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Wind Power News: General News
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Opposition to wind turbine projects in Slovenia
Wind farms discussed in debate hosted by National Council 2 June – The National Council hosted on Monday a debate on wind energy and the effects of wind farms on people and nature at the initiative of the Association of Civil Initiatives for Slovenia. With representatives of investors absent, the debate mostly heard arguments against wind farms. Neighbouring mayors oppose Macelj ridge wind farm 11 April – Mayors of five municipalities in the hilly area of Haloze near the border . . . Complete story »
Councillors voice objections to Kaim Hill wind farm plan
Councillors have voiced objections to the erection of 14 wind turbines on the highly picturesque Fairlie Moor Road, warning they will have a negative visual impact on the area and affect residents’ health. And Kilwinning SNP councillor Scott Davidson told Wednesday’s planning committee they would be twice the height of the prominent Ardrossan turbines. The Scottish Government’s Energy Consent Unit consulted the council, as planning authority, on an application for the erection of 14 wind turbines with a maximum tip . . . Complete story »
Vessel in deadly sinking after wind turbine collision ‘failed to keep lookout’
A fishing vessel that sank after crashing into an offshore wind turbine – sending 10 crew members overboard, with one confirmed dead and one never recovered – had failed to keep a proper lookout, finds a report into the incident. The deadly incident occurred in August last year in the Yellow Sea, which is nestled between China and the Korean Peninsula. The vessel, 36 metres in length, was returning to port around midnight when it struck a wind turbine, according . . . Complete story »
How a storm of lawsuits paralysed wind mills in northwest Spain
Jose Maria Cofreces is the owner of a guesthouse in northwestern Galicia, one of Spain’s most picturesque regions and a major tourist draw. It is also one of the windiest parts of the country, and that has made it a magnet for developers of giant wind turbines that can stand higher than 50-storey tower blocks. Cofreces is among those at the vanguard of opposition in Galicia. Echoing the tactics of rural communities across Europe, the protesters have used the courts . . . Complete story »
Is clean energy powered by dirty batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are a linchpin of the clean energy transition. They power electric vehicles and allow us to harness wind and solar power even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. They are also used widely in electronics most of us use daily, from smart phones to earbuds. Demand is anticipated to grow exponentially over the next decade. Unfortunately, lithium-ion batteries themselves aren’t so clean. Even aside from much-discussed environmental issues with lithium and cobalt mining, these . . . Complete story »
J.D. Irving presents wind farm plans to rowdy public meeting
Residents had their first chance to speak face to face with J.D. Irving project leads about the Brighton Wind Farm in a meeting that devolved into a disorderly spectacle with audience members shouting over and heckling company experts trying to answer their questions. The $550-million project, financed solely by JDI, would be the largest in the province, with 58 wind turbines, slightly larger than the Kent Hills Wind Farm outside Moncton. JDI plans to break ground next year, and power . . . Complete story »
NJ’s wind energy: High hopes, higher costs
Planting a flag under the banner of Clean Energy is easy, but the reality is more complex. Whether it’s electric vehicles (EVs) or wind farms, appealing names and hefty investments, such as the $2.3 trillion from the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 don’t guarantee success. If you missed the initial Overview article in the series, click here. If you missed last week’s article, click here. When EV sales fall short of ambitious Federal and . . . Complete story »
‘You need to wake up’: Lincoln Co. landowners raise alarm over possible wind farms
Landowners in Lincoln County are raising the alarm over possible wind farms coming to their area—and are urging county officials to put the brakes on two different projects. A group of concerned residents told FOX 25 that they’re worried about their land losing value, their views being disrupted, and—most importantly—their water quality being impacted. Robbie McCommas, a county resident, shared her concerns that the construction of the turbines and their vibrations once installed would release pockets of arsenic, chromium, and . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind farms are vulnerable to cyberattacks
The emerging technology lacks the regulatory framework necessary to protect itself Summary: Researchers have presented a new study on cyberattack risks to offshore wind farms in Glasgow, United Kingdom. They looked specifically at wind farms that use voltage-source-converter high-voltage direct-current (VSC-HVDC) connections, which are rapidly becoming the most cost-effective solution to harvest offshore wind energy around the world. They found that their complex, hybrid-communication architecture presents multiple access points for cyberattacks. The hurrying pace of societal electrification is encouraging from . . . Complete story »
Blown away: almost 70% of animals displaced from homes by wind-power developments
Wildlife and wind turbines are an uncomfortable mix. Rotating turbine blades can make short work of anything unlucky enough to collide with them, but direct mortality is only part of the story. Having reviewed the available evidence from around the world, biologists in Finland have found that 63 per cent of bird species, 72 per cent of bats and 67 per cent of terrestrial mammals are displaced from areas where turbines are installed. Some of the most pronounced effects were . . . Complete story »
