The mayor of Wainfleet said taking on wind energy companies is worth the fight. After passing a bylaw in the spring overruling the province's rule for how close to houses wind turbines can be built, the township was promptly sued by a wind developer.

A lawsuit over a controversial bylaw related to a wind turbine development in Wainfleet is now in the hands of a judge. Wainfleet Mayor April Jeffs said she expects to hear a verdict in the next four to six weeks over whether a two-kilometre setback bylaw enacted by her town council will be allowed to stand.

An Ontario company is planning to invest $200 million in the expansion of two separate wind farm projects in Cumberland County. Springhill Riverhurst Wind Power Ltd., represented by 3G Energy Corp., is holding a pair of public meetings in Rodney and Westchester next week to discuss the addition of 72 turbines between the two locations before 2010. "There are other areas of the province but we like these ones," 3G Energy Corp. vice-president operations Graham Findlay said Thursday. "If you're going to build a large wind farm you have to do it in a place that's not going to react to it and Cumberland County is an area that needs the economic development and is compatible to wind farm development."

An eight-day shutdown of Melancthon 1 wind turbines was undoubtedly costly but is being viewed by industry officials as among statistically and meteorologically predictable occurrences for any wind plant. The turbines were shut down when ice formed on the blades during the ice storm of Friday, Dec. 1, and came back online only after the ice had thawed from the blades at some point late Sunday.

With well over 1,000 people in attendance - and most of them in an unpleasant frame of mind - a public information session about the proposed Belwood Wind Farm project was held at the Lions Hall in Belwood on Tuesday, Mar 9. Invenergy Develop Manager James Murphy attended the meeting to answer questions about the proposed project, but spent most of the evening in damage control mode.

Neighbours spilled out of the packed little red school house here Wednesday evening for a friendly chat and to enjoy the cool brisk wind, which was, in fact, the very thing they were there to discuss. Scores of people turned up at the Upper Vaughan Community Centre for the first open house to obtain information on the largest wind farm proposal for Nova Scotia.

Waterloo city council has approved spending $25,000 on its share of a feasibility study of wind energy. The decision sets the wheels in motion for the city's application for a grant from the federal government.

Canadian Hydro Developers Inc (KHD.TO) said on Friday that harsh winter weather will delay completion of its 197.8-megawatt Wolfe Island wind project in Ontario by three months and increase capital costs by about 6 percent to C$475 million ($383 million).

A decision on a controversial land-use bylaw amending planning requirements for wind turbines in the area has been put on hold by the Municipal District of Pincher Creek.

Parents and community members are speaking out for those who can't, expressing their concern for special needs children living in the shadow of proposed wind turbines.

The amendment stated al­ter­native energy systems and renewable energy systems will be permitted in the urban and rural system in accordance with provincial and federal re­quire­ments. "These systems should be sited, designed, and construct­ed to minimize impacts on agri­cultural operations, enjoy­ment of property, sensitive land uses, and the greenlands system. ...The policies are intended to provide orderly and com­pati­ble development of systems and en­sure a co­ordi­nated, integrat­ed, and com­prehensive ap­proach to wind energy development. The county stated flatly that wind energy systems may not be permitted in the greenlands system.

But world energy resources are adequate to meet this sustained growth trend because global oil reserves today exceed the cumulative projected production to 2030, IEA said. This optimistic outlook, however, is based on a reference scenario that IEA describes as "unsustainable." Under that reference scenario, primary world energy demand increases by an average rate of 1.6%/year, with fossil fuels accounting for 83% of the projected increase. By 2030, the world consumes 16.3 billion tonnes of oil equivalent (toe)/year—5.5 billion toe more than it does today—with more than two thirds of energy use coming from developing countries.

Borough Commission delayed passing two ordinances Feb. 11, one to regulate wind turbines and solar energy panels and another to set fees for applications to install the alternative energy devices. Mayor Pamela Kaithern said there had been discussion of the ordinances at the Planning Board meeting on the previous night. One item discussed was allowing more than one wind turbine on farms. As written, the ordinance would allow only one wind turbine per property.

There are currently 11 wind turbines at West Cape, but another 44 are under construction. The first phase of the wind farm has been in operation nearly a year now, with little complaint, but some local residents are worried about the expansion. "Well, if the noise is bad, I mean we've seen people move out of their houses around other wind parks ... I think in Pubnico, Nova Scotia. It could be a problem," Roy Barlow told CBC News this week. Some residents say they don't mind the sound of the turbines.

Before members of council at Monday morning's council meeting in West Grey, Mike McMurray, along with a large group of residents from West Grey, filed into the council chambers to protest the proposed wind turbines. McMurray spoke on behalf of the group about the concerns about wind turbines, with a powerful message of not in my backyard. He said that, in this case, the not-in-my-backyard sentiment is appropriate when it comes to health and side effects of building them.

The route for Maritime Electric's high-voltage transmission line through West Prince is not a done deal, says Energy Minister George Webster. The utility has applied to the province to build a 138,000-volt transmission line to carry wind power generated at the West Cape wind farm. A group has formed to oppose the route for the line, which would connect the O'Leary substation to the Sherbrooke station outside of Summerside. In addition, voltage on a new line from the wind farm to O'Leary is due to be increased from 69,000 to 138,000 volts. Islanders for the Safe Transmission of Power says the line poses a health risk by passing too closely to homes.

Dufferin County’s western townships are likely to be discussing the same issues throughout 2007, but it’s not certain whether or not they’ll be taking the same tack, especially on wind farms and garbage disposal. In Melancthon, Mayor Ron Dillman wants to resolve issues delaying the Melancthon II wind project as quickly as possible. He says he’s concerned about revenues lost through delays, and about the possibility of an Ontario Municipal Board hearing.

Governors from several western U.S. states and Canadian provinces met Sunday to discuss strategies for protecting wildlife that roams their region while also capitalizing on immense energy resources. ...The council´s task will be to identify key wildlife corridors and habitats for wildlife, such as pronghorn antelope, sage grouse and bear. The council will also study ways to protect animal habitat in the face of ever-increasing demand for domestic energy development _ both in the form of oil and gas drilling and new construction of solar and wind generation plants _ the building of new infrastructure for the region´s growing population and the effects of climate change.

Western Wind was awarded a $78.3 million U.S. grant ...The Vancouver-based company had applied for $90.5 million under the Treasury Department's 1603 cash grant program and plans to appeal to receive the full amount. The $12.2 million shortfall may make it harder for Western Wind to repay short-term loans that are due soon for its 120- megawatt Windstar project in Tehachapi, California

A $230-million wind farm near O'Leary could be in jeopardy. The P.E.I. government says Ventus Energy, which is developing the 55 wind turbines, is seeking concessions to a four-year deal it signed last year - concessions the province says are unacceptable. The two sides are still talking, but Environment Minister George Webster said he has no intention of agreeing to a deal which he says gives the Island's resources away. He described those resources as P.E.I.'s "oil and gas'' and added the concessions being asked for by Ventus would cost the Island "significantly.'' He would not disclose exact figures.