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Wind Power News: New Hampshire
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.
Two offshore wind bills pass Senate committee
Two bills that anticipate offshore wind in New Hampshire’s future sailed through hearings in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, gaining the full support of the committee on Tuesday. After a state mandate on purchasing wind energy proved too controversial to pass last session, Sen. David Watters, a Dover Democrat, came back with more modest proposals: one setting the stage for New Hampshire to regulate offshore wind projects that impact state businesses and the environment, and another establishing criteria . . . Complete story »
Two offshore wind bills pass Senate committee with bipartisan support
Two bills that anticipate offshore wind in New Hampshire’s future sailed through hearings in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, gaining the full support of the committee on Tuesday. After a state mandate on purchasing wind energy proved too controversial to pass last session, Sen. David Watters, a Dover Democrat, came back with more modest proposals: one setting the stage for New Hampshire to regulate offshore wind projects that impact state businesses and the environment, and another establishing criteria . . . Complete story »
Wind, solar tax breaks proposed to Canaan voters
CANAAN – Canaan is expected to debate whether or not to exempt wind and solar energy systems that offset on-site power usage from property taxes. Residents are circulating a petition to create a property tax exemption that would essentially remove qualifying renewable power systems from the assessed value used to calculate property taxes. The exemption would apply to homes and small businesses, but not commercial projects like a solar array farm. “If you’re taxed, your payback (on your investment) is a . . . Complete story »
New England council calls for offshore wind mitigation fund
The New England Fishery Management Council updated its offshore wind energy policy, endorsing calls for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to establish “a compensatory mitigation fund for damages that occur to the marine environment and fish habitat,” and losses to fishing vessels as turbine arrays are built. The council’s Dec. 7 deliberation came with a new presentation from BOEM on the agency’s push to review and approve up to 16 wind energy projects off the East Coast by late . . . Complete story »
The N.H. Department of Energy wants more data on the impact of offshore wind
Offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine could impact New Hampshire’s economy, environment, and energy system. The state’s new Department of Energy has released a Request for Proposals to find a consultant to help the state assess what those impacts could be. Offshore wind development has produced controversy in other places. But the East Coast will likely see a major development of the renewable energy source in the coming years. Though New Hampshire is likely years away from offshore . . . Complete story »
Granite Reliable Power wind farm sale gets final approval
The sale of the 99-megawatt Granite Reliable Wind commercial farm has been given final approval by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee. The committee issued its order on Aug. 17, approving the transfer of the certificate of site and facility for the state’s largest wind farm. The 33-turbine wind farm is currently owned by BAIF U.S. Renewable Power, a subsidiary of Brookfield Renewable Power, with Freshet Wind Energy holding a small share. When the transfer is complete, the entire wind . . . Complete story »
State approves sale of New Hampshire’s largest wind farm
After nearly four months of review, the state has formally approved the sale of the Granite Reliable Power wind farm in Coos County, the largest commercial wind farm in New Hampshire. Following the decision by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee, the 99-megawatt, 33-turbine GRP that has been in operation since 2012 will be purchased by NextEra Energy Partners from majority owner Brookfield Renewable Energy, which currently owns 89.5 percent of GRP, and Freshet Energy LLC, which owns 10.5 percent. . . . Complete story »
State’s largest wind farm sold from one energy conglomerate to another
CONCORD – The once controversial Granite Reliable Wind Farm is changing hands from one energy conglomerate to another. The state Site Evaluation Committee issued its final order this week approving the ownership transfer from Brookfield Renewable Energy to a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., which owns the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant. Brookfield and Freshet Wind Energy, which owns 10.5 percent of Granite Reliable, are transferring ownership to Tusk Wind Holdings III, as part of a four wind farm sale including Granite . . . Complete story »
New England solar developer’s legal wrangling draws praise, criticism
Thomas Melone is president of a Connecticut solar company. He is also a lawyer. And between the two, observers say, he is something of an enigma. As head of Allco Renewable Energy, Melone says his company’s corporate mission is to combat the devastating impacts of climate change. But he’s also filed multiple lawsuits challenging several states’ clean energy programs. He most recently made news by suing in federal court to have approvals overturned for Vineyard Wind – poised to be the . . . Complete story »
Coos County: financial information non-public in pending wind farm sale
After a decade in operation, the 33-turbine, 99-megawatt Granite Reliable Power commercial wind farm in Coos County is about to be sold, and the buyer and seller want to keep the purchase and sale agreement from the public. The sale must first be approved by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee, which on July 26 held a public hearing in Concord. On May 3, Brookfield Renewable Power, the majority owner, and NextEra Energy, the prospective buyer, filed a joint petition . . . Complete story »