Wind Power News: U.S.
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.
Wind farm developer drops Delaware state park plan
FENWICK ISLAND – The developer of an offshore wind farm will not move forward with an interconnection facility at Fenwick Island State Park after further evaluation of the proposed area. Ørsted – the developer of the Skipjack wind farm project just off the coast – announced it has notified the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) it will no longer pursue plans to build an interconnection facility at Fenwick Island State Park, according to a press release issued . . . Complete story »
MPSC: DTE’s energy plan approved, rates frozen until 2022
The Michigan Public Service Commission today approved DTE Electric Co.’s amended renewable energy plan and asked the company to find ways for smaller or community-based projects to be considered in future renewable energy investment proposals. In February, the commission recommended substantial changes in DTE’s proposed integrated resources plan (Case No. U-18232), citing a lack of competitive bidding. DTE filed an amended renewable energy plan in April that the commission later approved but noted that the minimum size requirements effectively precluded . . . Complete story »
County leaders mull wind project
REFUGIO – Representatives of RWE Renewables updated the Refugio County Commissioners Court on the proposed Blackjack Creek Wind Farm which would be located in portions of Refugio and Bee counties. The wind farm would be located in land that is part of the Woodsboro Independent School District, as well as property within both the Beeville and Skidmore-Tynan school districts. The company, which previously did business as E.ON, currently has a 220 megawatt wind park already located in Refugio County. The . . . Complete story »
Lawsuit filed over Campo wind project
A federal lawsuit has been filed against the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the U.S. Department of Interior and agency officials challenging their approval of Campo Wind facilities on tribal land, including 60 wind turbines each 586 feet tall on 2,200 acres, as well as Boulder Brush energy facilities on adjacent private land. “The project is a dangerous and completely unnecessary industrialization of high-quality wildlife habitat in an area with an extremely high wildfire risk and frequent low-flying military, . . . Complete story »
Chowan commission amends wind ordinance
Rather than reprint the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s immortal “Blowing in the Wind” to lead the reader into this story about Chowan County’s wind energy facility ordinance, let’s cut to the chase. Monday, county commissioners approved amending the wind ordinance, 4-3, with commissioners Patti Kersey, Bob Kirby, Larry McLaughlin and Ron Cummings voting in favor of the changes. Don Faircloth, Greg Bonner and Ellis Lawrence voted against the amendments. Changes only affect those projects that come before the board after . . . Complete story »
R.I. faces daunting challenge meeting Raimondo’s 100% renewable energy goal
PROVIDENCE – Even if Rhode Island is able to reach Gov. Gina Raimondo’s goal of meeting all of its electric demand with renewable energy by the end of the decade, it won’t mean the end of the state’s work to develop more solar, offshore wind and other power sources that don’t produce carbon emissions. That’s because the goal – which is aimed at reducing the greenhouse gases that cause climate change – is a moving target. While demand in the state is expected . . . Complete story »
Judge rejects request to toss fraud charges
FAYETTEVILLE – A federal judge refused Thursday to dismiss criminal charges against two men accused of scamming investors in a proposed wind-farm project in Elm Springs. Jody Douglas Davis and Phillip Vincent Ridings are charged with several counts of wire fraud, aiding and abetting wire fraud, money laundering and aiding and abetting money laundering. Both men have pleaded innocent. They will be tried together, and the trial is set for Sept. 20 in Fayetteville. Dragonfly Industries International of Frisco, Texas, purported . . . Complete story »
S.D. regulators deal with rural opponents’ sound issues at two wind farms
A rancher agreed Wednesday he would cooperate with a wind-project developer on sound testing at his property in Charles Mix County. Sherman Fuerniss told the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission that he let Prevailing Wind Park know that cattle roaming around his house could damage the testing equipment. “This is what we live with every day. We have livestock around,” Fuerniss said. He suggested using three corral panels to form a protective triangle around the equipment. Commissioner Chris Nelson said . . . Complete story »
County planning board punts on stringent wind energy development regs proposal
Albany County’s planning and zoning board moved forward with recommending changes to regulations on wind energy on Wednesday designed to bring the county in line with state statute, but they haven’t ruled out even more stringent measures. The Albany County Planning and Zoning Commission scheduled a special meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss wind energy regulations. The topic became a matter of tension this year amid plans by ConnectGen, a renewable energy development company based out of Texas, to construct . . . Complete story »
Appeals court backs sale of controversial wind energy line in Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY – A state appeals court ruled in favor of a controversial wind electricity project Tuesday, putting the Grain Belt Express transmission line another step closer to construction. The project, which has been tied up in legal and legislative challenges for years, will carry wind-generated power from Kansas to Indiana on a 780-mile-long transmission line that includes eight northern Missouri counties. A group of landowners challenged a June 2019 ruling by the state’s Public Service Commission allowing Chicago-based Invenergy to . . . Complete story »
