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 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.
Accountability cometh — if only partially — for now
Turbine Finale Fixed On Falmouth Town Manager The new employment agreement for Falmouth’s Town Manager begins this November. Any increases in the three year contract will be determined by Mr. Suso completing four identified goals set by Selectmen. One of the four goals the board set as priorities for Mr. Suso between now and November, his annual job performance review, is the taking down and disposal of the wind turbines. State Accountability Silence The State ‘sold’ Falmouth these wind turbines . . . Complete story »
MI Appeals Court Concluded Interim Zoning Ordinance is Valid and Not Subject to Referendum, and Dismissed Lawsuit by Solar Developer
Olena Botshteyn, Esq. | Law of the Land | An interim zoning ordinance put in place by the Township of Benton blocked the construction of a large-scale solar array, proposed by the Sandstone Creek Solar, LLC (“Sandstone”). In 2016, Sandstone, a solar development company, decided to implement its plan to construct a solar facility in the Township of Benton (“the Town”), located in Eaton County (“the County”), Michigan. With this purpose, Sandstone started acquiring property interests in 850 acres of . . . Complete story »
Wind farm overkill to end Greece tourism once and for all
Posted On January 25, 2021 By Maria Paravantes, thegreekvibe.com Agrafa, Menalon, Saos (Feggari), Prassa, Oiti, Dirfi – these are all mountains in Greece facing the threat of being ravaged by the latest subsidized energy trend: wind farms. Mani, Evros, Arcadia, Achaia, Macedonia – Thrace, these are regions in Greece facing the same threat. Paros, Tinos, Kythira, Ikaria, Lesvos, Limnos, Chios, Kefalonia, Andros, Crete, 14 Greek islets in the Aegean dubbed as the “Galapagos of the Mediterranean” due to their biodiversity, . . . Complete story »
Falmouth’s Taxpayers asked to reach into their pockets again
W. C. Fields famously quipped, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it.” Yesterday’s Falmouth Enterprise reported the Finance Committee is recommending $35,482 for the renewable energy line item in the town’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget. This amount covers preventative maintenance of the turbines “so they remain functional for a buyer,” explained Committee member James B. Newman. Buyer interest According to the Cape Cod Times, as far . . . Complete story »
IA Appeals Court Upholds Board’s Authority to Grant a Conditional Use to Allow Construction of Wind Turbines
This post was authored by Matthew Loescher, Esq. MidAmerican Energy Company sought and was granted permission from the Zoning Board of Adjustment of Madison County, Iowa to build a wind farm with fifty-two wind turbines in Madison County. Madison County Coalition for Scenic Preservation LLC, which did business as Resident Rights Coalition of Madison County (the Coalition), was a group of individuals who owned real estate in Madison County and opposed the wind farm. The Coalition petitioned for writ of . . . Complete story »
Is the drive for clean energy throwing environmental caution to the wind?
Wind is a green alternative to fossil fuels, but its complex environmental impact may stand in the way of widespread use and acceptance. Many studies around the world have reported high incidence of bird mortality as they crash into windmills. In Gujarat and Karnataka, two of India’s top states for harnessing wind energy, turbine operators have reported carcasses of more than 50 birds over a period of three years1. Despite some ecological downsides, governments are being compelled to embrace wind . . . Complete story »
Legislator admits GWSA will have no impact on climate change
Responding to an email inquiry from a concerned citizen about the real impact – and cost – of the Global Warming Solutions Act, passed last spring over the veto of Governor Phil Scott (R), Representative Scott Campbell (D-St. Johnsbury) admitted, “Let me start by repeating that no one, least of all me, believes Vermont can stop climate change – or even affect climate change. It’s tempting to focus on that narrow issue because of the specific metrics in the law, namely the . . . Complete story »
Recent High Court decision – Discovery of wind farm data in the context of s.160 planning injunction proceedings
The High Court has ordered a wind farm operator to make discovery of raw wind farm data and other records to plaintiffs who have alleged in section 160 planning injunction proceedings that the wind farm is causing a nuisance in terms of noise, vibration and shadow-flicker. In Byrne & Others v ABO Wind Ireland & Others, Mr Justice Sanfey, in a judgment delivered on 20 November 2020, directed that the defendants, who include the operator of the Gibbit Hill Wind . . . Complete story »
Falmouth MA — Getting Screwed Over by the State Again
Falmouth’s Board of Selectmen heard status updates from staff and a special attorney specializing in Litigation and Construction & Public Contracts law regarding the disposition of the town’s two industrial wind turbines Monday Oct 26. At the end of the discussion, the board frustratingly agreed that they are not even close to seeing the turbines dismantled. It’s become a complex situation to say the least. Two economic sticking points present major obstacles to removing the turbines. The state determined . . . Complete story »
Would you want a wind turbine in your backyard?
After I posted about the use of eminent domain for power lines and pipelines, a woman who has been dealing with these issues for years reached out to me. Janna Swanson and her husband Paul own a farm in northern Iowa, where they are raising two kids. For several years they fought a long-distance high-voltage transmission line that would go through their farm, with 200-foot towers and a 150-foot easement, carrying wind power out to neighboring states. Iowa eventually ruled . . . Complete story »
