www.windaction.org

Benington wind turbine farmer looks to the sun for energy
April 30, 2013 in Hertfordshire Mercury

The application comes after Mr Bott's six-year battle to bring wind power to Hertfordshire were effectively curtailed in November after a public enquiry dismissed the appeal against East Herts Council's decision.

Also filed under [ UK]

Maine DEP holds first public hearing for Bowers Mountain wind project
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.

Also filed under [ Maine]

Earth Day postmark stirs up wind opponents
April 30, 2013 by Tom Steward in Watchdog Minnesota

"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."

Also filed under [ USA| Minnesota]

Hearing set on changes in wind development process
April 29, 2013 by Gale Rose in Pratt Tribune

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.

Also filed under [ Kansas]

Pros and cons (mostly con) aired during Deepwater hearing
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 [ Rhode Island]

Request for wind turbine grounded in Lampasas
April 29, 2013 by Brenda Young in Killeen Daily Herald

Robert Guptill had the wind blown out of his sails earlier this month when the City Council turned down his request for a specific use permit to allow a wind turbine on his property. Guptill has tried for four years to get the council's approval for the project, which was rejected because of its height. At 43 feet, it's eight feet higher than the city ordinance allows.

Also filed under [ Texas]

Sierra Club, utilities spar over Nebraska wind power
April 29, 2013 by Richard Piersol in Lincoln Journal Star

But John Boyd Jr., a New Jersey consultant who helps companies site data centers, told Midwest Energy News the demand for wind power was driven by marketing. He acknowledged he doesn't think wind power is the leading criteria for siting decisions. More important factors, he said, are tax incentives, real estate costs and the price of the electricity.

Also filed under [ Nebraska]

Eastern Shore wind project confronts eagles, Navy; Proposed turbines face concerns over bird deaths, radar interference
April 29, 2013 by Timothy B. Wheeler in The Baltimore Sun

The agency estimated that the original plan to put up 60 turbines east of Princess Anne could kill up to 43 eagles a year. The developer's experts disputed that, projecting deaths of 15 to 18 birds annually, but the agency said even that lower rate would result in more eagle deaths than any other wind project proposed nationwide. ...Biologists don't know how big a buffer is needed for bald eagles, which can roam over thousands of acres to find food.

Also filed under [ Maryland]

Sinovel reports 197% earnings fall
April 28, 2013 by Wu Qi in Windpower Monthly

Sinovel has reported a loss of CNY 582 million ($92 million) in 2012, representing a 197% year on year fall in earnings from its CNY 598 million net profits in 2011. ...Sinovel said it attributed the poor performance to the slow growth in the Chinese wind power market and low turbine prices.

Battle lines drawn over proposed Maine wind farm
April 28, 2013 by Clarke Canfield in The Associated Press

The sides will square off when the Department of Environmental Protection holds two days of hearings this week on First Wind's application to build a 16-turbine, 48-megawatt wind farm, known as the Bowers Wind project, in a backcountry area straddling Washington and Penobscot counties. A year ago, regulators rejected First Wind's application.

Also filed under [ Maine]

Town Hall wind turbine meeting attendees encouraged
April 28, 2013 in County Live

Gillespie updated last week's events and noted nine experts have testified for the PECFN. Gillespie said the ERT panel has accepted their presentations on the serious and irreversible harm of turbines to bats, birds, butterflies, turtles and the environment as "expert testimony" while noting a few of Gilead Power's witnesses have "limited expertise" and the Ministry of Environment's presentation "experienced" in reviewing reports.

Also filed under [ Canada]

Deflated wind power bill backed by House; Senate future remains up in the air
April 28, 2013 by Andrew Stein in VT Digger

Senate Bill 30 might have gotten the wind knocked out of it this session, but a revised bill - far from its original call for a moratorium on big wind projects - sailed through a second reading on the House floor Friday by a vote of 140-3. That does not mean, however, that some senators have ceased trying to pump the legislation back up.

Also filed under [ Vermont]

Howard County group to fight wind farm; E.ON plans project in the county
April 27, 2013 by Ken de la Bastide in Kokomo Tribune

Susie Cox said although E.ON indicated it doesn't plan to start the project until late 2013 or 2014, the company is speeding up the process and could file for improvement location permits in May.

Also filed under [ Indiana]

A glimmer of hope for wind farm; Chairman says he'll vote against panel's decision
April 27, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley News

Gusse, however, said it would be "damn foolishness on our part" to approve the wind farm after the zoning board held 80 hours of meetings to review the project. He said he didn't like the idea of putting a wind farm in a flood plain.

Also filed under [ Illinois]

NSP gets OK for $93m share of windfarm
April 27, 2013 by Joann Alberstat in The Chronicle Herald

A residents group has appealed last month's decision by the Municipality of the District of Chester to grant the wind farm a development agreement. Members of the Friends of South Canoe Lake are concerned about the setback distances of turbines and their potential effects on residents' health and property values.

Also filed under [ Canada]

After glitch, Georgia Mountain turbines to spin again
April 26, 2013 by Terri Hallenbeck in Burlington Free Press

The four wind turbines on Georgia Mountain, stationary for a week, are expected to spin back into action in the near future while technicians run safety checks, a company official said Thursday. A faulty electrical component at the site’s tie-in with power lines caused the turbines to shut down automatically, project manager Martha Staskus told the Burlington Free Press.

Also filed under [ Vermont]

Fourmile Ridge wind farm gets PSC approval; Building begins after Garrett issues permits
April 26, 2013 by Elaine Blaisdell in Cumberland Times-News

The project is also awaiting Federal Aviation Administration approval because there was an issue with the Grantsville VOR/DME system. ...With Garrett County as an ideal spot for wind turbines, all of the projects will and do affect the safety and economic outlook of the Garrett County Airport, said Kelley in a letter to Melinda George of the FAA.

Also filed under [ Maryland]

Large turnout for public meeting against wind turbines
April 26, 2013 by David Seymour in Peterborough Telegraph

Scores of concerned residents attended a public meeting in Thorney this evening (April 25) over controversial proposals for a wind farm near the village. The Thorney Landscape Protection Group had called the meeting in opposition to plans for eight wing turbines, 126.5m high, at Gores Farm, in Whittlesey Road, Thorney.

Also filed under [ UK]

Council leader tells inquiry that local people should decide and they do not want six more wind turbines
April 26, 2013 by John Elworthy in Cambs Times

"In this case, local people, the parish council, the district council, the local county councillor and local MP don't want the wind farm. Local opinion should carry significant weight or we create a democratic deficit."

Also filed under [ UK]

Newark: Mixed reaction to wind decision
April 26, 2013 by Amy Ash Nizon in Caledonian Record

Kim Fried, chairman of the Town of Newark's Planning Commission, which amended the Town Plan last year to ban industrial wind projects, a change overwhelmingly supported by residents, said "We are very disappointed and saddened. Neither SMW, the PSB or the state of Vermont appear to care about the concerns of Newark's citizens and I think this attitude towards small towns is beginning to bother many other citizens across the state, as it should.

Also filed under [ Vermont]

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