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Pomfret board discusses wind tower law
January 7, 2013 by Shirley Pulawski in Observer Today

Revisions to Pomfret's 2007 local law regarding non-commercial small wind towers are under way. Wind energy conversion systems, or WECS, were a topic of discussion at a recent town board workshop meeting.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| New York]

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 [ Impact on People| Zoning/Planning| Massachusetts]

Progress, Duke want to slash payments for green energy
December 26, 2012 by John Murawski in News Observer

The power company's request is tied to the plummeting cost of natural gas, which is lowering the market price of electricity nationwide. Progress contends that it is now overpaying for the green energy it has to buy under state law, and passing on those inflated costs to its customers, who ultimately bear the financial burden in their monthly bills.

Also filed under [ Impact on Economy| North Carolina]

Hegins Township zoning board denies BP variance application
December 23, 2012 by Vicki Terwilliger in Republican Herald

Zoning board Chairman Larry Umholtz and members Jim Artz and John Johns voted Dec. 12 for the denial, following a hearing that lasted a little more than an hour and included testimony from citizens and BP representatives. About 40 people, including Hegins Township Zoning Officer Allan Swab, attended the hearing held in the Hegins Area Ambulance Association building on Gap Street.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Pennsylvania]

Ordinance limits turbine use
December 13, 2012 by Tom Shevlin in Newport Now

Aimed at governing the installation of residential and commercial-scale wind turbines, the proposal comes almost a year after councilors passed a resolution temporarily halting any new applications for home-based wind turbines and directing city staff to develop a workable ordinance to govern the placement and size of turbines in the future.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| Zoning/Planning| Rhode Island]

Wind turbine ordinance debate to resume in Emmet County
December 5, 2012 by Brandon Hubbard in Petoskey News-Review

The debate on whether to revise Emmet County's sound cap for wind turbines is expected to resume on Thursday night. ...Some residents have voiced staunch opposition to the increase, while developers have called the restriction essentially a ban on wind energy as an alternative power source.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Minnesota]

Garrett County residents want wind turbine issues regulated at local level
December 5, 2012 by Elaine Blaisdell in Cumberland Times-News

Garrett County residents urged the county commissioners to forward the draft of the land-use management ordinance, which establishes wind turbine setbacks, back to the Planning Commission during the public comment portion of Tuesday's county meeting. "I think solving this issue locally for our county politics is the best pathway for getting real meaningful setbacks in place here in Garrett County."

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Maryland]

Town of Poughkeepsie wants a timeout on wind, solar power
December 5, 2012 by John Davis in Poughkeepsie Journal

Before the appearance of rooftop windmills and front yard solar panels affects the views in Poughkeepsie, the Town Board wants to call a timeout on their installation. The proposed eight-month moratorium will give the board time to study how best to regulate the green power energy equipment.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| New York]

Bengal Township restricts wind turbine projects
December 1, 2012 by Steven R. Reed in Lansing State Journal

Bengal Township has joined the list of local governments imposing stricter wind turbine ordinances than current Clinton County regulations. In a 5-0 vote during a special meeting Thursday night, the Bengal Township Board of Trustees joined Dallas and Essex townships in approving a more restrictive measure.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Michigan]

Residents pack township hall for vote approving wind-turbine ordinance
November 29, 2012 by Steven R. Reed in Lansing State Journal

About 150 people filled the township hall for the reconsideration of the ordinance by board members who had declined, on a vote of two in favor and three against, to approve virtually the same ordinance two weeks earlier. The ordinance restricts wind turbines to a height that developers say is not feasible for their 40-tower project.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Michigan]

Audit rips management of RG&E, NYSEG; Utility's Spanish owner battling state regulators over workforce levels, leadership
November 19, 2012 by Steve Orr in Democrat and Chronicle

Top Iberdrola executives seemed largely ignorant of American regulatory requirements. Auditors said they must "adjust more to business culture here, as opposed to expect U.S. stakeholders to accommodate themselves to Spanish custom and practice." Top executives wouldn't answer auditors' questions, wouldn't allow board members to be interviewed and argued against disclosing information, making arguments that auditors described as "invalid" and "very peculiar."

Also filed under [ General| Energy Policy| Zoning/Planning| New York]

New wind farm completed in Hancock County
November 14, 2012 by Associated Press in Bangor Daily News

A new, 19-turbine wind farm in Hancock County, which has the capacity to supply the average energy needs of 18,000 homes, has been completed. Boston-based First Wind says its 34-megawatt Bull Hill project has also begun commercial operations. It’s located on the ridges of Bull Hill and Heifer Hill in Hancock County.

Also filed under [ General| Zoning/Planning| Maine]

Discussion of wind farm regulations continued to December
November 4, 2012 by Bob Balgemann in Belvidere Daily Republican

More than 10 hours of discussing proposed revisions to Boone County's wind farm regulations haven't led to any decisions. After hearing three more hours of testimony Tuesday night, the zoning board of appeals agreed to continue the public hearing to its Dec. 26 meeting.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Illinois]

State advocate poised to support town in wind case
October 4, 2012 by Candace Page in Burlington Free Press

Public Service Department Commissioner Elizabeth Miller, whose department represents the public in cases before the Public Service Board, said she expects to deliver on Gov. Peter Shumlin's promise to support towns that vote not to allow wind turbines within their borders.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy| Zoning/Planning| Vermont]

Lenoir commissioners oppose wind energy project
October 2, 2012 by David Anderson in Kinston Free Press

The commissioners voted unanimously Monday for a resolution which called for much stricter regulation by the state of wind and solar energy projects to ensure they do not encroach on military training areas or routes.

Also filed under [ General| North Carolina]

Wind farm rules are approved in Westminster
October 1, 2012 by Michael Hartwell in Sentinel and Enterprise

The Planning Board passed its regulations for proposed wind farms in the town last week and has submitted a definition of "shadow flicker."

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Massachusetts]

Neighbors sue Kingston ZBA, Mary O'Donnell in Land Court
September 28, 2012 by Kathryn Gallerani in Wicked Local Kingston

The lawsuit alleges that the original site plan review process was flawed, leading to the issuance of invalid building permits, that neighbors did not receive proper notice and that the permits are illegal because the turbines are larger than the size shown on the only plans on file with the town.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Massachusetts]

Board asks state to adopt law to protect military installations
September 27, 2012 by Robyn Wade in Goldsboro Daily News

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners are asking state legislators to pass a law blocking all encroachment or impairments to military training routes without state approval.

Also filed under [ General| North Carolina]

Supervisors make no changes to wind farm development
September 25, 2012 in KGET TV 17

"This was a total dog and pony show and not unexpected. We wanted protection from the intrusion of big energy within our community. And, we did not want industry and commercial property right next to our homes and communities," said Mesonika Piecuch who is against wind farms near communities.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| California]

County supervisors to review wind turbine maps
September 25, 2012 in KGET TV

But, residents near the turbines are worried they are back to Square One with no real zoning that might stop the wide expansion. At first, the maps were thought of as a hard line in the dirt where wind turbines could be built. But, the maps have since evolved to where they may be used only for guidance.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| California]

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