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.
Lowther Hills wind farm project rejected by government
A wind farm project described as “visually dominant and incongruous” by a council has been rejected by the Scottish government. Developers scaled back the Lowther Hills scheme near Wanlockhead from 42 to 30 turbines. However, Dumfries and Galloway Council still opposed the proposals which were taken to a public inquiry. Ministers have now concluded their impact on the landscape would be “unacceptable” and refused the plans. A public inquiry was held into the project in late 2019 to look at . . . Complete story »
10-year-old plans to build Llanidloes windfarm withdrawn
A 10-year-old planning application to install wind turbines near Llanidloes has been withdrawn. An application was lodged by EDF Energy in June 2010 with Powys County Council for nine wind turbines. The 125-metre tall tall turbines were proposed for a site known as Hirddywel, which is around 6.5km south-east of the town of Llanidloes. EDF Energy proposed to install nine wind turbines with a maximum height to blade tip of 125m. The application also included a permanent sub station and . . . Complete story »
Packer Twp. zoners deny wind farm
Zoning to allow a large windmill farm atop the Broad Mountain in Packer Twp. was denied Tuesday afternoon by the township zoning board. The board voted 3-0 to deny a special exception to the township zoning ordinance to operate the wind farm, and to deny three zoning variances associated with such an operation. Barbara Genetti, board vice chairwoman, said the denial centered around questions about the effects of sound from the wind turbines and their effect on property values. “Based . . . Complete story »
Permission refused for wind farm due to presence of protected bird
Planning permission has been refused for a wind farm in Donegal due to fears of the potential impact on a protected species of bird. An Bord Pleanála has refused permission following an appeal by Behy Renewable Energy Ltd, whose plans for the wind farm close to the Donegal-Fermanagh border were initially rejected by Donegal County Council in 2019. The proposed development sought to erect up to seven turbines, each rising up to 150 metres, across the town lands of Behy, . . . Complete story »
Objectors win fight to halt creation of new north-east wind turbine and solar farm development
Plans for a new energy plant in the north-east which left hundreds of villagers “horrified” have been thrown-out by councillors. The controversial plans by St Fergus Energy Limited to build two 119m-high turbines and a solar farm on land between the village and the gas terminal prompted more than 340 objections. That outcry, alongside its non-compliance with the local development plan, saw the proposals, submitted by Midlothian firm Green Cat Renewables, put before a special meeting of Buchan area committee. . . . Complete story »
Scottish Ministers block Perth firm Aviva’s ambitious renewables plan
One of Perth’s biggest employers has had plans for a £3 million wind turbine toppled by Scottish Ministers, just days after bosses unveiled a groundbreaking solar energy station in their car park. Financial services giant Aviva launched its sun-powered carport earlier this week as part of an ambitious bid to have its Fair City HQ powered almost entirely by renewable energy generated on-site. Aviva had planned to complement the new facility with an equally powerful 77-metre wind turbine. The company . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine plans blown out of water
Plans to designate an area of Galloway’s coastal waters as a possible site for wind turbines have been sunk. The Scottish Government had included an area south of Luce Bay in its draft sectoral marine plan as having wind energy potential. The zone was one of 16 “draft plan options” identified around the coast for a maritime renewables drive. But local fishing, marine leisure and community interests strongly objected to the Galloway bid in the public consultation. Negative impacts on . . . Complete story »
Lawsuit over Black Hawk County wind farm ends after project fails
WATERLOO – Local farmer Harold Youngblut dropped his appeal Friday asking the Iowa Supreme Court to block an expected wind energy project in Black Hawk County. The case was dropped after the special use permit for Washburn Wind Energy’s planned 35-turbine wind farm expired July 1. The company then pulled out of the project that month, said city planner Seth Hyberger. He said nobody wanted to invest in the $120 million project until litigation ended, making it difficult to secure initial . . . Complete story »
State of Wyoming declines to grant land lease for wind energy project
After heated deliberation, Wyoming regulators voted to deny a renewable energy company a lease to build a wind farm on state land in Albany County on Thursday, after members of the public expressed concern the development would compromise scenic viewsheds. ConnectGen is an independent energy firm based in Houston. The developer applied to lease 4,800 acres of state land to construct part of its 500 megawatt Rail Tie wind project. Approximately 20% of the entire 26,000 acre project would have . . . Complete story »
Controversial Green County wind farm scrapped
A controversial Green County wind farm – one of only a handful under development in Wisconsin – has been scrapped. EDF Renewables had planned to build 24 turbines in the town of Jefferson near the Illinois border. It would have been the sixth-largest in the state, with a capacity of 65 megawatts. Participating landowners received letters in September notifying them that the developer, EDF Renewables, was terminating its lease agreements. Sandi Briner, vice president of corporate communications for the developer, confirmed in . . . Complete story »
