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Facts, analysis, exposure to industrial wind energy's real impacts
Wind farm opponents offer safety ordinance proposal
A packed courtroom greeted the Montague County Commissioner’s Court Monday as more than 50 people filled the room to hear discussion on a proposed safety ordinance related to wind farms.
Articles filed under Zoning/Planning from Texas
City to consider deannexing Chapman Ranch
A years long battle over the wind farm some feared would impact Navy training may have a conclusion in sight.
City moving ahead with annexing land to prevent wind farm development
Despite an effort by a wind farm developer to come to a compromise with the City over several concerns, the City is moving ahead with plans to annex some of the property where a new wind farm project is planned.
City Council votes to annex property of proposed wind farm
The City of Corpus Christi may have effectively killed a proposed wind farm project in the Chapman Ranch area, just outside the city limits, in a single vote at Tuesday's council meeting.
Sinton trustees vote unanimously to seek contract for construction of wind turbines at high school
The Sinton Independent School District will move forward with plans to build two wind turbines at the high school campus despite the city's rejection of zoning variances for the project last week.
Heath amends wind turbine ordinance
All around the unincorporated edges of Heath, tall wind turbines are popping up. But not in Heath. Like many others, the Rockwall County city has been wondering how best to deal with new clean energy technology.
P&Z won't recommend wind turbine ordinance
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.
Rules to be set for wind turbines
The city is making way for wind turbines that are popping up around the Rio Grande Valley. Officials are setting guidelines for wind turbines and other forms of alterative energy sources after homeowners and businesses expressed interest in installing them here, said John Rodriguez, the city's code enforcement officer.
Debate continues on Senate wind abatement
Monday's Commissioner's Court meeting began as usual with public forum, but a lengthy, animated discussion with members of the gallery regarding action on a proposed county tax abatement for the Senate Wind Project lasted in excess of 90 minutes.
Wind farm moves forward
Young County commissioners moved a step closer to reaching a tax abatement agreement with Gamesa Energy on Monday by creating a tax reinvestment zone. The zone is a necessary step toward an abatement agreement. Games has announced it plans to build a wind farm that would be mostly in Jack County with 12 turbines extending into Young County.
County expedites Gamesa wind farm proposal
Gamesa Energy asked Young County to expedite its proposal to put a wind farm in the county, with a representative saying getting a tax abatement in place quickly could greatly benefit the school districts. Colin Kelly with Gamesa told commissioners the Texas Legislature was considering a bill that would cap the amount of revenue school districts can get due to wind farms.
Council to talk wind energy; Turbine sound, size are focus of proposed rules
If you want a wind turbine for your home, it better be quiet and on a patch of open land. If not, the city won't allow it under the latest draft of the city's wind energy ordinance. The proposed changes, which the City Council will discuss Tuesday, don't bring the sweeping reforms alternative energy advocates wanted.
Gone with the wind
The Gillespie County Commissioners have decided not to pursue local wind farm regulation and will not hold a public meeting on the matter, according to County Judge Mark Stroeher. ...State Senator Troy Fraser filed legislation last month to allow the county commissioners to restrict wind farm construction and said his office immediately began receiving complaints from landowners worried that their property rights might be violated.
County: Not in our backyard
Kerr County commissioners have sent a message to Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation officials regarding possible routes for transmission lines in the area. "Go to another county," said Pct. 1 Commissioner Buster Baldwin during Monday's commission meeting. County commissioners also asked for the transmission lines to follow existing rights-of-way.
Property rights concerns raised
Concerned about the possible effects of proposed wind power legislation on their property rights, some Fredericksburg area landowners have voiced opposition to a bill by State Senator Troy Fraser that would allow the Gillespie County Commissioners' Court to restrict wind farm construction. "Once the bill was filed, the phones started lighting up." Fraser said. "We need to gauge both support and opposition."
Llano County supports wind power restrictions
Llano and Gillespie counties may be granted regulatory teeth regarding the placement of wind turbines this legislative session. The Llano County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Monday supporting a bill that, if passed into law, would allow counties to prohibit or regulate construction of wind energy electric-generating facilities in all or part of the county. State Sen. Troy Fraser of Horseshoe Bay introduced S.B. 1226 and S.B. 1227 in February.
Fraser files legislation to allow Gillespie county to regulate wind energy generation
Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) filed legislation on Monday to authorize the Gillespie County Commissioners Court to regulate the construction of wind energy electric generating facilities in the unincorporated areas of the county. Senate Bill 1226 specifically will allow Gillespie County to prohibit or restrict the location of a facility in all or part of the county.
Noise nuisance: Turbines spark debate at commissioners court
Local property owners and residents addressed Jack County commissioners during the public forum portion of Commissioners Court Feb. 9 to petition them for assistance with noise abatement for the 60-turbine Barton Chapel Wind Farm. Tom Fillene pleaded with commissioners to take a trip down to the area and listen for themselves to the "obnoxious noise" coming from the 400-plus foot "monsters." Fillene stated he was speaking on behalf of other family members who lived under the wind turbines and were experiencing health issues due to the noise coming from the giant towers.
Tarrant County cities moving to regulate home wind turbines as residents express interest
Officials in Colleyville and Southlake have heard from residents interested in installing turbines on their property to reduce their electric bills and carbon footprints. Both cities are now looking at ways to regulate the structures before they begin transforming neighborhood landscapes. ...The turbines typically cost $9,000 to $15,000 to purchase and install - money that may take 15 years or more to get back through energy savings, according to several turbine dealers.
Proposed ordinance advances for wind farm
It all depends on 11 miles per hour. A few variances in the wind speed near Elwood could determine whether a windmill farm comes to Madison County. E.ON, a wind energy company that recently put up 600 wind turbines in Texas, has approached Madison County officials about the northwestern section of Madison County north of Elwood, showing interest in building a windmill farm at the location.