www.windaction.org

House panel scales back large-scale wind study
April 19, 2013 by Andrew Stein in VT Digger

Senators took a bill that called for a three-year moratorium on large-scale wind developments, pared it down to legislation that would have required large energy generation projects to conform to Act 250 land-use criteria, and then stripped it to $75,000 worth of studies for the House to consider.

Also filed under [ General| Noise| Vermont]

High court rules against 'buffer zones' for windfarms
April 16, 2013 by James Murray in The Guardian

The high court case followed accusations by wind farm developer RWE Npower Renewables that two proposed wind farms had been rejected by the council as a result of the "emerging policy" of new "buffer zones", despite the proposals being in line with the established local policy that was "permissive" of wind farms.

Also filed under [ UK]

Wainfleet loses wind turbine setback lawsuit
April 12, 2013 by Dave Johnson in The Tribune

The decision came down Friday in the lawsuit brought about by Wainfleet Wind Energy Inc. and its owners the Loeffen family and Tom Rankin, head of Rankin Construction, after the township passed its setback bylaw last year. The bylaw was an attempt by to supersede the Green Energy Act, which prescribes a 550-metre setback — the distance between a residential property and a turbine.

Also filed under [ Canada]

Doreen Reilly files zoning-violation complaint against Kingston Wind Independence
February 22, 2013 by Bradford Randall in Kingston Journal

Reilly, who lives less than a quarter mile from the KWI Turbine on Leland Road, has been one of a plethora of residents claiming ill-health effects stemming from shadow flicker and infrasound generated by the KWI Turbine. Yesterday, Reilly filed a zoning complaint against the KWI Turbine with Kingston Zoning Enforcement Officer Paul Armstrong.

Also filed under [ Massachusetts]

Town of Industry might require a buffer zone for wind power projects
February 20, 2013 by Kaitlin Schroeder in Kennebec Journal

Citing possible noise or falling debris, town officials are proposing an ordinance that would mandate a buffer zone around any future wind power projects. ...Wind turbines 200 to 300 feet tall would need a 5,000-foot buffer; turbines 100 to 199 feet tall, a 2,000-foot buffer; and turbines less than 100 feet tall, a 1,000-foot buffer.

Also filed under [ Maine]

Can wind farm developers halt the 'march of the buffer zones'?
January 30, 2013 by Jessica Shankleman in BusinessGreen

Renewable energy developers are hoping the government will prevent a growing number of county councils from imposing wind farm buffer zones, which could severely restrict developments across the country. Buffer zones are designed to prevent turbines from being installed too close to people's homes.

Also filed under [ UK]

Flyers not ours: WLWAG
January 29, 2013 by Amanda Moore in Niagara this Week

The flyer asks West Lincoln residents to pick a side of the wind turbine debate. It asks that residents vote for or against the municipality passing a minimum setback distance of two-kilometres between industrial wind turbines and dwellings. "I think people are in panic mode now as they see what's happening," said Pritchard, who invites the residents responsible for the campaign to contact WLWAG.

Also filed under [ Canada]

Fairhaven selectmen clash over turbine bylaw, complaints
January 6, 2013 by Ariel Wittenberg in South Coast Today

After reviewing the Planning Board's latest draft of a bylaw that would halve the size and quadruple the setbacks for future turbine projects, Espindola is advocating that the town first deal with complaints it has received regarding the existing turbines.

Also filed under [ Massachusetts]

Supervisors to recommend public hearing concerning proposed windmills in Carroll County
June 5, 2012 by Michael Howlett in Carroll News

Bob Martin and Josh Hendrick, the only supervisors attending the meeting, agreed to recommend the public hearing during the board of supervisors' next scheduled meeting on June 11. The hearing should be advertised "at least 30 days," said Martin, and Hendrick concurred.

Also filed under [ North Carolina]

Duxbury Selectmen don’t recommend changes to wind facilities bylaw proposed by citizen
February 16, 2012 by Kathryn Gallerani in Wicked Local Duxbury

Hounds Ditch Lane resident Joanne Levesque took issue with Goldenberg's summary of the state study ...She said the panel that conducted the study indicated that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that wind turbines do or do not have an effect on health. "My fear is you're relying on a committee that wants to deny there is a problem with wind turbines and health impacts."

