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/34375 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:39:51 GMT The Sinton Independent School District will move forward with plans to build two wind turbines at the high school campus despite the city's rejection of zoning variances for the project last week. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34375 http://www.windaction.org/articles/30502 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:25:05 GMT All around the unincorporated edges of Heath, tall wind turbines are popping up. But not in Heath. Like many others, the Rockwall County city has been wondering how best to deal with new clean energy technology. http://www.windaction.org/articles/30502 http://www.windaction.org/articles/30390 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:46:57 GMT For some planning and zoning commissioners, all it took was a quick glance at the empty room Monday to feel that this isn't the time to allow the zoning for wind turbines in Flower Mound. The commission voted 6-1 to deny a request to amend various part of the town's code of ordinances that would have allowed wind turbines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/30390 http://www.windaction.org/articles/28479 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:42:45 GMT The city is making way for wind turbines that are popping up around the Rio Grande Valley. Officials are setting guidelines for wind turbines and other forms of alterative energy sources after homeowners and businesses expressed interest in installing them here, said John Rodriguez, the city's code enforcement officer. http://www.windaction.org/articles/28479 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21774 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:33:57 GMT Monday's Commissioner's Court meeting began as usual with public forum, but a lengthy, animated discussion with members of the gallery regarding action on a proposed county tax abatement for the Senate Wind Project lasted in excess of 90 minutes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21774 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21508 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:13:38 GMT Young County commissioners moved a step closer to reaching a tax abatement agreement with Gamesa Energy on Monday by creating a tax reinvestment zone. The zone is a necessary step toward an abatement agreement. Games has announced it plans to build a wind farm that would be mostly in Jack County with 12 turbines extending into Young County. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21508 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21396 Fri, 29 May 2009 01:30:29 GMT Gamesa Energy asked Young County to expedite its proposal to put a wind farm in the county, with a representative saying getting a tax abatement in place quickly could greatly benefit the school districts. Colin Kelly with Gamesa told commissioners the Texas Legislature was considering a bill that would cap the amount of revenue school districts can get due to wind farms. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21396 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20929 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:02:23 GMT If you want a wind turbine for your home, it better be quiet and on a patch of open land. If not, the city won't allow it under the latest draft of the city's wind energy ordinance. The proposed changes, which the City Council will discuss Tuesday, don't bring the sweeping reforms alternative energy advocates wanted. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20929 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20762 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:36:05 GMT The Gillespie County Commissioners have decided not to pursue local wind farm regulation and will not hold a public meeting on the matter, according to County Judge Mark Stroeher. ...State Senator Troy Fraser filed legislation last month to allow the county commissioners to restrict wind farm construction and said his office immediately began receiving complaints from landowners worried that their property rights might be violated. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20762 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20462 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:35:31 GMT Kerr County commissioners have sent a message to Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation officials regarding possible routes for transmission lines in the area. "Go to another county," said Pct. 1 Commissioner Buster Baldwin during Monday's commission meeting. County commissioners also asked for the transmission lines to follow existing rights-of-way. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20462 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20446 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:57:54 GMT Concerned about the possible effects of proposed wind power legislation on their property rights, some Fredericksburg area landowners have voiced opposition to a bill by State Senator Troy Fraser that would allow the Gillespie County Commissioners' Court to restrict wind farm construction. "Once the bill was filed, the phones started lighting up." Fraser said. "We need to gauge both support and opposition." http://www.windaction.org/articles/20446 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20333 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:55:33 GMT Llano and Gillespie counties may be granted regulatory teeth regarding the placement of wind turbines this legislative session. The Llano County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Monday supporting a bill that, if passed into law, would allow counties to prohibit or regulate construction of wind energy electric-generating facilities in all or part of the county. State Sen. Troy Fraser of Horseshoe Bay introduced S.B. 1226 and S.B. 1227 in February. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20333 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20260 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:55:47 GMT Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) filed legislation on Monday to authorize the Gillespie County Commissioners Court to regulate the construction of wind energy electric generating facilities in the unincorporated areas of the county. Senate Bill 1226 specifically will allow Gillespie County to prohibit or restrict the location of a facility in all or part of the county. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20260 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20018 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:07:32 GMT Officials in Colleyville and Southlake have heard from residents interested in installing turbines on their property to reduce their electric bills and carbon footprints. Both cities are now looking at ways to regulate the structures before they begin transforming neighborhood landscapes. ...The turbines typically cost $9,000 to $15,000 to purchase and install - money that may take 15 years or more to get back through energy savings, according to several turbine dealers. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20018 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20036 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:32:58 GMT Local property owners and residents addressed Jack County commissioners during the public forum portion of Commissioners Court Feb. 9 to petition them for assistance with noise abatement for the 60-turbine Barton Chapel Wind Farm. Tom Fillene pleaded with commissioners to take a trip down to the area and listen for themselves to the "obnoxious noise" coming from the 400-plus foot "monsters." Fillene stated he was speaking on behalf of other family members who lived under the wind turbines and were experiencing health issues due to the noise coming from the giant towers. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20036 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19916 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:27:21 GMT It all depends on 11 miles per hour. A few variances in the wind speed near Elwood could determine whether a windmill farm comes to Madison County. E.ON, a wind energy company that recently put up 600 wind turbines in Texas, has approached Madison County officials about the northwestern section of Madison County north of Elwood, showing interest in building a windmill farm at the location. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19916 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19787 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:00:53 GMT For the last decade, when most people have thought of renewable energy in Texas, they have usually thought of wind. But this year, solar and other forms of renewable energy are starting to get a place at the table at the Legislature. Legislation including incentives and rebates could pave the way ...Today, legislators and environmentalists will hold statewide news conferences to draw attention to solar energy. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19787 http://www.windaction.org/articles/18813 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:53:52 GMT Garland is the latest North Texas city considering a zoning ordinance aimed at regulating wind energy devices that generate power for residential use. The measure is on Tuesday's council agenda. Other cities, including Grand Prairie, Waxahachie and Oak Point, already have such ordinances. Residential wind energy devices are rare in urban areas and may be too expensive or impractical for many homeowners. But city officials say they want to make sure rules are in place for the day when wind energy devices become more commonplace. http://www.windaction.org/articles/18813 http://www.windaction.org/articles/18376 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:20:33 GMT [A] BP representative explained that the project could be phased in with 60 windmills possibly becoming available next year, and the remaining 40 coming some time later. Of the 60 windmills, David Gonzalez said, the majority are planned in Archer County.The change in the proposal was not met with enthusiasm by commissioners. ..."The prospect of an abatement has been based on a 250 megawatt buildout," Precinct 2 Commissioner John C. Bullock said. "The prospect of a phase in was not mentioned. If we had know that, it likely would have been different." http://www.windaction.org/articles/18376 http://www.windaction.org/articles/18150 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 22:51:44 GMT State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, holds a hearing next month in Austin on the pros and cons of regulating where wind turbines can be erected. ...The hearing begins at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6 in the Betty King Room of the Texas Capitol. http://www.windaction.org/articles/18150