The visual effect of more wind turbines on an already crowded landscape could cost the proposed Motorimu wind farm 45 turbines. Motorimu Wind Farm Ltd (formerly Energreen Wind) has applied for resource consent to build a wind farm with 129 turbines. In a report to the consent hearing, due to begin next Thursday, Palmerston North City Council planner Jeff Baker recommends consent be granted for only 84 of the turbines. In a visual assessment report, landscape and resource planning consultant Clive Anstey said the wind farm as proposed would have very adverse cumulative effects.

A U.N. conference working to fix long-term rules to fight global warming beyond 2012 "as soon as possible" was split on Tuesday over whether that meant an accord should be struck in 2008, 2009 or even 2010. Industrial investors, weighing options ranging from coal-fired power plants to wind energy, are frustrated at the possibility of years of uncertainty about rules for fossil fuel emissions upon which carbon markets depend.

Christchurch turbine manufacturer Windflow Technology has posted a $1.23 million loss and said there is uncertainty over whether it can continue as a going concern. The statement to the NZX by chairman Barrie Leay and chief executive Geoff Henderson said the going concern issues related to its only customer NZ Windfarms which had been withholding payments for turbines since August 17 and needed to raise capital for its business.

The $230 million project received environmental approval from the Federal Government last October. But since then the Government has decided against lifting its renewable energy targets and that has taken away the incentive for energy retailers to buy wind power.

"In reality we've been astonished in looking ... at how little research has been conducted," he said. "This has polarised communities and people are debating over a research question that really we should be able to set up a study and get an answer."

Mr Mackie says the negative effect of its competitor's wind turbines being positioned too close to Unison's would impact of the viability of the 15-turbine farm.

Powerlines company Unison Network said today it would appeal an Environment Court decision to decline its 37-turbine windfarm application for Te Waka Range, near Te Pohue west of Napier. Unison's customer relations spokesman, Danny Gough, said the company was disappointed with the court's decision butwould appeal to the High Court.

The committee asked Mrs Lucas to identify other areas in Hawke's Bay that might be suitable for a wind farm. She suggested the ranges west of the Te Waka Range, close to the proposed site.

Hastings District Council has unanimously approved an application for a 37 turbine wind farm on Te Waka range between Napier and Taupo.

Melbourne University research described Victoria's new planning laws as too local-centric and restrictive for wind farm development ...It criticised the two-kilometre set-back for turbines from houses and the power of local councils to make planning approval decisions on wind projects, rather than having them referred to the planning minister.

Ewan Carr Another round of court action is being considered by one of the groups fighting to prevent wind turbines from sprouting on Otago and Southland hills. The Upland Landscape Protection Society learned this week that the High Court had struck out its bid for a judicial review of resource management processes used for Meridian Energy's Project Hayes and TrustPower's Mahinerangi Wind Farm. Society spokesman Ewan Carr told the Otago Daily Times yesterday the society's executive would meet sometime in the next week to decide if an appeal would be lodged. The society had sought the judicial review claiming errors by the three local authorities that approved the wind farms - the Central Otago and Clutha District Councils and the Otago Regional Council.

Ewan Carr Upland Landscape Protection Society trustee Ewan Carr hopes the organisation can "rise from the ashes" despite it being placed into liquidation. Mr Carr told the Otago Daily Times he hoped the incorporated society could be taken out of liquidation, depending on the generosity of members. ...Mr Carr said the society had about 250 members.

Opponents of Labor leader Kim Beazley's U-turn on uranium mining are planning to make it a central issue in the coming campaign for party presidency.

Truescape makes three-dimensional (3D) video simulations to show people what proposed projects like wind farms would look like on the landscape before they were built. It has already worked on a number of New Zealand's wind energy projects, including Meridian Energy's White Hill in Southland and Te Apiti near Palmerston North. The US contract will see it working on wind projects being built by Bluewater Wind off the coasts of New Jersey and Maryland.