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.
Will a new energy project lure eagles to their death?
A proposed energy storage project in the Columbia Basin is drawing concern from bird advocates. They’re worried new water ponds could attract waterfowl and eagles that could then be struck by nearby wind turbines. The Goldendale pumped hydro storage project would work like a giant battery. Green energy advocates say this type of storage is crucial to getting more renewable power on the grid. The project would be able to store renewable energy for times when the wind isn’t blowing . . . Complete story »
NextEra withdraws plans for wind farm opposed by military
NextEra Energy Resources is withdrawing plans to build a wind farm that had been opposed by the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission, according to the office of Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter and OSMPC Chairman Mike Cooper. Construction on the company’s wind farm west of Hinton was stopped last October after NextEra and the OSMPC agreed to work on a mitigation plan with the Defense Department to resolve the issue. Hinton is 53 miles west of Oklahoma City and 88 . . . Complete story »
Big news in wind farm battle
A special meeting of the Marion County Commission came to an abrupt halt this afternoon after Brad Jantz, county counselor, made an announcement to a full room. “There has been a lawsuit filed against the county, and as much as I know about it, the subject matter are the wind turbines and farms,” Jantz said. “As such, I’m going to strongly recommend here today that you table any public discussion about Article 27 or anything else until we get served . . . Complete story »
Wind company lodges complaint against DWS
KAILUA-KONA – Lalamilo Wind Company in April filed an administrative complaint with the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply in what could prove a predecessor to a multi-million dollar lawsuit. The complaint claims DWS is guilty of breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, misrepresentation and promissory estoppel. The claims stem primarily from LWC’s view that the department has failed to fulfill wind energy purchasing obligations as outlined in a power purchase agreement the entities entered . . . Complete story »
NextEra Energy Resources scraps wind farm plans because of airspace concerns
Plans were dropped Friday to build two west-central Oklahoma wind energy projects, including one that had been paused by potential litigation over concerns it would interfere with low-level military training air routes, their developer announced Friday. NextEra Energy Resources, a wind developer that has invested more than $5 billion in Oklahoma projects, said it began notifying landowners it had negotiated leases with for those projects on Friday afternoon it will not proceed. Scrapped projects are the 220-megawatt Minco V wind . . . Complete story »
New wind farm a big surprise
I attended the Rio Dell city Council meeting on May 7, and was surprised to learn about the Humboldt wind farm that is to be built on Bear River Ridge above Rio Dell. I was also informed that the public comment period ends on June 5. If I hadn’t been at the city council meeting, I never would have known about the proposed wind farm. Why was I not informed about this? The developer, Humboldt Wind LLC was required to . . . Complete story »
Fact Check: Pro wind farm postcard makes inaccurate claim
A misleading postcard was mailed out to Reno County residents this week claiming that county officials were proposing to impose a 2,500-foot setback on wind farm developments in the county. The mailing, from the anonymous “Kansans for Energy Options,” asked those receiving it to call Reno County Commissioners and “tell them to oppose the new 2,500 ft setback regulations and stand with landowners!” The County Commission had been expected to vote next week on whether to grant NextEra Energy a . . . Complete story »
Ameren Missouri seeks to build wind farm in Atchinson County
Ameren Missouri filed an application with the Missouri Public Service Commission seeking permission to construct and own an 299-megawatt wind farm in Atchinson County. Another company plans to build the wind farm and Ameren plans to purchase the wind farm once it is complete, according to a news release from the Missouri Public Service Commission. Applications to intervene in the case must be sent to the the Missouri Public Service Commission by May 25. Complete story »
Nextera hearing delayed until June
A special county commission meeting set for next week on NextEra Energy’s conditional use permit application for its Reno County wind farm has been delayed, likely into early June, Reno County officials said late Friday. County Administrator Gary Meagher said the Florida developer had raised legal questions over some of the protest petitions filed by homeowners in the case. Residents living within the wind farm footprint filed the petitions in an attempt to force a unanimous vote of the County . . . Complete story »
Courtroom cross-examinations in wind farm “evidentiary hearing”
LOWVILLE – A stalemate on a number of issues after the early wrap-up of this week’s “evidentiary hearing” for Invenergy’s Number 3 Wind Farm resulted in a closed-door “settlement conference” to try to search for middle ground. The hearing, one of the final stages of the state’s Article 10 energy project vetting process, was scheduled to be held all this week at the Lewis County Courthouse. However, it wrapped up by Wednesday. Hundreds of pages of written testimony and evidence were . . . Complete story »
