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Wind Power News: Press releases
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.
Support growing for offshore wind moratorium
Earlier this month, the Democratic state Senate president and Democratic speaker of the state Assembly released a joint statement echoing our calls for a pause on offshore wind development until more research could be done. Their statements read, in part: “There are still many unanswered questions about the economic impact these projects will have on ratepayers as well as potential impacts to one of our state’s largest economic drivers, tourism at the shore.” A reasonable and rational statement one would . . . Complete story »
Tribes concerned about wind energy development impact to fisheries, local jobs, and pristine viewsheds
Last week, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) released two draft Wind Energy Areas (“WEAs”) for development of offshore wind energy off the Oregon Coast, including areas near Florence and Brookings. The release of these WEAs was contrary to the call of the Oregon Governor and Congressional delegation requesting that the process for wind energy development by suspended to ensure that the concerns of local residents, commercial fishing, and Tribes are fully considered in the process. The Confederated . . . Complete story »
Save LBI lays out evidence for cause of whale deaths
Background On August 4th, 2023, Save Long Beach Island (LBI) filed a lawsuit seeking to enjoin the ongoing offshore wind energy vessel surveys using high intensity noise equipment until a thorough investigation could be done and new protocols developed for estimating noise impacts from wind energy development activities. On August 14th Save LBI responded to defendant and defendant-intervenor motions, laying out in detail the evidence linking the vessel surveys to the recent whale deaths. Evidence of Causation of Whale Deaths . . . Complete story »
Queensland requirements for wind farm developments set for review
A review of the requirements for wind farm developments in Queensland is underway. The review of the Wind Farm Code (State Code 23) and its accompanying guidelines will aim to build greater community and industry confidence in clean energy projects. State Code 23 already includes requirements aimed at ensuring wind farms are designed and operated to minimise adverse impacts on the natural environment, ecological processes, visual amenity, air services, transport networks and noise levels. The Wind Farm Code and accompanying . . . Complete story »
House passes amendment requiring that offshore wind facilities don’t interfere with aviation radar
The House of Representatives today passed an amendment authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) that would require President Biden or his designee to certify that offshore wind projects “will not weaken, degrade, interfere with, or nullify the capability of radar relied upon the Federal Aviation Administration or the Armed Forces.” Smith’s amendment, cosponsored by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Andy Harris (R-MD), comes in response to the Biden Administration’s rush to install thousands of offshore wind turbines in some . . . Complete story »
Wind farm planning permits in Victoria will now be silent on wind turbine noise
Background Testing and Acoustic Amenity assessments are now more important than ever. Especially in Victoria, Australia. In 2021, the Victoria Planning Minister approved amendment No. VC206 to the Victoria Planning Provisions, which aligns the Planning Act with the EPA Act. And now in 2023, the Minister has approved amendment No. VC234, which essentially removes wind turbine noise predictions and assessments from the planning permit and hands them over to the EPA pollution authority. The Minister doesn’t want any informed neighbour . . . Complete story »
Barrasso, Capito urge FERC to analyze negative impact of EPA-proposed Clean Power Plan 2.0
U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Willie L. Phillips and Commissioners James Danly, Allison Clements, and Mark C. Christie, to urge the Commission to hold a series of conferences to analyze the negative impact of the Proposed Clean Power Plan 2.0 on our nation’s electric . . . Complete story »
Court challenge filed re New Jersey approval of offshore wind project
Trenton (June 16). Three groups have filed suit in Superior Court challenging New Jersey DEP’s approval of the Ocean Wind 1 project consisting of nearly 100 turbines to be located 15 miles off New Jersey’s busiest beach communities. In papers filed in New Jersey’s Appellate Division, Save LBI, Defend Brigantine Beach and Protect Our Coast NJ said that the turbines, at least 906 feet in height (with their blades, nearly as tall as the Empire State Building), will be fully . . . Complete story »
Cape May County fights back against offshore wind farm
The Cape May County Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed Resolution 314-23 on May 23. The Resolution contains eight pages of details about the County of Cape May’s efforts to engage with the Danish wind corporation, Orsted, to try to find common ground and mitigate some of the negative impacts of Orsted’s Ocean Wind One offshore wind generation facilities project. Orsted has conceded that if it constructs its Ocean Wind One and Ocean Wind Two offshore wind farm projects, windmills . . . Complete story »
NJ Assembly marine mammal death hearing ignores facts, reinforces need for halt to offshore wind activities
Today’s New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s hearing on Marine Mammal Deaths reinforced the need for an immediate halt to all offshore wind permitting, surveying and preconstruction activities and solicitations for new power off the coast of New Jersey. This cessation is long overdue according to East Coast citizen-led marine and eco-advocacy groups opposing the proposed offshore wind developments here. While this hearing provided an important public forum to examine the issues, it ignored key facts and basic . . . Complete story »
