Kevin Luke of Buford-based Z-4 Energy Systems wants to develop a way to save wind energy for when the wind's not blowing. He's working on a commercialization plan for wind-powered water pumping, incorporating compressed air storage. Luke points out that wind is variable and energy storage is needed to provide controlled, consistent water pumping. He seeks to use air compressors, similar to those found commercially, powered by a wind turbine rotor. The driving force behind his efforts is that the wind blows at variable speeds and when there is not enough wind to turn the turbine, the stored air can continue to be used to pump the well. Currently, wind electric and solar powered systems use lead acid batteries for storage, which don't perform well in the cold weather and have a short lifespan.

Mann said he has, indeed, offered neighbors who would be most impacted by the turbine remuneration for any perceived annoyance, adding that studies show that once a turbine is erected concerns about them tend to evaporate. According to Mann, he's offered residents living within 2,300 of the proposed turbine up to $2,000 annually for 20 years.

Citizens Alliance for Responsible Renewable Energy is appealing the decision made by the planning commission last month to approve Consumers Energy's special land use application to build a wind farm consisting of 56 476-foot wind turbines in Riverton and Summit townships.

During its Wednesday night hearing on the issue, the ZBA granted cranberry grower Keith Mann's revised request for three turbines instead of four on 331 acres of land off Head of the Bay Road. "It's a step in the right direction," Mann said. "We do intend to re-file for number five (turbine). That's near Route 25 with larger setbacks from homes - 1,800 feet." Mann revised his request when it became clear there was not a majority of ZBA members on board for all four.

At the end of the meeting, the ZBA voted on a package of zoning ordinance adjustments that included lifting restrictions on wind farm growth. The full County Board likely will vote on the changes at its meeting next week. ...the County Board this month signaled it favors no limit on a wind farm's electricity generating capacity limit, a recommendation the ZBA went along with but did not discuss Tuesday. Now the only recommended restriction is each application for a special use concerning wind farm tower installations be limited to 100 turbines.

One Fayette County commissioner said that a recently overturned zoning hearing board ruling is evidence that the board doesn't always rule in line with county's zoning ordinance. ..."The court's ruling solidifies my long-standing concern of factual instances where ZHB decisions deviates from the county's zoning ordinance," Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink said.

Some town residents are questioning whether all the questions in a poll gauging support for wind energy conducted by IBOPE Zogby International, Utica, were even-handed, but a Zogby representative defended his organization's work.

Zoltek Cos. Inc. posted a loss in its fiscal third quarter as wind farm developers delay projects to see how they can cash in on the federal stimulus package. The company lost $1.4 million in the quarter ended June 30, compared with a profit of $2.3 million a year ago.

Businesses ranging from Menter, Rudin & Trivelpiece law firm, Watertown, to Erie Boulevard Hydropower, Potsdam, likely will lose their Empire Zone tax benefits following Empire State Development Corp.'s announcement on the status of the 8,000-plus businesses enrolled in program. In the north country, the biggest losers are Erie Boulevard Hydropower in Potsdam's Empire Development Zone, which filed for about $9,035,000 in benefits. Maple Ridge Wind Farm, in Lewis County's zone, would lose $7,197,197 in tax benefits.

Many of the north country's 165 businesses that receive Empire Zone tax breaks could lose the benefit under the state's new budget agreement. State officials say the Empire Zone program is being abused by companies that are getting tax breaks without generating new jobs. ...In the new regulations, a measure is included to kick out businesses that have not matched dollar-for-dollar wages and capital investments with the tax breaks they received.

Neighborhood opponents of a proposed zone change at the transfer station, which could facilitate a municipally owned wind turbine, came out in force against the proposal Wednesday evening. The emotionally charged meeting ended without a decision, as a shaken and battered Town Council rescheduled the matter for its next meeting on December 7. ...Marguerite Donnelly attempted to mediate during the lengthy hearing. Donnelly said at first she was elated by the idea of a turbine at the transfer station, but the concerns of the neighbors were hard to dismiss because "it's so personal for so many.

Massachusetts and federal officials have designated a 3,000-square-mile swath of ocean south of Cape Cod and the Islands available to lease to developers of commercial-scale offshore wind farms. State officials and the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement announced Tuesday a "request for interest" to find out where in the area developers might want to pursue projects.

The borough is advancing its exploration of energy options. The Pine Grove Township Zoning Hearing Board gave approval Monday night for erection of a 197-foot wind monitoring tower, on 216 acres of Pine Grove borough property, to gather data to determine if the area would be a good location for a wind farm. Gamesa Energy USA, Philadelphia, will construct the tower on a site located above the borough's well field in the Black Creek Valley north of Second Mountain.

Several Fairfield County townships are updating their zoning codes to regulate windmills ...A change in state law last year gave the Ohio Power Siting Board authority to approve large projects generating five megawatts of power or more. It also gave local zoning boards the responsibility to regulate small wind turbines producing fewer than five megawatts.

After another five-hour meeting dedicated to Windhorse Power LLC’s wind-turbine proposal, the Beekmantown Zoning Board of Appeals tabled its decision. Nearly every meeting with the Windhorse proposal on the agenda has turned out substantial response from both the developers and residents of the Rand Hill Road area, which is the main site of the project. The Clinton County Planning Board recently disapproved Windhorse’s project by a 6-1 vote, saying, among other issues, that more information was needed. That sent the issue back to the Beekmantown Zoning Board.

Horizons Regional Council wants city and district councils to set zones for wind farms and other renewable energy sources. This will enable communities and companies to make informed choices about where they live and where they look to develop, chairman Garry Murfitt said.

Some residents looking to embrace alternative energy sources have found that Carroll County's zoning laws are still catching up. But things could be changing. A zoning amendment regulating the installation of small windmills or wind turbines will go to public workshop and public hearing after the Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted to move forward with the process Thursday.

David Yoder's been farming for more than a third of a century. He's at least the fourth generation of his family who have lived and worked on the land on Cowpath Road near the border of Franconia and Salford townships that has been farmed "forever," Yoder said. Adding a 140-foot cellular tower and a power-generating wind turbine with a blade that reaches to a height of 163 feet will give the farm reduced electric bills and rental income from the cell tower and is similar to adding animals, crops or farm buildings, he said.

Looking to take advantage of one of the windiest parts of the state, an energy company has cleared a hurdle in its plans to develop a La Salle County wind farm. The County Zoning Board of Appeals is recommending to the County Board that special-use permits be approved for the construction of two temporary 197-foot wind towers on properties belonging to Grand Rapids landowners William and Norma Dooley and Frank and Carol Corrigan. The project developer is Invenergy Wind North American. The board chose to add a time-frame stipulation of an option to renew the permits after two years, if necessary.