Wind Power News: U.S.
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Langworthy, state lawmakers, others call for Great Lakes wind turbine moratorium
At the end of 2022, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a feasibility study focused on wind turbine energy production in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The 136-page study and 51-page white paper concluded that offshore wind production on the lakes isn’t cost effective, nor a unique and critical contribution to the states climate goals. But Citizens Against Wind Turbines In Lake Erie (CAWTILE) are still fighting for their cause because the study does leave room . . . Complete story »
Feds announce possible location for Gulf of Maine wind farm
Maine’s lobster industry opposes plans for a commercial wind energy facility in a 2-million-acre swath of the gulf. Federal officials announced Friday they have identified a 2-million-acre swath of the Gulf of Maine for a commercial wind farm. The designated area ranges from about 23 to 93 miles off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the area is 80% smaller than the initial proposal and avoids lobstering areas, tribal fishing grounds, . . . Complete story »
Crashed truck carrying wind turbine tower closes I-84 in eastern Oregon
A truck transporting a large section of a wind turbine tower crashed on westbound Interstate 84, closing both directions of the freeway between exit 304 North of Baker City and exit 374 near Ontario on Wednesday. The closure is also impacting eastbound traffic from exit 265 near La Grande to Ontario. A photo shared by the Oregon Department of Transportation shows a semitruck on its side. A wind turbine section is blocking the roadway. Transportation officials warned that the eastern . . . Complete story »
Congress inserts conditions for Idaho wind farm in federal spending bill
Congress passed a federal spending package late into the evening on Friday that funds several key agencies through September, avoiding a government shutdown. Tucked inside one of the bills is a measure that specifically addresses a proposed wind farm in Idaho. The appropriations bill for the Interior Department includes a section about the Lava Ridge Wind Project, proposed on public lands in the Magic Valley. It says no funds in the package can be used for “granting, issuing or renewing . . . Complete story »
Minnesota eyes permitting reform for clean energy amid gridlock in Congress
The Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act, which was introduced last week, would reduce procedural requirements, consolidate environmental review authority for energy projects to a single state agency, limit certain contested case hearings and exempt all wind and solar projects and some transmission lines from certificate of need permits. Complete story »
Apex pulls the plug on Tama County wind project
After first leasing office space in downtown Dysart more than two years ago, the Virginia-based company Apex Clean Energy – better known by its commercial wind energy project name, Winding Stair Wind – has terminated its leases with Tama County landowners. “Apex Clean Energy has made the difficult decision not to pursue the Winding Stair Wind project at this time and will be terminating the existing wind leases,” Drew Christensen, Apex’s senior director of public engagement, said in an email . . . Complete story »
Oklahoma landowners exploring what can be done to prevent turbines being built near their homes
A group of Oklahoma landowners are organizing to fight wind turbines being built near their homes. A view in Lincoln County could be changing soon, and the people who live there aren’t too happy about it as the trees could one day be wiped out and replaced with wind turbines. “If we want to preserve Oklahoma’s farmland and ranchland, we have got to take a strong look at this,” Saundra Traywick said. Two private companies say they’re filling a clean . . . Complete story »
Local fisherman file lawsuit over Morro Bay offshore wind energy projects
Central Coast fishermen filed a lawsuit over the planned offshore wind development off Morro Bay’s coast. The lawsuit is against the California Coastal Commission, California State Lands Commission, three offshore wind developers and the vessel owners who are conducting offshore research in the area. Sheri Hafer is a representative with the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen Organization, one of the parties that filed the lawsuit. Hafer said their concerns over the development grew when the California State Lands Commission issued a . . . Complete story »
Pottawattamie County Supervisors approve wind, solar energy ordinance
After months of debate and listening to public input, the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors recently approved new regulations for wind and solar energy projects. “We have, I think, really done our due diligence on this, on the documents that are all presented to you, and it meets all of the public feedback that we’ve heard along with all of the board considerations that we put into this,” Planning and Development Director Matt Wyant said at the Feb. 27 board . . . Complete story »
Mahoning County commissioners ban solar and wind farms in ten townships
After holding a Feb. 15 public hearing, the Mahoning County commissioners on Thursday approved adding 10 more townships to the places in Mahoning County where “economically significant wind farm, large wind farm and large solar facility” cannot be constructed. The commissioners approved their first ban Nov. 9 affecting Green Township after trustees there requested it. The commissioners held two public hearings before approving the resolution, which was made possible by an Ohio law called Senate Bill 52 that went into . . . Complete story »