beginning this week before state utility regulators, the attorney general’s office, as well as some environmental and consumer protection groups, are wary of giving Virginia’s . . . Complete story »
Hundreds show up in opposition of wind farm
SYRACUSE – NextEra Energy Resources held a meeting with Lancaster and Otoe County residents Wednesday evening at the county fairgrounds in Syracuse to discuss the benefits of the Panama Wind Farm that would place approximately 38 wind turbines across Lancaster and Otoe counties. NextEra, which is said to be the world’s largest producer of renewable energy, was met by hundreds of area residents wearing matching yellow shirts that read “say no to big wind” to express their disapproval with the . . . Complete story »
Landowners challenge Dodge County wind project
A massive wind farm project is in the works in Dodge, Steele and Mower county. The project is an approximate $400 million investment for the counties. NextEra Energy is planning to build a wind farm with 79 wind turbines south of Claremont and a 27 mile long transmission from Claremont to east of Sargeant. The project would bring in 400 construction jobs and between $970,000 – $1,180,000 in annual production taxes. But not everybody is onboard with the project. “If . . . Complete story »
Wind moratorium request draws attention of Apex Clean Energy
TOLEDO – What had been shaping up to be a routine discussion item for the Tama County Board of Supervisors every week – the continuing request by a local coalition for a moratorium on wind energy projects – was anything but this past Monday in Toledo when a representative from the company behind the latest proposal popped up in the audience. In response to a question posed to the supervisors by a member of the public in regards to who owns . . . Complete story »
PSC reverses on who would pay bulk of offshore wind cable-line costs
The state Public Service Commission has reversed a previous ruling that would have left Long Islanders and other downstate ratepayers with the tab for the bulk of offshore-wind power transmission costs, following an appeal by LIPA to spread the costs statewide. The PSC’s latest decision, announced during a session Thursday, shifts the cost for the potentially billions of dollars for transmission-line upgrades and new lines to one that allocates costs based on utilities’ electric-load volume for zones across the state. . . . Complete story »
Maple Valley Township Board tables wind ordinance
MAPLE VALLEY TOWNSHIP – The Maple Valley Township Board tabled a proposed wind ordinance Monday, followed by nearly an hour of passionate public comments. The township’s Planning Commission in April recommended the ordinance to the township board. The Montcalm County Planning Commission reviewed the ordinance on May 2 and made suggestions, including John Johansen recommending the removal of “Lmax” from the sound language, changing shadow flicker language to “occupied buildings” instead of from non-participating property lines, decreasing the three times tip . . . Complete story »
Ocean wind farm rally
Oregon fishermen gathered in Coos County on Tuesday to fight for “a place at the table,” as state and federal agencies continue to hash out where to potentially lease space for an offshore wind farm on the Oregon coast. Around 200 people, roughly 50 of whom were from Newport, hit the streets of Coos Bay on Tuesday as part of a rally against placing wind farm facilities within two broad zones off the coast of Coos and Curry counties, within . . . Complete story »
Bungalow Park residents skeptical of Ørsted wind farm maintenance hub
ATLANTIC CITY – Ørsted North America representatives tried to reassure residents that a proposed operations and maintenance facility will not drastically change the quiet, residential character of Bungalow Park at a meeting Thursday night at City Hall. The facility, proposed for the waterfront at the ends of North New Jersey and North Delaware avenues, is mainly for technicians to hop on large vessels that will take them 15 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean to work on constructing and maintaining two . . . Complete story »
