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.
Decline in residential property values will hurt Nation Rise Wind Farm leaseholders, too
This is an updated open letter to the leaseholders of North Stormont, landowner participants in Nation Rise Wind Farm. Were you aware that: • North Stormont has marginal and unreliable wind yet EDPR expects to be paid a profit by Ontario regardless, even though Ontario has excess capacity already. • Wind Turbines are bad for the environment. They require new gas plants for backup as Water turbines and nuclear are throttled back because of excess capacity and cannot respond quickly . . . Complete story »
Pumlumon must be protected from windfarm plan
Pumlumon, the mountain at the very heart of mid Wales is once again under threat from developers. Now it is Lluest y Gwynt Wind Farm Limited who have designs on what is regarded as Wales’ third mountain massif, alongside Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. So where is Lluest y Gwynt? You will not find this place name on any OS map covering mid Wales, perhaps it is one of those fabricated names so beloved of wind farm developers? Looking at . . . Complete story »
State’s Icebreaker ruling was correct
Lake Erie is the source of fresh drinking water for 11 million people. Tourism-related spending for the Ohio counties bordering Lake Erie is $15.1 billion, supporting 127,000 jobs and generating $1.9 billion in taxes. Lake Erie Foundation supports the state of Ohio’s decision to require carefully thought out conditions for Icebreaker Windpower and all utility projects proposed for Lake Erie. That is consistent with our support for clean, alternative energy. Icebreakers’ developers state they plan to build only six wind . . . Complete story »
Throwing caution to the wind turbines in Cypress County
Re: Cypress Wind hopes to lessen footprint during delay – Collin Gallant, June 9, 2020 A number of industrial wind energy projects have been proposed and/or approved in Cypress County which may have a devastating negative impact on local residents. The total number of turbines proposed exceeds 500 within the county. Globally, wind turbines produce power at about 30 per cent of nameplate capacity. Every one of these turbines will require near 100 per cent fossil fuel backup for times . . . Complete story »
Concerns about new Lansing solar law
I have a great number of concerns in regards to the solar and wind ordinance that will soon come to a public hearing at the Lansing Town Board. My main concern is allowing large scale solar and wind installations in R3 zones. In the town zoning for R3 it says “The intent of the R3 District is to designate areas where the use of the land will change from the most traditional agricultural uses of the community to a more . . . Complete story »
Wind energy making South Dakota ugly
I read Governor Noem’s article where she says, “I think South Dakota is one of the most beautiful places in the world.” The world is a big place. Her policy on wind turbines is to cover the state with them and if the Production Tax Credit is in place, that is exactly what will happen. In Washington we have Thune and Grassley lobbying the Secretary of the Treasury to get extended perks for the multinational corporations that own wind farms . . . Complete story »
Sagamore Wind Project: Wow, 25 years
The New Mexico Energy Transition Act (ETA), passed as law in 2019, requires that all electricity generation has to be zero-emission by 2050. Recently Xcel Energy said, “Our billion-dollar Sagamore Wind Project hit a recent construction milestone, and topped out the first of 240 wind turbines [with a natural gas power plant backup]. The project will generate enough electricity to power 194,000 homes annually while saving customers tens of millions of dollars and reducing carbon emissions [over the next 25 . . . Complete story »
Wind farm dismay
I was dismayed to hear about the proposed Brown Mountain wind turbine project. As is now well know these are useless, money-making scams for wealthy business people. The output capacity as quoted is an often told total exaggeration as this is theoretical for if the wind continuously blows at the correct speed! The actual output is only 20 per cent of that at maximum, but we still pay in our bills for when the wind doesn’t blow. My computer has . . . Complete story »
Wishful thinking won’t replace fossil fuels
I thank Chris Carrick (Energy Program Manager at Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board) for his concern that I may have gotten my calculations incorrect regarding how much solar and wind energy the world needs to replace fossil fuels with solar and wind (“We can’t make enough renewable energy to avert climate disruption,” April 22, 2020; “Renewable energy is doable, and necessary,” May 4, 2020). And I honestly would be delighted to find my calculations and opinions wrong. . . . Complete story »
Citizen input on county wind energy ordinance and SEP changes
On Monday, March 16, three members of the Virginians for Responsible Energy (VRE) met with Botetourt County Director of Community Development and Zoning Administrator Nicole Pendleton. In this meeting, the VRE members provided suggested text changes to the county’s wind energy ordinance to better protect county citizens. The members left hardcopy and digital documentation supporting their suggested changes to aid the planning staff in reviewing and considering text changes. After seeing the notice of public hearing on May 11 for . . . Complete story »
