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.
Wind turbine rejected in unanimous decision
NORTH SMITHFIELD – Three years of fighting against a wind power proposal paid off for neighbors Tuesday night when the Zoning Board of Review voted unanimously to reject a 462.5-foot wind turbine off Old Smithfield Road. The project, first submitted in late 2015 and brought back for review in March, involved installing a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine on land owned by Ruth Pacheco at 810 Old Smithfield Road. The proposal has drawn heavy criticism from neighbors who cite concerns about noise . . . Complete story »
Village wins its battle against Gilston wind farm bid
A Borders village which took on the Scottish Government over its decision to approve a controversial wind farm there has won its appeal. Heriot Community Council took legal action against a reporter’s decision to overturn Scottish Borders Council’s rejection of the proposed Gilston wind farm on landscape impact grounds. Residents believed the reporter failed to properly address the issues arising from the appeal and gained financial backing from nearby Raeshaw Estate to pursue the matter this spring. And that move . . . Complete story »
Plans for turbine north of Ellon refused
Plans for a 327-foot wind turbine in Aberdeenshire have been rejected by councillors, following concerns it could interfere military radar. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Aberdeen International Airport both raised concerns over Cardinghill Renewables’ proposal at Cardinghill, north of Ellon. Both of the organisations raised fears the renewable energy site could cause major problems for aircraft, and could result in pilots re-routing mid-flight. In a letter, a spokeswoman for the MOD said the proposed turbine “could not be tolerated” . . . Complete story »
Energy firm halts work on controversial wind farm development
Developers have shelved plans for a hugely unpopular windfarm in rural Perthshire. After a rollercoaster planning wrangle that lasted five years, ABO Wind has announced it will halt work on its 11-turbine Green Burn project between Alyth and Bridge of Cally. More than 150 residents and groups objected to the scheme which would have seen turbines bigger than Big Ben installed next to the existing 16-mast Drumberg site. The plan was rejected by councillors in March 2017, amid claims the . . . Complete story »
NextEra vote falls short
From their opening comments during a special commission meeting Thursday, it was clear how individual members of the Reno County Commission were going to vote on the application by NextEra energy for a wind farm permit. It took more than 3 1/2 hours, however, to get to that moment. Commissioner Ron Hirst was the critical vote, leading to a defeat of the conditional use permit sought by the Florida developer. That’s because enough landowners within 1,000 feet of the land . . . Complete story »
PSC denies siting for the proposed Burke Wind project
It may be a first for the North Dakota Public Service Commission. The PSC has denied the siting permit for a wind farm. The wind farm in question is the proposed 200 megawatt Burke Wind facility, in Burke and Mountrail Counties. The reason for the denial: objections from the state Game and Fish Department and the US Fish and Wildlife Service concerning wetlands and other wildlife habitat. “The Game and Firsh Department’s March 7, 2019 letter indicated it believed Burke . . . Complete story »
Citing wildlife impacts, North Dakota regulators deny siting permit for Burke County wind farm
BISMARCK – In what one commissioner called a “historic” decision, North Dakota utility regulators denied a siting permit for a wind farm in the state’s northwest corner following opposition from state and federal wildlife agencies Wednesday, June 12. Public Service Commissioners unanimously rejected NextEra Energy’s application for siting permit, the first time they remembered doing so for an energy facility given that regulators and project developers typically work out issues before a final decision is made. NextEra sought to build a . . . Complete story »
VCAT rejects application for Naroghid wind farm, Cobden aviation community welcomes decision
A proposed wind farm near the Cobden airport will not go ahead due to safety concerns and its potential to harm the habitat of the critically endangered southern bent-winged bat. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled on June 3 that no permit would be granted for the Naroghid wind farm following an eight-day hearing. Developer Alinta Energy had planned for a 12 turbine wind farm on farmland north-west of Cobden, the latest in a string of wind farm proposals . . . Complete story »
Plans for 200m-tall turbines next to Hawick’s Stobs Camp gone with the wind
A would-be wind farm developer has dropped provisional proposals for six turbines almost 200m tall next to Stobs Camp, near Hawick. ABEI Energy was considering putting forward plans to erect turbines 191m high to the tips of their 63m blades on land alongside the former military camp. The Spanish company has now abandoned those speculative proposals for a site to be called Dodburn wind farm as it is fearful of opposition from residents. Philip Kerr, chairman of Southdean Community Council, . . . Complete story »
Windfarm firm loses appeal over 17-turbine development
Ecotricity has put an urgent call for more renewable power after the Scottish Government upheld Perth and Kinross Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for their 17-turbine wind farm at Dulater Hill near Spittalfield. Planning permission for the 125-metre turbines with a total output of 57.8 megawatts on the hill, which sits between Dunkeld and Blairgowrie, was refused by Perth and Kinross Council in October 2015. Following the decision, Scottish ministers called a public local inquiry to be held. A . . . Complete story »
