News
"While I understand the concerns that this bill could take funding away from other sources of renewable energy, I believe that lower electricity rates will provide families much needed relief in their household budgets and improve the prospect of jobs going forward," Kelly said after the vote.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Connecticut]
$40,000 payment sets off debate; Developer of rejected wind site makes proposal contingent on ruling's reversal
May 2, 2013 by Brandon Lawrence in Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
May 2, 2013 by Brandon Lawrence in Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
The Select Board voted Monday night to delay the decision whether to accept a $40,000 compensation from Antrim Wind Energy until after the state committee that turned down the project in February releases its final order. ..."It does look like you're taking a bribe," said Kat Affholter.
Also filed under [
General|
New Hampshire]
The Whistling Ridge Energy Project received a green light ...But the decision scaled back the original proposal, reducing the number of wind turbines from 50 to 35. The outcome didn't leave the project developers or its opponents entirely happy. Construction never started. Opponents, led by Portland-based advocacy group Friends of the Columbia Gorge, mounted a legal challenge that's now landed before the state's highest court.
Also filed under [
Legal|
Washington]
House Republicans accused Democrats of waging war on rural Colorado when legislators voted Tuesday to increase the renewable-energy mandate for electricity cooperatives. ...The bill passed 37-27, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans against.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Colorado]
Representatives from Wasatch Wind discussed their proposed wind farm at an Open House held concurrently with the Monticello City Council meeting on April 23.
According to Wasatch Wind representative Julie Mack, the purpose of the event was the help local residents visualize the impact of the wind farm on the Monticello area.
The plan to build a huge offshore wind farm within sight of land has upset veterans and their families and has triggered protests from environmentalists ...Seventy-five wind turbines, each almost 190m high, would be built nine to 14km out to sea. Construction is to begin in 2015, a year after the 70th anniversary of the landings.
Town Meeting would have to approve the spending of $8.3 million, which includes $4.9 million borrowed to construct Wind 2, $2 million to pay back the renewable energy credits, and $1.4 million to remove both turbines. That is the same amount Town Meeting failed to authorize earlier this month by six votes shy of a two-thirds majority.
"I'm guardedly optimistic" that the ballot question will pass, Mr. Suso said.
Also filed under [
General|
Massachusetts]
Marsha Blomberg, an ISO New England spokesperson, said the grid uses an "economic dispatch" method, which often gives the most expensive power source the temporary ax. But Johnson said cheaper sources could be curtailed if it keeps the grid safe.
Norwegian project hit by Scanwind turbine write-off
April 30, 2013 by Sara Knight in Windpower Monthly
April 30, 2013 by Sara Knight in Windpower Monthly
NTE, a Norwegian small regional energy company, has revealed severe problems with all 13 ScanWind turbines installed at its Hundhammerfjellet R&D onshore project.
A Norwegian source told WPM the issue is in connection with the yaw bearings. ...on 22 April said all of the turbines have been taken out of service until the facts have been clarified.
Also filed under [
Europe]
Wind topples turbine in Ellensburg; minor flooding of Mercer Creek
May 1, 2013 by Brian Myrick in Daily Record
May 1, 2013 by Brian Myrick in Daily Record
A wind turbine at the city of Ellensburg's Renewable Energy Park toppled over on Monday, buckling under wind speeds of more than 30 mph and gusts as high as 45 mph.
Gary Nystedt, city resource manager, said city staff will start going through the turbine's wind speed data to figure out exactly when it came down.
Call to phase out production tax credit gathers pace
May 1, 2013 by Diane Bailey in Windpower Monthly
May 1, 2013 by Diane Bailey in Windpower Monthly
As the $0.023/kWh production tax credit (PTC) is back on a countdown to expiration just months after US Congress passed a short-term extension of the incentive, some in the US wind sector are weighing whether negotiating its eventual demise may be the only way to put the industry on a stable footing for the long term.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Siting commission recommends more transparent, inclusive permitting process for energy projects
April 30, 2013 by Andrew Stein in VT Digger
April 30, 2013 by Andrew Stein in VT Digger
On Tuesday, the Vermont Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission submitted its final report and recommendations to the governor and the Vermont Legislature. The commission recommends a revision of the Section 248 permitting process.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Vermont]
Maine DEP holds first public hearing for Bowers Mountain wind project
April 30, 2013 by Nick Sambides Jr. in Bangor Daily News
April 30, 2013 by Nick Sambides Jr. in Bangor Daily News
Opponents and proponents have begun two days of public hearings before the state's top environmental agency arguing the merits and problems with an industrial wind site proposed for Bowers Mountain.
"We are VERY unappreciative of this symbol being used by the USPS for Earth Day," Marie McNamara recently emailed postal officials in Washington. "Thanks for putting us on record as strongly objecting to the symbol of industrial wind turbines as a postmark. Thanks for putting us on record as wanting to see the postmark go away immediately."
Kevin Scully of the Laois Wind Energy Action Group said homeowners were suffering intolerably from constant noise where the turbines had already been erected. He said guidelines on how far the turbines could be located from houses had stipulated a distance of 500 metres when the size of turbines was about 75 metres high.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Ireland]
Hager's bill to end NC's renewables policy refuses to die
May 1, 2013 by John Murawski in News and Observer
May 1, 2013 by John Murawski in News and Observer
"This misguided policy acts much like a hidden tax. Experience has shown that renewable energy mandates, like the one on the books in North Carolina, have a negative impact on the economy and an adverse impact on your constituents' pocketbooks."
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
North Carolina]
The Board approved the resolution to make the change at the April Board meeting.
None of the county application requirements have changed but the process for developing a wind energy plan has been modified from a one-step to a two-step process, Moore said.
Wildlife Embarrassing snafu at Ocotillo Express Wind Project
April 29, 2013 by Chris Clarke in ReWire
April 29, 2013 by Chris Clarke in ReWire
This isn't the first time that reports have surfaced of workers at the Ocotillo Express Wind site failing to hew to the highest standards of professionalism. In February, Pattern's construction manager Russell Scott Graham was arrested by Imperial County Sheriffs deputies after allegedly assaulting and threatening Parke Ewing, a local opponent of the project.
Pros and cons (mostly con) aired during Deepwater hearing
April 29, 2013 by Laura Kelly in Block Island Times
April 29, 2013 by Laura Kelly in Block Island Times
Opponents and supporters of the Deepwater Wind's proposed five-turbine wind farm off Block Island had a chance to air their arguments before the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Wednesday during one of two public hearings being sponsored by the state permitting agency. The second public hearing will be held Wednesday, May 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. at New Shoreham Town Hall.
Also filed under [
General|
Rhode Island]
Longview adopts new zoning rules for residential windmills
April 30, 2013 by Amy M.E. Fischer in The Daily News
April 30, 2013 by Amy M.E. Fischer in The Daily News
A year after Longview resident Ken Spring installed a vintage windmill on his 3-acre property without a permit, the City Council adopted new zoning rules that allow for small wind energy systems.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
Washington]