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/24135 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:49:13 GMT On the surface, it looked like bad news for dozens of farmers in Prince Edward County, about 200 kilometres east of Toronto, who had leased portions of their land to SkyPower Corp. for a large wind power project. SkyPower filed for bankruptcy protection in August, after which a creditor was able to register construction liens against about 150 parcels of those properties. ..."The take-home message is that people have good reason to be cautious on a number of different levels when looking at [renewable] energy projects," said Eric Gillespie, a Toronto lawyer who specializes in environmental issues. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24135 http://www.windaction.org/articles/15887 Fri, 16 May 2008 18:00:48 GMT Cecil Martin is none too pleased at the prospect of losing part of his home in the Texas Panhandle to make way for billionaire T. Boone Pickens' water and wind energy projects. ..."The state of Texas has for over 100 years authorized the use of eminent domain to permit the common necessities of life, water, electricity, telephone service, oil and gas for use in the big cities," said Humble, Pickens' attorney. Until last year, though, the wind project couldn't not have been included in the process of obtaining rights of way. Lawmakers in the last legislative session voted to allow renewable and clean-coal energy projects to piggyback obtaining rights of way with a district like the one Pickens formed last year to "construct, maintain, and operate transmission lines." http://www.windaction.org/articles/15887 http://www.windaction.org/articles/13256 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:07:00 GMT Environmental experts are to be enlisted to assess the damage caused by windfarms across the north and north-east, it has emerged. The Scottish Parliament's petitions committee voted in favour of the move after considering claims from a retired university professor from the north-east. Dixie Dean says that the mechanical vibrations transmitted through land-based turbines to the surrounding terrain lead to problems. Mr Dean, a former business professor who has also worked in the field of mycology, says the impact will "devastate" the sand, soil and peat in the immediate area. His petition states: "These vibrations will in time destroy the very fabric of peat, sand and soil for miles around. Peat bogs shaken to pieces will be flushed down to pollute streams as fibres disintegrate, collapse and rot." http://www.windaction.org/articles/13256 http://www.windaction.org/articles/11991 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:57:52 GMT Most people in Clutha district would not even know the proposed wind farm site was in their district, he said. ‘‘They Clutha District Council just want to get industry into the area. But that area should be in the Dunedin city district.'' He described TrustPower consultation as a token effort. ‘‘They came and saw me and I told them I had some concerns and they would get back to me. I'm still waiting.'' The wind farm would not only scar the landscape but also would bring financial uncertainty. ‘‘They tried to sell a farm round here last year and no-one wanted to touch it. They didn't get one tender.'' http://www.windaction.org/articles/11991 http://www.windaction.org/articles/10700 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:45:46 GMT Dwayne Bailey has some simple advice for Gulf Shore residents fighting a proposed wind farm in their area, don't give up the fight because they may regret the consequences. Bailey recently abandoned his Elmira, P.E.I., home because noise from a nearby wind farm was becoming intolerable. It kept the family awake at night and impacted their health with headaches and vision problems. "Don't let them put up the windfarm, it's way too close to the houses. It chased us out of our house and it could happen to someone else. We didn't have much a choice and it resulted in us leaving our home," Bailey said, adding his parents also abandoned their home. http://www.windaction.org/articles/10700 http://www.windaction.org/articles/9531 Mon, 14 May 2007 10:26:52 GMT German courts are starting to deal with a unique new crime - stealing wind. As Europe's greenest country builds ever more electricity-producing wind farms, so the rights to nature are now being fought over by lawyers. Among the cases being considered by a Leipzig court is a dispute between the operators of two wind turbine facilities. At issue: who owns the wind? http://www.windaction.org/articles/9531 http://www.windaction.org/articles/9447 Thu, 10 May 2007 10:30:51 GMT THE security of Victoria's electricity supply is under a cloud after the emergence of threats to the operation of some of the state's key generators. In an unprecedented development, power companies have been forced to buy emergency supplies of water on the internet after the drought left them short of what they need to run major generators in the Latrobe Valley................A recent investigation by Wyndham City Council found "the operation of the gas-fuelled turbines adversely affects theamenity of the area by way of low-frequency noise and vibration". http://www.windaction.org/articles/9447 http://www.windaction.org/articles/8576 Sat, 24 Mar 2007 11:19:38 GMT The giant wind farm of 19 electricity-generating windmills in Highland County recently approved by the State Corporation Commission wasn't on the game department's radar. Studies elsewhere have shown that the 400-foot-high wind turbines kill bats and migrating songbirds and raptors. By the