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/37766 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:56:22 GMT Even though wind power is inexpensive to build, it is difficult to obtain the permits and approvals, and it also needs gas-fired power stations to generate electricity when the wind is not blowing. ...''At the moment, these are marginal fuels, free-riding on the system. Once that free ride is over, they will have to pay their way, and that will result in increased costs.'' http://www.windaction.org/articles/37766 http://www.windaction.org/articles/36646 Fri, 30 Nov 2012 03:29:37 GMT Wind farms should be regulated to ensure they don't create excessive noise, parliament has been told. Democratic Labor Party senator John Madigan and Independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon on Thursday introduced a private member's bill to amend the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. http://www.windaction.org/articles/36646 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35716 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:34:21 GMT But today the Chairman Michael Smith told a Parliamentary hearing he felt uncomfortable with the situation because customers paying a premium for green energy should not have to then pay the carbon tax. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35716 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34366 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:06:01 GMT The move follows a budget decision late last year to scrap the $11.7 million remaining in the $20 million Renewable Energy Fund. This fund was overseen by RenewablesSA, and industry said there were now no state funding support avenues available for renewable energy. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34366 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33864 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:29:06 GMT But the cost of green power will continue to burden those not getting the benefits of rebates. The high cost of creating uncompetitive renewable energy generators such as wind and solar is also part of the $185 portion of the bill increase tied up in generation costs. But the renewable-energy drive is leading to other cost pressures. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33864 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33846 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:44:11 GMT In a submission presented to NSW Planning on Monday, the group said the farms will cause excessive noise causing sleep loss, stress and other health problems. The Shooters and Fishers Party agree. Shooters Party MP Robert Borsak says the government should halt the entire process. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33846 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33755 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:45:20 GMT "The most dubious assumption is that carbon dioxide will be costed at $50 or $100 per tonne. This is a key assumption and without it, their whole economic argument collapses. In Europe, the current carbon price is about €7.5 per tonne and falling rapidly. Everyone agrees that there is now no chance that Kyoto will be extended..." http://www.windaction.org/articles/33755 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33560 Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:02:00 GMT Delegates at last weekend's conference carried a motion calling for a moratorium on wind farms. Burrinjuck Electorate delegate Mr. James Harker-Mortlock said more review is needed on new wind farm developments. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33560 http://www.windaction.org/articles/33540 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:19:42 GMT Amongst these grounds of appeal was a challenge to the EPA SA Wind Farm Noise Guidelines, and specifically whether their limits take proper account of the impact on residents from the wind turbine noise. In other words, the appeal is questioning the ability of the guidelines, as they are currently, to adequately protect human health. http://www.windaction.org/articles/33540 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32941 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:09:34 GMT Wind farms, like much new technology, have generated both strong community support and vocal opposition. Victoria has recently amended its planning laws and regulations to restrict locations for wind farms. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32941 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32921 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:21:56 GMT Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said he was surprised at the lack of consultation with local councils about the planning law amendments. "A much higher level of dialogue with local councils would have been better," Cr Heenan said. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32921 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32881 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:29:38 GMT New regulations that formed part of the Coalition's election platform yesterday came into effect, giving residents veto power over turbines within 2km of their home. Turbines have also been banned within 5km of major regional towns, and from scenic areas. In the first signs that Victoria stands to lose billions of dollars from its economy and that investment will be redirected to other states, wind farm companies have already started to withdraw from Victoria or have had their projects thwarted. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32881 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32714 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:10:28 GMT A strong opponent of not just wind farms but also the mechanism by which they are approved, Mr Schultz went so far as to even criticise the current State Liberal government - his own party. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32714 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32659 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:17:52 GMT Industry sources said Mr Baillieu had taken control of delivering the Coalition's election promise to give country Victorians an effective power of veto over turbines being built within 2km of their homes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32659 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32578 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:40:19 GMT "This energy is not reliable and could never provide a baseload electricity source. But the big companies are obliged to build these projects by law," Mr Freund said. "The price for wind farms is passed on to the customer - but it is done in an invisible way." http://www.windaction.org/articles/32578 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32147 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:13:13 GMT The costs of the Renewable Energy Target - which provides generous subsidies for rooftop solar schemes and large-scale projects such as wind farms - will explode by 360 per cent over the three years to June 30, 2013, as power companies try to meet the target of sourcing 20 per cent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32147 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32150 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:21:29 GMT The Productivity Commission has urged that subsidies for renewable energy be scrapped with the introduction of a carbon price, saying they are extremely expensive and make any form of carbon market less efficient. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32150 http://www.windaction.org/articles/31884 Tue, 03 May 2011 22:16:28 GMT "The Government is moving from a grant-based system, where they will pay out money to new renewable businesses, to relying on the market to drive the industry. There are companies that have started up based on a policy that is changed overnight. They are left standard with stock and staff they can't use." http://www.windaction.org/articles/31884 http://www.windaction.org/articles/31600 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:07:13 GMT The latest draft said New Zealand should ensure it was a "highly attractive global destination" for investment in oil exploration and production, with the goal of fully realising the potential of the country's oil resources. http://www.windaction.org/articles/31600 http://www.windaction.org/articles/31541 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:26:26 GMT Giving evidence, fuelled at times by anger, frustration and tears, nearly 30 local residents spoke of ill-health, property devaluation, environmental damage and communities split by wind farm developments. ...Ms Read called the spread of wind farms a "complete social injustice". http://www.windaction.org/articles/31541