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.
Questions emerge as wind projects roll out across SE Wyoming
South of Laramie, there’s a road that goes straight into the plains. Over the hill, it’s just open country, boulders and eventually, a tan house with a large porch facing the Rockies. “I wake up every morning, go get a cup of coffee and just look at the mountains,” said Missy Karamschuster, who’s chosen to live outside of Laramie with her husband to enjoy the open view. She’s worried, though, that a new development called the Rail Tie Wind Project . . . Complete story »
Packer windmill farm session hears sound expert
Opponents of the proposed wind turbine farm atop Broad Mountain in Packer Township brought in an expert on noise measurement and acoustics for the Packer Township Zoning Hearing Board on Thursday. Over 200 opponents, represented by attorney Bruce Anders, funded expert Robert Rand, who traveled from Brunswick, Maine, to appear. Anders asked for Rand’s conclusions. Rand prepared a 32-page report, submitted to the board. His summary is that, with the rules of Packer Township stating the turbines’ noise “shall not . . . Complete story »
What a Supreme Court ruling could mean for contested energy projects
Two controversial energy projects in the Columbia River Gorge area could move forward as the result of a ruling by the Oregon Supreme Court. The court’s ruling on Wednesday concerns administrative rules adopted in 2018 by the state Energy Facilities Siting Council, which oversees and imposes conditions on the construction and operation of large energy projects. The rules would have changed the process for the certification of energy sites and drew a challenge by conservation group Friends of the Columbia . . . Complete story »
Ocean City officials to hold ‘Save our Sunrise’ public hearing regarding wind farms
OCEAN CITY, Md. – “We’ve only got one chance to make this right. Once they’re built, they are built,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. The Town of Ocean City is once again speaking out voicing their concerns about proposed windfarms that are looking to be built off the town’s coastline. “Our concern all along with these projects has been the change in the scope with these projects with regard to the size of the turbines that are now being . . . Complete story »
When public business is done behind closed doors
Nothing puts a journalistr’s antenna up faster than when it appears some public official is trying to hide something. That’s exactly what was going on last winter, when the Connecticut Port Authority, we now know, was hatching a grand plan, in secret, to drastically remake the historic port of New London, filling in seven acres of the river between the two existing piers, one a stone 19th Century structure on the National Register of Historic Places. The extensive $93 million . . . Complete story »
Eagle joins Vail Valley communities spending more for renewable energy
EAGLE – Eagle will spend 10% more each year for electricity to buy it from renewable sources. In 2019 the town paid Holy Cross Energy $260,000 for electricity. The town board voted on Jan. 14 to spend an additional $27,500 annually to get some of that electricity from what Holy Cross Energy says are renewable sources, including wind farms on the Eastern Plains and solar farms around the region. It’s all part of Holy Cross Energy’s Powered by Renewable Energy program . . . Complete story »
Wind project warrior Steven Therrien dies at 57
Sheffield wind project drove family from land, to Derby trailer. DERBY – Steve Therrien, whose family left their home in Sheffield in December of 2014, due to effects from the 16 industrial wind turbines that towered over their home, died Jan. 2 at his home. He was 57. The family had converted a hunting camp into a modest single family home, but had to flee over the effects of industrial wind turbines they said affected their health and sleep. The Sheffield . . . Complete story »
Dairy Air Wind in Holland announces halt to development activity
HOLLAND – Dairy Air Wind, the last remaining wind energy project being developed in Vermont, today announced the ending of all development activities surrounding the project. Project partner David Blittersdorf cited a current political environment that is hostile to wind energy as the leading cause for this step. Dairy Air Wind was intended to be a single-turbine project sited in a cornfield on the Champney family’s 450-acre dairy farm in Holland. “In 2012, there were over a dozen wind projects in . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines bring concern for those outside city limits
For two days, members of the Buchanan County Zoning and Planning Committee heard from citizens about the potential construction of wind turbines in the area, with many speaking in opposition to the project. On Thursday night, citizens continued to give their public opinion on the proposed ordinance to allow a Florida company to build a wind farm on the outskirts of St. Joseph. Several concerns with the ordinance were addressed, including a rule that the turbines not be built within . . . Complete story »
Wind Watchers group still pushing for change in Gage County
Gage County Planning and Zoning officials are still considering a request to enhance wind energy regulations in the area, but have yet to formally propose changing what’s currently on the books. The commission held a discussion regarding the regulations during its monthly meeting on Tuesday. Prairie Wind Watchers is the group spearheading the requested amendments to Gage County’s wind regulations. The group is focusing on two specific changes it would like to see made by the county. A primary concern . . . Complete story »