time the SCC asked the game department to review the proposal, Zadnik said, the developer had already gotten permission from the county to build. http://www.windaction.org/articles/8576 http://www.windaction.org/articles/8271 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:46:29 GMT A major announcement is thought likely today on a bid for planning permission for another controversial giant windfarm on Lewis which could polarise opinions ahead of local elections in May. Speculation has been heightened as Alan Wilson, the deputy enterprise minister, who will make the final decision on the contentious scheme to build 53 turbines at Eisgein, is due to visit Stornoway with the First Minister Jack McConnell for the Highlands and Islands Convention. It is believed Mr Wilson is minded to approve the application subject to certain conditions and, provided legal issues are finalised, could confirm what is seen as a significant investment opportunity to regenerate the isles’ economy. http://www.windaction.org/articles/8271 http://www.windaction.org/articles/5412 Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:45:49 GMT Plans for a controversial windfarm at a Perthshire beauty-spot have been approved - despite almost 700 objections and concerns about the impact on local water supplies. In a 75-page judgment issued yesterday, Scottish ministers overruled a decision by Perth and Kinross Council to refuse a 16-turbine development at Drumderg, near Alyth. The ruling, which follows a four-week public inquiry that ended in June, has disappointed opposition campaigners. http://www.windaction.org/articles/5412 http://www.windaction.org/articles/5128 Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:51:57 GMT The Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Monday to enact a temporary ordinance prohibiting the construction of structures more than 100 feet tall, with a six-month "sunset clause." According to the motion made by Peters Creek District Supervisor David Young, the board will make a decision at the end of the six months on whether to adopt a permanent ordinance banning "tall structures," based on the results of a public opinion survey to be mailed to owners of real estate in Patrick County. The survey, which will be mailed by the county treasurer's office along with real estate tax tickets, asks recipients if they support the proposed policy: "No structure shall be built in Patrick County more than 100 feet high, except a structure built solely for telecommunications purposes and except a structure built as a steeple or tower for a place of religious worship." http://www.windaction.org/articles/5128 http://www.windaction.org/articles/2174 Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:58:39 GMT A GROUP of residents is making a desperate, last-ditch attempt to prevent the construction of Suffolk's first wind farm - because of alleged shortcomings by a local authority when it gave the go-ahead. http://www.windaction.org/articles/2174 http://www.windaction.org/articles/2084 Fri, 17 Mar 2006 21:22:35 GMT BRANDON, N.Y. An energy company says it will submit a proposal for a wind farm in Franklin County early this summer. http://www.windaction.org/articles/2084 http://www.windaction.org/articles/633 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 00:49:58 GMT WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) _ A municipality has approved ordinances that help clear the way for a wind farm to be built by a Spain-based turbine company. http://www.windaction.org/articles/633 http://www.windaction.org/articles/4591 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT Compelling testimony and rebuttal of Thomas Hewson before the State of Maine Land Use Regulation Commission on behalf of Friends of the Western Mountains regarding the proposed 90MW industrial wind plant on Reddington Mountain, Maine. Mr. Hewson's testimony and rebuttal should be read in their entirety. A summary of this testimony by Friends of the Western Mountains is provided below and attached as well. http://www.windaction.org/articles/4591 http://www.windaction.org/articles/12382 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:58:14 GMT In fact, nothing is going to raise our electricity rates faster than the installation of wind power. It is the most inefficient and overpriced form of power currently being flogged to consumers by "green-posing" politicians and profit-hungry wind developers. The real cost of wind power is staggering when you add it all up. ...Higher costs might be socially acceptable if wind could actually replace coal-fired generation, but it can't. Wind power is unpredictable and will always require backup from a reliable, on-demand, source. ...Beyond the direct costs of wind power, we must also factor in the socioeconomic and ecological costs. Foremost among these is the loss of property values, which reliable estimates suggest is about 30 percent, on average, for those unfortunate enough to become wind farm neighbors. ...Due to deceptive government legislation, the high costs of wind power are being temporarily concealed from consumers in order to encourage its public acceptance. But don't be fooled; http://www.windaction.org/articles/12382 http://www.windaction.org/articles/10942 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:24:55 GMT Do we want to leave the entirety of our surroundings to the administrative technicalities of a zoning office through the mere vote of 12 people whose interests raise grave doubts of motive? Of course not. Clearly, a matter of this gravity and importance should be decided by public referendum. http://www.windaction.org/articles/10942