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.
NJ Congressman Smith requests suspension of offshore wind energy development
The Honorable Gina Raimondo Secretary of Commerce Dear Secretary Raimondo: I am writing on behalf of twelve New Jersey Shore mayors who have sent the enclosed letter “calling for a moratorium on all offshore wind activity until investigations are held.” I share their concerns regarding the several offshore wind projects under development off the coast of New Jersey, and their requisite impact on recent whale deaths, as well as the potential impacts on the broader environment and the fishing industry. . . . Complete story »
Lawsuit over wind turbine in Oliver County moves forward
A family in Oliver County has asked to recover financial losses in a lawsuit against a wind farm operator. They claim a turbine that was placed too close to their farmstead devalued and prevented them from fully using their property. In 2021, the North Dakota Public Service Commission told Minnesota Power to take down a wind turbine that had been constructed in 2014. The turbine was 1,125 feet away from Keith and Deanna Kessler’s farmstead. That was within a 1,400-foot . . . Complete story »
Glenmont residents challenge environmental review of wind project again
One of the most outspoken Glenmont residents challenging the town of Bethlehem’s approval of the Beacon Island wind turbine manufacturing project asserts that the town planning board didn’t properly follow state environmental review regulations. But both the town planning board attorney and the Department of Environmental Conservation say that the claim is just flat wrong and relies on a misinterpretation of SEQR, otherwise known as the State Environmental Quality Act. Sylvia Rowlands, one of about 30 Glenmont residents who have . . . Complete story »
Local mayors, others call for moratorium on wind power surveys
A delegation of a dozen mayors from barrier island communities signed a letter, dated Jan. 30, to New Jersey’s federal legislators, calling for a moratorium on any offshore wind farm activities until state and federal officials can determine what is killing whales off the New Jersey coastline. Local mayors Judith Davies-Dunhour (Stone Harbor), Patrick Rosenello (North Wildwood), and Don Cabrera (Wildwood Crest) each signed the letter addressed to U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez (both D-NJ), and U.S. Reps. . . . Complete story »
Questioning the wisdom of offshore wind
On April 20, 2010, the oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, releasing millions of barrels of oil into pristine ocean waters. Desperate to contain the spill, the U.S. government applied unprecedented amounts of chemical dispersants. While the dispersants helped diffuse the petroleum, they significantly magnified (52x) the toxicity of the spill, killing millions of additional fish and other wildlife. Such is the law of unintended consequences. After years of inaction, the U.S. is now aggressively intervening . . . Complete story »
Fremont County citizen’s group files lawsuit against county over wind energy regulations
A local citizen’s group has filed a lawsuit in Iowa District Court against Fremont County regarding alleged mishandlings of regulating wind turbines in the county. According to a press release from the offices of Lawyers Shawn Shearer and Theodore Sporer, a 60-page petition outlining at least 20 separate allegations has been filed into district court in Fremont county to “express frustrations with the county’s Board of Supervisors” and their attempts to regulate wind turbines. According to the release, allegations include . . . Complete story »
‘Strategy’ to protect right whales from offshore wind development is recipe for extinction
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a draft of their strategy to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW) from the hazards of offshore wind development this past fall. The report is a heartbreaking portrayal of the plight of the 336 remaining right whales. Approximately 230 animals have died over the past decade. Autopsies and photo documentation conclude that fishing gear entanglement and vessel strikes have caused the . . . Complete story »
Pritzker flips: supports overriding local control of wind farm siting decisions
A bill that strips local control from county governments regarding zoning matters on wind and solar energy appears to be close to becoming law. The legislation, which passed in the lame-duck session of the previous Illinois General Assembly, would provide counties with “guardrails” for siting wind farms, and would create a commission that would oversee and approve wind turbines everywhere but Chicago. Supporters say the measure is needed to better attain the state’s renewable energy goals. “I think it’s very . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines taller than the Statue of Liberty are falling over
On a calm, sunny day last June, Mike Willey was feeding his cattle when he got a call from the local sheriff’s dispatcher. A motorist had reported that one of the huge turbines at a nearby wind farm had collapsed in dramatic fashion. Willey, chief of the volunteer fire department in Ames, 90 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, set out to survey the scene. The steel tower, which once stood hundreds of feet tall, was buckled in half, and the . . . Complete story »
Humpback whale washes up at Assateague Island
A dead whale washed up on the shore at Assateague Island Monday morning. The 20-foot humpback whale was found Jan. 16 in the Maryland Oversand Vehicle Area. Assateague Island interpretation and education chief Liz Davis said it’s a fairly unusual occurrence. “That said, we do see a dead whale washed ashore every few years,” she said. There are no obvious signs of a cause of death at this time, said the National Park Service. A necropsy was planned for today . . . Complete story »
