TransCanada Power, an energy supplier that also owns a Maine wind farm, is challenging a state law that requires utilities to buy their future renewable energy from Massachusetts-based firms. Download the filing by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

Energy losses in the U.S. T&D system were 7.2% in 1995, accounting for 2.5 quads of primary energy and 36.5 MtC. Losses are divided such that about 60% are from lines and 40% are from transformers (most of which are for distribution).

This 'informal white paper' authored by the renewable energy industry and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas addresses the impact of wind's intermittency on the need for the development of comparable capacities of reliable sources that can be called upon when the wind is not blowing. It contains a particularly interesting chart that characterizes different energy sources as 'base load', 'peak load' and 'intermittent' with their associated benefits and drawbacks. Wind is deemed 'intermittent' with the following benefits (no emissions, no fuel costs, stable cost, low operating cost) and drawbacks (not dispatchable, not responsive, transmission needs, low peak value).

Lisa Linowes, executive director of Windaction.org, presented these slides at the 2009 Midwest Energy Conference in Chicago (March 4-5). The focus of the presentation is on the costs and impacts of building an extensive transmission system to deliver wind and renewables from the central part of the United States to points east and west.

Travis Air Force Base midair collision avoidance pamphlets (MACA) from 2007 and 2011. The 2011 pamphlet was amended to address the impact of spinning turbine blades on radar. Both pamphlets can be downloaded by clicking on the links below. The third 1-page document shown below is taken from the 2011 MACA.

This ordinance was adopted by the Trempealeau County Board in a 10-6 vote (see: http://www.windaction.org/news/13246 ). The ordinance distinguishes between three types of wind turbines including hobbyist, personal, and commercial. Commercial turbines include a 1-mile setback from habitable structures. The ordinance provides a comprehensive section on noise level limits for the turbines including specific requirements pertaining to pre- and post- construction noise studies. The adopted ordinance which can be downloaded below was sent to IWA by the Trempealeau County Clerk Paul L. Syverson.

A compilation as of November 1, 2006 of turbine accidents in the USA and abroad by accident type, date, site, state/country and turbine model.

An analysis by Views of Scotland of a report published in 2002 by VISITSCOTLAND entitled "Investigation into the Potential Impact of Wind Turbines on Tourism in Scotland".

The New Zealand Ministry for the Environment Board of Inquiry released this draft report and decision on the proposed Turitea wind energy facility. The project initially consisted of 122 turbines but later reduced to include a maximum of 104 – 2.3MW turbines or 96 – 3MW turbines with an installed capacity of up to 288MW. The draft decision further reduces the turbine count to 61 towers. An excerpt from the executive summary is provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF TYRONE REGULATING WINDMILLS BY REQUIRING: NON-ASSIGNABLE PERMITS FOR CONSTRUCTION; INSPECTIONS; COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS; MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT AND REMOVAL GUIDELINES; THE POSTING OF FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR REMOVAL; SETBACKS BE ESTABLISHED OF AT LEAST 3,000 FEET FROM OCCUPIED STRUCTURES AND SETBACKS IN CERTAIN HERITAGE, HISTORICAL, WETLAND AND IMPORTANT MAMMAL AREAS; REMEDIES; PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION; AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.