Wind Power News: Victories
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.
Planning permission refused for Wicklow wind farm due to nearby Air Corps activity
Planning permission for a new wind farm in Co Wicklow has been refused because of the danger it would pose to military aircraft involved in training and operational flights near the Glen of Imaal. An Bord Pleanála has rejected an appeal by renewable energy firm, ABO Wind Ireland, against the decision of Wicklow County Council to refuse it planning permission for a wind farm consisting of five turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 165 metres across a 60-hectare . . . Complete story »
Developers withdraw proposed wind turbine in Glen
GLEN – Residents cheered after learning Borrego Solar withdrew its application to construct an over-600-foot-tall wind turbine on Reynolds Road in Glen. “I am ecstatic that we are not getting a wind turbine in my backyard and our beautiful viewshed,” Michele Wadsworth said during Wednesday’s Planning Board meeting. Wadsworth’s home on Severin Road adjoins the proposed project site and would have been the property most heavily impacted by the turbine. After months of sounding off about the project, she thanked the . . . Complete story »
Fears for Air Corps aircraft scupper Wicklow windfarm
Fears over the safety of low flying Department of Defence Air Corps aircraft have helped put paid to plans for a €26.25m wind-farm in Co Wicklow’s uplands. This follows An Bord Pleanála refusing planning permission to ABO Wind Ireland Ltd for the 541 ft high five turbine wind farm on a 148 acre site on Kilranelagh Hill to the west of the Keadeen Mountains and Carrig Mountain. The wind farm would have had the capacity to power 15,643 homes or . . . Complete story »
‘We have done enough for wind energy’ – Kerry councillors vote down wind turbine development
Kerry councillors have rejected proposals for further wind development following a passionate meeting held to discuss the new County Development Draft Plan at County Buildings on Wednesday. Councillors were unanimous in stopping wind development under the draft plan, outlining that Kerry had ‘done its bit for wind energy’, particularly in north Kerry were it was stated communities are suffering because of wind energy policy. Kerry County Council (KCC) management said its planners had reduced the area available for wind development . . . Complete story »
Firm loses appeal against refusal of permission for wind farm
London-based Energiekontor wanted to build six turbines with a tip height of 149.9 metres near Dunbeath, but its application – which attracted almost 200 objections – was rejected by Highland Council last June. Objectors raised concerns about the impact on cultural heritage assets and archaeology, residential amenity, road users, tourists and recreational users, and natural heritage. There were also concerns amongst almost 200 objections about the landscape and visual impact, scale of development, and the lack of significant economic benefits. . . . Complete story »
Ohio Power Siting Board denies rehearing for Republic Wind
The Ohio Power Siting Board denied two separate applications for rehearing regarding the board’s decision to deny an application filed by Republic Wind to construct a 200 MW wind-powered electric generating facility in Seneca and Sandusky County. Both the Republic Wind developer and a group of local residents opposed to the project filed for a rehearing last July after the project was denied in June. The board ruled in its March 17 decision that neither group raised any new arguments or . . . Complete story »
Glenshero in the Monadhliath deemed ‘not right place’ for 39-turbine wind farm
A decision by Scottish ministers to refuse a wind farm by Laggan which could have combined to form one of the most extensive swathes of turbines in the UK has been welcomed. The Glenshero Wind Farm proposed by SIMEC Wind One Ltd – owned by the under-fire GFG Alliance group – in the southern Monadhliath was rejected because of the visual impact the 39 turbines, reaching 135 metres at tip height, would have had. High-profile national conservation organisations and charities . . . Complete story »
Monadhliath mountains wind farm refused consent
Scottish ministers have refused planning permission for a 39-turbine windfarm in the Highlands’ Monadhliath mountains. Simec Wind One Ltd had proposed installing the turbines on a site near Stronelairg Wind Farm, which was given planning consent in 2014. Plans for the new Glenshero Wind Farm were opposed by groups including Mountaineering Scotland, John Muir Trust and RSPB Scotland as well as Cairngorm National Park Authority. Concerns were raised about the visual impact on the surrounding mountain landscape and that birds . . . Complete story »
BLM denies permit for Walker Ridge wind energy project
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The federal government has rejected a wind energy project that would have installed dozens of giant turbines in the Walker Ridge area. On Friday, the Bureau of Land Management said it has denied the application for the Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project. The agency said the denial was based on potential resource conflicts and the inadequacy of the information provided to the BLM to address these conflicts and to move forward with the environmental review. “Given the . . . Complete story »
Council refuses permission to Castlepollard wind turbine plan
Westmeath County Council has turned down an application for a controversial 150m wind turbine just outside Castlepollard. More than 20 objections had been lodged with the council opposing the erection of the ‘Glor’ community turbine at Loughanstown, which was the subject of a planning application lodged in December by Natural Forces Renewable Energy Limited. A spokesperson for the firm said that if given the green light, the turbine, which was to have an overall tip height of “up to” 150m, . . . Complete story »
