News
Large-scale wind farms will be unwelcome in any part of Kings County, at least in the immediate future.
Municipal council on Tuesday night gave first reading to a recommendation from its planning advisory committee to prohibit all major wind projects while it reviews issues around the controversial developments.
The ongoing study is being funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. Part of the funding is being used to identify shovel-ready sites that might be ideal for a small wind farm. A 5.4-megawatt farm could generate $1.4 million in revenues, according to SASD's presentation. The study envisions such a system owned by local groups or by municipalities.
Two big Pennsylvania wind farm projects canceled
May 16, 2012 by John Beale in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
May 16, 2012 by John Beale in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Ridges in this state are not suitable ecologically for wind or any other types of industrial development," Ms. Jackson said. "The ridges are important flyways for raptors and birds, they're steep and therefore ecologically sensitive, they're a forested resource and they provide habitat for endangered species."
Also filed under [
General|
Pennsylvania]
Dixfield wind ordinance vote postponed until November
May 16, 2012 by Eileen M. Adams in Sun Journal
May 16, 2012 by Eileen M. Adams in Sun Journal
Selectmen decided Monday night to postpone a vote on the proposed Wind Energy Facility Ordinance, which had been set for June 12, to Election Day on Nov. 6.
In the interim, selectmen will conduct a more in-depth study of tax-incentive financing projects in effect in towns with wind farms.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
Maine]
The state Department of Environmental Protection, in a long-awaited response to Falmouth residents' complaints about noise from two turbines, released a report Tuesday finding that one turbine less than 1,500 feet from the nearest home repeatedly exceeded allowable noise levels.
In light of the study, Falmouth's selectmen agreed to completely shut off Wind 1 for 30 days while DEP officials test the turbine's decibel level during the day, said Selectman Brent Putnam. Wind 1 is one of two town-owned 1.65-megawatt turbines located at the wastewater treatment facility on Blacksmith Shop Road.
“I'm glad that the results of DEP's study will provide residents affected by Wind 1 with some relief. This is an issue that has divided the community," Murray said in a statement. "I believe that industrial size wind turbines do not belong in residential neighborhoods, but we should not remove wind energy from the renewable energy mix in Massachusetts."
Also filed under [
Noise|
Massachusetts]
The National Trust said that while it supports the use of renewable energy (including several previous wind proposals) and has made a commitment to halve its dependence on fossil fuels by 2020, it considers the setting and scale for the Lyveden New Bield is not appropriate.
Senators try to prevent Quebec transmission line
May 15, 2012 by Brian Amaral in Watertown Daily Times
May 15, 2012 by Brian Amaral in Watertown Daily Times
The senators - led by state Sen. George Maziarz, a Western New York Republican, and joined by state Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton - say upstate jobs are at stake if a $2 billion transmission line proposal is approved because it would squeeze out energy producers in the state, like nuclear power plants, facilities that burn wood to create electricity and wind turbine farms.
But 18 months later, no development of the Minonk Stewardship Wind LLC project has occurred, and county officials have begun to wonder if the project will move forward within a regulatory time frame set by county ordinance.
Nordex suffers wider Q1 loss but expects better second half
May 15, 2012 by Ben Blackman in Recharge News
May 15, 2012 by Ben Blackman in Recharge News
German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex made a first-quarter net loss of €14m ($18m) - widening the €1.8m deficit it recorded in the first three months of 2011.
Nordex sales rose by 8.3% to €198.3m, while order intake reached €312m compared to €154m in the same quarter last year.
A company planning to build a wind farm spread across four central Indiana counties, including Madison, has obtained 125 building permits for the project's first phase and expects construction work to start this summer.
Attorney seeking to strengthen Article X Energy Law accused of acting as a lobbyist for anti-wind groups
May 15, 2012 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily Times
May 15, 2012 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily Times
An environmental attorney who is pushing for tougher restrictions on wind development in New York's Article X energy law is asking several north country towns to endorse his recommendations ...But some supporters of wind development are accusing the attorney, Gary A. Abraham of Allegany, of acting as an undercover lobbyist.
Europe's manufacturers are rapidly losing ground to US rivals because of soaring energy costs and the failure of the continent's governments to be "rational" about nuclear power and shale gas, the head of one of the world's biggest chemicals groups has warned.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Europe]
An Oregon company says it's no longer planning to build wind turbines in parts of Bedford and Clearfield counties.
A spokesperson with Iberdrola Renewables, Incorporated of Portland said the company pulled the plug on the energy projects for a number of reasons.
Also filed under [
General|
Pennsylvania]
Report outlines Stearns wind farms' environmental impact
May 14, 2012 by Kirsti Marohn in St. Cloud Times
May 14, 2012 by Kirsti Marohn in St. Cloud Times
The report states that the impact to most wildlife species is expected to be minimal. Bird and bat deaths would occur, the report states, but the impact could be reduced by placing turbines away from habitat areas.
Also filed under [
Minnesota]
Town officials are working to undercover what broke last week on the Portsmouth wind turbine generator.
The turbine, located at Portsmouth High School, stopped spinning last week after an error message appeared.
Also filed under [
Safety|
Rhode Island]
Two Pennsylvania industrial wind projects are cancelled
May 13, 2012 by Laura Jackson in Save Our Allegheny Ridges
May 13, 2012 by Laura Jackson in Save Our Allegheny Ridges
Save Our Allegheny Ridges (SOAR) has learned that two industrial wind energy projects proposed for central Pennsylvania have been shelved. Officials from Iberdrola Renewables Inc., of Portland, Ore., confirmed that the company has terminated the Dunning Mountain Wind project in Bedford County and the Clover Run Wind project in Clearfield County.
Also filed under [
General|
Pennsylvania]
Lisa Linowes, executive director of the Industrial Wind Action Group, a watchdog organization based in New Hampshire, argues the end of the tax credit need not be fatal. She sees new wind installations as more dependent on state renewable energy laws than the tax credit.
Small, 'unfiltered' protest held against Falmouth turbines
May 13, 2012 by Sean Teehan in Cape Cod Times
May 13, 2012 by Sean Teehan in Cape Cod Times
Falmouth's two 1.65-megawatt turbines have been the source of controversy for about two years. Some abutters say noise, infrasound and light flicker from the spinning blades cause headaches, vertigo and even suicidal tendencies.
"All we've been doing is begging for help," said Elizabeth Andersen, 55, who said the police have responded to her home twice when she said she would harm herself.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Massachusetts]