Wind Power News: Opinions
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.
‘Tilting at (non-existent) windmills’
Oops… In the last edition of the Herald, with one of my submissions, there was, oh, a bit of a mistake – to be as transparent as possible. And as a preface, I’ve been a reporter in the village for some three years now, and I would like to think that I’m up on “…all things Ada.” However, and admittedly, what I could still use work on is, well, looking ‘up,’ literally. That is, a couple years ago I wrote . . . Complete story »
Wind consultant: BOEM should mandate more fisheries liaisons
Paul Forsberg watched as the Block Island Wind Farm pilot project with its five turbines was assembled in 2016 off Rhode Island. He saw a crowd on an island beach, gazing at the new wind generators and chattering with enthusiasm. “I don’t know if these things are going to work,” Forsberg said then. “But they’re coming.” Four years later, in 2020, Forsberg, who grew up in a well-known Montauk, N.Y, fishing family, started Offshore Wind Farm Support LLC, a consulting . . . Complete story »
Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credits could reshape Idaho’s energy landscape
Almost all utilities across the United States and the rest of the world operate their energy infrastructure on a real-time basis – meaning people are monitoring an energy grid at all times to respond to weather events and customer demand. That on-demand status makes it difficult to switch to renewable energy sources after the sun goes down or the wind stops blowing. “It’s the biggest misunderstanding in our business and with our customers, is people think we store energy, and we . . . Complete story »
Nine Ohio counties ban wind, solar projects under new state law
At least nine Ohio counties have passed resolutions blocking the development of new wind and solar projects within all or part of their jurisdictions in the last year. The counties’ moves come after the October 2021 enactment of a state law giving the locals the veto power over renewable energy generation sites – a veto power that doesn’t exist for fossil fuel developments. At least two more counties are actively considering such a prohibition. In Crawford County, meanwhile, citizens are pushing . . . Complete story »
Feds conduct wide-ranging criminal investigation of port authority
A federal grand jury has subpoenaed six years of Connecticut Port Authority records pertaining to a wide-ranging investigation of the quasi-public agency’s business, from its comprehensive management contract for New London’s State Pier to a communications/marketing deal that went to a former associate of Deputy Secretary of the State Scott Bates, when he was chairman of the authority. The subpoena by a grand jury sitting in New Haven was dated March 16 with a required return date for the requested . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine proposal relies on incomplete information
I have lived in southern Idaho all my life and the volcanic landscape, native wildlife and ancient archaeological sites of the region are very important to me. A proposal by a Massachusetts-based company for a 100-turbine wind development would alter the familiar landscape of my home forever. The project would begin 13 miles from Idaho Falls and extend west on both sides of Highway 20 to within a mile of East Butte. Turbines would be 250 feet taller than those . . . Complete story »
With wind projects looming who’s minding the NJ shore?
On June 24, the federal government released a draft environmental impact statement on the Ocean Wind 1 project off South Jersey. It asked the public to review this 1,400-page document with lengthy appendices and hundreds of scientific and technical references, and provide comments within 45 days. Based on public outcry it extended the comment period for another 15 days. But comment on what? The major decisions regarding the project, except the formality of its approval, have already been made outside . . . Complete story »
A look at green hydrogen production on the west coast of Newfoundland
World Energy GH2’s proposed wind farm on the Port au Port peninsula is set to produce green hydrogen, an up-and-coming fuel being touted as the answer to decarbonizing and reaching net-zero emissions. However, the science is mixed on the viability of wind power, and hydrogen in particular, as a green energy alternative to oil and gas. In this two-part series, The Independent is talking to experts and considering what the environmental impacts might be if the Nujio’Qonik GH2 wind farm . . . Complete story »
Greens: Reject Robbins Island wind farm
Robbins Island development should be rejected under precautionary principle. Federal and state environment ministers need to heed a recent Federal Court decision and apply the precautionary principle to the EPBC assessment for UPC’s proposed Robbins Island windfarm. This development should be rejected on the basis of insufficient information of species’ harm. To date, UPC’s reports have been manifestly inadequate. UPC’s assessments have identified potential impacts on Tasmanian devils and orange-bellied parrots, but the tracking studies and monitoring needed to guide . . . Complete story »
The costs of choosing wind power; A message from a Sami youth
As a Sámi youth, I have one important message: We must stop the continuous encroachment on nature in the Arctic. Our nature is robust but at the same time, fragile. We, the Sámi, know that we are only a guest in nature and that you must not take more than you need. Our traditional way of living – working with reindeer and nature – taught us that we can live comfortably if we manage nature carefully. However, as a species, we are . . . Complete story »
