The price of certificates fell more than 15 per cent last week to $28, its lowest in almost three years, extending a steady slide since reaching a peak of $51 in May and taking the fall since the renewable energy target legislation was passed in August to 30 per cent. Certificates, each representing 1MW hour of renewable energy produced ...But the market is being swamped by certificates generated by domestic solar hot water and heat pump systems, and some industry analysts say if this continues it could last for several years and may cause the delay or cancellation of wind power and other renewable projects because the price signal will simply not be strong enough to make the projects viable.

The fact wind farm noise can be heard by neighbours does not necessarily make that noise unacceptable or significant, a hearing has been told. ...The company wants to build 56 more turbines on the eastern side of the Tararua Ranges, but is running into opposition from neighbours annoyed about noise.

An energy company looks to be fighting an uphill battle in its bid to build a wind farm on land near Martinborough, linked to the legendary Kupe. ...The proposal has been bandied about for well over a year but, as yet, no official moves have been taken to secure consent for the wind farm to be built and the plan is already facing opposition in the district. Farmer Richard Riddiford said most people in Martinborough know very little about what the power company proposes to do and for that reason wants to see a public meeting organised.

Meridian Energy is looking to carry out a survey in the next few weeks of the community near a possible wind farm site in South Wairarapa. Meridian spokesman Alan Seay said the company had been monitoring a site for a number of years in the Nga Waka a Kupe range about 8-9km southeast of Martinborough.

Turbine noise will likely be the most contentious issue at a hearing to decide if an extension to Te Rere Hau wind farm should be allowed. Thirty-three of 36 neighbours of the proposed wind farm, east of Palmerston North, oppose an extension because of noise concerns. New Zealand Windfarms yesterday defended its record on turbine noise as it sought the right to add 56 turbines on the eastern side of the Tararua Ranges. ...Despite a series of complaints about noise, the company argued it could show it was complying with consent conditions.

Renewable energy company Acciona has lodged an application for a $175 million wind farm at Allendale East near Mt Gambier. The development application, which has been 18 months in the planning, was lodged with the District Council of Grant onFriday. It proposes a 47-turbine farm capable of producing 70.5 megawatts of power, or the equivalent of powering 43,000 homes.

Results from testing at Waubra windfarm have led Ballarat University lecturer, Graeme Wood, to consider undertaking further investigation to understand what effects the turbines are having. "There are grounds for investigation," he said. ...Speaking last Friday, he said that noise levels are not extreme, but there is a much broader band present than originally expected. "There is more noise at low frequency than expected. The turbines make a range of sound," he said. Also of interest are high pulses of sound, several times a second.

The Member for Burrinjuck, Katrina Hodgkinson, says valuable lessons need to be learnt from past mistakes in installing rural wind farms, to ensure they are not repeated.

A wind speed mast has been erected south of Mt Mackenzie at Bungulla to measure wind speeds in the area and test whether or not it could be a viable location for a wind farm. ...Tenterfield Shire Council has received one objection to the wind mast and John Hrobelko, Director of Environmental and Community Services, said he expected more.

The company behind plans for a $400 million wind farm near the Southland township of Wyndham has confirmed it will not lodge its resource consent application until early 2010 - about six months later than it had originally hoped. And it could be several weeks after that before the application is actually in the public arena.

Wind farm developers are misleading the public about their plans, a south-west MP claims. Member for Western Victoria David Koch yesterday called on the Federal Government to review the approval process for wind farms. He said the existing community consultation process was inadequate and developers were not being flexible about the placement of turbines.

More jobs could be lost at a Portland wind farm company because of delays to projects in south-west Victoria. Keppel Prince makes towers for wind turbines and has laid off about 100 workers in the past nine months because of a lack of contracts.

Moorabool Shire Council wants the Municipal Association of Victoria to provide specific guidelines for a national wind farm policy. The council says it is facing the prospect of numerous wind farms in its area and it wants an overall policy developed to help during the approval process and for community advice. The Federal Government is in the draft stages of developing national wind energy guidelines.

George McLaughlin's property has been on the market for five months, but after his new neighbour, Capital Wind Farm, fired up its turbines about a month ago, he decided to move out even if he cannot sell. While Kevin Rudd was pushing global solutions for climate change in New York at the weekend, in NSW the battle between wind farms as planet-saving sources of renewable energy and residents who say they destroy rural life is coming to a head.

Spring winds provide a boon for electricity generation at Meridian Energy's White Hill wind farm 6km southeast of Mossburn, but much of yesterday's wind exceeded its capabilities. A Meridian spokesman said the 29 turbines at the wind farm operated at wind speeds of between 14.4kmh and 90kmh with a nominal speed of 54kmh - or the speed at which a turbine reaches its full generating capacity of 2MW.

A small group of protesters took advantage o f the Federal health minister' s visit to Ballan yesterday to stage a quiet demonstration against the region's wind farms, but Nicola Roxon was unperturbed. The group wielding placards detailing the alleged adverse health effects of living near the giant turbines stood in the grounds of the town's new super clinic as Ms. Roxon officially opened the building before a group of about 80.

Christchurch turbine manufacturer Windflow Technology has posted a $1.23 million loss and said there is uncertainty over whether it can continue as a going concern. The statement to the NZX by chairman Barrie Leay and chief executive Geoff Henderson said the going concern issues related to its only customer NZ Windfarms which had been withholding payments for turbines since August 17 and needed to raise capital for its business.

Residents have complained to council about noise from the wind farm, and if council was responsible it would be its job to ensure the permit conditions were being complied with. Council chief executive officer Stephen Cornish said that at a meeting with the Department of Planning and Community Development it was said council was responsible for the wind farm.

Stakeholders in the growing debate on wind farming will have the chance for their say in Tamworth next month. ...Inquiry chairman Ian Cohen says he expects stakeholders from a wide area in the Hunter and the Tablelands to appear before its members.

The Hobart City Council is set to block a second set of wind turbines in the city. In July the Council rejected a proposal for wind turbines on top of the ANZ building in Hobart.