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Wind Power News: cherry valley
Local filmmaker tackles clear-cutting controversy
McDonald is ready to tackle another local controversy, noting he is currently developing and trying to find financing to film a documentary on industrial wind turbines. Complete story »
Chokecherry–Sierra Madre receives another permit, looks toward future
The 1,000-turbine Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm will have no significant impact on the human environment, according to a preliminary assessment released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The study is one of two site-specific environmental analyses to be done by the BLM. Both stem from a wider 2012 assessment, which approved the wind farm. The no-impact finding marks the second government action in favor of the project in as many weeks. Last week, the Wyoming . . . Complete story »
Mega wind farm would need rail facility, roads, quarry
RAWLINS – Mere days after clearing the last state regulatory hurdle for what could become the largest wind farm in the U.S., the Power Company of Wyoming got its first of two required environmental assessments from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The 284-page document details new infrastructure components that the wind farm will need and how they could impact the environment in Carbon County where the $5 billion wind farm would be installed over the course of eight years. . . . Complete story »
Wyoming board gives key OK for Carbon County wind farm
The largest proposed onshore wind farm in the United States cleared a key regulatory hurdle after state regulators voted unanimously to approve the nearly $5 billion project. The Industrial Siting Council voted 7-0 to approve Power Company of Wyoming’s proposal to build up to 1,000 turbines in Carbon County. The council is responsible for permitting large-scale industrial projects in Wyoming. Chokecherry and Sierra Madre, as the project is known, would produce up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity, or 10 million . . . Complete story »
BLM seeks public comments on Chokecherry
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field Office (RFO) is accepting public comments for the Phase I Wind Turbine Development environmental assessment for the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project (CCSM). The public scoping process will include two public meetings in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 4-6:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the Jeffrey Center, 315 W. Pine St., Rawlins; and Dec. 17 at the Platte Valley Community Center, 210 W. Elm Ave., Saratoga, . . . Complete story »
Department of Interior favors industry over wildlife in new rule
The Department of Interior finalized a new rule extending permits for wind energy facilities to kill bald and golden eagles in a move that could encourage even more wind energy development in eagle habitat. Interior’s issuance of the new rule caps a public review process that started last year, and extends eagle “take” permits – permission to kill or harass protected bald and golden eagles – from 5 years to 30 years. The rule provides the wind industry with assurances it . . . Complete story »
Wind farm, animal control bring speakers to county board
BELVIDERE – The wind farm being proposed for northeastern Boone County continues to be in front of the zoning board of appeals (ZBA). And construction of a new animal control services building remains in process. While those matters have yet to appear before the county board they brought an unusually high number of speakers to the monthly board meeting held Nov. 20. The next ZBA meeting was scheduled for Nov. 26 and it was possible that cross-examination of associate planner . . . Complete story »
Cherry Tree wind farm gets go ahead in Victoria
The Victoria Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has approved a wind farm after finding there’s no evidence wind farms have adverse effects on health and wellbeing. Infigen Energy’s proposal for a 16-turbine wind farm near Seymour, north of Melbourne, was rejected by the Mitchell Shire Council, which said there were widespread health concerns. The council said it had received more than 100 objections to the project in the Trawool Valley, which also raised concerns about disruption to the landscape. Infigen . . . Complete story »
Infrastructure needed before wind turbines
Identifying specific locations for wind turbines in the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm project is a three-stop process: photograph the site, identify any environmental factors that might prevent a turbine placement and propose an alternative location if needed. Dave Richardson, project manager for Mortenson Construction, basically used a GPS to place stakes in the ground to mark future turbine locations, but he also looked for rare vegetation or soil erosion that might be disrupted by the turbines. “The turbines . . . Complete story »
725-mile transmission Line for renewable energy could hatch harm to eagles
ReWire reported Tuesday that a study by Fish and Wildlife Service biologists indicated that California and Wyoming were the two states with the greatest number of verifiable eagle deaths at wind turbines. That study also revealed eagle mortality in both states has risen sharply in the last few years, with all 31 Wyoming mortalities taking place since January 2009. That’s almost certainly a direct result of Wyoming’s rapidly growing wind industry, which increased in generating capacity from less than 300 . . . Complete story »
