Wind Power News: Letters
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.
Go to meeting
The future of Chateaugay is at stake. People of Chateaugay, don’t be snowballed by fancy, smooth talkers that are trying to put 750 ft. wind turbines in your town. The words, trust me, come to mind when they say wind tower technology evolves, the blades would become more sophisticated, resulting in less noise. Don’t believe it; they have one thing in mind, that is to get their request approved. Words of hollow meaning that disapate like smoke in the wind. . . . Complete story »
Residents air concerns about wind farm plan
Fifty concerned landowners showed up at the Albany Fire Station in Whiteside County on Feb. 10, sharing fears of loss of land values and quality of life when a wind farm is built in agricultural neighborhoods. Eric Smith has leased 225 acres between Kennedy, Stone, Archer, and Benson roads to Gipper Wind Farm, a division of Scout Clean Power LLC of Colorado. A tower has been constructed to determine if there is enough velocity to power 75-125 generators (turbines). Elsewhere, . . . Complete story »
Just say no to turbines
Are you aware that in the Planning Report No. 90 prepared for the Maine Critical Areas Programs titled “Maine’s Finest Lakes: The Results of the Maine Lakes Study” an area 10 miles east of Bangor that includes the areas surrounding Pisgah Mountain in Clifton is ranked third in the entire state for especially scenic lakes? Regardless of this prestigious designation, there is currently an alarming proposal. A wind turbine project by Silver Maple Wind Energy’s permit was approved on Nov. . . . Complete story »
Wind projects operate under false equivalence
The Ohio General Assembly is currently considering legislation, Senate Bill 234, allowing local referendums on wind projects. One of the main arguments from Big Business against such a vote is that there is no precedent for referendums on any kind of energy generation projects. To buy into this argument one has to believe that wind projects are equivalent to other forms of generation projects. They are not. No other form of electrical generation project transforms entire communities into heavy industrial . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines should be 33 miles from shore
(The following letter was addressed to Maryland Public Service Commission Executive Secretary Andrew Johnston.) This communication is in reference to the following cases: 9628: US Wind Maryland Lease Area Project and 9629: Skipjack Delaware Lease Area Project. On behalf of the over 1,000 members of the Coastal Association of REALTORS®, I submit this letter in support of the Town of Ocean City’s request for reconsideration of the approved distance between the municipality and the Skipjack and U.S. Wind offshore wind . . . Complete story »
Delawareans should not rely on state to make wind farm decision
Delawareans must form an independent conclusion on DNREC’s proposal to house Ørsted’s two-acre electricity substation at Fenwick Island State Park because DNREC is bound to a joint communication strategy and nondisclosure agreement with the corporate and cannot be trusted to convey unbiased information. DNREC has neglected to provide Delawareans two key data points. First, the proposal would meaningfully harm undisturbed and protected wetlands. Impermeable surface at the state park would increase nearly fourfold and currently undisturbed ocean-to-bay coastal wetlands would . . . Complete story »
PUC conditions not followed
If you’re not sure yet who controls the South Dakota Public Utility Commission’s Wind Energy Agenda, listen to the hearing on January 7. (https://puc.sd.gov/commission/media/2020/puc01072020.mp3) The hearing was about the condition that the PUC imposed on Crowned Ridge/Next Era in the permit. They were to install low noise trailing edge blades on all turbines. They didn’t, and they got caught. They also got caught erecting towers taller than permitted, generators bigger than permitted along with a host of allegations about noise . . . Complete story »
Do homework before endorsement of wind farm
I read with dismay the January 21 commentary by Christopher West of Conservatives for Clean Energy (“Botetourt wind farm should be approved”). In that commentary Mr. West supports the plans by Apex Clean Energy to build an industrial wind facility on top of North Mountain in Botetourt County and makes the statement that “Rocky Forge is ideally suited to be the Commonwealth’s first wind farm.” This statement shows a stunning lack of knowledge by Mr. West about what the impacts . . . Complete story »
Brenda Salseg: PSC’s inaction on wind siting must end
Dear Editor: The Wisconsin Public Service Commission’s Wind Siting Council did not convene in 2019 as required by state statute to review new studies relevant to the PSC 128 rules and report to the Legislature on its findings. In fact, four of 15 Council seats remain vacant, including a UW faculty health expert, a position unfilled since 2012. 18,000 Wisconsin residents are living with industrial wind projects. A substantial percentage of families have documented health issues, such as disrupted sleep, . . . Complete story »
DeWitt votes come with silence
One wonders what a complete sentence would look like if a DeWitt County Board member said more than “yes” if they vote to approve the Alta II project special use permit. It must look something like this: Despite the demonstrated negative impact on NWS Doppler radar from Lincoln and ill-conceived curtailment strategy; despite the demonstrated negative impact on the value of homes within the project footprint; despite the absence of a decommissioning plan; despite the unanswered concern about the health . . . Complete story »
