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.
Supreme Court overturns permission for Cork windfarm
An Bord Pleanála’s approval for a planned Co Cork windfarm development has been overturned by the Supreme Court after finding the board erred in failing to consider submissions from a local couple concerning developing knowledge about noise impact from turbines. The five-judge court will decide later what form of order should be made arising from its judgment, including whether to return the matter to the Board for reconsideration. Klaus Balz and Hanna Heubach, who operate a family horticulture business from . . . Complete story »
Ontario cancels nearly built $200M wind farm over threat to bat populations
Ontario’s Environment Minister has cancelled a $200-million wind farm south of Ottawa – one almost fully constructed – because the giant turbines pose a threat to nearby bat populations. In a Dec. 4 letter, Minister Jeff Yurek said he’s revoking the approval given to the Nation Rise Wind Farm, which has already erected a number of the 29 planned turbines in a rural area near the villages of Crysler and Finch in the Township of North Stormont. The surprising decision comes about . . . Complete story »
Minister revokes approval for Nation Rise Wind Farm project; harm to bats key point
In a December 4 decision, an appeal of the Environmental Review Tribunal decision to issue a Renewable Energy Approval to Nation Rise Wind Farm GP Inc. has led to the project been revoked. Despite a full appeal of the Nation Rise wind power project by community group Concerned Citizens of North Stormont, which raised serious issues of concern about human health and the environment, and despite a final appeal and request for a Stay of construction, the 100-megawatt wind power . . . Complete story »
Nation Rise approval revoked by Environment minister to protect endangered bats; developer threatening legal action
NORTH STORMONT – Citing “irreversible harm” to endangered bats, Jeff Yurek, Ontario Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, has issued a decision revoking the Renewable Energy Approval for the Nation Rise wind power project being built in North Stormont, near Ottawa. “Perplexed” by the minister’s “unprecedented” move it says has forced a halt to construction, developer EDP Renewables Canada Ltd. is now assessing “potential legal actions.” The minister’s decision – a copy of which has been obtained by NVN – was in response . . . Complete story »
Province revokes approval for nearly-finished Nation Rise Wind Farm
The provincial government has withdrawn the renewable energy approval authorizing the creation of the Nation Rise Wind Farm. Environment Minister Jeff Yurek announced the decision in a letter to wind farm opponents, who had appealed the approval of the project to him. The withdrawal of the approval means the project will come to a halt, despite the fact the wind farm is largely complete, with several wind turbines erected and ready to begin generating power. Yurek said he decided to . . . Complete story »
High Court: Developer loses challenge to An Board Pleanála’s decision to refuse planning permission
A company seeking to develop a wind farm in Cork has lost an application for judicial review of a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission based on the “cumulative impact on landscape and visual amenity”. Dismissing the application, Mr Justice Garrett Simons said the case failed on the merits but that, in any event, he would have refused to set aside the Board’s decision in the exercise of the court’s discretion. Planning permission refused In July 2014, . . . Complete story »
Planning Commission denies wind farm project
For the third week in a row, overflow crowds filled the supervisors’ chamber for nearly five hours on Nov. 21 to hear the county planning commission discuss the possible permitting of the Terra-Gen Wind Farm Project. Thirty-one members of the public who had not been given time to speak at the previous meeting were allowed their time at the microphone. About half of the people initially listed did not show up, apparently discouraged by their long wait the previous week. . . . Complete story »
Humboldt County Planning Commission denies Humboldt Wind Energy Project with 4-2 vote
At a special meeting Thursday, the Humboldt County Planning Commission voted 4-2 to deny the Humboldt Wind Energy Project from moving forward. The commission’s vote denied Humboldt Wind, LLC the necessary permits to begin construction on the project. The project proposed building 60 wind turbines, most of which would be placed on the Bear River and Monument Ridges, west of State Highway 101, south of Rio Dell and Scotia and terminating east of the 101 in Bridgeville. The project is . . . Complete story »
Planning Commission denies wind farm project
The Humboldt County Planning Commission voted 4-2, with commissioners Mike Newman and Alan Bongio dissenting and commissioner Brian Mitchell absent, to deny a proposal to build a wind farm on Monument and Bear River ridges south of Rio Dell. An initial vote on a motion to accept the project stalled with a 3-3 vote, which prompted commission Chair Robert Morris to ask Terra-Gen’s representative if he would be OK delaying the vote a couple of weeks until after the Thanksgiving . . . Complete story »
In a wild meeting, the Planning Commission first deadlocks, then denies the Humboldt Wind Energy Project
In a meeting that featured more drama, suspense and unforeseen plot twists than a season finale on HBO, the Humboldt County Planning Commission wound up denying the Humboldt Wind Energy Project on Thursday night, setting the stage for an appeal to the Board of Supervisors. The decision came at the end of a five-hour meeting – the third five-hour Planning Commission meeting in as many weeks on this highly controversial project – and for a while it looked like things were headed . . . Complete story »
