facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts Windaction http://www.windaction.org/latestposts?theme=atom Xarayar 2006-06-12T02:16:27Z http://www.windaction.org/news/38395 2013-05-18T12:33:31Z 2013-05-18T12:33:31Z

According to the project's final EIS, the geographic limits of the Grand Canyon condor population as determined by FWS overlap the project's proposed footprint. Condor can fly up to 160 miles a day in searching for food, and the Grand Canyon "experimental" population is well within that range of the Mohave County Wind Farm.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38394 2013-05-19T12:29:12Z 2013-05-19T12:29:12Z

"Clearly, very few people asked questions, and everyone was on board," Davis said. "It became clear this year to me and to other people who were sort of on the sidelines watching "» we really had a problem here, and it was tearing our community apart."

http://www.windaction.org/news/38393 2013-05-19T12:24:51Z 2013-05-19T12:24:51Z

"Scots are battling to save our natural heritage from an invasion of foreign energy companies who take advantage of outrageous public subsidies to bank huge profits from wind farm developments across Scotland.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38392 2013-05-18T12:18:41Z 2013-05-18T12:18:41Z

A peer-reviewed article in the official journal of the College of Family Physicians of Canada says its members should expect to see increasing numbers of rural patients reporting adverse effects from exposure to industrial wind turbines. The commentary, published in the May issue of Canadian Family Physician, says turbines can harm human health if built too close to where people live.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38391 2013-05-18T04:20:21Z 2013-05-18T04:20:21Z

No injuries were reported, according to the El Centro newspaper. But worldwide use of that model of turbine has been suspended while the mishap is investigated by its manufacturer, Siemens. ...In April, a blade broke from a similar Siemens turbine at an Iowa wind energy facility, the Imperial Valley Press reported.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38390 2013-05-17T04:12:04Z 2013-05-17T04:12:04Z

Falmouth was among the first towns in Massachusetts to install large turbines so close to homes. When people complained, the town tried curtailing their operation when it got real windy. Then they shut them off at night. They even considered buying out the homeowners.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38389 2013-05-17T17:59:00Z 2013-05-17T17:59:00Z

Defence chiefs could fight plans for a major wind farm in the Hampshire countryside over fears of radar interference. Developer EDF Energy Renewables plans to build 14, 126-metre masts on farmland at Bullington Cross, north of Winchester.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38388 2013-05-18T17:55:11Z 2013-05-18T17:55:11Z

The legislation sets parameters for permit applications that include public hearings so opponents can raise concerns. State regulators could deny an application if a project could adversely affect the environment, private landowners or military operations.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38387 2013-05-18T17:52:25Z 2013-05-18T17:52:25Z

A third of Lee County Board members have taken a stand on the controversial proposal for a wind farm in the county's southwestern corner. The rest either are undecided or haven't returned Sauk Valley Media's calls for comment. The 24-member board will vote on the wind farm Tuesday.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38386 2013-05-17T17:46:12Z 2013-05-17T17:46:12Z

Delaware County wind farm opponents are asking for setbacks that would almost certainly prevent construction of a wind farm. Opponents are proposing a minimum setback of two miles (or 10,560 feet) between wind turbines and dwellings.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38385 2013-05-18T17:19:22Z 2013-05-18T17:19:22Z

In an about face, the Independence turbine owners at Kingston Wind Independence are refusing to participate a long-awaited acoustic monitoring study.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38384 2013-05-17T02:14:24Z 2013-05-17T02:14:24Z

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is waiting to hear from Xcel Energy and New Era Wind in Goodhue County about what changes have taken place in the controversial wind project's power purchase agreement.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38383 2013-05-17T22:52:53Z 2013-05-17T22:52:53Z

A Siemens spokeswoman explained that "when a turbine is curtailed, it means the load on the blade is significantly reduced compared to normal operation." The company said there were about 700 such turbines deployed around the world, with most - around 600 - in the United States, and all those turbines were being examined.

http://www.windaction.org/opinions/38382 2013-05-17T22:44:59Z 2013-05-17T22:44:59Z

The Associated Press published a thorough article ...highlighting the Department of Interior's unwillingness to hold the wind industry accountable to laws meant to protect wildlife. With over 573,000 birds killed by wind turbines each year, according to the Wildlife Society Bulletin, as well as a significant number of bats, the Department of Interior can only point to superficial and voluntary guidelines that the wind industry continues to ignore.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38381 2013-05-17T22:41:38Z 2013-05-17T22:41:38Z

After years of complaints about noise and health effects, on May 21, 2013 residents of Falmouth, MA will vote on whether or not to tear down both of the town's wind turbines.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38380 2013-05-17T22:15:29Z 2013-05-17T22:15:29Z

A massive blade from one of the 112 wind turbines recently installed was found near a tower base Thursday, after plummeting onto the ground overnight, triggering safety concerns among officials and some residents. ...the project is now shut down.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38379 2013-05-17T22:11:10Z 2013-05-17T22:11:10Z

