Wind Power News: Press releases
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Government Of Saskatchewan Approves Blue Hill Wind Energy Project
Environment Minister Dustin Duncan has approved a large-scale wind energy project in the province. This is the first large-scale wind energy project approved under The Environmental Assessment Act. Located south of Herbert, the Blue Hill Wind Energy Project will be developed and operated by Algonquin Power Co. (a subsidiary of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.) and is expected to include up to 56 wind turbines The turbines will add 177 megawatts of wind energy for SaskPower customers – enough energy . . . Complete story »
Wind power movie to be shown at MnWest-Canby Campus Tuesday
On September 18, a film screening of the new documentary, The Power of Minnesota, will take place at Minnesota West Community and Technical College on the Canby Campus. The film is a collection of stories and voices around Minnesota, highlighting the successes and benefits of renewable energy efforts throughout the state. The event in Canby is being hosted by Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), in partnership with Pioneer Public Television, Minnesota West Community and Technical College and MnSCU, Southwest Regional . . . Complete story »
Vineyard Wind submits Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report
Vineyard Wind announced today that it has submitted the project’s Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (SDEIR) to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA.) The latest report will further ensure that members of public have ample opportunity to provide input about the United States’ first large-scale offshore wind farm. The SDEIR filing captures additional project refinements following the award and negotiation of long-term contracts with Massachusetts’ electric distribution companies (EDCs) for construction of an 800-megawatt (MW) wind farm 15 miles . . . Complete story »
Red light at night: A potentially fatal attraction to migratory bats
Night time light pollution is rapidly increasing across the world. Nocturnal animals are likely to be especially affected but how they respond to artificial light is still largely unknown. In a new study, scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in Berlin, Germany, tested the response of European bats to red and white light sources during their seasonal migration. Soprano pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and, to a lesser degree, Nathusius’ pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) were recorded more frequently . . . Complete story »
NextEra Energy Resources to open local offices, host open houses for new wind project
NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), is hosting two open house events and opening local offices for a prospective wind energy project in Nemaha County. The project, Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center, includes up to 120 wind turbines and is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and bring millions of dollars of economic impact to the area. “We are very excited about the Soldier Creek project,” said Spencer Jenkins, associate project manager for NextEra . . . Complete story »
Lawsuits Seek to Restore Federal Protections for Migratory Birds
WASHINGTON— A coalition of national environmental groups today filed litigation in the Southern District of New York challenging the Trump administration’s move to eliminate longstanding protections for waterfowl, raptors and songbirds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Groups filing the litigation – National Audubon Society v. Department of the Interior —included the American Bird Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resources Defense Council. In a legal opinion issued December . . . Complete story »
Citizens’ group charges Environment Minister with violation of Environmental Protection Act
The president of Wind Concerns Ontario (WCO), a volunteer-led coalition of 30 community groups and many Ontario families, has filed a private prosecution against the Honourable Chris Ballard, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), for violating Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act (EPA). Private prosecutions are important tools in empowering private citizens to hold those persons in power to account. The EPA prohibits anyone from permitting the “discharge of a contaminant into the natural environment, if the discharge causes or . . . Complete story »
Largest ever database of U.S. wind turbines released
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), in collaboration with public and private partners, has released the most comprehensive publicly available database yet of U.S. wind turbine locations and characteristics. The United States Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) will allow unparalleled ability for government agencies and others to make planning decisions. The USWTDB, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office and developed as part of a public-private partnership with the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and in collaboration . . . Complete story »
Senate approves legislation protecting landowners by allowing local governments to regulate the wind industry in Tennessee
NASHVILLE – The State Senate unanimously approved legislation today protecting landowners by allowing local governments to regulate the wind energy industry in Tennessee. Senate Bill 1793, sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) and Representative Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville), comes after legislation was passed last year requiring a study be conducted regarding wind turbines and their impact on Tennessee communities and surrounding property owners. That legislation, also sponsored by Bailey and Sexton, placed a moratorium on wind turbines until July 1, 2018, . . . Complete story »
Greater Phoenix Chamber Opposes “Clean Energy For A Healthy Arizona Amendment”
PRESS STATEMENT MEDIA CONTACT: Janelle Tassart C: 480.215.2149 | O: 602.495.6480 jtassart@phoenixchamber.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2018 Greater Phoenix Chamber Opposes ballot initiative “clean energy for a healthy arizona amendment” PHOENIX – Today, the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors opposed the proposed ballot initiative titled the Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona Amendment. This initiative, filed by an out-of-state group funded primarily by California billionaire Tom Steyer, would amend Arizona’s State Constitution and require Arizona utility . . . Complete story »
