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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Community divide remains after Reno County denies permit for new wind farm
Members of the group Keep Reno Heavenly showed a mix of emotions after the Reno County Commission denied NextEra Energy a permit to build a wind farm in the southeastern part of the county. On one hand, all of its efforts had paid off. Members of the group had worked for months to organize and participate in public hearings, and they finally got the result they wanted – the proposed 220 megawatt wind farm with more than 80 turbines reaching 500 . . . Complete story »
Engineer answers questions about wind farm
About 60 citizens turned out for the fifth session of the Packer Township Zoning Hearing Board’s hearing on the Broad Mountain Power LLC wind farm project, proposed for Kovatch-owned property on the hilltop between Nesquehoning and western Packer Township. William Schneider, PE, director of Engineering Services for Schoener Environmental Inc. in Dickson City, presented the engineering plans for roads, parking, land disturbance during construction, the improved Dennison Road access from Nesquehoning, the power line from the substation on site to . . . Complete story »
North Dakota falling short of industry panel’s wind power goal
Dave Nehring, who founded North Dakota Visionkeepers last year to help grassroots organizations fighting wind projects in their communities, said the state has reached its saturation point for wind energy. He blamed the turbines' proliferation for a rise in electrical prices, though similar claims have been disputed by industry officials. "We don't need it in the state of North Dakota," Nehring said. Complete story »
Lines drawn in East Hampton over Deepwater Wind
The first public hearings on the South Fork Wind Farm project brought residents from across Long Island to East Hampton on Tuesday to plead with the State Public Service Commission to make the smart choice when it comes to the Deepwater Wind proposal. For some, that meant for the commission to give its stamp of approval to the wind farm developer’s preferred electrical cable route – through Wainscott, and then under town roads to East Hampton – so that the 15 wind . . . Complete story »
In the Wind
To all of you who enjoy Humboldt Bay and especially to all of my wonderful neighbors in Fields Landing, this wind project proposal envisions turbine components being barged through Humboldt Bay to Fields Landing where they will be transferred to large trucks. Is this a joke? Are we to sacrifice the beauty of our bay for some theoretical improvement to our energy situation? Has anyone noticed that the roads in Fields Landing get repaired pothole after pothole from the very . . . Complete story »
Officials and public clash over proposed Guilford windmill project
GUILFORD – A Town of Guilford board meeting discussing a proposed windmill project was held at the town garage Wednesday to accommodate the more than 80 local residents who turned out to share concerns over it. At a heated moment in last night’s meeting town board members attempted to end the ongoing public comments. Several in the audience stood to object, some shouted. As some board members acted to quickly pass a motion ending the session, some board members seemed . . . Complete story »
Energy company files challenge to Hegins Twp. zoning ordinance
Clean Air Generation LLC has filed a substantive validity challenge to Hegins Township’s zoning ordinance. Although no project has been proposed, the Scranton-based renewable energy company is considering developing a wind energy farm on Rausch Creek property in an S-3 special purpose mining zone. “We read the zoning and saw a legal imperfection,” Nick Cohen, Clean Air’s principal, said in a phone interview Thursday. The firm submitted an application for the challenge and is asking for a curative amendment. It . . . Complete story »
Iowa County residents voice concerns about wind turbine project
Dozens of residents filed into the Williamsburg Community Center to voice their concerns about Invenergy’s Diamond Trail wind turbine project. Maps were placed out for residents to see which of their neighbors said it was OK for the company to build one of the 78 turbines. “They are too tall. They are unsightly in the daytime and even more so at night,” said Dan Folkman of Iowa County. Folkman’s neighbors did sign-up but he said he understands why. “The money . . . Complete story »
Plain Talk: Share your views on ATC’s proposed southwestern Wisconsin line
The battle over ATC’s plan to build a new high-voltage transmission line from Dubuque to Middleton, with towers as tall as a 17-story building, is far from over. Although the state Public Service Commission has accepted ATC’s preferred route through southwestern Wisconsin, it still hasn’t given the transmission company permission to build it. Instead, it has scheduled another series of hearings for later in the month to gather more views and information about the effects of the line on the . . . Complete story »
Reworked bill to limit wind energy advances
RALEIGH – A new version of legislation spelling out restrictions on wind energy projects passed the Senate this week, but backers in both chambers say to expect yet another rewrite soon. Wayne County Republican and House Majority Leader Rep. John Bell, whose Greene, Johnston and Wayne County district includes Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, said a new version of the bill could be announced as early as next week. Its sponsors, including Sens. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, and Norm . . . Complete story »
