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/19492 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:11:55 GMT This photo of the Newburyport wind turbine (292-feet tall) was taken from at the rear property line of a nearby residence. The residents in the area have expressed their concerns to the city about noise, flicker, ice throws and other safety issues. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19492 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23802 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:15:47 GMT Native American rituals and beliefs have emerged as a surprising last-minute obstacle to federal approval of the nation's first offshore wind farm, threatening to significantly delay the Cape Wind project. Two Massachusetts tribes say the 130 proposed wind turbines in Nantucket Sound would disturb their spiritual sun greetings and submerged ancestral burying grounds. The Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag tribes ...are pushing for the entire sound to be listed as a traditional cultural property on the National Register of Historic Places. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23802 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23457 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:22:26 GMT Final approval for Cape Wind is stalled, aggravating developers of the Massachusetts offshore wind project and igniting concerns that the latest roadblock -- over American Indian ceremonies -- could jeopardize other ocean-based energy proposals. ..."There's great concern. It should have been finished months ago," said Mark Rodgers, a spokesman for Cape Wind, noting that the delay is disrupting efforts to arrange construction contracts, line up installation barges and find buyers for the anticipated electricity. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23457 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21773 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:46:45 GMT Reminding a state panel Shay's Rebellion was fought in the Berkshires, numerous area residents expressed their displeasure on Wednesday night with a bill working its way through the Legislature they say would put too much control over wind-turbine permitting in the hands of a "politically appointed" state board. "This is about giving away your freedom, this is about giving away your power," said self-proclaimed mountain man Rene Wendell. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21773 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21682 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:59:50 GMT Newburyport's wind turbine bugs some neighbors.Lifelong Newburyport resident Patty Spalding is trying to get the attention of the Massachusetts legislature as it considers an amendment to the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act. Currently in committee, Senate bill No. 1504 (House bill 3065), would among other things establish a full-time position to provide technical assistance to communities on the siting of wind energy facilities. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21682 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21097 Thu, 07 May 2009 14:54:04 GMT The Zoning Board of Appeals, American Pro Wind LLC and their legal teams debated the conditions for approval of variances for hours last night, the major sticking point being minimum setback requirements for the 13 wind turbines. Though no formal approval for the height and use variances was taken for Douglas Woods Wind by deadline last night, both sides were haggling over setback requirements. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21097 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21020 Sun, 03 May 2009 02:23:37 GMT Cohasset's first green project under the town's new wind turbine bylaw may soon be dead, after nearly two years of discussion and planning. Planning Board vice chairman Stuart Ivimey said last week he will not vote in favor of a special permit for a pair of commercial wind turbines proposed by a Plymouth company, leaving the project one vote short of approval. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21020 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20683 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:05:44 GMT As the state pushes wind energy and communities create guidelines to accommodate it, those living in the shadow of Mark Richey's wind turbine wonder if the effort is at their expense. The Richey turbine meets the general spirit of the state's guidelines as well as the city's current wind turbine bylaw, under which Richey received a special permit that allows a turbine in an industrial zone to be at least 300 feet from a residential zone. ...As the city takes a closer look at its wind ordinance, neighbors are arguing that the rules most officials are accepting as well thought out are out of sync with reality. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20683 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20680 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:09:53 GMT Jason LaCroix, 14 Hill St., told councilors of the "human effect" the turbine has caused in the neighborhood. He recently purchased and put in a new glass door on his house. He had to take it out after he saw the shadows of the turbine's rotors on his wall reflecting off the glass. On his rooftop deck, the turbine is "virtually eye level," he said. The flicker study done for the Richey turbine wasn't accurate and minimized what impact it would have on the Back Bay neighborhood. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20680 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20620 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:57:58 GMT But this week, neighbors finally had a chance to weigh in on wind power at a meeting of the council’s Planning and Development Committee that was scheduled specifically to take a second look at the Wind Energy Conversion ordinance. Ward 2 City Councilor Greg Earls requested that the committee review regulations in the year-old law. Specifically, councilors are looking at dimensions, siting, density and required notification to neighbors. