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.
Grain Belt Express power line gets thumbs down in Missouri House
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri House endorsed a plan Monday designed to stop a company from building a high-voltage electric transmission line across the northern part of the state. On a 118-42 vote, the GOP-controlled House said “no” to the idea of a private company being given the ability to use eminent domain to take land for the project. The Legislature’s bid to stop Chicago-based Invenergy from building the Grain Belt Express now moves to the Senate for further debate. “The . . . Complete story »
No large wind projects are under consideration in Vermont for the first time in years
There are no longer any large wind projects in development in Vermont, pausing the passionate debate over wind turbine siting that had animated communities and political campaigns only a few years ago. The developers of Dairy Air Wind, which was planned as a single turbine on a dairy farm in the Northeast Kingdom town of Holland, announced Jan. 16 that they would stop all development activity, citing “a current political environment that is hostile to wind energy.” The project, led . . . Complete story »
Seneca Co. wind farm project put on hold indefinitely
A project that would have placed up to 77 commercial-scale wind turbines in Seneca County near Tiffin has been placed on indefinite hold, the project’s backer announced Tuesday. sPower, an independent power producer based in Salt Lake City, said that it’s announced Seneca Wind LLC wind farm project to be located in Scipio, Reed, Venice, Eden, and Bloom Townships will be placed “on hold for an undetermined period until next steps are defined by the company.” The power producer said . . . Complete story »
Seneca Wind project suspended
The Seneca Wind project that had been proposed in Seneca County has been suspended by sPower, its parent company, according to an sPower news release. The announcement was made Tuesday. The release said sPower “will not refile an application with the Ohio Power Siting Board at this time.” In early October, sPower filed a pre-application letter with OPSB for a 212-megawatt wind turbine project in Scipio, Reed, Venice, Eden and Bloom townships similar to the project the company withdrew in . . . Complete story »
Dairy Air Wind in Holland announces halt to development activity
HOLLAND – Dairy Air Wind, the last remaining wind energy project being developed in Vermont, today announced the ending of all development activities surrounding the project. Project partner David Blittersdorf cited a current political environment that is hostile to wind energy as the leading cause for this step. Dairy Air Wind was intended to be a single-turbine project sited in a cornfield on the Champney family’s 450-acre dairy farm in Holland. “In 2012, there were over a dozen wind projects in . . . Complete story »
Developer shuts down Dairy Air Wind
NEWPORT, VT – The proposal to locate a 2.2MW wind turbine at the Brian and Kim Champney farm on School Road in Holland has been terminated. Renewable energy developer David Blittersdorf issued a press release announcing the decision. A letter to the Public Utility Commission authored by attorney Leslie Cadwell was brief and to the point. “Pleased be advised that petitioner Dairy Air Wind, LLC will not be supplementing its petition or pursuing this matter further.” Read more in the Newport . . . Complete story »
Proposed Vermont wind project halts development, citing hostile political environment
Dairy Air Wind, the last remaining wind energy project being developed in Vermont, today announced the ending of all development activities surrounding the project. Project partner David Blittersdorf cited a current political environment that is hostile to wind energy as the leading cause for this step. Dairy Air Wind was intended to be a single-turbine project sited in a cornfield on the Champney family’s 450-acre dairy farm in Holland, Vermont. “In 2012, there were over a dozen wind projects in . . . Complete story »
Grafton voters again reject industrial wind
GRAFTON – Voters in this small town, which in 2016 rejected a large industrial wind project, have endorsed a new town plan that prohibits industrial and commercial wind. On a 95-66 vote during an all-day ballot Monday, residents approved the new town plan, which bans any large wind facility, and includes other planning updates. “We now have a town plan, after the Windham Regional Commission has given its final approval, that tracks the wishes of the voters and is compliant with . . . Complete story »
Baden-Württemberg: Genehmigungen für Windräder sind rechtswidrig
[The administrative court of Baden-Württemberg has stopped the construction of two wind farms and called into question all of the permits for wind energy facilities in the southwest. (translate article to English)] Der Verwaltungsgerichtshof von Baden-Württemberg stoppt den Bau zweier Windparks. Da die gesamte Genehmigungspraxis bisheriger Anlagen betroffen ist, steht der Windkraftausbau im Südwesten generell in Frage. Die Stuttgarter Landesregierung hat jetzt ein riesiges Problem. Sämtliche Genehmigungen von Windrädern in Baden-Württemberg sind vermutlich rechtswidrig. Das geht aus einer Entscheidung des Verwaltungsgerichtshofes . . . Complete story »
Commission rejects wind farm applications at first 2020 meeting
RAWLINS – The saga of the two planned wind farm projects will continue into the spring, according to Carbon County Planning and Zoning Director Sid Fox. He said as much on Tuesday morning at the first Carbon County Commissioners’ meeting of 2020, when the board rejected the conditional use permit applications for the Lucky Star and Two Rivers wind farms. The projects were proposed in September 2018 by BluEarth Renewables, a Canada-based power producer. The two are designed to be built . . . Complete story »