Siemens does not yet know the root cause of this incident and is working to determine if and how this is related to a recent similar incident in Iowa. Today, Siemens is taking the step of curtailing all turbines with the B53 blade type globally. These turbines will remain curtailed until it can be determined they are not at risk of a similar malfunction. The Iowa incident took place in April at MidAmerican Holdings' 200-megawatt Eclipse wind farm.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38378 2013-05-16T22:08:25Z 2013-05-16T22:08:25Z

The 315-megawatt Ocotillo Express Wind project in Imperial County is shut down today after a 10-ton blade came loose from one of the project's 112 wind turbines, landing about 100 yards away on a public road.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38377 2013-05-17T21:44:57Z 2013-05-17T21:44:57Z

The chairman of the Lee County Board still supports a proposed wind farm, but he is pushing a compromise that would include strong conditions on the project. Rick Ketchum, D-Amboy, said he and others are working on the conditions. He provided few details.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38376 2013-05-17T21:41:17Z 2013-05-17T21:41:17Z

"The legal process started yesterday and I plan on proceeding for as long as required, irrespective of cost," Trump said Thursday as part of a released statement. "We will not allow the Scottish Government or any other party to undermine what we have created at Trump International Golf Links."

http://www.windaction.org/news/38375 2013-05-17T21:36:00Z 2013-05-17T21:36:00Z

Residents in Howard County have recently begun urging the commissioners to change the setback requirements. Wind farm opponents are seeking a setback of 4,921 feet from non-participating property lines. The Tipton County Board of Zoning Appeals approved the proposed Prairie Breeze Wind Farm planned by juwi Wind with the requirement of a 1,500-foot setback from property lines.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38374 2013-05-17T21:30:02Z 2013-05-17T21:30:02Z

http://www.windaction.org/news/38373 2013-05-14T21:21:23Z 2013-05-14T21:21:23Z

The 1.5-megawatt turbine was commissioned in March 2009 but was shut down June 18, 2012, after the gearbox showed significant wear. The faulty gearbox was no longer covered by warranty, and the manufacturer of the turbine, AAER Wind Energy of Quebec, is no longer in business. Three of five turbines of the same make and model erected in California and Templeton, Mass., also suffered gearbox failure.

http://www.windaction.org/opinions/38372 2013-05-15T21:08:44Z 2013-05-15T21:08:44Z

The green lobby in Europe is so strong that it has pushed EU politicians to oppose virtually every kind of reliable non-renewable energy. ..."Ordinary families and small and medium-sized businesses are essentially subsidizing the investments of green do-gooders," who can afford to install solar panels on their homes and their businesses. But what's really starting to cause citizens and policy-makers to question their green energy agenda, is that soaring energy costs are driving energy-intensive industries in Europe to move to the United States.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38371 2013-05-16T21:02:12Z 2013-05-16T21:02:12Z

In several recent published studies, Adams and other researchers have explored the issue of turbines stealing energy from the wind, creating drag or a "wind shadow" of air slowed by the spinning blades. Each turbine added to a particular landscape captures less energy. "You reach a point that if you add any more turbines, you get no more energy," Adams said.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38370 2013-05-16T20:59:14Z 2013-05-16T20:59:14Z

An initiative that would allow utilities to count all hydroelectric power toward renewable energy requirements was approved this week for signature gathering. The initiative seeks to alter renewable portfolio standards approved in 2007 ...The law prohibits large utilities from counting hydroelectric power generated by dams built before 1995 towards the standard.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38369 2013-05-16T18:16:08Z 2013-05-16T18:16:08Z

Opposition to the project first came to light last year when members of the local indigenous Huave community forced the mayor to destroy a building permit he had signed with developer Marena. At the same time, a Huave Indian group in the neighbouring town of San Mateo del Mar issued a statement saying it will "take up arms" if the project goes ahead as planned.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38368 2013-05-15T18:01:31Z 2013-05-15T18:01:31Z

An estimated 850,000 to 1.7 million bats have died from collisions with wind turbines in the United States and Canada since 2000, said Mylea Bayless, director of conservation programs for Austin, Texas-based Bats Conservation international.

http://www.windaction.org/news/38367 2013-05-16T17:59:15Z 2013-05-16T17:59:15Z

Farmers and rural homeowners in Northern Colorado on Wednesday added their voices to a statewide chorus calling on Gov. Hickenlooper to veto a bill certain to raise their electric bills.

http://www.windaction.org/pictures/38366 2013-05-17T16:07:30Z 2013-05-17T16:07:30Z

The State of Minnesota is considering a bill that would increase the State's renewable mandate to 40% including a 10% solar carve-out. The bill is in conference but it appears rural legislators in both parties are reluctant to pass it through. Cartoonist Marie McNamara created this political cartoon to emphasize the mentality of lobbyists at the Capitol and the effect of the 40% mandate on Minnesota rate payers and businesses.