Wind Watch: Industrial Wind Energy News
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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.
Wind turbine crashes down in Schuyler County
A wind turbine came crashing down in Schuyler County late last week. It happened Friday night on Fairview Drive off County Route J in Queen City. It was part of Ameren’s wind farm along Highway 63 that was installed in 2021. Several viewers messaged KTVO with pictures, saying they could see the tower without its face or blades from the highway. KTVO reached out to Ameren for more information on what happened. In an email, they responded: “Ameren Missouri enacted . . . Complete story »
Three groups are suing N.J. to block an offshore wind farm
Three anti–wind power groups are suing New Jersey to overturn a key environmental approval for a wind energy farm planned off the coast of Long Beach Island. Save Long Beach Island, Defend Brigantine Beach and Protect Our Coast NJ filed suit in appellate court on April 26 challenging a determination by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that the Atlantic Shores wind farm project meets the requirements of a federal coastal protection law. Atlantic Shores is one of three . . . Complete story »
TransAlta scraps wind farm project as energy market changes loom for Alberta
TransAlta, one of Alberta’s largest power generators, has cancelled a proposed wind farm development and is putting a hold on three other power projects, citing provincial rule changes and a lack of certainty in the market. In February, Alberta’s government announced new rules on the development of renewable power in the province. They imposed a new 35-kilometre buffer zone around areas deemed “pristine viewscapes.” Calgary-based TransAlta said those rules, coupled with a lack of clarity around the future of renewable . . . Complete story »
Schoharie County towns file lawsuit against N.Y. over solar, wind farm tax methods
More than a dozen towns in Schoharie County are suing the state of New York, claiming they’re not only being low-balled by the state’s method of taxing solar and wind projects, but that the new rules are unconstitutional. In 2021, the state established new rules requiring solar and wind farms that generate over one megawatt of electricity be assessed using a model formula. However, the town supervisors, listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, contend that local assessors have the “ultimate . . . Complete story »
The intermittency of wind and solar power could be worse than originally thought, experts say
“Wind droughts can happen at any time and are fairly common.” Last month, multiple news outlets reported on the record-smashing year the wind industry had in 2023. The Global Wind Energy Council released its latest report showing the world installed 117 gigawatts of capacity. The Associated Press called 2023 a “record year for wind installations,” and Reuters noted that the U.S. was among the top five markets for wind installations. The U.S. Energy Information Administration released a report this week . . . Complete story »
14 Stark County townships want large solar, wind farms prohibited
Fourteen of Stark County’s 17 townships want large wind and solar farms banned from their communities. Canton, Jackson, Lake, Lawrence, Lexington, Nimishillen, Osnaburg, Paris, Pike, Plain, Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas and Washington townships requested the county commissioners vote to prohibit large solar facilities and large wind farms of 50 megawatts or more, as well as economically significant wind farms between five and 50 megawatts. Marlboro Township asked to commissioners to prohibit large solar facilities and large wind farms but did not . . . Complete story »
OSHA to investigate wind farm death of Weslaco man
Federal workplace safety officials will be investigating how a worker from the Valley fell to his death inside of a wind turbine at a wind farm northwest of Dallas. 31-year-old Marco Anthony Portillo of Weslaco died in the accidental fall last Wednesday. Portillo was working with the Windthorst Two wind project south of Wichita Falls, and was climbing inside a turbine when he fell. Portillo reportedly was killed instantly. OSHA officials will work to determine if any workplace safety rules . . . Complete story »
‘These turbines would change everything’: Caithness community rallies against wind farm plan
Four generations of the Sandison family have farmed land in Caithness they now fear could be overshadowed by wind turbines. They are members of a small community fighting plans for green energy projects they say would harm their way of life. Wind2 wants to install two 150m high turbines and a battery energy storage system at Bower. An application is expected in May for the project that will have a total installed capacity of around 20MW. Turbines are a ‘blight . . . Complete story »
Worried about effect on “clean energy transition,” Mills vetoes bill requiring union workers on state land
Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill on Friday that would have required companies leasing state land for clean energy projects to work with unions hoping to represent their workers. The bill, L.D. 373, is aimed at the offshore wind power terminal and manufacturing facility the Mills administration aims to build in Searsport. Mills said she vetoed the bill because it contained ambiguous language and was too far-reaching in its scope. In her veto letter, she wrote that it was unclear . . . Complete story »
Archer Co. Sheriff confirms identity of man in fatal wind turbine accident
The Archer County Sheriff’s Office identified the man who died after falling inside a wind turbine Wednesday evening. The man, 31-year-old Marco Anthony Portillo Jr. was a resident of Weslaco, according to Sheriff Jack Curd. Portillo was on the job of a windmill project entitled “Windthorst II Wind” on April 24 under supervision of EDF Renewables. When he began to climb into the turbine, he fell and was pronounced dead on the scene. The sheriff’s office, Air Evac, AMR and . . . Complete story »
