Wind Power News: Florida
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.
NextEra Energy focusing on wind, sun projects outside Florida
The parent company of Florida Power & Light has just spun off a new company for big sun- and wind-energy projects, but don’t expect any of those ventures in South Florida soon. The NextEra Energy Group already ranks as the largest producer of wind and sun energy in North America, with huge wind farms in the Dakotas and massive solar arrays in the California desert. Big renewable-energy projects make the most economic sense in areas that have strong wind, steady . . . Complete story »
Florida candidate Crist courts green vote without mentioning green costs
Call it a green energy pledge for greenbacks. Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, a Democrat, has vowed to use his future authority as governor to impose renewable energy standards similar to the 20 percent mandate he championed when last serving as Florida’s chief executive. That much Crist made clear at a recent solar energy rally at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee. The event was sponsored by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. “Right now we’re not utilizing . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines now spinning at Hilton hotel
The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort officially powered up six wind turbines Wednesday that are expected to help reduce its energy consumption and costs. The wind turbines were installed on the rooftop of the 25-story hotel in September and have been undergoing final inspections and tests to get them ready. “We tested them last week, and they worked great and looked great,” General Manager Andreas Ioannou said Wednesday shortly before festivities kicked off to launch operations. “It’s an exciting day . . . Complete story »
A double standard for saving birds
When the bird rescue people rescue birds, they don’t just tend to their wounds, hand-feed and shelter them. They name them. For example, there’s Norman, an eastern screech owl rescued by the Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation Program at the Texas State Aquarium. Birds also receive considerable protection from the federal government. Citgo learned this the hard way when the government prosecuted the company for contributing to the deaths of four cormorants, five pelicans and 25 ducks at one of its . . . Complete story »
Attention, birds of the Everglades: Avoid the windmills!
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – When you think of Florida, you probably think of sun, not wind. But if things keep marching along, Palm Beach County is going to become the wind capital of the Sunshine State. Last month, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved an environmental permit for a company to build 114 wind turbines – each of them far taller than the Statue of Liberty – on 13,000 acres of farmland east of Belle Glade. We’re talking about a metallic . . . Complete story »
Good news for birds as Everglades wind farm scrapped
And now, a Thanksgivukkah miracle for the birds: This week, Wind Capital Group announced that it will not move forward with the Sugarland Wind Farm, a project that would have placed 124 Statue of Liberty-sized wind turbines in the Everglades Agricultural Area. A consultant for Wind Capital Group cited to “market issues” and the lack of economic incentives for renewable energy in Florida as the reason. In a way, this is a shame. Renewable energy is the future and we . . . Complete story »
Builders of proposed wind farm drop plans
Developers of a disputed energy-producing wind farm have dropped their plans to build 500-foot-tall turbines on the edge of the Everglades, a project representative confirmed Tuesday. Environmental groups long opposed allowing the Sugarland Wind project to be built on western Palm Beach County farmland. Opponents argued that its towering, whirling blades posed too great a risk to endangered wood storks, Everglades snail kites and other migrating birds. Despite the risk to birds, the Palm Beach County Commission last year allowed . . . Complete story »
State approves wind farm despite bird threats
Threats to birds didn’t stop state regulators from approving an energy-producing wind farm – with towering, whirling blades – planned for Palm Beach County sugar cane fields. The Sugarland Wind proposal calls for building at least 114 wind-catching, Statue of Liberty-sized turbines that would be spread across 13,000 acres of farmland in western Palm Beach County. Environmental groups have objected to the proposed location of the turbines, saying they pose too much of a risk to birds migrating through the Everglades. That . . . Complete story »
Wind power numbers just don’t add up
Sugarland Wind has received local approval to construct a 200 million watt (megawatt) electrical generating wind farm in Florida’s Everglades. They state that, “the 113 turbines will produce clean domestic energy for up to 60,000 homes.” This is a nice neat quotable statement that has been picked up by every local media outlet in South Florida. In east central Wyoming, near Casper, Duke Energy recently completed construction of the Top of the World farm, a 110-turbine 200-mega watt wind farm. . . . Complete story »
Thumb down: Wind turbines installed at Sebastian Municipal Airport still not working as promised
It seemed like a good idea at the time – and may ultimately be a good idea – but nearly a year later, there are questions about the decision by the Sebastian City Council on a plan to install two wind turbines at the Sebastian Municipal Airport. The 20-foot turbines were expected to generate energy from wind to power security streetlights along Industrial Park Drive at the airport. With power allocated to FPL, the city could get a credit on the its . . . Complete story »
