Wind Power News: Blogs
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.
The rotors of sickness… Wind energy proponents refuse to acknowledge proven wind turbine health hazards
A report on infrasound (low frequency sound below 20 Hz) by German public television ZDF here further reveals how infrasound from wind turbines causes widespread health issues, despite claims by “experts” that these illnesses are “in peoples’ heads” and not really real. The dubious argument that “if you can’t hear it, then it can’t hurt you” is often used. It turns out that in the case of infrasound from wind turbines, this is not true at all. Hat-tip: Agnes Doolan . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines in 2018
In October 1986, I presented a keynote address to the Community Noise Conference held in Toowoomba, co-sponsored by the Queensland Division of Noise Abatement and Air Pollution and the Australian Acoustical Society. The title of my talk was “Health Hazards of Noise.” In my talk, I spoke of noise as not just an urban phenomenon and gave examples of how residents in quieter communities can find themselves exposed to intrusive noises. One example I gave was the following: Imagine how . . . Complete story »
Falmouth’s costly turbine ‘flip-flop’ persists
mjoecool.wordpress.com Re: https://www.capenews.net/falmouth/news/building-commissioner-says-wind-not-abandoned/article_93d0f8b2-027d-5daa-a2f9-79833b8c1040.html A resident filed an enforcement action request (June 2018) alleging Wind 2 violates Chapter 240 Section 3B of the Falmouth Zoning Bylaw (the local provision copied from M.G.L. c. 40A, s. 7). In his response Building Commissioner Palmer said “The building permit (Mar. 2010) and the date of initial operation (Feb. 2012) are both beyond the six year enforcement provision of M.G.L. c. 40A, s. 7 for structures erected in reliance upon a building permit”. In effect, . . . Complete story »
FMM consultant resigns from governor’s wind commission
Thanking Governor Paul LePage for the “honor” of being appointed, Chris O’Neil has withdrawn from the controversial Maine Wind Energy Advisory Commission. O’Neil is a private consultant and lobbyist who has represented Friends of Maine’s Mountains (FMM) since 2009. “While I was the governor’s appointee,” O’Neil said, “it might have appeared that my participation on the Commission was on behalf of FMM. So I consulted with the FMM board of directors before submitting my resignation, and they concurred with me.” . . . Complete story »
Massachusetts offshore wind farm forecasts incredibly low rates
A proposed wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts has indicated that it can produce electricity starting at 7.4 cents per kilowatt hour. This will purportedly save Massachusetts customers $1.4 billion dollars over 20 years and reduce monthly bills by between 0.1 percent and 1.5 percent. Whether they can fulfill that pledge is questionable, but to even attempt to do so requires huge subsidies from the government paid for by the American taxpayer. Federal tax credits and . . . Complete story »
Missouri to allow state’s third largest regulated utility to move aggressively toward wind power
The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) has given initial approval for the state’s third-largest regulated utility, Empire District, to build a major wind farm to generate power. In a statement, the PSC said, “the Commission has granted Empire certain accounting and depreciation treatment related to the CSP (Empire’s proposal known as it’s “Customer Savings Plan”)as well as a variance from the Commission’s affiliate transaction rule.” Joplin based Empire will have to make another presentation before the commission before being granted . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines coming to R.I. classrooms this fall
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – New programs launched with local high schools, tech schools, and colleges and universities are aimed at riding the wave of offshore wind energy jobs expected in southern New England. The “Wind Win RI” program begins this fall with classes at North Kingston High School and Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich. Urban school districts such as Pawtucket are expected to participate this school year or next. The New England Institute of Technology and the Community College of . . . Complete story »
Renewable energy subsidies are wrong for Texas
It’s 2018, and the days of warm, evening sun setting on scenic Texas plains are gone for some rural areas like Comanche County. Folks accustomed to unencumbered views will have to look elsewhere. Now, those views are pierced by the sharp teeth of a wind turbine. Summer breezes have transformed into the cyclical swooshing—and occasionally loud creaking—of nearby machinery. Yet the summer heat remains, reminding us that Texas is facing a tight energy supply—with less reliable energy sources. Three coal . . . Complete story »
A sharp slap of reality
Maple Ridge wind farm, owned by Spanish firm Iberdrola, is still a long way from its 20th year of operation, which will arrive in 2026. However, its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement expires in 2021. And Avangrid, owned by Iberdrola, has initiated discussions with the county and the towns harboring towers to create a new PILOT that will take over in 2021 and, presumably, carry through another 15 years – to 2036. Iberdrola, owner of Avangrid in the U.S. which owns the Maple Ridge . . . Complete story »
Deepwater Wind offers offshore information, fishermen want compensation
Deepwater Wind is trying to keep fishermen happy while it builds more offshore wind facilities. The latest effort aims to protect commercial fishing gear, but fishermen and their advocacy groups want broader protections for the fishing grounds and their livelihood. The Providence-based company recently announced a program to inform fishermen of where and when construction and other work occurs at the site of three wind facilities and their electric cables. The offshore wind developer hired liaisons to offer dockside information . . . Complete story »
