About 20 of them turned out Monday at the selectmen's meeting to protest the proposed municipal wind turbine article that will be on the town meeting warrant in May. ...Gail Hoffman of Dyer Prence Road presented the selectmen a poster board filled with photos of Rock Harbor. "I am not opposed to green energy," but she wants Rock Harbor designated as a "very special place," she said. "This area is a treasure for the town. This is the last remaining piece of old Cape Cod," said Hoffman, and urged them to "proceed with caution" with any proposed changes.

While Michigan Wind 1 went into commercial operation about three months ago, the park's development, which was headed by Noble Environmental Power, LLC, took about five years. During that time, there were a large number of vocal opponents against the project. Much of the controversy circled around Huron County's wind overlay zoning provision in the county's zoning ordinance that governs wind parks.

Hearing of the map from her neighbor, Nan Cook couldn't believe it. Drafted by the city's former planning director, Nancy Colbert, last March, the map shows possible locations where wind turbines could be placed in the industrial park. There are about 22. ...Cook, who lives on Hill Street, called the possibility of adding 22 more turbines to the industrial park "insane."

The wind farm issue was front and centre at last week's Township of Madawaska Valley council and tempers flared over claims that the township had prevented a woman from giving a presentation on the effects that wind turbines have on human health. Carmen Krogh, who in past weeks has spoken at several venues, is a pharmacist who says she has experienced the detrimental impact on her health that being close to wind turbines has had.

Ontario's noise regulations for wind turbines are among the weakest in the world and current distance setbacks from homes should be tripled or more, a public meeting was told Monday. About 200 people crowded the Essex Civic Centre to hear experts from across the province debate the health effects of wind turbines. Using teleconferencing, some spoke from as far away as the United Kingdom. The meeting got a little rowdy at times with some Town of Essex councillors trading barbs with taunting spectators.

The 10-member committee discussed material presented at the Feb. 12 meeting by Gregory C. Tocci, principal at Cavanaugh Tocci Associates ...Among his recommendations were that the town adopt a law that uses a certain number of decibels above ambient noise as opposed to the current flat allowed rate of 50 decibels. The state Department of Environmental Conservation recommends no more than six decibels.

Storey County residents told the Bureau of Land Management on Thursday that a proposed windmill project would ruin the tourist-based economy in Virginia City and surrounding areas. Jane Peterson, bureau energy project manager, said in a presentation to the Storey County Planning Commission that public comments collected since November have been split on whether to allow Reno-based Great Basin Wind to build about 70 windmills on BLM land in Storey and Washoe counties.

People will have a chance to ask questions and comment on a proposal to build a 22-turbine wind farm on several ridges in Roxbury at a hearing Wednesday night. The hearing, required by the state Department of Environmental Protection as part of the approval process, begins at 6 p.m. at Mountain Valley High School. ...Another wind project in the early planning stages is in the works for nearby Black Mountain in Rumford.

Local property owners and residents addressed Jack County commissioners during the public forum portion of Commissioners Court Feb. 9 to petition them for assistance with noise abatement for the 60-turbine Barton Chapel Wind Farm. Tom Fillene pleaded with commissioners to take a trip down to the area and listen for themselves to the "obnoxious noise" coming from the 400-plus foot "monsters." Fillene stated he was speaking on behalf of other family members who lived under the wind turbines and were experiencing health issues due to the noise coming from the giant towers.

Oxford intends to put a freeze on all wind farm developments until the province provides more information on the health impacts of the developments on neighbouring residents and livestock. In a unanimous vote Wednesday, council directed community and strategic planning staff to bring an interim control bylaw before council on Feb. 25 that would place a freeze on any applications for wind energy developments within the county until it passes the related official plan amendments.

The Lompoc Wind Farm was on the supervisors' plate this Tuesday after neighbors of the project site, George and Cheryl Bedford, and the California Department of Fish and Game filed appeals of its unanimous approval at the County Planning Commission last fall. The latter objected to the undeniable impact that the wind turbines, with their 135-foot blades approaching 200 miles per hour at the tip, would have on bird and bat populations. The former was more concerned about the desecration of viewsheds and noise pollution.

The likelihood of Ontario agreeing to a moratorium on new wind generation projects until the potential health impacts are studied appeared to dim this week. Bill Bilton, the mayor of Dawn-Euphemia, said council members still hope to meet with Energy Minister George Smitherman to talk about the township’s call for the moratorium and study, even after hearing the strong comments Premier Dalton McGuinty made this week in favour of green energy projects.

The Ontario Municipal Board has ruled that proposals for 15 wind turbines in East Luther Grand Valley conform to all applicable legislation and the township's Official Plan. But while OMB member J. R. Aker released his decision last week, he withheld his order for up to 180 days pending the resolution of all outstanding issues. "In order to address public health and safety issues the following protocols and operating procedures are to be prepared to the satisfaction of the Township and will be implemented for the project ..."

After two failed motions, Bluewater council passed their bylaw outlining setbacks for the construction of wind turbines from urban settlements, dwellings and roads. ...councillors didn't think changes should be made because they heard such positive feedback from constituents regarding the 1,000 metre setback. Coun. Tyler Hessel says he received phone calls from farmers telling him "good job" on confirming the 1,000 metre setback.

Campaigners have called for the Government to safeguard North East beauty spots as The Journal reveals hundreds of wind turbines could blight the region. Our wind map reveals nearly 250 turbines could pepper the North East landscape in the next year if planning chiefs give them the go-ahead. Information provided by the region's councils indicates an influx of turbines could begin to dominate the landscape within a few years.

They may not be erected yet but the energy produced by windmills planned for Prince Edward County already has a buyer. The Ontario Power Authority has awarded long-term contracts for six green energy projects in the province ...Prince Edward County council passed a motion asking senior governments to study the health effects of wind turbines to assist them in the ongoing debate.

By margins of less than 10 votes, residents at Thursday night's special town meeting OK'd two amendments to town law, allowing wind power facilities to be built on town ridges. The tally was 89-81 to amend the comprehensive plan to allow wind generation facilities in Roxbury, and 87-80 to create a mountain district zone to designate areas suitable for erecting wind energy facilities.

A Lycoming Court judge has rejected three court appeals filed in an attempt to stop a proposed wind farm in northern Lycoming County.

With few exceptions, the speakers at the public hearing were largely opposed to the project. The proposed two 1.65-megawatt wind turbines will have noise, shadow flicker and visual impacts, particularly in the area immediately surrounding the development, including residences. The to-be-built Avalon apartments, the Sunrise Assisted Living facility, the Rose Hill Development are in the area that will feel the most effect.

Mighty River Power has moved to appease opponents of the Turitea Wind Farm by slashing nine turbine sites from its plans, including those closest to houses. But Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor has labelled it a "token gesture". The original wind-farm proposal was for sites for 136 turbines, of which 131 would be built.