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 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.
Newhouse to Inslee: Local voices must be heard on massive wind farm concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) sent a letter to Governor Inslee and the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council urging state officials to listen to the local concerns with the recent Horse Heaven Wind Farm Application (ASC) for Site Certification in Benton County. “It has been brought to my attention that the applicant, Horse Heaven Wind Farm, LLC, a fully-owned subsidiary of Scout Clean Energy LLC, submitted their ASC directly to the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council,” . . . Complete story »
Energy company fined after worker suffers multiple injuries in fall from height
Energy company, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd, has been fined after an agency worker fell 1.8 metres from a blade platform. Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 11 November 2017, the 30-year-old was working inside one of the turbine blades at the company’s blade factory in Hull. Inside the blade is a midway platform referred to as the “web”. He was standing on the web, vacuuming the inside of the blade to clean off fibreglass dust and deposits. As he . . . Complete story »
Whooping cranes steer clear of wind turbines when selecting stopover sites
Proliferation of wind-energy infrastructure across the Great Plains has created obstacles along key migration routes; future developers could place infrastructure outside of migration corridors to avert negative impacts. March 10,, 2021 For Immediate Release Contact: Heidi Swanson, (202) 833-8773 ext. 211, gro.asenull@idieh As gatherings to observe whooping cranes join the ranks of online-only events this year, a new study offers insight into how the endangered bird is faring on a landscape increasingly dotted with wind turbines. The paper, published this . . . Complete story »
Field study shows icing can cost wind turbines up to 80% of power production
AMES, Iowa – Wind turbine blades spinning through cold, wet conditions can collect ice nearly a foot thick on the yard-wide tips of their blades. That disrupts blade aerodynamics. That disrupts the balance of the entire turbine. And that can disrupt energy production by up to 80 percent, according to a recently published field study led by Hui Hu, Iowa State University’s Martin C. Jischke Professor in Aerospace Engineering and director of the university’s Aircraft Icing Physics and Anti-/De-icing Technology . . . Complete story »
Common pipistrelle bats attracted to wind turbines
One of the most abundant bats in Europe may be attracted to wind turbines, a new study shows. The activity of common pipistrelle bats was monitored at 23 British wind farms and similar “control” locations close by without turbines. Activity was around a third higher at turbines than at control locations, and two thirds of occasions with high activity were recorded at turbines rather than the controls. The reasons for this are not clear. Possibilities include attraction to the turbines . . . Complete story »
Defeat Indiana House Bill 1381
Indiana has a policy of home rule that grants counties, cites, and towns “all the powers that they need for the effective operation of government as to local affairs.” (IC 36-1-3-2) For example, if a company wants to build hundreds of towering, noisy wind turbines in your community, they have to get permission from your county commissioners first. In recent years, wind companies have tried to do exactly that in many counties across Indiana. In a few places they’ve succeeded . . . Complete story »
New windfarm proposal threatens Lewis bird life
RSPB Scotland has voiced concerns about bird populations if the Stornoway Wind Farm proposal goes ahead in its current form A 33-turbine wind farm proposed near Stornoway is predicted to have significant negative impacts on important bird populations on Lewis, including establishing hen harriers and white-tailed eagles. RSPB Scotland has submitted an objection to the application, due to the likely scale of impact on birds through risk of collision, displacement and disturbance. The charity is seeking the removal of six . . . Complete story »
Another blade damaged and fallen in the Metsälä wind facility (in Finnish)
Metsälän tuulivoimapuistossa on toisesta tuuliturbiinista pudonnut vaurioitunut lapa maahan [Still from video by Kai Ylikoski:] Metsälän tuulivoimapuistossa Kristiinankaupungissa on eilen sattunut toinen siiven rikkoutuminen, mikä on johtanut sen putoamiseen. Vastaava tapaus on käynyt aiemmin 5.9.2020. Kummankaan tapahtuman tarkasta syystä tai tapahtumaketjusta ei ole vielä tarkkaa selvyyttä. Tapahtuneen tutkintaa on hidastanut konehuoneen katolle jääneiden rikkoutuneiden osien muodostama putoamisriski. Lähiviikkoina paikalle saadaan nosturi, jonka avulla voimalan konehuoneen katto voidaan puhdistaa putoamisvaarassa olevista kappaleista. Tämän jälkeen tutkinnassa päästään enteenpäin. Vaurioituneiden voimaloiden lisäksi kaikkien . . . Complete story »
Over 100 Eagles Could Be Killed By Bluestone Wind Turbines
Over 100 Eagles Could Be Killed By Bluestone Wind Turbines Audubon Society Says These Estimates Too Low Local opposition to the Bluestone Wind Project has included the concern for the number of eagles (Golden and Bald) that will be killed as a result of the wind turbines. Eagles soar high looking down for their prey. As they near the turbines, looking down, they are not aware of the turbine blades that are circling vertically downward and the eagles are chopped . . . Complete story »
Mexico: Civil lawsuit: French energy company EDF must comply with human rights obligations
Berlin/Mexico City/Paris, 13 October 2020 – The energy giant Electricité de France (EDF) plans to build a wind farm on the land of the Mexican indigenous community Unión Hidalgo. The indigenous community has not been appropriately consulted about the use of their land – a clear violation of their rights. Today, representatives of Unión Hidalgo, the Mexican human rights organization ProDESC and the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights filed a civil lawsuit in Paris urging EDF to . . . Complete story »
