www.windaction.org | New Jersey

Demand is strong for N.J. offshore wind farm parcels
June 11, 2011 by Eliot Caroom in The Star-Ledger

Eleven offshore wind companies want to stake a claim - and construct clusters of huge turbines - in federal waters off the coast of New Jersey, according to a document released by federal officials yesterday.

Also filed under [ General]

Christie rolls out energy plan, rolls back renewable energy goals
June 7, 2011 by Maya Rao in Philidelphia Inquirer

Christie's 141-page blueprint calls for reconsideration of other energy programs, including solar power, which New Jersey has been a national leader in promoting. At the news conference, the governor said the administration wanted to decrease the percentage of renewable sources in its portfolio to 22.5 percent because the 30 percent required was not achievable.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Delaware environment: N.J. nixes pollution caps
May 27, 2011 by Aaron Nathans in The News Journal

"RGGI is nothing more than a tax on electricity, a tax on our residents and on businesses with no discernible effect on our environment," he said. "We remain completely committed to make the environment of our state and world better. We're not going to do it by participating in gimmicky programs that don't work."

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Gov. Christie announces N.J. pulling out of regional environmental initiative
May 26, 2011 by Christopher Baxter in The Star-Ledger

"RGGI drives up energy costs for consumers at a time when nobody can afford any additional taxes," Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington), who recently signed on to legislation to repeal the initiative, said in a statement.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy]

Judge orders stay in fight over Union Beach wind turbine
April 29, 2011 by Ryan Fennell in Two River Times

Discussions between the BRSA and the Union Beach Borough Council began in December 2008. BRSA contends that they have held proper and sufficient public hearings on the proposed project while the borough council has charged the hearings lacked adequate transparency.

Also filed under [ General]

Union Beach granted stay in battle against proposed wind turbine
April 27, 2011 by Alex Biese in Asbury Park Press

On Monday, the borough was granted a stay pending appeal by Judge Mary Catherine Cuff of the state Superior Court's Appellate Division.

Also filed under [ General]

Wind turbine failures in Lacey put state energy program on hold
April 24, 2011 by Bob Vosseller in My Central Jersey

Knoeller's 17-year-old granddaughter was working with horses near the tower when the blades flew off. "One of them nearly hit her. ...The most disappointing aspect of this project prior to the blades falling off was the electric production was only 25 percent of what I was told I was going to get . The catastrophic blade failure was the last straw," Knoeller added.

Also filed under [ Safety]

Sea Girt wind turbine plan scrapped; Residents panned proposal for turbine at Guard site
April 21, 2011 by Bonnie Delaney in Asbury Park Press

Sea Girt Mayor Mark Clemmensen, who made the announcement Wednesday in a prepared release, said that "this was a project which was wrong for Sea Girt as well as our neighbors in Manasquan and Spring Lake." "The governor called Mark and I up Tuesday to tell us the project was being terminated," Manasquan Mayor George Dempsey said.

Also filed under [ Impact on People]

Sea Girt wind turbine project canceled
April 21, 2011 by Mayor Mark E. Clemmensen

The plan to install a 300 foot wind turbine at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt has been cancelled. This was a project which was wrong for Sea Girt as well as our neighbors in Manasquan and Spring Lake.

Also filed under [ Impact on People]

State puts onshore wind program back in business
April 21, 2011 by Tom Johnson in NJ Spotlight

While allowing the processing of $3 million in rebates to some 26 projects, the consultant recommended tightening the requirements for turbine vendors and installers operating in New Jersey. Among the recommended changes are requiring both to post some kind of bond on a project-by-project basis and requiring liability insurance to cover damage to turbines and other equipment.

Also filed under [ General]

Bayshore environmental group opposes wind turbine
April 20, 2011 by Matthew Rocco in Independent

Members of the council said the siting of the turbine is poorly planned with the turbine being built near a residential area, and there should have been greater public participation in the process. "I think there needs to be a plan in place and there needs to be public comment on those plans," said Reynolds.

Also filed under [ General]

Long Beach Township ordinance effectively elminates windmills
March 30, 2011 by Nicholas Huba in Asbury Park Press

The proposed ordinance goes on to state that the maximum height of the windmill can be 40 feet and requires a setback of 100 feet from the property line.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning]

State shuts down onshore wind turbine program after major malfunction
March 25, 2011 by Tom Johnson in NJ Spotlight

The problem occurred on March 2 when a still unexplained major malfunction on a recently installed wind turbine caused all three blades to break loose, Reinert said. On March 8, the clean energy office staff directed the program coordinator to issue a notice to stakeholders advising that "Effective immediately, there is a temporary hold on all new REIP wind applications."

Also filed under [ Safety| Structural Failure]

Offshore wind transmission system raises red flag at state agencies
February 22, 2011 by Tom Johnson in Energy & Environment

In asking to intervene in the case, the two agencies argued that the project, stretching from Virginia to New Jersey, could adversely affect the rates paid by consumers and also place much of the risk on the ratepayer instead of the developers. The Atlantic Wind Connection is a 350-mile underwater transmission line, which aims to connect the spate of offshore wind farms being developed by New Jersey and other states.

Also filed under [ Impact on Economy| Transmission| USA]

DEP: Union Beach turbine work started prematurely
February 12, 2011 by Kevin Penton in The Daily Record

The notice of violation reflects how the BRSA has given little thought to the concerns of its neighbors and of environmentalists as it has pursued the project, Lieberman said. "We're very, very proud of the DEP," Lieberman said. "BRSA is just trying to bully its way through this."

Also filed under [ General]

Department of Energy to fast-track mid-Atlantic offshore wind energy
February 7, 2011 by The Associated Press in Taunton Daily Express

Each of the four sites identified Monday are off major tourist destinations, including Atlantic City, N.J., Ocean City, Md., and Virginia Beach, Va. However, Salazar said the wind farms would be between 10 to 20 miles offshore - far enough that beachgoing vacationers wouldn't have their views ruined.

Also filed under [ USA| Maryland| Virginia]

Township Committee wants to hear more about wind turbine issue
February 4, 2011 by Christina Johnson in The Holmdel Patch

Union Beach, Keyport and Hazlet have stated their opposition to the construction of a wind turbine project by the Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority, in Union Beach. Now, Holmdel Township may weigh in.

Also filed under [ General]

Wind turbine fight escalates, BRSA files suit
February 2, 2011 by Jacqueline Hlavenka in The Independent

The Bayshore Regional Sewerage Authority (BRSA) in Union Beach has filed a complaint against the borough's Planning Board for unanimously voting down an application to realign the BRSA's property line to provide more room for the arc of the turbine's 118-foot-long blades.

Also filed under [ General]

Wind turbine dispute goes to court
January 30, 2011 by Ryan Fennell in Two River Times

The BRSA lawsuit demands that the Planning Board's action requiring the BRSA to file for a "D" variance and denying subdivision and consolidation of the adjoining property are set aside and be granted an approval of the proposed subdivision and consolidation. The suit also demands that the planning board be restrained from any further action to delay or interfere with the construction and operation of the project.

Also filed under [ General]

Residential windmill catches on fire in Lower Township
January 11, 2011 by Richard Degener in Press of Atlantic City

"When we arrived, there were obvious flames showing from the top of the windmill. The windmill was spinning ridiculously out of control," Villas fire Chief Richard Harron Jr. said. The out-of-control turbine was apparently sending a surge of electricity down the tower into electrical connections in the garage.

Also filed under [ Structural Failure]