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Wind Power News: Arkansas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to provide information about industrial wind energy development to readers seeking such information. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the credited organizations or individuals and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Quorum court approves moratorium on wind turbines
The Poinsett County Quorum Court approved an ordinance to put a one year moratorium on the construction of commercial wind turbines for the purpose of commercial marketing of electricity. During last month’s meeting, the court heard some of the effects that wind turbines could have on the land they are erected on and the wildlife in the area. Kevin Watts, attorney for Poinsett County, told the court he spoke with AAC attorney Mark Whitmore about this issue. “Whitmore said do . . . Complete story »
Crawford County bans wind farms for 5 years
The Crawford County Quorum Court passed a five-year moratorium on the construction of commercial wind turbines at its meeting Tuesday night. The vote was 12-0 with one absent, said County Clerk Stacey L. Shelly. “The Quorum Court finds that the immediate implementation of this ordinance is necessary for the preservation of the public’s peace, health, safety, welfare and property, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and that this Ordinance is to be in effect immediately after its adoption,” according . . . Complete story »
Proposed wind farm in Lincoln raises local concerns
The proposal for a wind farm 5 miles north of Lincoln is in the very early stages of study and is years away if it happens at all, the development manager for the proposal said Thursday. “We can’t do this without local support, and wouldn’t do it without that,” said Madalyn Farquhar, development manager for RES, a global energy company with U.S. operations based in Denver. The company is talking with local landowners to see if enough support exists to . . . Complete story »
Arkansas legislature approves wind farm regulations
Both houses of the Arkansas state legislature have signed off on legislation to regulate wind farms in Arkansas. That action came on the last day of the legislative session, which adjourned yesterday. The legislation requires the base of wind turbines to be one mile from schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, parks, airports and city limits. It also sets a minimum distance for the base of wind turbines at 2,500 feet from a neighbor’s property, or 3.5 times the height of . . . Complete story »
Arkansas Senate passes bill to regulate wind farms; existing projects, lowlands exempt
The Arkansas State Senate has passed a bill to regulate wind farms in parts of Arkansas. The bill creates the Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act, which will now go before the Arkansas House of Representatives. The regulation exempts the lowlands in Arkansas as well as projects already under construction. The proposed legislation would require the base of the wind turbines to be one mile from schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, parks, airports and city limits. It also sets a minimum . . . Complete story »
Carroll County bans new commercial wind and solar energy projects
With a unanimous vote Tuesday night, Carroll County put a moratorium on the construction of new commercial wind and solar energy projects. The vote follows an unsuccessful attempt last year by the Carroll County Quorum Court to ban such projects. (Quorum courts are the elected governing bodies for Arkansas counties.) Carroll County’s moratorium comes just a few months after nearby Madison County put a similar hold on renewable energy projects into effect. Much of the opposition came from concerns that . . . Complete story »
Bill to establish wind turbine siting rules would allow local governments to pass stronger restrictions
State lawmakers have introduced legislation that would create, for the first time, a regulatory framework for the development of renewable wind energy projects in Arkansas. Senate President Bart Hester (R-Cave City) teamed up with Rep. Brad Hall (R-Rudy) and Rep. James Eaton (R-Huntsville) to sponsor the Arkansas Wind Energy Development Act. It was filed on Wednesday. Senate Bill 437 addresses a range of issues related to the construction of wind turbines, including public safety, standards for decommissioning wind energy facilities, . . . Complete story »
Bill to limit wind turbine height for waterfowl conservation fails in committee
A bill that would limit the height of wind turbines for power generation in certain circumstances for the conservation of waterfowl failed a voice vote in the Joint Energy Committee yesterday. The bill would have limited the height of turbines to 150 feet if 11 or more bird bands were recovered within a five-mile radius of the proposed turbine site in the last 10 years. The bill’s sponsor was State Representative Jeremiah Moore. Moore said the bill was less about . . . Complete story »
Court says no to wind turbines, imposes one year moratorium
In a special meeting on Dec. 30, the Madison County Quorum Court imposed a 1-year moratorium on wind turbine development within the county. [This item is available in full to subscribers.] Complete story »
Eastern Carroll County residents resolute in blocking proposed Nimbus wind facility
Caroline Rogers stands beneath a large elm tree this morning on a pasture southeast of Green Forest in Carroll County. She gestures toward a craggy mountain ridge in the distance. “Around here, everyone has springs or wells, or they truck in water or have water catchment,” she said. “So if during the construction – if they pierce our spring or they divert our spring – we could lose our water.” Rogers, the founder of Stop Wind Farms AR, refers to collateral damage . . . Complete story »
