The Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) ruling on the Cherry Tree Wind Farm Pty Ltd proposal to erect 16 industrial scale wind turbines (3.5 MW each). This ruling is unique in that the Commissioners deferred a decision on the impact of the project on human health until further, planned studies can be conducted at a project with similarly sized turbines.

On 27 October 2010 the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Community Affairs Committees for inquiry and report. A full report of the committee's findings can be accessed through the links on this page.

The Federal Member for Hume, Alby Schultz has written to Premier O'Farrell requesting an immediate moratorium on any further wind turbine development in New South Wales pending a possible public inquiry. An excerpt of his speech before the House of Representatives is below. The full speech can be accessed by clicking on one of the links at the bottom of the page.

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.

Origin Energy, an Australian energy company, has faced substantial public opposition to its wind proposal planned for the Tuki area of Central Victoria in Australia. Scott Hargreaves of Origin sent an email to the Ballarat-based Courier newspaper today (April 22) announcing that the company was abandoning the project. The email is posted below and can be downloaded by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

This document includes two separate agreements executed between the landowner and Wind Power Pty Ltd. The Stockyard Hills facility is proposed to include 242 turbines for an installed capacity of 484 megawatts. Origin Energy Ltd has since acquired Wind Power Pty. The Mt. Fyans wind proposal is no longer under consideration. Origin is still pursuing the Stockyard Hills project.

The agreement is entered into between a landowner and Wind Power Pty Ltd when wind turbines are erected on the land.

This agreement entered into between the landowner and Wind Power Pty Ltd permits the developer to site a wind testing tower on the land. A minimum fee is paid the landowner.

The agreement entered into between landowners and Wind Power Pty Ltd permitting Wind Power Pty Ltd permits the developer to take a lease over the land at any time. The agreement reads like an option to lease but no option fee is paid a landowner for signing the agreement.

Mr. Sean Cox presented evidence at the Resource Management Act hearing for the Te Uku wind farm which directly countered the economic case for the wind farm, its carbon emissions justification, the available wind resource at Te Uku, adverse noise and health effects, and challenged the expertise of some of wind developer Wel's consultants. When completed, Wel counsel Simon Berry asked that the hearing be adjourned to permit the developer time to respond to Mr. Cox's submission. An excerpt of Mr. Cox's testimony is included below. The full transcript can be accessed by clicking on one of the two links provided.