lthough wind energy is an important part of Gov. Ed Rendell's push toward clean energy, interfering with a local decision to reject wind energy "is not the state's business," state Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky said Monday. "We have a model ordinance, but we are not going to pressure people on the local level to do something they don't think they should do," he said in response to a question regarding the wind farm that was proposed on Laurel Hill in Jackson and McIntyre townships. Yablonsky said he is familiar with the situation and knows that an appeal has been filed in court regarding the county Zoning Hearing Board rejection of the wind farm developer's request for a special exception. Yablonsky said the board's rejection is the first that he has heard of since the Gov. Ed Rendell took office four years ago. Yablonsky said neither he nor the governor are discouraged by the rejection, adding that since the issue is still in the hands of a judge, it could still be approved. Other projects have been approved elsewhere in the state, he said. "To be fair, we've had some (wind farms) go forward already," he said. "We are seeing communities becoming more accepting of this."

Frustration emerged on the face of Yakama elder Johnson Meninick as he walked along a dirt access road in the Windy Flats wind farm project just south of town. The road, intended to make way for another series of wind turbines in the 88-turbine project, follows a ridge overlooking the Columbia River Gorge and is flanked by dozens of rock cairns -- historical footprints of his ancestors -- and colorful wildflowers and rare medicinal plants.

The plan to erect some 60 windmills around nearby Herrick Mountain and Susie's Peak would ruin the precious scenery, say the town's residents. "Suddenly you're thrusting an industrial complex into what's really a rural residential neighborhood," said David Potter, who represents Ira in the Vermont House of Representatives. "In my opinion, [the windmills] don't fit."

"Competitive advantage is not worth someone's life," said Yamada. "If the MET [tower] were just two feet taller, the FAA would have required orange and white stripes and lighting, and Stephen Allen would still be with us today."

Controversial plans for a giant wind turbine - as tall as six Angels of the North stacked on top of each other - have been revived by a South Tyneside shipyard. A fresh planning application for the huge riverside scheme has been submitted to South Tyneside Council by A&P Tyne at Hebburn. If the green scheme wins approval, it would be one the biggest structures ever seen on the Tyne. But local councillors and residents in Hebburn Village, which backs on to the yard, are set to oppose the plans as strongly as they did first time round.

If the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm is built, local officials want a say in how it affects their roads and wetlands. Selectmen and other town officials met last night with Cape Wind representatives to hear the latest on plans to connect the proposed wind farm to the electric grid. The meeting at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School auditorium was public but not a hearing, so public comment was not allowed.

Committee members worked with the planning board and looked at bylaws in Fairhaven, Harwich and Orleans. They were also wary of possible disputes like the one in Sandwich over residential wind turbines and ''wanted to be more restrictive rather than opening the floodgates,'' Braginton-Smith said. Sections of the bylaw addressed height restrictions, setbacks and noise generated by the turbines. It also addressed flicker, the visual effect of the moving turbine blades on the light from the sun. Despite a nod toward the hard work of the energy committee, Snowden moved to indefinitely postpone a vote on the bylaw article.

Yarmouth officials are upset that they received no notice of the project when it went before the Dennis Old King's Highway Historic District Commission, Gilmore said. ...The town of Yarmouth needs to have its interests represented in the case, he wrote, especially since Austin is not represented by counsel.

Local residents affected by a proposed 182 turbine wind farm development in and around the Yass Valley are refusing to let the issue destroy long held friendships. A proposal to construct 110 wind turbines in the Yass Valley local government area and a further 72 in the Harden Shire has been on hold at the office of the Minister for Planning, Kristina Keneally, for over 12 months.

The Italy Town Board voted last night to deny an application from a company that wanted to build an 18-turbine wind farm in the picturesque Yates County town. "We're all very pleased, and surprised. All of us who have been fighting for so long - our jaws were on the floor. We couldn't believe what we were hearing from our town board," said Kathy Johnstone, a town resident and a vice president of the Finger Lakes Preservation Association, which opposes the project.

Millionaire Marlborough grape-grower Peter Yealands appears to be a driving force behind attempts to build a major wind farm in the region..... He has also been closely linked with TrustPower's proposal for a Marlborough wind farm, which involved monitoring of wind conditions on his land.

During the 2009 session, the Legislature allowed a sales tax exemption for wind projects to sunset, and lawmakers created a task force that worked through the summer to develop recommendations for regulating wind farms. ...Last month, the Joint Revenue Committee decided against sponsoring two bills that would have imposed generation taxes on wind energy. Gov. Dave Freudenthal had supported the concept of a wind tax.

"We're not happy with the installation so far," said Griffin. "They're only working intermittently but they are under warranty." The two, 20-foot wind turbines adjacent to the new hanger "B" were supposed to generate enough energy from the wind to power security streetlights along Industrial Park Drive at the airport.

Soaring on the wings of new wind-turbine technology, tax breaks, and rising fossil fuel costs, the US wind-power growth picture looks great - except to Edward Arnett, a wildlife biologist who sees a dead bat in it - many thousands of dead bats, actually.

Moorabool Council will write to the Federal Government supporting a national wind-farm code. The decision came after WestWind Energy submitted a planning application for 40 wind turbines at Yendon and 24 at Elaine. The letter, to Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, will aim to prevent wind farms being "constructed against the wishes of the community". The council could have little influence over approval for the Yendon/Elaine wind farm.

The Environment Court has given the go-ahead for Wel Networks' Te Uku wind farm to proceed. The consent order allowing the wind farm follows the successful mediation of outstanding appeals - and the fact ardent wind farm opponent Sean Cox has withdrawn from the fray on health grounds. Mitigation measures agreed by the parties included the formation of a community liaison group, alleviation of some visual concerns, and the relocation of the controversial turbine 29 near Hidden Valley.

Mr Blair questioned whether the UK can meet its future energy and environmental needs without nuclear power. He said renewable energy must form a larger part of the UK energy mix but stressed nuclear might be "part of the answer". He said: "I still think there is a major challenge - and this is what the energy review will answer in the next few months - as to whether we can really make sure we meet both our energy needs and our environmental targets without nuclear power in the mix."

The first major wind turbine project in Yellow Medicine County has received approval from the county commissioners. During the Yellow Medicine County board meeting Tuesday, the board voted to approve the proposed project that would see 20 megawatts developed in Fortier Township near Canby. Jeff Hemish of Canby received support from the Yellow Medicine County Planning and Zoning board during the June 19 meeting which helped get the 20- megawatt project approved by the county commissioners. The 20-megawatt project will be spread over 10 wind turbines Hemish said.

There's nothing on the books about wind energy in York, but by next year that could change. The town hopes to get public input this month about a draft ordinance on small residential wind turbines during the first of a number of workshops, said Town Planner Christine Grimando. ...you don't want it to have a bad impact on the environment or the economy, the local tourism.

York officials have taken the first steps toward crafting wind turbine regulations. At a Wednesday night Planning Commission work session, the five commissioners in attendance were unanimous in their support for regulations that would permit the use of wind turbines for generating electricity. During the lengthy discussion, commissioners differed on how regulations should be applied.