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.
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 »
Iowa considers major changes in siting of renewables
On May 22, 2020, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) opened a rulemaking proceeding that will change 20 years of precedent on siting of wind farms and, for the first time, establish rules aimed directly at siting solar projects and energy storage projects. Since 1997, wind projects in Iowa have not had to obtain a generating certificate from the IUB so long as the project was designed with less than 25 MW of nameplate capacity (the trigger under the state generating certificate . . . Complete story »
Seeadler und Turmfalke von Windkraftanlage in Holtsee erschlagen
[Sea eagle and kestrel slain by wind turbine in Holtsee (translate article to English)] Der Anruf kam gegen 9.30 Uhr. Ein Spaziergänger hatte einen Seeadler unter einer Windkraftanlage in Holtsee entdeckt. Ich fuhr umgehend zur Fundstelle. Unter der Windkraftanlage lag ein verendeter Turmfalke, welcher offen sichtlich in ein Rotorblatt geraten war. Er war bereits berupft. Es ist wahrscheinlich, dass der Seeadler den verendeten Turmfalken als Aas entdeckt hat. Dies wurde ihm zum Verhängnis. Ob der Adler beim An- oder Abflug erfasst . . . Complete story »
