News
A proposed western Wisconsin wind farm, rejected in February, gets another try
May 2, 2013 by Judy Newman in Wisconsin State Journal
May 2, 2013 by Judy Newman in Wisconsin State Journal
The state Public Service Commission voted 2 to 1 to give developer Emerging Energies, of Hubertus, a chance to offer new information showing that the proposed Highland wind farm would meet state noise standards.
Lightning damages wind turbine; Another storm has caused problems for the wind turbine
May 2, 2013 in El Dorado Times
May 2, 2013 in El Dorado Times
An inspection of the damage was performed on Wednesday confirming a lightning strike. Results of the inspection show the damage does not appear to be extensive.
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.
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]
Opponents of Bowers Mountain wind site complain about effect on views
May 1, 2013 by Nick Sambides Jr. in Bangor Daily News
May 1, 2013 by Nick Sambides Jr. in Bangor Daily News
A scenic impact expert testifying before the state's top environmental agency on Tuesday said First Wind's proposed wind project "comes as close as being unreasonably adverse" in its potential impact on Bowers Mountain as any he has seen.
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]
Origin CEO Grant King says carbon tax, renewables targets hurt industry
May 1, 2013 by Michael Bennet in The Australian
May 1, 2013 by Michael Bennet in The Australian
The boss of Origin Energy, one of the nation's largest energy providers, has called for a review of Australias renewables targets along with the carbon tax, which he said put the nation at an increasing competitive disadvantage .
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]
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]
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]
Lawsuit alleges wind turbines have caused harm
April 30, 2013 by Brian Mulherin in Ludington Daily News
April 30, 2013 by Brian Mulherin in Ludington Daily News
Residents living near wind turbines in Lake Winds Energy Park filed suit earlier this month in 51st Circuit Court and are seeking a jury trial for their case. ...The plaintiffs in the suit allege the wind farm has caused them physiological and monetary harm and will continue to do so if allowed to continue operations.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Michigan]
PTC clarity to ease renewable energy additions, questions remain
April 30, 2013 by Conway Irwin in AOL News
April 30, 2013 by Conway Irwin in AOL News
PTC eligibility for 2013 also requires that project developers demonstrate that projects be under "continuous construction" from 1 January 2014 until completion. This marks a change from the cash grant system - which gave renewable energy project developers the option to receive 30% of project costs up front in lieu of a tax credit - for which projects were eligible using the Safe Harbor Rule or by being under continuous construction.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Gail Kenney welcomed a court ruling last week that supports landowners' right to seek compensation if their property values are lowered by wind turbines. ...Last Tuesday, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a lawsuit by landowners seeking compensation for lowered property values caused by a proposed wind energy development.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Canada]
Sen. Lasee is now pushing for more regulations on wind energy that could limit its future growth even more.
"What I'd like to do is at the very least, follow the lead of Australia and have a mile and a quarter setback from anybody's property line," said Sen. Lasee.