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Wind Power News: Blogs
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.
Falmouth news: intended Mayflower landing
Becoming as Contentious as Project’s 1620 Namesake? Last week’s Falmouth Enterprise editorial “Mayflower Wind’s Power Lines” cited many worries. Falmouth’s social media sites buzzed with concern comments ranging from “greenies” to Falmouth Heights property owners, fishermen to aquaculture farmers. Should residents be worried? Falmouth’s new Wind Energy Systems Zoning Bylaw is pretty clear. It defines any Wind Energy System’s components in Falmouth to be subject to provisions of this local bylaw. It indeed, captures the Mayflower wind project. Shouldn’t we . . . Complete story »
Ottawa “community” investor syndicate buys wind farm hundreds of kilometres away
The Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative or OREC recently bought an Ontario wind turbine project, along with equity partner EnerFORGE, a subsidiary of Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation, according to a news report. The wind power project, which consists of a single 2.5-MW turbine, is in Bruce County. That is more than 500 km away from Ottawa, and more than 200 km from Oshawa, but the buyers claim this is an example of “local” ownership of renewable power facilities. “OREC is . . . Complete story »
Falmouth inches closer to turbine removal
November 22, 2021 Falmouth’s Select Board was provided a wind turbine disposition update. The final review of the bid documents (RFP – request for proposals) by the town staff, the town’s special counsel, the contracted project/procurement consultant (Westin & Sampson) and the town’s Waste Water Superintendent was completed last week. It’s notable that in the Sept 13 2019 edition of the Falmouth Enterprise – Town Manager Julian M. Suso said “… Taking down the town’s wind turbines is taking longer than expected. . . . Complete story »
The strange case of the climate scientists fighting a wind farm
On the edge of the Aegean Sea lies Antikythera, a bone-dry, windswept rock of 8.5 square miles (22 square kilometers) and 22 inhabitants. Despite appearances, this unforgiving land holds immense ecological importance. A NATURA-protected area, it is a migration hot spot for birds, with more than 200 species from Africa reposing there each spring and fall before heading north and south respectively; it is home to the world’s largest colony of Eleonora’s falcon; it is the westernmost site in the . . . Complete story »
Cooper signs order setting goals for offshore wind power
The Cooper administration announced Wednesday another step toward developing a clean energy economy. Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said his newest directive, executive order No. 218, signed Wednesday reaffirms the state’s commitment to creating clean energy jobs, increasing economic opportunities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the expansion of offshore wind power. “Offshore wind power will help North Carolina create jobs and generate economic development while helping us transition to a clean energy economy,” Cooper said in a statement. “North Carolina’s . . . Complete story »
Apple’s Uyghur dilemma grows
Apple is investing in wind farms in China as it develops a carbon neutral supply chain. But the company’s wind partner in China has links to the repression of minority Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Apple faces mounting scrutiny of its China-based supply chain after an investigation by The Information, in partnership with the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), found that seven Apple suppliers had ties to suspected forced labor of Uyghurs from the Xinjiang region. Now, new research by TTP is highlighting . . . Complete story »
First in Europe: reintroduced Bearded Vulture that wandered in the Netherlands killed by wind farm
It was bound to happen, and it did so this morning: the young Bearded Vulture Angèle that had been released last year in the Baronnies, as part of the LIFE GypConnect reintroduction project, and that had wandered to northern Europe, as many young Bearded Vultures do in their second year, has been found dead under a wind turbine in Wieringerwerf, the Netherlands, this morning. Bearded Vulture dispersal and threat of wind farms Bearded Vultures usually live in secluded mountain-top habitats, . . . Complete story »
American Experiment releases new report on the growing opposition to wind and solar in rural America
Center of the American Experiment is proud to announce the release of a new report entitled “Not In Our Backyard,” authored by nationally renowned journalist and filmmaker, Robert Bryce. The report details the growing opposition to wind and solar projects in Rural America, with government units from Maine to Hawaii restricting the development of these energy resources. The executive summary and policy recommendations are included below. Executive Summary Renewable energy is politically popular. Polling data show that about 70 percent . . . Complete story »
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 »