Also filed under [ Massachusetts]

Proposed wind farm guidelines for NSW
January 19, 2012 by Nick Thomas in Association of Corporate Counsel

Draft planning guidelines for wind farms in NSW could make approval processes more complex and time-consuming, set possibly the world's strictest noise standards, and limit opportunities for placing wind turbines within 2km of a residence.

Also filed under [ Australia / New Zealand]

Turbine Bylaw will be Group Effort
August 22, 2011 by Conor Powers-Smith in Falmouth Patch

When a new bylaw spelling out regulations on future wind turbine construction in Falmouth is written, it will likely be the result of a consensus-building process among town officials, developers, and abutters of the controversial Wind 1 turbine.

Also filed under [ Massachusetts]

Whitley Co. wind turbine controversy; Family says turbines diminish quality of life
June 22, 2011 in WANE-TV

Whitley County Commissioners are still working on drafting an ordinance for wind turbines. Wind Capital Group hopes the county will house the turbines, but not everyone's convinced it's a good idea.

Also filed under [ Indiana]

Commission might change wind zoning guidelines
March 6, 2011 by Kaley Conner in Hays Daily News

The agenda for Monday's 6:45 p.m. meeting includes a recommendation from the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission that would change the required setback distance from 10-times-the-tip-height to 1,000 feet and eliminate regulations for noise levels.

Also filed under [ Kansas]

Zoning Board lacks votes to override Falmouth building commissioner
February 11, 2011 by Christopher Kazarian in The Enterprise

On Tuesday the board was divided, with Mr. Murphy and Mr. Foreman arguing that Mr. Gore had erred in not requiring the town to apply for a special permit to erect the wind turbine. On the other side were Mr. Erickson and Ms. Johnson who defended Mr. Gore's ruling. Who is right? Based on what the board's attorney, Mark Bobrowski of Concord, said, it is a gray area based upon inconsistencies in the town's zoning bylaws.

Also filed under [ Massachusetts]

Can uniform setbacks prevent local wind farm fights?
January 6, 2011 by Kari Lydersen in Midwest Energy News

Also filed under [ Iowa| Illinois| Michigan| Minnesota| Wisconsin]

Neighbors come to near blows over wind turbines near Las Vegas
December 15, 2010 by Tim Paynter in Technorati

At issue is whether land owners may place windmills in San Miguel County, New Mexico including near the town of Cerritos, New Mexico. The Board of County Commissioners heard final testimony December 14th, 2010, about where in the county, if anywhere, windmills may be placed. Angry neighbors and even students showed up to protest the windmill project.

Also filed under [ New Mexico]

Wind turbine project debated
December 7, 2010 by Taylor Goldenstein in Daily Illini

"(Turbine project coordinators) haven't talked to the residents and they are the number one concern when it comes to a project like this," Stevenson said. "To construct a plan without consulting the residents is absolutely the wrong way to go about this." Along with that involvement is a call for further studies to be done, and the assurance that the project is in compliance with the Wind Energy Systems regulations.

Also filed under [ Illinois]

One Clayton resident gathers 196 signatures opposing wind turbine development
September 9, 2010 by Jarod Wells in Connect Tristates

The petition reads, "In order to protect health and welfare, quality of life, property values, and future economic expansion of the Village of Clayton, I am signing the petition to express my view that wind turbines should not be permitted within the 1.5 mile jurisdictional limit of the Village of Clayton."

Also filed under [ Illinois]

Bylaw to control turbines in effect
May 11, 2010 by Mary Gowan in Owen Sun Times

Arran-Elderslie has passed a bylaw to control wind turbine development based on health concerns and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Council unanimously approved final reading to the bylaw Monday, although there was disagreement about using taxpayers' money to defend it if it should be challenged. ...The bylaw calls for "the protection of life, liberty and security of person" under Section 7 of the Charter, claiming wind turbines cause serious health effects.

Also filed under [ Canada]

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Impact on People and Zoning/Planning