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20620 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20591 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:22:55 GMT http://www.windaction.org/articles/20591 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20569 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:05:36 GMT Councilors agreed to re-examine the ordinance and possibly make changes after neighbors in the Back Bay neighborhood voiced their opposition to the 292-foot-tall turbine put up by business owner Mark Richey on his woodworking facility site in the industrial park. That turbine went up in January. Armed with materials, research and drafted changes to the ordinance, neighbors offered suggestions on how the document could be altered - the current setbacks need to be changed, they said, and to share what it's like to live in the turbine's shadow each day. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20569 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20427 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:05:57 GMT About 20 of them turned out Monday at the selectmen's meeting to protest the proposed municipal wind turbine article that will be on the town meeting warrant in May. ...Gail Hoffman of Dyer Prence Road presented the selectmen a poster board filled with photos of Rock Harbor. "I am not opposed to green energy," but she wants Rock Harbor designated as a "very special place," she said. "This area is a treasure for the town. This is the last remaining piece of old Cape Cod," said Hoffman, and urged them to "proceed with caution" with any proposed changes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20427 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20261 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:09:01 GMT Hearing of the map from her neighbor, Nan Cook couldn't believe it. Drafted by the city's former planning director, Nancy Colbert, last March, the map shows possible locations where wind turbines could be placed in the industrial park. There are about 22. ...Cook, who lives on Hill Street, called the possibility of adding 22 more turbines to the industrial park "insane." http://www.windaction.org/articles/20261 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20206 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:06:59 GMT Newburyport has its own laser light show, or an equivalent thereof, from an unlikely source: the new industrial-sized wind turbine that recently was turned on in the industrial park. At night, from the middle of the northbound lane of Route 1, the twirling blades catch the red beacon light atop the massive structure, and the light shoots out along the blades. It's pretty spectacular, but not if the light is shooting right into the window of your home. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20206 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19664 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:00:09 GMT Unlike other forms of green power such as solar panels or landfill methane gas, it's hard to hide a wind turbine, particularly in a state as small and densely populated as Massachusetts. ...That's creating a dilemma for conservationists and environmentalists who support renewable energy, but also want to preserve the state's wildlife population and scenic vistas. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19664 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19519 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:33:16 GMT With few exceptions, the speakers at the public hearing were largely opposed to the project. The proposed two 1.65-megawatt wind turbines will have noise, shadow flicker and visual impacts, particularly in the area immediately surrounding the development, including residences. The to-be-built Avalon apartments, the Sunrise Assisted Living facility, the Rose Hill Development are in the area that will feel the most effect. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19519 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19511 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:20:36 GMT The final environmental impact statement for the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm will be released tomorrow, according to a notice posted on the Web site of the Office of the Federal Register. The final report marks a major development in the long-running attempts by Cape Wind Associates, LLC, to build a wind farm in the sound. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19511 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19479 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:28:22 GMT The fate of what would be the nation's first offshore wind farm is calling attention to the political obstacles facing renewable power, despite President-elect Barack Obama's determination to greatly expand its use. The project, called Cape Wind, is a Boston firm's plan to build 130 windmills across 25 square miles of federal waters off Cape Cod. ...A spokesman for the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound says the group sees "lots of room to protest" the government review. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19479 http://www.windaction.org/articles/19205 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:46:53 GMT Business owner Mark Richey said yesterday he hopes to see his new 292-foot wind turbine up on his property in just a few weeks. ...Neighbors to the property have appealed the city's decision to grant permission for the turbine, raising concern about the impact the 292-foot-tall structure would have, such as the whirring noise it will generate, safety, low-level vibrations and the visual effect called "flicker" that wind turbines create when the afternoon light hits them. http://www.windaction.org/articles/19205