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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Devils River landowners say wind farms threaten wild character of Texas’ last untamed river
Conflicts between energy producers and conservationists are nothing new in Texas, but a recent fight in Val Verde County centers around wind farms and whether they belong in one of the wildest natural areas left in the state. Members of the Devils River Conservancy, whose group includes landowners with property on the Devils River, have launched a campaign called “Don’t Blow It,” to advocate against wind development along the Devils and Pecos rivers north of the Texas-Mexico border. They fear . . . Complete story »
Appraisal district files lawsuit over wind farm property
Val Verde County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Cherry Sheedy has filed a lawsuit asking a state district judge to set aside a decision by the Val Verde County Appraisal Review Board to lower the appraisal of a Val Verde County wind farm. As directed by the Val Verde County Appraisal District board of directors, Sheedy filed the suit through the appraisal district’s attorneys, McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen of Round Rock, Texas. The lawsuit was filed Sept. 13 against Rocksprings . . . Complete story »
Commission receives plenty of contrasting views on wind energy
John Dittrich of rural Meadow Grove knows a little bit about wind energy. Dittrich farms with his brother, Keith, and they have a turbine on their land in Antelope County in the Prairie Breeze wind farm, as well as a mile of transmission line that serves that project. They also have taken the time to read up about and study wind energy. They have been among the numerous individuals giving suggestions to the Madison County board of commissioners as they . . . Complete story »
Southern Arizona wind farm investigated after death of bat, eagle
COCHISE COUNTY – In the mountains 20 miles west of Willcox, 15 wind turbines stand 450 feet tall, spinning with the wind. This is the Red Horse II Wind Farm, the only wind farm operating in southern Arizona. The wind farm is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division in connection with the death of a federally protected golden eagle and a lesser long-nosed bat. The bat was listed as endangered in 1988, and in . . . Complete story »
Falmouth neighbors want wind turbines taken down
FALMOUTH – Two town-owned wind turbines have not operated since a Barnstable Superior Court judge in June 2017 ordered that the pair never spin again at their current wastewater treatment plant location on Blacksmith Road. But neighbors won’t be satisfied until they see both turbines dismantled and removed. Plans are underway to dismantle Wind 1 and haul it off the site. Wind 2 will not be as easy to get rid of: One neighbor’s recent attempt to have it removed has . . . Complete story »
PUC will let witnesses testify from afar on wind-farm case
PIERRE – The state Public Utilities Commission ruled Friday that opponents could subpoena information from county governments and witnesses could testify by telephone or videoconference when a wind-farm project comes up for a permit hearing next month. Prevailing Wind Park wants the commission’s permission to construct 61 turbines on 50,364 acres of private ground between Avon, Tripp and Wagner in Bon Homme, Charles Mix and Hutchinson counties. The four-day hearing opens at 9 a.m. Oct. 9. “The proposed project would have . . . Complete story »
POWER coalition appeals for the birds
A coalition of environmental and local groups opposed to Lighthouse Wind, the proposed wind farm in Somerset and Yates, met with state Sen. Rob Ortt and Assemblyman Mike Norris recently to voice their opposition to the project. The Protecting Ontario’s Waters, Environment and Resources (POWER) coalition, a group of a dozen conservation and local groups opposed to the project, argued at the Sept. 17 meeting that the proposed turbines pose too large a threat to populations of migrating birds. The . . . Complete story »
Debate on wind energy project continues
ERIE – Debate continued Friday at the Neosho County Commission meeting between opponents and supporters of the proposed Neosho Ridge wind energy project. As many as two dozen people attended and discussed the project for about 2 ½ hours. Some opponents said Apex Clean Energy, the company developing the project, was not forthcoming with information or was misleading. Opponent Dustie Elsworth said efforts have started for a petition against the project, including among residents near Stark. The Neosho Ridge project . . . Complete story »
FMM consultant resigns from governor’s wind commission
Thanking Governor Paul LePage for the “honor” of being appointed, Chris O’Neil has withdrawn from the controversial Maine Wind Energy Advisory Commission. O’Neil is a private consultant and lobbyist who has represented Friends of Maine’s Mountains (FMM) since 2009. “While I was the governor’s appointee,” O’Neil said, “it might have appeared that my participation on the Commission was on behalf of FMM. So I consulted with the FMM board of directors before submitting my resignation, and they concurred with me.” . . . Complete story »
On the road to truthiness
The siting board should reject the Apex application and ensure no subsequent applicants with any connection to Apex be allowed to reapply. Apex is working its way through Public Service Department review for Lighthouse Wind. And if the lie over Galloo is allowed to stand, it will be a sign to every wind developer, and especially Apex, that the siting process under Article 10 of Public Service Law is a mere formality on the way to a rubber-stamp approval. Complete story »
