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Wind Power News: Alabama
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.
Wind turbine lawsuit now in federal court
HEFLIN – A lawsuit filed by local residents to stop development of a wind turbine farm on Turkey Heaven Mountain in Cleburne County last week moved to federal court. The lawsuit, filed on June 2, had dismissed all the defendants but Oklahoma-based Nations Energy Solutions and Terra-Gen Power from Delaware, so the defendants asked that the case be transferred to federal court. Anniston attorney Christopher Hopkins, who represents the defendants, filed the notice of the move to federal court Dec. 4. . . . Complete story »
All defendants but two dismissed from wind turbine lawsuit
All defendants but two have been dismissed from a lawsuit against those involved a proposed wind turbine farm on Turkey Heaven Mountain in Cleburne County. Circuit Judge John C. Thomason dismissed the defendants from the lawsuit without comment in an order filed on Wednesday. Those defendants were landowners who had discussed allowing wind turbines to be built on their property. Plaintiffs were nearby landowners who don’t want the turbines built. Plaintiffs attorney Chad Hopper said he requested the rest of . . . Complete story »
Law final blow for wind project
A lawyer for Pioneer Green Energy confirmed to The Post last week that the Texas-based company has shuttered plans for a wind turbine farm on Lookout Mountain and is pulling out of Cherokee County for good. “They have terminated the project,” said Charlie Stewart of the Birmingham law firm Spain & Gillon. “The lawsuit against us in local circuit court has been dismissed and Pioneer Green has terminated its lease with the Cash family.” Pioneer Green had been working actively . . . Complete story »
Wind project cancellations good news for communities
Sometimes you wonder if anything good happens to ordinary good people. In this time of domestic and international strife, local problems are overcome by the enormity of more pressing issues. The Afghanistan and Iraq wars are monumental in relation, domestic unemployment problems persist, the ever-increasing United States debt, racial problems in Ferguson, Mo., and the list goes on. Good things happened for good people in three small communities as manifested by wonderful news concerning giant windmills and their associated projects. . . . Complete story »
Turbines turned away in Alabama
Who will be the first to erect wind turbines in the state of Alabama? Not Pioneer Green Energy. They have halted plans for an industrial wind turbine project on top of scenic Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. NextERA has announced wind projects in Jackson and Madison Counties, and others have a project planned in Cleburne County. A proposed wind development in Baldwin County was denied last year, when the county commission obtained clarity from the state legislature through a . . . Complete story »
Wind farm projects canceled in Etowah, Cherokee counties
A Texas-based company has canceled plans to put a wind farm on top of Shinbone Ridge in Etowah and Cherokee Counties. Pioneer Green Energy had planned to put up turbines, but their attorney, Charles Stewart of Birmingham, confirmed that the leases with property owners have been terminated. He says the company has also filed in court to have lawsuits dismissed that were aimed at stopping the project. Ginny Shaver, a Cherokee County resident and one of a number of property . . . Complete story »
Wind farm project dead; leases with land owners terminated
Pioneer Green Energy, the Texas-based company that wanted to put wind turbines along Shinbone Ridge in Etowah and Cherokee County, has abandoned the project because the restrictions imposed by Alabama legislation passed in the last session were “just too restrictive.” Attorney Charles Stewart, representing Pioneer Green, said the project has been canceled in both Etowah and Cherokee counties. He said after legislation was passed establishing parameters for any wind turbine project, including setback lines and permitting through the Public Service . . . Complete story »
Alabama regs too strict for turbines, says lawyer for wind energy developer
GADSDEN, Alabama – The lawyer for a Texas-based company abandoning plans for two windmill farms in northeast Alabama said today that recently approved state regulations on wind energy led to the decision. Charlie Stewart, attorney for Pioneer Green Energy, said the company no longer has plans to develop two wind energy farms in Cherokee and Etowah counties. Groups opposing the development announced yesterday they had received word Pioneer Green was relinquishing land leases for the projects. Pioneer Green Energy announced last year . . . Complete story »
Wind energy company pulling out of Cherokee, Etowah County projects, opposition says
CENTRE, Alabama – Groups opposed to a proposed wind farm project in Cherokee and Etowah counties say the company behind the development has informed them that it will not be building a wind farm in Alabama. According to a document filed July 9 in Cherokee County Probate Court, Pioneer Green Energy President Andrew Bowman signed a memorandum terminating a lease to about 1,889 acres of property, slated to be developed for the project. Mitzi Gibbs Eaker, with No Wind Alabama, said . . . Complete story »
Interstate wind transmission project gets key federal approval
The proposed 700-mile power line to bring Oklahoma wind energy 700 miles to Tennessee has received a key federal approval, the company behind the transmission project reported Tuesday. Plains and Eastern Clean Line LLC has gained approval to sell transmission service to customers at negotiated rates and to negotiate agreements for 100 percent of the line’s capacity. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave approval for the project that hopes to deliver 3,500 megawatts of wind power from the Oklahoma Panhandle . . . Complete story »
