Wind Power News: U.S.
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.
Big Wind has — finally — blown over
On Aug. 15, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission officially pulled the plug on David Murdock’s environmentally disastrous plans for Big Wind on Lanai. Citing the Legislature’s recent repeal of the 2012 undersea cable bill (Act 205), and HECO’s statement that it no longer needed wind from Lanai to reach its renewable energy targets, the PUC closed the door on the Murdock/Lingle/Abercrombie plan to sacrifice one-quarter of Lanai to enrich a mainland real estate developer’s bottom line. The PUC’s announcement brought . . .
Tense open meeting in Hopkinton on turbines
For the most part, though, the testimony was solidly against the turbines, or in favor of following the restrictive measures outlined by the Wind Advisory Board, including the ban on turbines south of Route 72. Of the more than 40 people who spoke, just six were solidly in favor of the project. For some, the coming of turbines may even cause them to leave the town.
LEEDCo wind turbine hearing set for November, project would put 6 turbines in Lake Erie
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Ohio Power Siting Board wants to hear the public’s opinion of the proposed Lake Erie wind turbine project. The siting board has set a formal public hearing for 6 p.m. Nov. 8 in Cleveland City Council chambers. Anyone can testify. A court reporter will create a permanent record of the testimony, which the board will consider before making a decision on the project, possibly by the end of this year. The U.S. Department of Energy, in conjunction . . .
New York’s climate goal: staggering costs, no benefits
In their zeal to address climate change, New York and 19 other states, plus the District of Columbia, have established long-term greenhouse gas reduction mandates. Most of them, including New York’s and California’s, require 80% reductions below 2005 emissions levels by 2050. But these so-called “80×50” mandates are much more than requirements to supply consumers with electricity from renewable resources like wind and solar generation. In fact, they will require virtually complete electrification of these states’ economies to eliminate almost . . .
Siemens Gamesa announces mass layoff at Hutchinson plant
Citing a lack of orders, officials with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy on Friday announced a mass layoff of 140 employees at the Hutchinson nacelle plant scheduled for “late September.” “Business volume at this location through the 2018 fiscal year does not support the existing workforce level,” stated a release from the Spain-based multinational corporation. “While we remain strongly committed to the long-term viability of the U.S. wind market, a difficult decision has been made to adjust the workforce by about . . .
Wind power not needed
The continuing destruction of Maine’s pristine ridges and mountaintops for the benefit of politicians and foreign corporations must end. There is no need for Maine to be a conduit for the delivery of electricity to Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Let them build their wind turbines in the Berkshires and leave Maine alone. The latest Central Maine Power transmission upgrade from Coburn Gore to Lewiston serves no Maine ratepayer but, rather, enables the Spanish-owned public utility to continue its profitable . . .
Critics say N.C. State’s clean energy tech center an advocacy arm of renewable industry
Jim Robison, a former Chowan County Planning Board member, said the Clean Energy Technology Center is “joined at the hip with the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association,” which is a professional advocacy organization for renewable energy developers. When the planning board was considering a wind ordinance in response to an application to build 600-foot turbines for the Timbermill wind project, Robison said, Stephen Kalland, Clean Energy Technology Center executive director, and another center official endorsed the project and dismissed residents’ concerns. They handed out fliers about wind energy with contact information for wind developers.
Oswego County Legislature OKs policy about wind farm PILOTs
A new policy concerning payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements for wind farm projects was passed Aug. 10 by the Oswego County Legislature. The policy states that any PILOT for a wind energy production project with a capacity of 25 megawatts or more will require annual payments to the county equal that of what the wind company could pay in real property taxes. Legislator Shawn Doyle, R-Pulaski, said this policy will put Oswego County on an even keel with . . .
Wind farms or tax farms?
Some of you might wonder about the level of the federal tax subsidies Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and other wind developers will receive for the Wind Catcher Wind Farm (“PSO seeks quick approval for wind farm,” Aug. 1) The taxpayer subsidy to PSO for Wind Catcher will total about $200 million per year. That’s $5 billion over the 25-year life of the project, 125 percent of the total cost of ($4 billion) of the project. (You can arrive at . . .
Wind company clarifies judge’s decision for Clark County
MINNEAPOLIS – A spokesman for Geronimo Energy in Minneapolis clarified the outcome of Monday’s wind tower setback hearing in the Third Circuit Court in Watertown. Geronimo had requested a partial summary judgment from the court regarding the Clark County Commissioners’ decision to change wind tower setback requirements from 1,000 feet to 3,960 feet. Judge Carmen Means did not definitively rule against Geronimo Energy, as was reported in Tuesday’s Public Opinion. Means denied the motion for summary judgment in an oral ruling . . .
