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/36675 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:20:35 GMT Garrett County residents urged the county commissioners to forward the draft of the land-use management ordinance, which establishes wind turbine setbacks, back to the Planning Commission during the public comment portion of Tuesday's county meeting. "I think solving this issue locally for our county politics is the best pathway for getting real meaningful setbacks in place here in Garrett County." http://www.windaction.org/articles/36675 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34753 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:16:36 GMT A petition signed by 39 residents asks Garrett County commissioners to impose realistic setbacks or ordinances that would protect families and homes from a proposed wind farm on Four Mile Ridge and part of Big Savage Mountain. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34753 http://www.windaction.org/articles/31493 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:42:46 GMT A bill that would have authorized Garrett County commissioners to control the development of wind farms in the county has died in the Maryland General Assembly. Commissioners will continue to look for ways to have some control over wind turbines in the county. http://www.windaction.org/articles/31493 http://www.windaction.org/articles/29762 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:28:14 GMT Ocean City put a law on their books allowing residential wind turbines specifically because Jim Motsko came to them asking for one. Now, an unforeseen snag has thrown up a new hurdle in his two-year quest. http://www.windaction.org/articles/29762 http://www.windaction.org/articles/29385 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:51:06 GMT The bill allows the small devices to be erected on poles up to 100 feet high and remain in place for up to one year. The instruments, which typically consist of three small cups spinning on an axle, can be used to determine wind speed in areas being considered for wind turbine construction. http://www.windaction.org/articles/29385 http://www.windaction.org/articles/28899 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:37:38 GMT Wind Force had attempted to submit written comments and a full markup of the plan to the planning commission approximately one month after a public meeting held in June to collect public comment on the document. The planning commission refused to consider the Wind Force comments, stating that the comment period had closed. http://www.windaction.org/articles/28899 http://www.windaction.org/articles/28781 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:20:38 GMT A threatened lawsuit and claims that the county has not followed proper procedure in crafting its updated 10-Year Comprehensive Plan sparked a heated exchange this week between Mineral County Commission President Wayne Spiggle and attorney Jack Barr. http://www.windaction.org/articles/28781 http://www.windaction.org/articles/28588 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:27:33 GMT A pilot wind power program for Baltimore County was withdrawn Monday before a County Council vote after community groups complained the measure failed to protect residential areas from nearby turbines. ..."There was a lot of opposition that came in. People weren't paying attention" to the emergence of the bill during a work session last month, he said. http://www.windaction.org/articles/28588 http://www.windaction.org/articles/28582 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:48:28 GMT Members will consider a pilot wind energy program that could give Baltimore County officials time to evaluate how those alternative systems work, what effect wind towers have on surrounding areas and what they might look like. The bill would create a pilot program to test small wind energy systems for use in manufacturing or rural areas. http://www.windaction.org/articles/28582 http://www.windaction.org/articles/24966 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:00:40 GMT Members of Team Smart, which stands for the group Support More Alternative Renewable Technology that formed a year ago to study the wind turbine issue in Baltimore County, will join other speakers at the Planning Board's public meeting at 5 p.m. in Towson. Key components of the Board's proposed legislation allow turbines on lots of 1 acre or more. http://www.windaction.org/articles/24966 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23628 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:24:10 GMT The Mineral County Commission moved Tuesday to go on record in support of the proposed Pinnacle Wind Farm. The support, however, is not unanimous. After going into executive session to discuss "legal matters," which they later said related to the proposed contract in which WindForce will agree to commit itself to a "floor" for tax revenue to be generated by the project, two of the commissioners said they felt it was time for the county to commit to a position. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23628 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23429 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:07:11 GMT Light breezes and low elevations make Baltimore County uninviting territory for big wind farms, but the terrain could be more promising for residents hoping to trim electric bills and their "carbon footprint" with a home turbine. The outlook could hinge on deliberations going on now, as the county revises the zoning code to cover such projects. Meanwhile, one homeowner's plan for the county's first electricity-generating wind turbine remains on hold as neighbors who say they support alternative energy have lined up against it. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23429 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23236 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:16:22 GMT Amendments to Frostburg's wind energy systems ordinance will reduce the maximum height of a residential wind turbine from 165 to 75 feet and limit the number of wind energy systems to one per each lot of record. The mayor and council approved the amendments Thursday night. A public hearing on the amended ordinance is scheduled during the regular City Council meeting Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Frostburg Community Center. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23236 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23066 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:40:35 GMT Frostburg City Administrator John Kirby said Wednesday he would not be surprised if the mayor and council amend a potential residential wind turbine ordinance, thus pushing any final vote on the matter into October. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23066 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22843 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:26:45 GMT The mayor and council members will hold a public hearing today at 6:15 p.m. at City Hall concerning the proposed Zoning Text Amendment of the zoning ordinance to allow for wind energy systems within the city. "In a nutshell, (the amendment) says that only small wind turbines will be allowed as an accessory use in most zones. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22843 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22745 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:28:32 GMT A year ago, Barry and Urszula Antonelli received county approval to install a 120-foot wind turbine at their new house in Phoenix and neighbors immediately appealed that decision. Realizing there were no specific zoning regulations for windmills or wind turbines, the county's planning staff has spent the past year working on recommendations to regulate wind turbines for residential use. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22745 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22513 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:22:09 GMT A Federal Hill woman seeking to become the first Baltimore resident with a wind turbine on her roof failed to win approval from city officials yesterday. The effort by Marsha Vitow brought opposition from neighbors concerned about safety and aesthetics and confounded city officials ... David Tanner, executive director of the board, said the members had a long debate but decided wind turbines were not a legal exception. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22513 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22463 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:02:30 GMT Two planning issues are going to wait for a decision in Mineral County as the county commissioners ask the planning commissioners to review potential wind turbine regulations and prepare to look over a draft of the exotic entertainment ordinance. "We're asking (the planning commission) to look at the public good," Commission President Wayne Spiggle said. "We're trying to figure out what we're going to look at in 10 years." http://www.windaction.org/articles/22463 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22430 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:13:02 GMT A battle is brewing between Baltimore County and such community organizations as the Pikesville-Greenspring Community Coalition over windmills in residential neighborhoods. The county is devising regulations allowing windmills with restrictions. But PGCC and other community groups are opposed to windmills in people's backyards. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22430 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22354 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:23:00 GMT The mayor and council recently approved a first reading of the ordinance that would allow personal wind turbines as tall as 165 feet in Frostburg's backyards. At the Aug. 20 public meeting, the city officials are scheduled to have subsequent readings and a vote on the matter, though some talk has surfaced about postponing that action until September. "A structure this high is equivalent to a 16-story building," Bambacus told the elected officials in an e-mail. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22354