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Wind Power News: Opinions
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.
The quest for green energy filled my community with violence
The Tehuantepec Isthmus in Oaxaca, Mexico, is a territory shared among the Binnizá, Ikoots, Angpøn, and Ayuuk Peoples that produces 76.8 percent of the country’s wind energy. As of January 2020, 1,600 wind turbines had been installed here at 32 wind farms, and thousands more are in construction plans, in an effort to secure “green energy” to combat climate change. My generation has witnessed how our community and region went from being a quiet place to one where there is . . . Complete story »
The need to reduce light pollution from wind energy facilities is real
The debate over alternative energy facilities, including the massive windmills that decorate eastern rural Washington is nothing new. It’s a debate that continues to stir emotions on both sides of the equation. You may recall the legislation I introduced last year that would have allowed rural communities to have a voice in the clean energy facility siting process. Developing a solid strategy to create a quality, clean, and transmittable energy grid for both the short- and long-term is essential for . . . Complete story »
72 whales have died on the East Coast in a year. NOAA must take action.
Elizabeth Quattrocki | Published Nov. 7, 2023 | northjersey.com 3-minute read Whales captivate our imagination and offer invaluable lessons. They demonstrate care for their own, and even us, yet we often fall short in protecting them. In recent years, we have witnessed numerous accounts of whales exhibiting bravery, selflessness and admirable traits. They safeguard not only their kind but also humans, showcasing qualities that seem undervalued in today’s society. Stories like the mother orca carrying her deceased calf for thousands . . . Complete story »
The battle against the Equinor wind turbine project
Long Island, with its rich history, stunning landscapes and vibrant communities, is a place we’re proud to call home. Long Islanders are deeply concerned about the proposed Equinor wind turbine project, Empire Wind, and its potential to adversely affect our health, safety and economy. It is essential that we carefully examine the implications of this project and the individuals behind it. Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, is 67 percent owned by Norway and is a partner of BP Oil. Equinor . . . Complete story »
The inadequacy of wind power
The plan dramatically to cut the combustion of fossil fuels was accepted at the 2015 Paris Conference. The instinctive reaction around the world has been to revert to ‘renewables’, the sources of energy delivered intermittently by the power of the Sun. Unfortunately this power, attenuated by the huge distance that it must travel to reach the Earth, is extremely weak. That is why, before the advent of the Industrial Revolution, it was unable to provide the energy to sustain even . . . Complete story »
Coastal wind farms: This Sunday, the people say ‘no’ again
When the first coastal wind farms were announced by Energy Minister Chris Bowen, I thought I was dreaming. Australia has some of the best beaches in the world. People come to this country to see its unspoilt natural beauty. Despite a 42 per cent decline following the lockdowns, tourism remains Australia’s 14th-largest export industry. Along with education, it is one of the most sustainable industries that contributes to our standard of living. Nobody wants to come to Australia to see . . . Complete story »
The case for wind power was built upon a myth
Wind is already the cheapest form of power and will save us a fortune in future. We know this because the green energy lobby keeps telling us so. But it is hard to square with the words of Tom Glover, chair of energy company RWE’s UK arm, last week. No more offshore wind farms will be built, he said, unless the Government hikes the guaranteed long-term prices offered to their operators by as much as 70 per cent. The energy . . . Complete story »
The offshore-wind boondoggle
Like the proverbial skunk at a garden party, reality has disrupted the offshore-wind fantasy. After announcing a potential $2.3 billion write-down on its U.S. offshore-wind projects, Ørsted CEO Mads Nipper said that it was “inevitable” that consumers would need to pay more for renewable energy, since offshore wind “faces cost increases in orders of magnitude.” Nipper’s confession makes a jarring contrast with claims made about offshore wind’s costs only a few years ago. In 2017, Michael Liebrich told BloombergNEF that . . . Complete story »
Against the wind
Visiting southern New Jersey this summer, I kept seeing yard signs that read “Stop the Windmills—Save Our Coast.” The posters were rallying opposition to the massive Ocean Wind 1 power project 15 miles off the Jersey shore near Atlantic City. That constellation of 853-foot-high wind turbines is supposed to start construction any day now, although delays and financial uncertainties have hampered the project. Ocean Wind 1 is planned to be one of more than two dozen huge wind projects off . . . Complete story »
U.S. offshore wind plans are utterly collapsing
Offshore wind developer Ørsted has delayed its New Jersey Ocean Wind 1 project to 2026. Previously, the company had announced construction of the project would begin in October 2023. The delay was attributed to supply chain issues, higher interest rates, and a failure so far to garner enough tax credits from the federal government. For now, they are not walking away from all their U.S. projects but will reconsider long-term plans by the end of this year. Ørsted’s stock price . . . Complete story »
