Wind Power News: Massachusetts
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.
Wind farm near Martha’s Vineyard in jeopardy
Rhode Island fishing interests, given the authority to weigh in on offshore wind projects that could damage their livelihoods, are flexing their muscles. As a result, a 94-turbine wind farm planned for waters south of Martha’s Vineyard is in serious jeopardy. Like Deepwater Wind’s South Fork Wind farm planned off of Montauk, the Vineyard Wind project is owned by European energy companies with global wind-farm interests. Rhode Island, as part of the permitting process, asked for and was given “Federal . . . Complete story »
Vineyard Wind project hit with setbacks as deadline approaches
PROVIDENCE – The influx of offshore wind energy isn’t without its hiccups as developers negotiate with regulatory agencies and fishermen to get their projects approved as deadlines approach. Vineyard Wind, the 94-turbine wind facility proposed for south of Martha’s Vineyard, was dealt a setback recently when it was denied an extension to complete a review by Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). The developers, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables LLC, already received additional time and wanted a seven-week extension . . . Complete story »
Vineyard Wind loses backing of a fishing board, decision may have serious consequences for proposed offshore wind farm
NARRAGANSETT – Vineyard Wind is facing an uphill battle to secure a key approval from Rhode Island coastal regulators for its 800-megawatt offshore wind farm after a state fishing board refused to back the $2-billion project. The Fishermen’s Advisory Board, which advises the Coastal Resources Management Council on fishing issues related to offshore wind, voted unanimously Monday to deny its support out of fear that the layout of the project’s 84 towering wind turbines in Rhode Island Sound would close off . . . Complete story »
CMP warned of ‘working off the same playbook’ that stymied New Hampshire energy project
With great promise, developers announce plans to string high-voltage power lines from Quebec to Massachusetts and bring a new source of lower-cost, clean electricity to New England. They offer millions of dollars to communities and stakeholders along the route to help gain support. But well-organized opposition surfaces and progress stalls. And when a growing revolt against overhead power lines threatens the project, developers belatedly agree to put a portion underground, despite the expense. This chain of events might sound familiar . . . Complete story »
Turbines’ wings clipped: Two of three down, but owners say they should be running soon
The number of spinning giant turbines standing high above Gloucester’s Blackburn Industrial Park is now, temporarily at least, down to one. A spokesman for Applied Materials/Varian Semiconductor Associates said Monday that the company hopes to have its dismantled turbine back up and running in the coming weeks, but it remained in pieces on the ground Monday. The man who heads up maintenance efforts on the other two turbines, which serve the city of Gloucester and its energy business partner, confirmed . . . Complete story »
Fishermen divided on plans for more offshore wind
NARRAGANSETT, R.I. – Commercial fishermen and sport fishermen are split over the benefits of offshore wind facilities. Commercial fishermen say the wind-energy projects planned for southern New England, such as the South Fork Wind Farm, are the latest threats to their income after decades of quotas and regulations. “I don’t like the idea of the ocean being taken away from me after I’ve thrown so many big-dollar fish back in the water for the last 30 years, praying I’d get it . . . Complete story »
Motion to intervene on turbine appeal denied
The Massachusetts Appeals Court rejected a motion to intervene in the court order to shut down Falmouth’s two wind turbines as a nuisance, upholding Barnstable Superior Court Judge Cornelius J. Moriarty II’s decision. “We see no reason to disturb the judge’s ruling,” Associate Justices Peter J. Rubin, Gabrielle R. Wolohojian, and Amy L. Blake wrote in their decision, noting the history of the litigation. “Here, [Judge Moriarty] properly considered that intervention would delay and complicate the final resolution that was . . . Complete story »
Fishermen ask for more time to study wind impact
NEW BEDFORD – Fishermen, fish processors and others warned on Thursday that fishing grounds will be lost with the construction of Vineyard Wind, and some expressed doubt that planned UMass Dartmouth research can happen fast enough to document the loss. “We have this huge area we’re going to develop, and obviously we’ve got a pretty close timeline,” said Ed Barrett, a commercial fisherman from the South Shore. “How are you ever going to even come close to figuring out an impact? . . . Complete story »
Disabled and disassembled: Blades removed from Applied Materials turbine
The giant wind turbine that has generated both power and a number of repair issues for the Applied Materials/Varian Semiconductor Associates facility in Gloucester’s Blackburn Industrial Park literally have reached a new low. Portions of the 492-foot high turbine had been disassembled and were lying on the ground Wednesday morning. The disassembly marks at least the third time in the last four years that the Applied turbine – the tallest of the three within the industrial park – has been shut down . . . Complete story »
Appeals Court upholds Falmouth wind turbine decision
BOSTON – The latest attempt by a citizens group to pursue a less drastic alternative to the court- ordered permanent shutdown of Falmouth’s two wind turbines has failed, ending eight years of litigation related to the controversial machines. Barnstable Superior Court Judge Cornelius Moriarty had deemed the turbines at the town’s wastewater treatment facility a nuisance and ordered that they be permanently shut down in June 2017. The selectmen voted not to appeal the decision. But a local citizens group, The . . . Complete story »
