Wind Power News: Maryland
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.
Don’t despoil Dan’s Mountain
I grew up in Baltimore County. While in college there I made friends with students who lived in various parts of Appalachia. My visits to them during semester breaks and summers would take me through Western Maryland. I fell in love with the natural beauty of this area and the lifestyle here. When I was able, I purchased land in Allegany County, built a home and was blessed to find a wonderful wife. I have now resided here for 25 . . . Complete story »
It’s not the project they approved
In October 2019, the Board of Zoning Appeals granted a wind turbine project for 37.3 megawatts (MW) to Dan’s Mountain Wind Force. The Project consisted of three turbines, 426 feet tall with 1.7 MW generators and 14 turbines 496 feet tall with 2.3 MW generators. This project was Public Service Commission (PSC) Case No. 9164 and was originally granted the Certificate for Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) in March 2009, however this CPCN was voluntary relinquished by Dan’s Mountain Wind Force in . . . Complete story »
Public hearing on wind farm March 19
CUMBERLAND – The Public Service Commission of Maryland will conduct a public hearing March 19 in Frostburg to allow citizens to comment on the proposed Dan’s Mountain Wind Farm project. The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Dunkle Hall at Frostburg State University, according to a letter issued by Ryan C. McLean, chief public utility law judge. The project calls for 17 wind turbines to be constructed on the ridgeline of Dan’s Mountain near the communities of Midland and . . . Complete story »
Wind farm inadvisable, seek better alternatives
RE: Application of Dan’s Mountain Wind Force, LLC to to the Maryland Public Service Commission for a CPCN Exemption Under Public Utilities Article 7-207.1 Dear Commissioners: My wife and I own a farm where one corner of the farm is 1,000 feet from the closest wind turbine on Savage Mountain. The farm is on Frostburg Road. I work on this farm throughout the year, usually in the mornings, if not longer. There are days, under certain weather conditions, usually sun . . . Complete story »
Hearing on Dan’s Mountain wind energy project scheduled March 4
CUMBERLAND – A hearing on the proposed Dan’s Mountain Wind Farm has been scheduled for March 4 in Baltimore by the Maryland Public Service Commission. The hearing could be a key moment in the controversial case that has pitted proponents of the wind farm against a citizens group known as Allegany Neighbors and Citizens for Home Owners Rights Limited, or ANCHOR. The proposed wind farm includes placing 17 turbines on the ridgeline of Dan’s Mountain near the communities of Midland and . . . Complete story »
Evidentiary hearings to open over concerns about Skipjack wind turbines
FENWICK ISLAND, Del.- Wind farms are the center of attention once again as evidentiary hearings for the Skipjack project off of the Ocean City coast will soon be opened. The Maryland Public Service Commission said it will open up the hearings to address concerns that were brought up at a public hearing held in Ocean City back in January. The commission will focus on the impact the turbine selection and change will have on local communities. Officials in Delaware, however, . . . Complete story »
Maryland to hold new hearings on offshore wind turbine height
Nearly a month after hundreds of people filled the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Md., to comment on changes in plans for two wind-farm projects off the Delmarva coast, Maryland’s Public Service Commission has agreed to hold new hearings on the projects. The hearings will focus on plans to change the height of the wind turbines proposed for two projects, U.S. Wind and Skipjack. As now proposed, the turbines for the two projects would be 12 megawatts . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines should be 33 miles from shore
(The following letter was addressed to Maryland Public Service Commission Executive Secretary Andrew Johnston.) This communication is in reference to the following cases: 9628: US Wind Maryland Lease Area Project and 9629: Skipjack Delaware Lease Area Project. On behalf of the over 1,000 members of the Coastal Association of REALTORS®, I submit this letter in support of the Town of Ocean City’s request for reconsideration of the approved distance between the municipality and the Skipjack and U.S. Wind offshore wind . . . Complete story »
Delawareans should not rely on state to make wind farm decision
Delawareans must form an independent conclusion on DNREC’s proposal to house Ørsted’s two-acre electricity substation at Fenwick Island State Park because DNREC is bound to a joint communication strategy and nondisclosure agreement with the corporate and cannot be trusted to convey unbiased information. DNREC has neglected to provide Delawareans two key data points. First, the proposal would meaningfully harm undisturbed and protected wetlands. Impermeable surface at the state park would increase nearly fourfold and currently undisturbed ocean-to-bay coastal wetlands would . . . Complete story »
More scrutiny a must for turbines
Over the course of five hours, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) should have heard enough concerns to warrant further examination of the proposed offshore wind turbines, specially their significant changes in height. The concept behind last week’s public hearing was to hear from the concerned citizens and government officials who requested a public hearing to relay concerns over the significant increase in wind turbine heights with both offshore project developers. After holding the hearing, which attracted about 800 people . . . Complete story »
