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Wind Power News: U.S.
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Why wind farm developers are pulling out at the last minute
Building a wind turbine requires significant amounts of steel, copper and aluminium, all of which doubled or tripled in price between 2020 and 2023. An exponential increase in demand for scarce high-voltage cabling has already led to high-profile cancellations of offshore wind farms in the US. Rising demand for rare earth metals used to make magnets in turbine generators has also been snared by geopolitical issues. Complete story »
Major wind company wants out of Phil Murphy’s offshore energy project
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Shell and EDF Renewables, is seeking to withdraw from its flagship New Jersey offshore wind project just months after publicly reaffirming its dedication to the state’s clean energy goals. On June 4, the company filed a formal petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities requesting to terminate its Offshore Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) order. The request, if granted, would effectively halt development of the 1.5-gigawatt wind farm located east of . . . Complete story »
Proposed wind farm divides Henderson County
In Henderson County, officials are considering bringing a wind farm to the area. “Folks have known about this potential development for a long time,” Henderson County Judge Executive, Brad Schneider. The plan by Cordelio Power involves installing numerous wind turbines, which would stand tall across the landscape. For many, the sheer size and number of these structures are a key part of the conversation. Henderson County Judge Executive, Brad Schneider, shared his perspective on why this project might be a . . . Complete story »
Wind measurement tower could mean future wind turbine in northwest DeKalb County; Public hearing June 12 in Sycamore
A request by a Lowell, Massachusetts–based company with a Chicago office could mean an altered skyline in northwest DeKalb County, near Clare, according to DeKalb County documents. A public hearing regarding a special-use permit request for a temporary wind measurement tower on property west of Clare Road, between Schafer and Malta roads, will be held at 1 p.m. June 12 in the east conference of room of the DeKalb County Administration Building, 110 E. Sycamore St., Sycamore, according to a . . . Complete story »
Wind opponents sue Trump administration to block New York wind project
Fishing companies and offshore wind opponents filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the Trump administration’s decision to reverse course and allow construction to resume on Empire Wind, a $5 billion wind farm project off New York’s coast. Protect Our Coast New Jersey, Clean Ocean Action, ACK for Whales and 12 fishing industry participants in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, sought to reinstate a stop work order Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued in April halting construction . . . Complete story »
US groups in legal bid to revoke New England 1 & 2 offshore wind permits
US environmental and fishing groups have filed a suit in federal court claiming the Departments of Interior and Commerce and sub-agencies violated the law when they approved the Record of Decision (RoD) for Avangrid’s almost 1800MW New England 1&2 offshore wind projects. Nantucket-based environmental grassroots group ACK For Whales, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head/Aquinnah, Green Oceans, a coalition of charter fishing groups and seven individuals have the filed suit. The suit, filed in Washington, DC federal court on May . . . Complete story »
Questions of transparency swirl around Vineyard Wind
The company only has four turbines generating power after nearly three years of construction. Just a fraction of Vineyard Wind’s planned offshore wind turbines are in operation despite nearly three years of construction, and the company is staying silent on what is slowing production down and when it’ll actually finish the project. First reported by the State House News Service, Vineyard Wind 1 – an offshore wind farm 15 miles south of the Island – only has four turbines providing power to . . . Complete story »
Dickinson County, IA supervisors to once again consider wind turbine moratorium
A reworded moratorium on any new wind turbines in Dickinson County, Iowa, is expected to come before the board of supervisors at their meeting Tuesday, May 27. The supervisors, a couple of weeks ago, tabled consideration of a proposed 6-year moratorium with a couple of them expressing concern over what they said was ambiguous wording. According to KUOO Radio, opponents of the moratorium at that time expressed concern that it could also apply to other types of renewable energy projects, . . . Complete story »
Court dismisses wind developer suit against Wisconsin towns’ ordinances
Background Marathon Wind Farm sued two towns—Brighton and Eau Pleine—claiming their local wind energy ordinances were too restrictive and therefore unlawful under Wisconsin state law. Specifically, they claimed the towns’ rules went beyond what is allowed under state law and Public Service Commission (PSC) regulations. Marathon Wind Farm asked the court to: Declare the local ordinances void, and Issue a permanent injunction preventing their enforcement. The towns responded with motions to dismiss, arguing the case should be thrown out because . . . Complete story »
Clean energy faces hard market truths
The Trump administration is rolling back federal subsidies for wind, solar, and EVs. Over $145 billion in green energy projects and $73 billion in manufacturing investments since 2022 were heavily driven by federal aid Despite claims of booming growth, wind and solar face serious structural issues, raising doubts about their viability in a true free-market environment. As soon as the November 2024 election results were in, proponents of the energy transition started warning the end of their industries was nigh. . . . Complete story »
