Opinions
Category:
Safety
Note: counts do not include items in sub-categories
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Mainers have a right to know about fires or other potentially hazardous situations at large-scale industrial facilities like wind farms. A simple change to wind farm permitting rules to require that operators report fires at their facilities in a timely manner would help public safety and industry officials compile data that could be used to mitigate future hazards.
Also filed under [
Maine]
Apart from being ugly, noisy, expensive, inefficient, destructive to wildlife and incapable of doing the one thing that notionally they're supposed to do - "reduce CO2" - they are also BLOODY DANGEROUS.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
UK]
Cal Fire: Wind Turbine Generator Caused Wildland Fire that Charred 367 Acres
July 31, 2012 in East County Magazine
July 31, 2012 in East County Magazine
Asked directly whether the generator that caused the fire was an actual wind turbine, Captain Ewing confirmed, "Yes ma'am." He also confirmed that ground had been cleared around the base of each turbine, the blaze swiftly spread to become a wildland fire despite those precautions. Captain Ewing did not know the precise cause of the turbine malfunction.
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
California]
The company that installed the turbine, AAER of Canada, went bankrupt a year after installation, and left Portsmouth with no warranty. Even worse, the chief executive of the company hired to oversee maintenance of the turbine stated that gearbox failures occur in "10 percent of turbines nationwide".
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Rhode Island]
Kingsville officials oppose a planned wind farm near Rivera.
They are concerned about potential interference with Navy radar. I say these concerns are well founded. The turbines north of Nueces Bay definitely interfere with FAA radar right here in Corpus Christi.
Also filed under [
Texas]
If they [turbines] interfere with the effectiveness of a transportation facility such as by raising the approach limits and posing collision hazards in poor weather, they reduce the economic capability of others. ...When one lands and takes off from the Collingwood Regional Airport, there is only one runway, and the flight paths are governed by standard practices promulgated by Transport Canada.
Also filed under [
Canada]
Texas comptroller made the right call on wind turbines
January 5, 2012 in Corpus Christi Caller-Times
January 5, 2012 in Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Comptroller Combs will hear criticism from the Texas Wind Industry folks and green energy advocates, but she made the right call in recommending against the tax abatement application with Bishop ISD. Until technical mitigation is proven, it would be unwise to allow the construction of wind turbines within 25 miles of NAS Corpus Christi, NAS Kingsville and the Corpus Christi International Airport.
Also filed under [
Texas]
Forest fires and wind turbines: The danger no one is talking about
June 30, 2011 in Bangor Daily News
June 30, 2011 in Bangor Daily News
That 220-acre California fire had been contained by 45 firefighters, two helicopters and two bulldozers. The 69-acre fire was contained with the help of 15 fire engines, four hand crews and four planes. A 5-acre California fire was extinguished by six fire engines, three water trucks, two helicopters, two tanker planes, a bulldozer and three hand crews.
Also filed under [
Maine]
"It is likely that one blade failed, and the imbalance created gyroscopic forces that broke the other two," Jones said. That is small comfort to those considering wind turbines. ...But with so many projects on hold and so much at stake, these flaws need to be addressed quickly - before someone is decapitated.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
New Jersey]
The proliferation of wind energy projects has raised concerns about the long-term viability of Naval Air Station Kingsville's mission to train aviators. In an attempt to protect the Navy base, state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and state Rep. J.M. Lozano, D-Kingsville, filed a bill to require notification of plans to build turbines within 25 miles of a military installation.
Also filed under [
Texas]
The collapse of a wind turbine in Clinton County in March 2009 initially perplexed experts and interested novices alike.
Yet the state Public Service Commission has concluded that flawed wiring installation allowed the tower to tumble at the Noble Altona Wind Park run by Noble Environmental Power LLC, the state's biggest wind developer.
Also filed under [
New York]
Proponents of wind energy state that blade failures, fires and collapse are small in relation to the number of turbines and we should not consider those failures when siting. How does that protect abutting businesses and residents?
I witnessed the process steamroll through to develop Port's standards — decreased from what the state models recommended for safe setbacks to property lines for ice throw, blade throw and collapse. Ours is only 150 feet, not even the minimum of 1x turbine height (Mass DOER recommends 1.5x).
While I am not a resident of your area, I was disappointed to read your article on SouthCoast Today.com of the unanimous decision of the Dartmouth Select Board to go ahead with the installation of two wind turbines on municipal property to be located within less than 1,000 feet from four homes, and in a neighborhood with some 50 residents. ...It is a sad statement on society when a decision is taken that will have such a significant impact on some citizens of your community on the basis of financial gain.
Also filed under [
Impact on People|
Massachusetts]
One fell on Dec. 27, in the Madison County town of Fenner, the other last winter near Plattsburgh.
Fortunately, no one was injured in either instance, but it is disquieting to imagine nearly 190 tons of metal, plastic and other materials tumbling down onto farm fields and hillsides.
Also filed under [
New York]
New Yorkers need to understand why a 300-foot tall wind turbine weighing 187 tons collapsed in a Madison County cornfield.
The collapse is not an isolated incident. However just because such a failure is uncommon provides no excuse not to aggressively pursue the reasons why. All across the state communities are facing pressure to site wind turbines. As these local governments proceed they must know why the turbine fell.
Also filed under [
New York]
"Is anyone looking at wind farms from a pilot training standpoint?' was the question and stunned silence was the answer. The question came during a discussion on encroachment last month at the Department of Defense (DOD) Community Conference in Orlando, Fla.
For example, did you know that placing wind turbines between 5 and 8 miles from an airfield creates "blind spots" due to the clutter created on the radar screen?
Also filed under [
Texas]
The boiling Tazewell County windmill controversy may turn into steam where it will either evaporate or become superheated. The Town of Bluefield, Va.'s tall structures ordinance would only affect those structures (including windmills) proposed to be erected within the area of the town's jurisdiction.
There is another matter or two that needs to be given some thought. The town apparently has jurisdiction to the apex of the ridgeline but no jurisdiction south of that ridgeline in Tazewell County or Bland County.
Also filed under [
Virginia|
West Virginia]
As opponents of the proposed backyard wind turbine at 70 Iona St., we can assure readers that it was not "fear of the unknown" that led to our opposition to the installation. It was concern about the known.
The Ontario Municipal Board decision focused on planning issues and the applicant as a result failed on all four required tests for the minor variance Graham Findlay sought.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
Canada]
What we can't see from Kingston, but what one island neighbour told me is among the biggest changes to their lives, is the noise. When the wind is up, "it sounds like a jet engine coming through -- and they're not all up and running yet."
Also filed under [
Structural Failure|
Canada]
A lot of publicity about wind farms has been reported lately but there has been a notable lack of publicity about continuing failures at Searsburg, as well as other areas throughout the country. ...It should be noted that their touted life expectancy is speculative and not substantiated since so very few [turbines] have been operating for even 10 years.
Also filed under [
Vermont]
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