www.windaction.org

Canaan voters limit wind projects, make final library building payment
March 17, 2013 by Kaitlin Schroeder in Morning Sentinel

Residents passed an ordinance that would regulate the residential use of wind energy. The town had a wind ordinance, but it applies only to large operations. The new ordinance was passed as a precautionary measure to regulate windmills on personal property.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Maine]

Beatrice monument superintendent says wind farm threatens landscape
March 16, 2013 by Chris Dunker in Beatrice Daily Sun

"In reflecting on the past 150 years, nothing changed the landscape like the homesteading movement did," Mark Engler said in a public hearing before the Gage County Planning and Zoning Commission. "In years to come, few events have the potential to impact or change the landscape like wind energy development will."

Also filed under [ General| Nebraska]

LePage measure would remove 100-megawatt cap for all renewables
March 13, 2013 by Scott Thistle in Sun Journal

The state's Renewable Portfolio Standard requires that generation facilities are smaller in output, limited to 100 megawatts, with only wind energy being excluded from that limit. A bill authored by Gov. Paul LePage's office would remove the 100-megawatt limit for all sectors of renewable energy, including hydropower.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Maine]

Maine Supreme Court invalidates permit for Saddleback Ridge Wind Project
March 12, 2013 in Pierce Atwood LLC

The rule amendment did not become effective, however, until June 10, 2012, when it received the required legislative approval. The Board’s February 18, 2012 appeal decision affirmed the Department’s initial decision to apply the 45 dBA limit to the Saddleback Ridge Wind Project. This proved critical to the Law Court because the Project’s applications, while presenting evidence that the Project complied with the 45 dBA limit, presented no evidence that the Project would comply with the 42 dBA limit.

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

Countryside at war as planning system collapses
March 8, 2013 by Louise Gray in The Telegraph

Sir Simon said failure to have a plan in place will not mean more houses are built but "more conflict" as local communities use the law courts to fight the vague new legislation. "It will just mean that everyone will be fighting, fighting, fighting and that is not the best way of running rural Britain," he added.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| UK]

Heineman blasts committee for advancing bill on wind energy tax incentives
March 7, 2013 by Martha Stoddard in Omaha World-Herald

"It is very disappointing that the Legislature's Revenue Committee has decided to provide out-of-state wind energy developers a tax break, but the Revenue Committee refuses to provide much-needed tax relief to Nebraska families, Nebraska seniors, Nebraska veterans and Nebraska small-business owners," Heineman said.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Nebraska]

Before, wind firms drove process; Today, it is harder to get turbines OK'd
March 6, 2013 by David Giuliani in Sauk Valley

Once upon a time, getting approval for a wind farm in Lee County was relatively simple. Those days are gone. For the latest proposal to build wind turbines, the county had 26 meetings that took up 65 hours.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Illinois]

Strong voters pass setback ordinance, elect new selectman
March 3, 2013 by Renald Lefebvre in Daily Bulldog

The most contested article was Article 17, which updated the town's Site Plan Review Ordinance, preventing development from being too close to residential areas. ...Residents voted to support the change to the ordinance.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Maine]

Wind farm coming to Delaware County?
March 2, 2013 by Seth Slabaugh in The Star Pres

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Indiana]

Heath OKs wind ban
February 27, 2013 by Diane Broncaccio in The Recorder

Speaking as if with one voice, 96 special town meeting voters quickly and unanimously approved the Planning Board's zoning bylaw amendment banning "industrial scale" wind turbines from being built within town borders.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Massachusetts]

Committee to consider Vermilion wind farm moratorium
February 26, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The New Gazette

A committee of Vermilion County Board members will discuss this week a moratorium on the construction of any wind farms until the county addresses possible changes to its wind farm ordinance.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Illinois]

Wind farm ordinance on the ballot
February 25, 2013 by Andy Barrand in Hillsdale.net

The changes to the wind project ordinance were brought to a special election after township residents filed a petition to have the changes put up for a vote with a referendum. Alan Jon Burrell, Reading Township supervisor said the special election will give everyone in Reading Township to weigh in on the wind farm ordinance.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Michigan]

Doreen Reilly files zoning-violation complaint against Kingston Wind Independence
February 22, 2013 by Bradford Randall in Kingston Journal

Reilly, who lives less than a quarter mile from the KWI Turbine on Leland Road, has been one of a plethora of residents claiming ill-health effects stemming from shadow flicker and infrasound generated by the KWI Turbine. Yesterday, Reilly filed a zoning complaint against the KWI Turbine with Kingston Zoning Enforcement Officer Paul Armstrong.

Also filed under [ Impact on People| Zoning/Planning| Massachusetts]

Wind farm concerns grow
February 22, 2013 by Malcolm Sutton in Stock Journal

Wind farm opponents are calling for a moratorium on further developments after a number of setbacks for the industry. The Federal Magistrates Court ruled earlier this month that wind farms decreased the value of adjacent properties – something that opponents had long argued about with the South Australian Government.

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

Wind ordinance changes unveiled - County's commission has final say
February 21, 2013 by Rebekah R. Blomenberg in Decatur Daily Democrat

Each change was thoroughly discussed; some were amended, some disregarded, most adopted. Paul Norr said, "We want to protect the landowner [where a WECS tower is] as much as possible."

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Indiana]

Town of Industry might require a buffer zone for wind power projects
February 20, 2013 by Kaitlin Schroeder in Kennebec Journal

Citing possible noise or falling debris, town officials are proposing an ordinance that would mandate a buffer zone around any future wind power projects. ...Wind turbines 200 to 300 feet tall would need a 5,000-foot buffer; turbines 100 to 199 feet tall, a 2,000-foot buffer; and turbines less than 100 feet tall, a 1,000-foot buffer.

Also filed under [ Impact on People| Zoning/Planning| Maine]

Proposed Nebraska incentives for wind energy up in the air
February 19, 2013 by Martha Stoddard in Omaha World-Herald

The governor and State Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha on Monday urged state lawmakers to hold off on passing new tax exemptions while they work on overhauling the whole tax system. If the Legislature's Revenue Committee heeds their calls, two bills that would add wind farms to the state's business tax incentive programs would be sunk.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| Nebraska]

Wind farm again up for debate in rehearing
February 8, 2013 by John Koziol in Laconia Citizen

The Portuguese company that previously received permission from the Zoning Board to build a meteorological tower to determine whether it then wants to build a fullscale wind farm, was back before the board on Thursday evening for a rehearing.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| New Hampshire]

Are Kingston's wind turbines illegel?
February 7, 2013 by Bradford Randall in Kingston Journal

The legality of Kingston's wind turbines stands in question today as KingstonJounral.com uncovers evidence to suggest that all four of Kingston's industrial-sized wind turbines may be out of compliance with existing town bylaws.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| Massachusetts]

Moratorium approved on wind turbines
February 7, 2013 by Pam Robinson in Commack Patch

The Town Board voted Tuesday night to impose a 128-day moratorium on applications and permits for wind turbines. The delay is designed to provide the town time to establish regulations on several aspects, including noise, size, height, zoning and use.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning| New York]

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