Wind Power News: Complaints
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.
Lawsuit over wind turbine in Oliver County moves forward
A family in Oliver County has asked to recover financial losses in a lawsuit against a wind farm operator. They claim a turbine that was placed too close to their farmstead devalued and prevented them from fully using their property. In 2021, the North Dakota Public Service Commission told Minnesota Power to take down a wind turbine that had been constructed in 2014. The turbine was 1,125 feet away from Keith and Deanna Kessler’s farmstead. That was within a 1,400-foot . . . Complete story »
Fremont County citizen’s group files lawsuit against county over wind energy regulations
A local citizen’s group has filed a lawsuit in Iowa District Court against Fremont County regarding alleged mishandlings of regulating wind turbines in the county. According to a press release from the offices of Lawyers Shawn Shearer and Theodore Sporer, a 60-page petition outlining at least 20 separate allegations has been filed into district court in Fremont county to “express frustrations with the county’s Board of Supervisors” and their attempts to regulate wind turbines. According to the release, allegations include . . . Complete story »
Amid scrutiny, PGE overhauls flagship wind farm to address safety and reliability problems
Portland General Electric plans to overhaul its flagship wind farm to address known maintenance problems and safety concerns exposed in an August investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive. The utility’s proposed fixes follow years of apparent inaction and come amid new scrutiny from state regulators who previously either ignored or did not recognize the scope of problems at the aging facility in the Columbia River Gorge. PGE temporarily shuttered its Biglow Canyon wind farm last year after a massive blade from one . . . Complete story »
Windfarms receive £227million subsidies to switch off
Two huge new offshore windfarms received nearly half of the £227million paid out to operators last year to switch off when it was too windy due to capacity issues with the grid. Constraint payments are given to operators for switching off turbines, typically when high winds and a high concentration of wind farms means the system doesn’t have the capacity to transport the energy to where it is needed. The cost is added to domestic electricity bills, heaping more misery on households . . . Complete story »
In Michigan’s Thumb, wind farm tax clawback would bankrupt schools
Tuscola County, MI – The sword of Damocles hanging over Unionville-Sebewing Area Schools has Consumers Energy written all over it. The rural district of about 680 students in Tuscola County is facing down a financial abyss thanks to the state’s largest energy provider, which is attempting to claw back nearly $1.2 million in disputed tax revenues levied on wind power turbines. Officials say the case threatens to wipe out district fund balances and toss them into deficit status with the state. . . . Complete story »
Turbine minieoliche insufficienti e improduttivi, condannato imprenditore casaranese
Gianluigi Parrotto, enfant prodige della tecnica, è stato condannato a 2 anni di reclusione (pena sospesa e non menzione) con l’accusa di truffa. Gianluigi Parrotto, inventore delle turbine rivoluzionarie per l’eolico è stato condannato a due anni per truffa senza l’aggravante della rilevante entità come deciso dalla giudice del Tribunale monocratico di Lecce, Giovanna Piazzalunga che ha rilevato come alcune delle accuse siano ormai cadute in prescrizione. Il 26enne di Casarano era balzato agli onori della cronaca per il progetto . . . Complete story »
Wind farm scammer who conned millions from customers banned from running companies for 14 years
Dr Paul Dougan was found to have used investors’ cash to fund separate property ventures instead of putting it into wind farm projects. A green energy expert whose firm scammed £4million from customers for wind farm schemes has been banned from running companies for 14 years. Geoscientist Dr Paul Dougan was hit with the ban after a probe by the Insolvency Service found he used investors’ cash to fund separate property ventures instead of putting it into wind farm projects. . . . Complete story »
Couples sue over ‘constant noise and nuisance’ from wind turbines near Wexford homes
Two couples have brought High Court damages actions over what they claim is nuisance and excessive noise from a wind farm near their Co Wexford homes. The actions have been brought by Margret Webster and her partner Keith Rollo, as well as by Ross Shorten and Joan Carty, against Meenacloghspar (Wind) Limited, which operates the two-turbine Ballyduff Wind Farm at Kilcomb, near Enniscorthy in Co Wexford. The plaintiffs both have properties close to the wind farm which has been in . . . Complete story »
Staff in Scots mutiny plot as green jobs lost to cheap foreign labour
British-based workers are planning a mutiny as protests erupt over a scandal of cheap foreign labour replacing them to serve Scotland’s green revolution, the Herald on Sunday can reveal. The row has emerged as UK-based staff on board Balder, the world’s first semi-submersible crane vessel serving the creation of one of Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farms have had their contracts terminated following the extension of the Offshore Wind Workers Concession (OWWC) rules which allows the employment of cheaper foreign nationals . . . Complete story »
Consumers Energy seeks “crippling” wind farm tax clawbacks from Tuscola County schools
Some Tuscola County school districts say they’re regretting their decision to enter into tax revenue agreements with Consumers Energy after the utility sought tax clawbacks related to wind turbine depreciation. Consumers Energy is suing more than a hundred schools, townships, and social service groups in Tuscola County, seeking about $8 million in tax clawbacks. More than a decade ago, the districts and other groups agreed to allow Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, and standalone wind energy companies like Next Energy to . . . Complete story »
