http://www.windaction.org/ facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts en-us Windaction hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.windaction.org/articles/23016 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:47:29 GMT The blade on a General Electric 1.5 megawatt (MW) wind turbine at the Wessington Springs Wind Farm was shredded in high winds. The Babcock and Brown installation became operational in late fall 2008 and includes 34 towers. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23016 http://www.windaction.org/articles/38340 Tue, 07 May 2013 02:55:36 GMT Oak Tree Energy attempted in 2010 to negotiate with NorthWestern. The utility refused to buy the power, saying the additional electricity wasn't necessary. Oak Tree Energy turned to the PUC in April 2011. Oak Tree used a federal law known as the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 as the basis for its complaint. http://www.windaction.org/articles/38340 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37382 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:13:28 GMT An application for occupancy of right of way in Custer County for transmission lines for a proposed wind farm has been put on hold while the project looks to work further with neighbors to limit inconveniences to them. ...neighbors in the area of the project complained at a previous meeting of the commission, saying they didn't approve of all the construction, noise and view obstructions that would be a result of the project. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37382 http://www.windaction.org/articles/36026 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:24:58 GMT http://www.windaction.org/articles/36026 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35360 Sat, 30 Jun 2012 20:43:54 GMT People involved with the South Dakota wind industry have their fingers in the political winds, trying to gauge it. That's because people with a vested interest in the wind industry are getting nervous if an extension of a federal tax credit will be approved before the end of the year. However, it could be too late for an industry that helps produce 22.3 percent of South Dakota's electricity. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35360 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34809 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:06:59 GMT The original wind turbine, intended to be a pilot project to show how wind turbines can save money and power small buildings, was installed in June 2008. But the brakes and control panel on that turbine didn't work right, and before KILI ever took control of the turbine the gearbox broke. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34809 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34783 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:03:58 GMT Reed and Scott paid phone solicitors to make cold calls to investors, telling them that the wind farms were being constructed jointly by private investors and the U.S. government. Potential stakeholders were told that "government funds had been set aside by the President of the United States ...these alleged wind farm projects." http://www.windaction.org/articles/34783 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34591 Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:26:47 GMT The South Dakota House failed Monday to override Gov. Dennis Daugaard's veto of a bill that would have refunded about half the construction taxes for large wind energy projects and an environmental upgrade at Big Stone Power Plant. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34591 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34486 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:08:23 GMT The developer for a Belle Fourche-area wind farm said South Dakota's pro-wind farm bill now on the governor's desk should have a lower threshold for refunds from state tax on construction costs. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34486 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34477 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:38:23 GMT The House voted 52-16 to accept the Senate's version of the bill, which would provide tax refunds beginning in January 2013 for wind energy projects or environmental upgrades at power plants costing more than $50 million. ...Current law gives partial refunds to large construction projects, but that law expires Dec. 31, 2012. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34477 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33464 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:48:21 GMT A Florida energy developer has suspended the permitting process for a 150-megawatt wind project in Hyde County, citing uncertainty about a power customer. ...Earlier this year, NextEra put the brakes on an environmental review for Crowned Ridge, the company's proposed 150-megawatt project. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33464 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33367 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:03:55 GMT NextEra "decided not to move forward" with the review "until we have greater clarity on several issues including securing a customer for the output," Steve Stengel, a spokesman for the Juno Beach, Florida-based company, said today in an e- mail. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33367 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33234 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:04:12 GMT Deputy Revenue Secretary David Wiest, also a task force member, cast the only vote against the recommendation to reduce construction taxes, saying he is not convinced South Dakota's taxes on wind farms are significantly higher than other states. South Dakota has other advantages, such as wind. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33234 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33221 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:46:12 GMT Wind farms are largely restricted to general agricultural districts, and developers have to submit bonds to pay for the cost of eventually decommissioning the farm. Commissioners made final changes last week to the ordinance to satisfy concerns raised by Rapid City Regional Airport. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33221 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32985 Sat, 10 Sep 2011 12:03:16 GMT "I can confirm that we are contemplating the sale of our Brandon, S.D., idle tower facility to reduce our manufacturing footprint," said John Segvich, director of marketing communications with Broadwind Energy. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32985 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32649 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:55:54 GMT The corridor follows the crane's migratory path from Canada to the Texas coast, and tracking the project to this central flyway was the whole point, said Marty Tuegel, a planning coordinator in the Fish and Wildlife's southwestern region. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32649 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32496 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:07:56 GMT Developers point to the usual culprit - a longstanding lack of adequate transmission - but also to a prolonged slump in electricity demand, sluggish growth in the broader economy and rock-bottom prices for natural gas, which competes with wind. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32496 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32195 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:32:49 GMT With no mandate in South Dakota to use renewable energy, "Anything your local provider is doing is simply out of generation needs," Glanzer said. "Obviously, there is a push to go forward with renewable but ...you want to make sure the price of that renewable resource is not going to affect your customers or your business in a negative way." http://www.windaction.org/articles/32195 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32183 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:05:46 GMT Renewable resource projects like a wind farm are riskier because they typically cost more to build and operate for the amount of power they provide. The commission could eventually rule that such an extra cost should not be borne by ratepayers when a traditional power source like a coal plant is available. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32183 http://www.windaction.org/articles/31984 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:06:18 GMT Oak Tree's first offer to Northwestern set the avoided cost at $69.20 per megawatt hour. Its final offer, tendered in February, was $54.40 per megawatt hour with a 2.5 percent annual increase. Northwestern wasn't interested. http://www.windaction.org/articles/31984