The Kingman Planning and Zoning Commission will consider no fewer than three amendments to the zoning ordinance at its meeting this evening. The first of the three amendments would create a new subsection within the city's General Development Standards covering standards for small wind energy systems.

For some planning and zoning commissioners, all it took was a quick glance at the empty room Monday to feel that this isn't the time to allow the zoning for wind turbines in Flower Mound. The commission voted 6-1 to deny a request to amend various part of the town's code of ordinances that would have allowed wind turbines.

Residents filled the auditorium of Washington High School on Monday evening in hopes that their voices would be heard and a change would be made to the proposed route for a high-voltage power line slated for construction in the area. Nearly 150 people turned out for a public hearing about P.A.T.H., which stands for Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, and is a joint venture of Allegheny Energy and American Electric Power that was announced last year.

Another victory in the courts for Entegrity Wind System has given the Charlottetown wind turbine-maker another 45 days to get its fiscal house in order. Entegrity went before Supreme Court Justice Wayne Cheverie asking that he allow the company a 45-day extension so it can work with its trustee, Pricewaterhousecoopers, to develop a plan to get the financially troubled company back on its feet.

CHARLOTTETOWN — Prince Edward Island is moving full steam ahead toward its goal of having 100 per cent of its electrical energy from renewable sources by 2015. Within the past two weeks, construction has begun on a 30-megawatt wind farm in the eastern part of the province. In addition, Summerside has announced the purchase of nine megawatts of wind energy and tenders have been called for the first phase of a wind-hydrogen village to be built in North Cape.

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. (CP) - The city of Summerside plans to complete a bird migration survey in coming months as part of the environmental assessment for its proposed wind farm. Greg Gaudet, chair of municipal services, explained the study would provide supplemental information to the original assessment document prepared for the project that is proposed to be built near the Prince Edward Island city. The information will also be used to make recommendations on how to construct the wind farm so it has minimal environmental impact.

Provincial government delays are threatening to scuttle a wind project on P.E.I.'s North Shore, says the company hoping to develop it. Wayne Cousins, a dairy farmer, is one of the people behind the project. He got involved because he sees no future in food production.

Energy Minister Richard Brown admitted Tuesday a deal to cut electricity rates for P.E.I. consumers could cost as much as $220 million, adding to the province's debt. Brown made the admission after being pressed on the numbers in the legislature by energy critic Mike Currie.

A group of Prince Edward Island landowners near a proposed wind farm say the province is pushing the plan through despite opposition from people in the area.

P.E.I.'s Conservative Opposition has asked New Brunswick to sign a deal guaranteeing access to transmission lines through the province if NB Power is sold to Hydro-Québec. The premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia made a similar request in a joint letter earlier this month, saying they're concerned their provinces will be cut off from the lucrative energy markets in the northeastern United States.

The creation of 500 megawatts of wind power will help provide energy security and price stability to Prince Edward Island, Premier Robert Ghiz said Friday in outlining a provincial wind development policy. Ghiz unveiled a paper called "Island Wind Energy, Securing Our Future: The 10 Point Plan" saying it was the first step toward that goal. The $1 billion undertaking will be the largest development on the Island since construction of the Confederation Bridge.

P.E.I.'s environment minister says he plans to eventually introduce new laws to limit nuisance noise. The move comes after the provincial department received complaints from people who live near wind turbines and a motocross park. Environment Minister Richard Brown said he's a strong believer in people being able to enjoy the peace and quiet of their homes.

People in western P.E.I. say the government did not give them a voice before it allowed a German company, NewEn, to lease land for a proposed wind farm in the Anglo Tignish area. "First of all, I don't want to see 30 to 50 windmills around my house," Gina MacLeod told Debbie Horne of the West Prince Graphic in Alberton. "The transmission lines are right there, less than 100 feet from our house. The biggest thing for me is if there is any risk at all, then I don't want to have it near my family." ..."We as citizens should not have to worry about these issues. We elect our government officials who are there to serve us before they give permission for foreign companies to come into our area and make drastic changes. We as residents should have been notified and informed."

A bankrupt wind energy company's latest attempt to get funding from P.E.I. taxpayers has been turned down. ...The Department of Innovation told CBC news Monday the company made several requests for loans, but none of the terms would give the province the kind of economic return it is looking for.

The P.E.I. government signed a five-year warranty and maintenance package costing $1 million a year for 10 Vestas turbines purchased by the province for $48 million for its East Point wind farm in 2007. ...Without the warranty and maintenance package, the province would have been looking at forking out more than $5 million in repair costs, added Brown.

Prince Edward Island has set an ambitious new target for renewable energy use, saying it is committed to producing 30 per cent of its total energy needs from renewable sources by 2016. Premier Pat Binns said Thursday that renewable energy is a key to strengthening the Island economy.

A former tourism official with the provincial government says P.E.I. is not doing enough to protect its scenic vistas. Carol Horne, who now works for the Canadian Tourist Commission, said over the past two decades, only two areas of the island have been designated scenic zones - New London and Borden-Carleton.

The Supreme Court of P.E.I. has denied a request by Entegrity Wind Systems for an extension to devise a plan to avoid bankruptcy. The wind turbine manufacturer owes $11 million to creditors and has been trying to put together a business plan to prove it can turn the company around. It has been under court protection from creditors since August.

With the first phase of a 99-megawatt wind farm in West Cape now underway, the president of Ventus Energy Inc. says company staff are already thinking about other potential projects. Ventus, created three years ago, already has 25 projects under development in six provinces, totalling more than 5,000 megawatts.

The Department of Environmental Protection today issued a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to Krayn Wind LLC, to address the discharge of stormwater from construction activities for its proposed Highland Wind Farm Project to be located in Adams Township, Cambria County, said DEP Southwest Regional Director Kenneth Bowman. "The proposed site meets the department's environmental regulatory requirements," Bowman said. "This permit underwent intensive review by DEP water quality experts to ensure that no adverse environmental impacts would result from the construction of the wind farm." Krayn Wind LLC submitted an NPDES permit application on Feb. 16 for the construction of 20 wind turbines on 43 acres of a 4,371-acre property. Approximately 8 miles of 15-foot wide gravel access roads - including existing dirt roads, which will be upgraded and maintained - are also planned for the site.