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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.
Concerns end wind farm plans
Noise and health concerns have scuttled plans for a second major wind farm development in South Australia this month. AGL Energy yesterday formally withdrew from an appeal to its 33-turbine Hallett Three wind farm near Mount Bryan following a lengthy court battle with local residents. Opponents of the development claim the company had withdrawn from the project rather than hand over noise records for an existing nearby wind farm development, Hallett Two. The company said it had withdrawn because it . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine connection on Assateague unlikely
ASSATEAGUE – Concerns raised earlier this month about a possible transmission line crossing Assateague and connecting future offshore wind energy turbines to the mainland were allayed somewhat last week when the company said it was not intending to utilize the island. In each of the last three General Assembly sessions, Gov. Martin O’Malley has pushed legislation that would open the door to the development of a wind farm including as many as 100 turbines off the coast of Ocean City and . . . Complete story »
Concerns over community benefits from windfarm
Formal plans have been submitted for a Fenrother windfarm, but there are concerns about community benefits. Energiekontor UK is seeking permission to site five turbines on land south of Longhorsley. And as part of the scheme up to £45,000 a year in community benefit funds would be handed to the Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT). However, the Fight Fenrother and Longhorsley Windfarm Group has hit out at the choice of recipient, suggesting that local parish councils or residents would be . . . Complete story »
Galway windfarm opponents to step up campaign
A Galway anti-windfarm campaign group is to hold a meeting next month to discuss the increase in such developments in the west of the county. The event aims to discuss wind-energy in Connemara and it’s hoped TDs, Senators and Councillors from Galway West will attend. Four groups are invited to participate – these include groups from Knockalough, Knockranny, Carna and Leitirmuckoo. Yvonne Cronin is spokeperson for the Knockalough Community Group – she says the private event on Sept 13th aims . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind test project planned
There’s a new proposal to build wind turbines off the coast of Delaware, albeit one much smaller than the ambitious and now-defunct Bluewater Wind contract. Researchers at The University of Delaware, together with the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado, are proposing a small test project in the Atlantic Ocean, off an unspecified point on the Delaware coast. They are seeking federal funding from an offshore wind program offered by the U.S. Department of Energy. Delaware’s congressional delegation announced the . . . Complete story »
Fife not closed to wind farms
Fife is not closed to wind turbines – they just have to be in the right place, a leading councillor has said. Fife Council administration leader Councillor Alex Rowley made his declaration despite the Scottish Government’s decision to reject his call for a windfarm moratorium in Fife. On Tuesday, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing launched guidance designed to make planning applications for wind energy developments run more smoothly for developers, planning authorities and the communities affected. Mr Ewing also announced an . . . Complete story »
Bill to gut CEQA, California’s top environmental law, on hold
In a stealth effort that shocked enviornmentalists, business groups succeeded in gutting a bill in the State Assembly and inserted language to essentially repeal the California Enviornmental Quality Act (CEQA) . The measure passed the Assembly yesterday and advanced to the State Senate. But today, State Senate President Darrell Steinberg and the bill’s author, Michael Rubio, held a press conference to announce that the measure will not be taken up before the end of the legislative session next week. Sierra . . . Complete story »
Society lodges objection to turbines bid
The Bronte Society has formally objected to proposals by Yorkshire Wind Power to replace turbines at its Ovenden Moor Wind Farm, near Halifax, with those more than double in size. Plans submitted to Calderdale Council include the construction of nine new turbines on the site that would be about 115 metres to their blade tip, replacing the 23 which stand at 48.9 metres. The Bronte Society says if the plan goes ahead it would spoil the landscape and harm its . . . Complete story »
Cape Wind slips into Falmouth; Marina eyed as project headquarters
Cape Wind Associates announced plans yesterday to buy a Falmouth marina to serve as its operations headquarters – a major milestone for a plan a decade in the making – but a longtime opponent said the offshore wind project will never get off the ground. Company officials would not disclose the price of East Marine, citing a confidentiality agreement, but said the marina’s warehouse, boat slips and close proximity to academic institutions were reasons for the purchase and sales agreement they signed . . . Complete story »
Lazor: The Lowell Wind Project as seen from Butterworks Farm
I’ve been watching the progress of Green Mountain Power’s Lowell Mountain Wind Project from my kitchen window for some time now. Our farm is on Buck Hill in Westfield, across the valley from the Lowell Mountains. It looks like the massive crane is putting the blades on the sixth turbine this morning. We’ve have a 75-foot-tall 35kw Vestas wind turbine with 25-foot blades here on our farm since 2005. It seemed so large when we installed it seven years ago. . . . Complete story »
