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/17488 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:33 GMT Commercial wind projects in the Appalachian region are typically built in strings of about seven turbines per mile along ridge crests. This map shows the potential for 88 miles of turbine strings on Bath County ridges. Possible development sites occur within Wind Power Class 3 through 7, and were derived from resource maps obtained from the National Renewable Energy Lab. Of the possible turbine sites in Bath County Virginia, 52 percent are located on national forest land and 12 percent are located on The Nature Conservancy's Warm Springs Mountain Preserve; 25 percent of the total possible turbine sites are presumably off limits, including all of those in TNC's preserve and about one-third of those on national forest. The identification of national forest lands as "suitable" or "unsuitable" is based on the draft management plan for the George Washington National Forest. http://www.windaction.org/articles/17488 http://www.windaction.org/articles/7914 Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:39:50 GMT A plan to put 19 wind turbines in an area of Highland County, Va. has prompted debate. http://www.windaction.org/articles/7914 http://www.windaction.org/articles/2070 Thu, 16 Mar 2006 17:56:08 GMT Monterey is the county seat of Highland County whose mountains and climate have local boosters calling it "Virginia's Little Switzerland." http://www.windaction.org/articles/2070 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37479 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:13:30 GMT The change means utilities, such as Dominion Virginia Power, will no longer be eligible for a bonus for obtaining a certain portion of their energy from renewable sources, such as solar power. Reduced incentives remain for nuclear and offshore wind power. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37479 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37208 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:41:35 GMT Legislation that could have trumped Tazewell County's two-year-old ridgeline protection ordinance has died in the General Assembly. ...Area leaders argued the bill was an attempt to override a local county ordinance that prohibits the development of tall structures, including wind turbines, on East River Mountain and other protected ridgelines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37208 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37144 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:58:22 GMT Charles Stacy, eastern district representative on the board of supervisors said that the Virginia Association of Counties has expressed concerns about SB 1341, the renewable energy facilities; exemption from land use regulations," bill that was introduced in the General Assembly by State Senator Richard L. Saslaw, D-Springfield. "VACo is adamantly opposed to this bill for reasons other than windmills." http://www.windaction.org/articles/37144 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37124 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:04:20 GMT State Senator Richard L. Saslaw, D-Springfield, introduced Senate Bill 1341, the "Renewable energy facilities; exemption from land use regulations," bill. According to the bill summary, the bill: "Exempts certain electrical generation facilities powered by renewable sources of energy from local zoning and land use requirements. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37124 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37058 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:06:26 GMT The earliest Virginia offshore commercial wind development could occur would likely be 2022, or even five years later than that, energy officials said Thursday. Getting the required permits to build an offshore wind farm could take seven years alone. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37058 http://www.windaction.org/articles/36302 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 23:22:02 GMT Environmental groups say Virginia‘s renewable-energy program is a loophole-riddled corporate giveaway that allows utilities to boost rates without building a single wind or solar facility in the Old Dominion. Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli calls the whole subsidy arrangement a waste. http://www.windaction.org/articles/36302 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35989 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:22:38 GMT Carroll County Supervisor Bob Martin believes the county needs to go ahead and take action one way or another in regards to windmills in the county. A formal recommendation is expected Monday night. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35989 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35820 Sat, 18 Aug 2012 22:56:09 GMT After the public hearing, Board of Supervisors' Chairman Sam Dickson asked supervisors Bob Martin and Joshua Hendrick if they wanted to make a suggestion about windmills since they make up the county's committee to study windmills. Martin said there still seemed to be a lot of confusion. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35820 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35072 Sun, 27 May 2012 11:10:28 GMT The company, which once hoped to have the power-generating turbines spinning by the end of this year, said its decision was based on the uncertain future of government incentives for wind energy. ...Invenergy's announcement was seen as a setback for local supporters of renewable energy, but good news for some Poor Mountain residents, who fear that the 443-foot-tall turbines will be a noisy eyesore to their peaceful community. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35072 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34931 Tue, 08 May 2012 15:19:22 GMT A towering offshore wind turbine off the Eastern Shore seemed likely as recently as late March, when the state gave its blessing for a prototype energy spire in the Chesapeake Bay. Barely one month later, those plans have been blown away. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34931 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34928 Tue, 08 May 2012 12:53:59 GMT Gamesa and a development partner are suspending further development of an offshore wind turbine off the coast of Virginia, citing the massive amounts of capital needed to pursue a project with a cloudy future due to uncertain federal support. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34928 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34252 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:24:50 GMT The Floyd County draft ordinance prohibits the construction, repair or improvement of structures more than 40 feet high on any ridge 2,000 feet or more above sea level and 500 feet or more above an adjacent valley floor, a geographical catchment area that covers much of Floyd County. The ordinance makes an exception for water, radio, telecommunications and television towers. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34252 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33825 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:24:26 GMT "I think this will help protect the natural beauty of the county, preserve the ridges," said Clinger. A public hearing on the potential ridge line ordinance is scheduled for January 31st, but supervisors do not expect much if any opposition. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33825 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33726 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:18:04 GMT The panels are considering a proposed ordinance that would allow wind turbines in the medium-density residential district by special-use permit. It calls for turbines to be 70 feet tall or shorter. They must be placed on land parcels that are a minimum of 1 acre. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33726 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33596 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:07:50 GMT The Obama administration's proposal to exclude Virginia from offshore drilling exploration has angered many top politicians in the commonwealth who view drilling as a potential source of jobs. But the decision has reinvigorated environmentalists' arguments that there's more to gain from wind power. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33596 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33312 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:28:13 GMT One company and 26 residents want the court to overturn the county's wind ordinance and prevent a company from erecting turbines near their homes, according to documents filed by Roanoke attorney John Fishwick on Thursday in Roanoke County Circuit Court. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33312 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33313 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:31:57 GMT Elswick asked the county board of supervisors on Tuesday to rescind a 60-decibel maximum limit on large wind turbines. That policy regulates how loud the turbines can be at the nearest property lines. The 60-decibel limit is too high, Elswick said Tuesday. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33313