The proposed Gathercauld windfarm has been reduced in size from 13 turbines to five. Developer EnergieKontor made the announcement at its exhibition about the project at Craigrothie Hall last Thursday. Project manager Mick McLoughlin said the change came after consultation about the impact on the area's landscape, heritage and possible effects on radar at R.A.F. Leuchars.

"The spots in Minnesota where you can put big wind (projects) are gone," Juhl told the national publication. "When a developer tries to force a project into a more populated area, that's when you get a project like (AWA) Goodhue. But we're also seeing that in a lot of other states.

Next month, an Arizona developer will start selling a residential-scale turbine that is expected to cost $10,000 or less, installed — a price significantly lower than turbines on the market now, which range as high as $22,000.

"We sincerely appreciate the removal," said attorney Christopher Senie, who represents 29 residents whose homes are near the proposed turbines. "But the others are still very, very close to people who are sleeping at night."

A scaled-back version of a large wind farm planned in Valley County northwest of Glasgow was released Monday for public comment. The developer wanted a 500-megawatt facility, but the new plan calls for 170 at the Valley County Wind Energy Project project. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management asked for a revision after environmentalists complained about the wind turbines being too close to the Bitter Creek Wilderness Study Area, said Gary Evans, the CEO of GreenHunter Energy Inc.

The state Public Service Commission accepted a scaled-down version of the proposed Jordanville wind project. The commission reduced the plans from a 68-turbine, 136-megawatt project to a 49-turbine, 98-megawatt project last week to avoid adverse environmental impacts on the Glimmerglass Historic District.

The document outlines changes to the project representing a scaled-down version of what was originally proposed four years ago by Horizon Wind Energy. The new project would include 38 turbines in Perry and Covington, instead of the 60 turbines originally proposed. It would be rated to generate up to 79.8 megawatts instead of the original 120 megawatts.

PORTLAND, Maine -- A scaled-down proposal for a wind farm in Maine's western mountains is being filed Tuesday with the Land Use Regulation Commission. The latest plan by Maine Mountain Power follows LURC's rejection of its broader plan that included wind turbines along the Redington Pond Range. Some environmental groups had opposed that aspect of the plan, saying it threatened to ruin scenic vistas enjoyed by hikers. The latest project on Black Nubble Mountain calls for 18 wind turbines that would generate 54 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power 20,000 homes a year. That's more than any other wind power installation now operating in New England. Twenty environmental, economic, health and faith-based organizations plan to announce their support for the project at a news conference on Tuesday in Portland.

Scandia Wind Offshore has pulled back from asking for county board votes on its plans to build wind farms off the West Michigan coast of Lake Michigan.

Muskegon County commissioners took no action Wednesday, but asked questions after Scandia's Harald Dirdal gave a presentation on the proposed development. Board Chairman Ken Mahoney said public hearings likely will be held on the issue. ...Commissioner Jim Derezinski, referencing the Ludington Pumped Storage Facility's importance as a "battery" for the wind farm, asked if Mason and Oceana counties told the developers not to proceed in their area, would it kill the project?

Before the winds of change blow and wind turbines are constructed on the Lake Michigan horizon, Scandia Wind Offshore LLC officials promise Lakeshore residents they will do their homework first. ...While Scandia representatives say they tried to present an honest view of the project, the reaction from the audience was mixed.

Members of the audience raised concerns about bird kill and noise. Dirdal said both issues would be studied and could change the early, tentative layout of the turbines on the site. Members of the Muskegon County Nature Club made it clear the wastewater site attracts many birds each year and they want the developers to consider the potential impact based on the studies' findings. Ric Peddler, a club member, said the area is a "natural bird magnet."

The proposed turbine project, which would set up windmills in Lake Ontario off the Scarborough Bluffs, would be one of the province's first forays into offshore wind power. Studies into whether such a project is even feasible are still in the nascent stage. It will take at least two years before Toronto Hydro knows whether there's enough wind to make it work, and provincial regulations governing such a proposition are a ways off.

RICHMOND — The State Corporation Commission dismissed Highland citizens’ motion to dismiss Highland New Wind Development’s application for a utility last week.

Highland New Wind Development has said for months it does not have to do anything about its proposed 400-foot towers' visual impacts on a nearby Civil War battlefield. This week, the State Corporation Commission hearing examiner agreed. Virginia's Department of Historic Resources had complained the company was not meeting a condition of its permit for the industrial wind energy utility planned in Highland County.

In yet another round of testimony, the environment played a central role in discussions on how a proposed 39-megawatt industrial wind utility may or may not be harmful to some of the richest and rarest species of wildlife in Virginia. Tuesday, the courtroom at the State Corporation Commission was host to nearly more lawyers than private citizens. This was the second hearing hosted by the SCC, one requested by commissioners after they remanded Highland New Wind Development's application for a state permit back to their hearing examiner for more information. Specifically, the SCC wanted to gain a fuller understanding of how damage to species and the environment caused by the 18-20 turbines proposed along the 4,000-foot Allegheny Mountain ridge might be prevented or mitigated were the state to grant a permit for the facility. And by the end of the day, testimony had not been completed and the hearing examiner ordered a continuation through Wednesday.

Following State Corporation Commission's decision in March to remand the case to its hearing examiner for further review on environmental concerns, months of testimony have been submitted and reviewed. This week, the hearing examiner, Alexander J. Skirpan, submitted another report to commissioners, this time recommending "robust" monitoring of the potentially adverse impacts to wildlife, for the expected 20-year life of the project. ...Skirpan had previously concluded HNWD's project be approved by the SCC. But commissioners wanted to know what kind of details a monitoring and mitigation plan would include, rather than leaving those issues up to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and HNWD.

The State Corporation Commission on Friday sent a proposal for Virginia's first utility-grade wind farm back to a hearing examiner for development of a plan to mitigate harm to rare birds and bats on Highland County ridges. In recommending approval last month for construction of 19 turbines, SCC hearing examiner Alexander Skirpan found that the Highland New Wind Development proposal posed a risk to birds and bats. Skirpan recommended a monitoring program, developed by the company and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, to reduce the environmental hazard.

RICHMOND – The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has scheduled public hearings in March 2006 to consider a proposal by Highland New Wind Development, LLC (HNWD) to construct a wind-powered electric generation facility in Highland County.

MONTEREY— It’s been nearly four tumultuous years since the idea of industrial wind energy first surfaced in Highland County. As state-level reviews and court decisions move along, 2006 might bring closure to the issue here. Given the amount of time it’s taken to get this far, however, few would bet on that. Those opposed to the project continue to fight vigorously at every level to prevent construction.