There's more to determining the value of wind power than knowing which way the wind blows -- or even how hard. MIT researchers studying winds off the Northeast coast have found that estimating the potential environmental benefits from wind and other renewables requires a detailed understanding of the dynamics of both renewable resources and conventional power generation. Data show that wind-energy facilities would generate far more electricity in winter, because that's when winds are strongest. But the need for electricity is greatest in summer, when air conditioners are going full blast.

A new wind energy project was introduced to officials and Mower County residents Tuesday night at the Mower County Planning Commission meeting

Other environmentalists are opposed to the wind farm because they feel 400-foot turbines along the ridge line between Gore and Pete Gay mountains will shatter the view. Both the Adirondack Council and the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks are against the project. "It wouldn't be a big producer of electricity, but would have an enormous impact on the environment and scenic beauty of the park," Adirondack Council's John Sheehan said.

Residents Christ Fillip Jr., Mary Rose Krupa and Kenneth Drake attended many of the wind-farm meetings and were disappointed with the outcome. “This County Board is concerned with only one thing — dollars,” said Fillip, who lives in Leaf River.

Porto Alegre - One of the world's largest windpower parks is under construction in Osório, state of Rio Grande do Sul.

A NEW multi-million pound wind farm will eventually power more than 12,000 homes.

"Most people have made up their minds and I don't think people are that easily bribed. It's not an awful lot of money."

A group called Friends of the Western Mountains has collected thousands of signatures from citizens concerned about the project.

The lack of a protection plan was a concern expressed by the members of the zoning board of appeals before they voted to approve the wind-farm on Tuesday night, 4-1.

Group organizer Dain Trafton of Phillips said he believes the wind farm's output is not large enough to justify marring one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Northeast. "It would constitute, if it were built, an industrial intrusion into a mountain area," he said.

“They (BRE) make it sound like they are doing this out of the bigness of their heart,” he said. “My feeling is that we have just dug out the rest of the story. They are presenting this as a clean and green project but there is plenty of evidence to show otherwise.”

Gil Randell, retired director of planning for Chautauqua County and a member of the group's steering committee, said the location "flies in the face of guidelines established not only by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but also standards established by the wind power industry itself."

SPEARVILLE Ñ Kansas State Representative Pat George said Saturday he has "heard talk" that the proposed new wind farm to be constructed near Spearville Ð "the City of Windmills" Ñ eventually will double in size.

MANCHESTER — Three separate articles asking for voter input on wind power may appear on Manchester's warning for the March town meeting.

"We would rather the market prevail," said Dave Holthaus, lobbyist for Kansas Electric Cooperatives. "If indeed wind energy is cost effective, we'll be buying it like any other utility."

Kennedy, an outspoken environmentalist on most earthy issues, wrote in an op-ed piece in the New York Times that the proposal by Cape Wind Associates to build 130 offshore wind turbines was nothing more than a government-subsidized industrial boondoggle.

ST. JOHNSBURY -- Gov. James Douglas declared Thursday he opposes the construction of industrial wind farms in Vermont.

But partly because hydroelectric power is not included as a renewable resource in the proposed initiative's current form, several of the state's public utilities worry that the initiative could drive up costs and hurt rural economies.

The New York Power Authority announced almost 21/2 years ago that it had received the OK to proceed with "final negotiations" and execute an agreement with Chautauqua Windpower to buy electricity.

MONTEREY — Highland New Wind Development and the county took a double hit Monday, and for the first time, opponents of industrial wind energy felt they were given credibility by the system.