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/23934 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:05:29 GMT It might seem like federal regulators are fast-tracking the development of Nevada's first commercial wind farm. But the 160-megawatt Spring Valley Wind project has actually been in the works for over four years, as the developer gathered additional information sought by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). A private contractor is currently putting the finishing touches on the draft Environmental Assessment for the 66-turbine project, which would be located on BLM-administered lands between State Route 893 and U.S. Highway 50 as it veers north toward Sacramento Pass. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23934 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23356 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:39:26 GMT In Utah, state officials are fielding various combinations of energy proposals, a list that includes solar and geothermal installations and an energy storage project ...Scores of projects - some speculative, others well-funded and a few quirky - have surfaced with energy companies eager to take advantage of loan guarantees and tax breaks being promoted by President Barack Obama. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23356 http://www.windaction.org/articles/23010 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:28:15 GMT A state committee is recommending that power companies spend about $3 billion on transmission lines to connect renewable energy sites in rural Nevada to existing lines. http://www.windaction.org/articles/23010 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22563 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:27:38 GMT This economy, proponents say, promises to rebuild communities abandoned by bankrupt manufacturers, restore jobs lost by the busted housing market and reinstate America as a global leader. Not so fast. Although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says renewable energy has the potential to create "tens of thousands of jobs" in Nevada and more than a million nationwide, little research has been done on actual job creation in such an unchartered area. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22563 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22346 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:48:46 GMT Political leaders from both parties have often said Nevada is in a race with other states to attract renewable energy projects. Solar, wind and geothermal energy production represent the very future of Nevada's economy, they say. Despite the bold talk, state government has lagged behind surrounding states in applying for millions in federal stimulus dollars for renewable energy and energy conservation projects. http://www.windaction.org/articles/22346 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21944 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:05:48 GMT Salazar said Interior is setting aside 24 parcels of federal land for a special study of environmental effects. Those areas, a total of 670,000 acres, were chosen based on the routes of transmission lines and early indications that they are less environmentally sensitive than other areas in the state. Once an area wins preapproval, applications for solar plants could race through the process, officials say. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21944 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21769 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:27:14 GMT Duke Energy representative Robert Charlebois began Thursday afternoon's public meeting on the company's plans to build a large wind farm here by trying to make clear to residents that he had learned from earlier rejections. "I remember the first meeting walking out with the unambiguous understanding that our original proposal was completely unacceptable to the town," Charlebois said of a meeting in January on the wind project. "We went back to the drawing board." http://www.windaction.org/articles/21769 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21768 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:18:30 GMT Searchlight's residents have plenty to say about the idea, too -- much of it negative. About 60 locals, the majority of them against the project, came out for Thursday's meeting. Among their concerns: how the turbines would affect vegetation, wildlife, views, property values, quality of life, tourism, air safety, air quality, historic preservation and outdoor recreation. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21768 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21785 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:44:46 GMT Despite a historic budget shortfall that forced lawmakers to make deep cuts in nearly every state agency, the Legislature created the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority. Lawmakers hope it eventually will be funded with tax dollars from the renewable energy projects the authority helps to attract to the state. In the meantime, the new authority has $500,000 taken from the Public Utilities Commission's reserve account. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21785 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21662 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:13:25 GMT On a vacant piece of land near Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, the promise of solar energy has collided into the demands of military training. And a solar project that would have featured a vast field of mirrors, a molten-salt storage facility and a 600-foot "power tower" appears to be heading for defeat. http://www.windaction.org/articles/21662 http://www.windaction.org/articles/21184 Tue, 12 May 2009 09:35:07 GMT Over the objections of some Wilcox Ranch residents, Washoe County commissioners today approved a resolution to sponsor a regional planning amendment to create a new utility corridor for wind turbines in the mountains of Warm Springs Valley. The 17-mile route would be for a 120-kilovolt line to bring power from up to 70 wind turbines that Nevada Wind wants to put on Virginia Peak to a major power transfer station to the south in Tracy http://www.windaction.org/articles/21184 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20961 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:10:56 GMT Concerns over a proposed wind farm near Searchlight dominated a Tuesday town hall meeting hosted by County Commissioner Steve Sisolak in the rural community. ...Duke Energy has proposed erecting large wind turbines on public land surrounding Searchlight and many residents are worried that the wind project will ruin their views of the surrounding hills, damage wildlife and drive away tourists. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20961 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20707 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:45:56 GMT Days before the Washoe County Board of Commissioners would have heard an appeal against the Virginia Peak Wind Project, a settlement was reached between the appellant and Nevada Wind, LLC. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20707 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20637 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:37:45 GMT Harnessing the sun and the winds will be looked at Monday by the Mohave County Supervisors. The supervisors will look to hold a special workshop in the coming months dealing with renewable energy projects in Mohave County. No workshop has been scheduled, but, upon recommendation of the county planning and zoning board, one is highly likely. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20637 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20454 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:46:37 GMT The Virginia Peak Wind Project hearing by the Washoe County Board of Commissioners has been delayed at the request of both the appellant and applicant, according to Washoe County senior planner Trevor Lloyd. Lloyd said the hearing has been moved to the April 14 meeting of the Washoe County Commission. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20454 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20321 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:18:49 GMT Nevada has handed out tax incentives worth an estimated $45 million to lure solar and geothermal projects to Nevada over the past four years. So far, the state has received in return promises that the projects' developers will create 89 permanent jobs. It's a number so small that some lawmakers are questioning whether taxpayers are getting a good return on their investment in the incentives. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20321 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20148 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:04:57 GMT Reid announced the pending legislation at the opening of the National Clean Energy Project in Washington. Former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, billionaire wind-energy promoter T. Boone Pickens, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others joined Reid at today's summit. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20148 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20097 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:46:21 GMT Residents of the desolate Palomino Valley have attended citizen’s advisory board meetings, planning commission meetings and will soon face another round of meetings because of an appeal filed by area resident Dan Herman. Herman said he filed the appeal not in opposition to the Virginia Peak Wind Project as a whole, but in opposition to the project’s two closest turbines to residents’ homes and property. As part of the special-use permit, approved by the Washoe County Planning Commission on Feb. 4, no wind turbines can be installed within one mile of existing homes. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20097 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20092 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:03:14 GMT Nevada Wind won a small battle with the Washoe County Planning Commission on Feb. 4 when the panel unanimously voted to approve a special-use permit for the project slated for development in the Palomino Valley, approximately 30 miles north of Sparks. ...Then the project hit a snag Tuesday when nearby landowner Dan Herman filed an appeal. "Well, the only thing I appealed is the one condition that allowed the two windmills on the property at the end of Quaking Aspen that directly affects the surrounding neighbors," Herman said. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20092 http://www.windaction.org/articles/20088 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:04:21 GMT Storey County residents told the Bureau of Land Management on Thursday that a proposed windmill project would ruin the tourist-based economy in Virginia City and surrounding areas. Jane Peterson, bureau energy project manager, said in a presentation to the Storey County Planning Commission that public comments collected since November have been split on whether to allow Reno-based Great Basin Wind to build about 70 windmills on BLM land in Storey and Washoe counties. http://www.windaction.org/articles/20088