A new report says plans for a wind farm off the coast of north Wales could damage tourism.

OUTSTANDING views from five of Scotland's best-loved peaks will be ruined if controversial plans for a major wind farm in the Highlands go ahead, claims a leading environmental charity.

Campaigners fighting plans for six wind turbines near a mountain bike centre in south Wales are looking to visitors to back their fight to stop the scheme.

LEWISBURG — Prompted by the mayor of Lewisburg, the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors voted unanimously Thursday to draft a letter opposing the efforts of a Chicago-based company to build electric-generating wind turbines in Greenbrier County.

Newcastle Airport officials confirmed last night that they were concerned about the Kiln Pit Hill plan because two of the turbines would be visible on their radar.

Ryszard Borys is an Illinois realtor who owns 200 acres that neighbors the Wallerman dairy operation. The Denmark native said he is very familiar with wind farm technology from that country. He shared Fries’ concern over lost land values and the negative impact for agri-tourism. “You have to make the choice between a wind farm or tourism and recreation,” Borys said.

Gamesa Project Manager Nick Sage admitted that display photos featured at the exhibition had been altered.

A group of Grant County landowners has filed a lawsuit seeking to block construction of a Mount Storm area wind-power project.

A nearly yearlong effort by the state to figure out the benefits and drawbacks of offshore, energy-producing wind farms is leaving some environmental groups less than blown away.

Seven Grant County residents have filed suit to try to block construction of 200 giant wind turbines proposed near their homes. Jerome E. Burch and six other residents sued developers of the $150 million Mount Storm wind project. In their 14-page complaint, the residents allege that the NedPower Mount Storm LLC project will be a “nuisance” and “an eyesore” that creates excess noise and kills birds and bats. The suit also alleges that the project will generate little power but receive lucrative federal and state tax breaks.

A DRAMATIC stop has been put on an application to erect 10 of the largest wind turbines in Wales on a site near Pencader.

West Devon councillors are to debate plans for a wind farm of 390-foot turbines in the face of an objection from a national charity.

MORE applications for wind masts have been put forward across Mid Wales.

Event will build on tourism potential of the Flint Hills

Ottaway News Service

HARRISBURG -- The Kittatinny Ridge, a 185-mile forested highland linking the Delaware Water Gap, Susquehanna Water Gap and the Mason-Dixon line, is the focus of a new conservation effort.

A campaign by Pennsylvania Audubon seeks to place Kittatinny Ridge, also known as Blue Mountain, in the public consciousness as the largest uninterrupted forest area in eastern and central Pennsylvania. Kittatinny Ridge faces multiple threats from ill-planned development as well as an overabundance of deer, insect pests and illegal dumping by humans, the environmental group says.

READSBORO — Officials from the two towns most affected by a proposed wind facility met on Wednesday night to discuss the economic impacts of a 30-turbine development.

The Readsboro and Searsburg Select Boards met in the Central School gym to discuss the financial benefits and strains that can be expected by a town hosting a wind farm. Robert Ide of the Vermont Department of Public Service attended, as did about 10 residents. Searsburg is now the home of the state's only existing commercial wind facility. There are 11 turbines producing about 6 megawatts of electricity. A 30- to 45-megawatt plant with 20 to 30 new turbines has been proposed for ridgelines spanning both Readsboro and Searsburg.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting proposals to build a wind farm on the outskirts of Penicuik have stepped up their battle against the plans by launching a protest website.

LINDSBORG -- Rose Bacon, member of the Governor's Energy Task Force and a rancher who owns property in the Flint Hills, spoke about the vulnerability of communities facing proposals from international companies that want to build commercial wind farms in rural areas. She pointed to the lack of “teeth” in regulations, and the attractive tax write-offs granted to wind energy companies, and the inexperience of local officials in dealing with such monstrous deals, depicting a state-wide scenario akin to the “wildcatter days in the oil business.”

This is a comprehensive, well documented and thoughtful presentation on a wide range of industrial wind issues by Dan Boone, Consulting Conservation Biologist, at the public meeting held by Save Our Allegheny Ridges in Bedford, PA on September 18, 2006