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.
Wind turbines continue to cause tension at Arkwright Town Board meeting
ARKWRIGHT – The scene at Arkwright’s town board meeting was tense and as bitter as the cold outside. The first meeting of the new year did not take a new tone, despite many attempts at humor by the board to lighten up the increasingly hostile setting. Following the conclusion of the organizational meeting, the regular meeting began with the newest report on the wind turbines. “I have a report relative to the windmills,” said Arkwright Supervisor Fred Norton. “Our engineer tested . . . Complete story »
Lake Ontario wind power developer downplays critics, promises ‘windfall’ for community
Executives of the company that wants to construct 47 wind turbines near Lake Ontario call the reported level of local opposition to the project exaggerated. Town officials said the opposition runs as strong as ever, and they will continue to fight the Lighthouse Wind project through the state siting board process. Paul Williamson, senior development manager for Apex Clean Energy, told The Buffalo News’ Editorial Board on Wednesday that the company is willing to divide $1.5 million a year among . . . Complete story »
‘There’s a lot of fear mongering out there’
WILLARD – During a presentation Monday, an APEX leader said there’s “a lot of fear mongering out there” attempting to sway the Willard school board’s vote on a decision involving what one opposer called “monster turbines” coming to the area. The board invited APEX representative Sarah Moser to answer some of the board members’ questions regarding the ongoing wind turbine issue and how the district should vote on the issue, if at all. Numerous community members showed up and spoke during . . . Complete story »
California’s energy grid is in crisis. Can the state keep the lights on?
More renewable energy, accessible at the whims of weather, can throw the grid off balance. Renewables lack the characteristic that power planners most prize: dispatchability, ready when called on and turned off when not immediately needed. Wind and sun don’t behave that way; their power is often available in great hunks — or not at all, as when clouds cover solar panels or winds drop. Complete story »
PUC sets new standards for wind energy approval
WORTHINGTON – Two recent actions taken by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission are poised to sharpen a focus on the hiring of local labor for wind energy projects. On Dec. 6, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission set a new precedent for wind energy by postponing a vote on the Bitter Root Wind Farm due to concerns about local hiring. Two weeks later, at a Dec. 20 hearing, the PUC approved the Nobles 2 Wind Project in Nobles County – one of the . . . Complete story »
2 turbines will not spin again in Falmouth
FALMOUTH – The two town-owned wind turbines whose operation bitterly divided the community for years will never spin again in Falmouth. In a vote that put an end to the eight-year turbine debate, four of five selectmen supported a motion at their meeting Monday night not to allow the pair to run within town borders. Selectman Samuel Patterson abstained. Selectman Douglas Jones made the motion. “I have no interest in having these turbines run in Falmouth ever again,” Jones said. Wind . . . Complete story »
New wind farm eyeing Butte County for potential siting
BUTTE COUNTY – A new wind farm company may locate to Butte County north of Newell. Brenda Moore, a general manager with Energiekontor U.S., Inc., spoke to the Butte County Commission Thursday and explained that Energiekontor is an international energy producer that is part of the Energiekontor group of companies present in many countries including Germany, the U.K., France, Portugal, and the Netherlands. According to the company’s website, the group has developed, financed, and constructed nearly 120 utility scale renewables projects . . . Complete story »
Commission votes against DeWitt County wind farm
CLINTON – The developer of a $300 million wind farm in northwestern DeWitt County will present its case to the county Zoning Board of Appeals next month. It will do so, however, without a recommendation from the county Regional Planning Commission. The panel voted 3-1 with two abstentions Tuesday night against a positive recommendation after Lenexa, Kansas-based Tradewind Energy Inc. laid out its case for the first wind farm in DeWitt County. The commission is charged with deciding if a proposed . . . Complete story »
100 percent “green” energy far from feasible
Wishing something is so doesn’t make it possible, and nowhere in politics is the gap between aspiration and reality larger than in the push to quickly eliminate fossil fuel use. Some politicians and environmental activists want to require that all U.S. electricity be generated from renewable sources by the 2030s. That would mean replacing an overwhelming majority of current production, which is generated by coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. What would such a transition look like? Robert Bryce, a . . . Complete story »
Proposed Farmersville law to defend town officials has ‘bad optics’
FARMERSVILLE – Everyone agreed: The optics were not good for a local law to provide a defense for Farmersville town officials and employees, at a time when the town board is considering changes to the town wind law. The public hearing Monday was attended by about 50 residents, most of whom wore green T-shirts with wording that made it clear they were not Alle-Catt Wind Farm supporters. Town Attorney David DiMatteo, who prepared the proposed law, said he recommended the legislation . . . Complete story »
