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DOE to recast landmark 20% wind energy report; Study looks back, ahead
May 15, 2013 by Mark Del Franco in North American Windpower
May 15, 2013 by Mark Del Franco in North American Windpower
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Program is revisiting the conclusions from its 2008 study that contemplated the technological and regulatory road map for the U.S. wind industry to achieve 20% wind energy by 2030.
Realtor Nadine Krasnow of Falmouth Fine Properties said she has no doubt that the turbines have affected property values ..."In my opinion, it's had a noticeably chilling affect and it has definitely become more difficult to sell houses there; and the reason is, if people have other choices, which they do, why are they going to buy in a place where value has gone down and it's unclear what will happen in the future?"
Also filed under [
Property Values|
Massachusetts]
Top Ind. wind farm drafts bat-protection plans
May 15, 2013 by Rick Callahan in Bloomberg Businessweek
May 15, 2013 by Rick Callahan in Bloomberg Businessweek
An estimated 850,000 to 1.7 million bats have died from collisions with wind turbines in the United States and Canada since 2000, said Mylea Bayless, director of conservation programs for Austin, Texas-based Bats Conservation international.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Indiana]
Ontario cabinet ministers told to smooth out wind turbine conflict
May 15, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star
May 15, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star
Four Ontario cabinet ministers have been given the job of devising ways to give local residents more say in where renewable energy projects like wind farms can be located.
It's a politically urgent task for the Liberals, who were almost wiped out in rural Ontario in the last election.
The 1.5-megawatt turbine was commissioned in March 2009 but was shut down June 18, 2012, after the gearbox showed significant wear. The faulty gearbox was no longer covered by warranty, and the manufacturer of the turbine, AAER Wind Energy of Quebec, is no longer in business. Three of five turbines of the same make and model erected in California and Templeton, Mass., also suffered gearbox failure.
"What it boils down to is this: If you electrocute an eagle, that is bad, but if you chop it to pieces, that is OK," said Tim Eicher, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforcement agent based in Cody, who helped prosecute the PacifiCorp power line case.
By not enforcing the law, the administration provides little incentive for companies to build wind farms where there are fewer birds.
One Cape Vincent blogger settles lawsuit; judge pares action against second
May 14, 2013 by Brian Kelly in Watertown Daily News
May 14, 2013 by Brian Kelly in Watertown Daily News
A judge has dismissed several causes of action in a defamation suit brought by wind farm development supporters against a local blogger, while a second blogger has reached a settlement with the wind supporters.
Clifton wind farm project sent back to planning board by Superior Court judge
May 14, 2013 by Nok-Noi Ricker in Bangor Daily News
May 14, 2013 by Nok-Noi Ricker in Bangor Daily News
The town’s 28-page wind turbine ordinance is very specific and has very strict sound levels that are even lower than those set by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and Horton agreed with the Beckfords “that the low frequency levels exceeded the [Clifton Land Use Ordinance] limits.”
Also filed under [
Legal|
Massachusetts]
Obama administration gives wind farms a pass on eagle deaths, prosecutes oil companies
May 14, 2013 in The Associated Press
May 14, 2013 in The Associated Press
Nearly all the birds being killed are protected under federal environmental laws, which prosecutors have used to generate tens of millions of dollars in fines and settlements from businesses, including oil and gas companies, over the past five years.
"What it boils down to is this: If you electrocute an eagle, that is bad, but if you chop it to pieces, that is OK," said Tim Eicher, a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforcement agent based in Cody, Wyo.
Also filed under [
Impact on Birds|
California]
Opposition to wind farm increases; Will the setback distance also increase?
May 13, 2013 by Seth Slabaugh in The Star Press
May 13, 2013 by Seth Slabaugh in The Star Press
Opposition to a possible wind farm in Delaware County is growing.
An overflow crowd of about 75 people showed up at a city-county plan commission meeting on May 2 to voice objections to a potential wind farm.
According to various reports these incentives were scrapped as many developers took incentives to save tax and after the completion of incentives either neglected or abandoned the wind farms altogether.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
Asia]
Cape Vincent's town board, WPEG apply for 99% of intervenor funds
May 11, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily News
May 11, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily News
The town government hopes to hire several experts - three in conjunction with the Wind Power Ethics Group - to review and critique BP's Cape Vincent Wind Project proposal with intervenor funding made available under Article X.
Latest cleantech funding woes spark fears of industry slide
May 11, 2013 by Peter Delevett in Mercury News
May 11, 2013 by Peter Delevett in Mercury News
The problem, he said, is that those big investment firms tend to focus on mature companies that are generating significant revenue, and there are few of those in cleantech. Meanwhile, more government investment seems increasingly far off as congressional Republicans demand answers about the failure of Fisker Automotive.
New funding is being sought for a wind farm scheme off the coast of Aberdeen, opposed by Donald Trump, after a major investor announced plans to reduce its stake in the project.
New Era was given until Sunday May 12 to resolve a delay in the production of a 78-megawatt wind farm in Goodhue County that is causing the company to default on an agreement to sell generated power, said Jim Alders of Xcel Energy.
Hoopeston wind farm building permit extended for a year
May 11, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
May 11, 2013 by Tracy Moss in The News-Gazette
The extension also allows the project to adhere to parameters set out in Vermilion County's original wind ordinance, requiring turbines to be 1,000 feet from a primary structure, which includes houses.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
Illinois]
Lack of wind halts Scituate wind turbine studies
May 11, 2013 by Patrick Ronan in The Patriot Ledger
May 11, 2013 by Patrick Ronan in The Patriot Ledger
A group of residents have complained that the noise and shadow flicker from the turbine, erected last year, are hurting their health. At the behest of the town's board of health, Scituate Wind hired Tech Environmental to see if the turbine complies with state noise standards.
Renewable energy mandate opponents appeal to Colorado governor; They claim rates would skyrocket
May 10, 2013 by Marianne Goodland in Fort Morgan Times
May 10, 2013 by Marianne Goodland in Fort Morgan Times
Hickenlooper said Thursday he will meet with executives from Tri-State Generation and Transmission, which provides power to 18 rural electric co-ops and is one of the two entities targeted by SB 252 (the other is the Intermountain Rural Electric Association).
Tri-State executives claim the bill will cost the co-ops at least $2 billion to implement.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Colorado]
Speculation the project could end up “dead in the water” intensified when Swedish company Vattenfall – Europe’s sixth-largest generator of electricity – announced plans to put its 75 per cent stake in the venture up for sale.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
UK]
After turbulent hearing, supervisors postpone action on wind ordinance to May 15
May 10, 2013 by Sierra Robinson in East County Magazine
May 10, 2013 by Sierra Robinson in East County Magazine
After more than three hours of heated testimony on Tuesday, San Diego Supervisors opted to delay a decision on a controversial wind ordinance and changes to plans for two backcountry communities until May 15. The postponement came after a lawyer representing rural residents sent a last-minute letter claiming that approval of the project would be illegal.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
California]