www.windaction.org facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts Windaction http://www.windaction.org/articles/c74+112?theme=atom Xarayar 2006-06-12T02:16:27Z
Bulgarian court overrules hefty fees on renewable energy .16945 2013-03-15T17:59:38Z 2013-03-15T17:59:38Z Protests over high electricity bills - partially due to a surge in expensive green energy - toppled the government in the European Union's poorest country. ...The new rulings are likely to deepen the crisis in its troubled energy sector.Seeking to meet its 2020 target to have 16 percent of its energy coming from renewable sources, Sofia offered preferential tariffs for green energy and dozens of Austrian, Italian, American and South Korean investors rushed in. More allegations fly over wind farm near Blue Earth .36419 2012-10-29T10:21:19Z 2012-10-29T10:21:19Z Contractor Fagen Inc. asked a federal judge for an expedited ruling on who owns the nearly completed Big Blue Wind Farm in southwestern Minnesota. Fagen, a construction company, alleged that the project's financially struggling original developer, Exergy Development Group of Idaho, has tried to extract a "dubious and unearned" $2.6 million fee from the contractor. Contractor lays claim to ownership of wind farm near Blue Earth .36402 2012-10-26T16:16:02Z 2012-10-26T16:16:02Z Fagen alleged that the original developer of the project, Exergy Development Group of Idaho, didn't repay $11 million it borrowed from Fagen, causing the wind farm's ownership to transfer to Fagen under a February agreement. ...Exergy recently suspended development of a series of Idaho wind projects, blaming regulatory delays and other factors. Contractor wants control of Minn. wind project .36401 2012-10-26T16:13:33Z 2012-10-26T16:13:33Z Fagen Inc. says it's entitled to ownership of the 18-turbine "Big Blue Project," near Blue Earth, Minn., on grounds that Exergy Development Group hasn't repaid an $11.4 million loan. Granite Falls, Minn.-based Fagen says Exergy disputes ownership of the project. Poll: Idahoans blow cold on wind .36347 2012-10-15T16:07:28Z 2012-10-15T16:07:28Z Idaho Power has been forced by federal law to add more than 400 megawatts of wind power to its system in the past five years. The investor-owned utility has asked the PUC to reduce the price it must pay, shorten the contract period and even curtail the requirement that the company buy power from existing wind plants when it means turning off cheaper coal plants. Federal regulator: Idaho Power must buy wind power .36084 2012-09-20T04:14:32Z 2012-09-20T04:14:32Z Idaho's wind industry has won a major victory over Idaho Power in a ruling from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Associated Press reports. FERC ruled that federal law doesn't allow a utility company to unilaterally curtail electricity purchases during times of light load when it has long-term power purchase agreements in place, like those Idaho Power has with wind-energy producers. Idaho's Exergy sued for missing turbine payments .35882 2012-08-28T17:50:23Z 2012-08-28T17:50:23Z Exergy Development Group LLC of Boise failed to pay up to $37.9 million for 32 turbines that were to be transported to Idaho from Pennsylvania, according to the lawsuit filed by a unit of AES Corp. in U.S. District Court in Idaho. Arlington, VA.-based AES said Exergy signed the contract on May 25 and made an initial, non-refundable deposit of $1.7 million. Wind developer seeks to halt local projects .35815 2012-08-19T23:38:12Z 2012-08-19T23:38:12Z A prominent Idaho wind energy developer has asked to pull out of contracts for projects in Twin Falls and Lincoln counties. The circumstances of the move by Boise-based Exergy Development Group highlight the ongoing debate over wind and other renewable energy sources in Idaho, and how state regulators should treat them. Exergy halts work on wind farm .35806 2012-08-17T17:55:59Z 2012-08-17T17:55:59Z Carkulis said he decided to halt the projects after it became clear Exergy would not get them done by the end of the year, which the company had to do to obtain an up-front payment of a federal investment-tax credit that is due to expire Dec. 31. Idaho Power takes on wind with Internet ads .35487 2012-07-15T08:43:08Z 2012-07-15T08:43:08Z The ads are part of a coordinated campaign by the investor-owned utility to persuade state regulators, political leaders and the public to stop or dramatically reduce the amount of wind and other renewable power it has to buy. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will hold hearings next month on the terms of contracts between renewable energy developers and utilities. Idaho Power says adding more wind to its system will cost more money that someone has to pay .35453 2012-07-12T20:44:03Z 2012-07-12T20:44:03Z When wind power hits 1,000 megawatts and above, the cost of integrating that power explodes, and the utility isn't certain it can operate its system without forcing some wind plants to shut down. Incorporating more wind power would dramatically increase Idaho Power's costs because it would limit the company's ability to use its low-cost hydropower. Officials fear utility's withdrawal confirms end of China Mountain Project .34820 2012-04-25T13:22:57Z 2012-04-25T13:22:57Z A Nevada utility company's recent decision to pull out of a major wind project along the Idaho and Nevada border has local officials worried about the project's future. "This might be the nail in the coffin for this project," said Twin Falls County Commissioner Leon Mills. Firm drops Colton wind farm plan .33567 2011-11-09T12:19:20Z 2011-11-09T12:19:20Z Based on that data, he said, the company has recently concluded the wind there "isn't of commercial grade." "It blows, but not often or hard enough to justify the investment," said Walsh, a business developer based in Iberdrola's Portland, Ore., office. Idaho wind projects seek Oregon rates .32841 2011-08-23T04:07:11Z 2011-08-23T04:07:11Z "This is a blatant attempt to manipulate and avoid the Idaho commission's rates, rules and regulations that are designed to implement PURPA and protect Idaho Power's customers," the company states in its petition to the PUC. The developers argue that the PUC is prohibited by federal law from regulating qualifying PURPA projects. Idaho keeps smaller rate for wind, solar power production .32124 2011-06-10T10:08:08Z 2011-06-10T10:08:08Z The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday announced it won't reinstate for now a larger cap on the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act rates that created a favorable climate for the development of wind energy in Idaho. Idaho PUC to hear wind rates arguments .32050 2011-05-27T13:41:29Z 2011-05-27T13:41:29Z On Wednesday, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission announced it will hear oral arguments between the developer of four proposed Cassia County wind projects and Rocky Mountain Power on June 9. Exergy Development Group, of Boise, is asking for oral arguments in response to Rocky Mountain Power's request to dismiss Exergy's complaint against the utility. Idaho PUC considers what's next for Idaho's green energy .31805 2011-04-26T00:52:35Z 2011-04-26T00:52:35Z The PUC will hear from developers, utilities, their customers on how the projects can be regulated to prevent them from overwhelming the utilities with unwanted electricity. Wind is especially troublesome, utilities say, because it's too intermittent and unreliable to make up a major piece of the power picture. House panel kills wind moratorium bill .31463 2011-03-22T13:50:33Z 2011-03-22T13:50:33Z Following two days of testimony the House State Affairs Committee voted to quash a proposed moratorium on wind power development. Wind farm denied in Bingham County .31216 2011-02-23T11:34:53Z 2011-02-23T11:34:53Z