The WindAction Group (www.windAction.org)
Facts, analysis, exposure to industrial wind energy's real impacts
This letter was submitted to the Town of New Shoreham on Block Island prior to the Town granting permission for Deepwater Wind to erect a met tower on town land under the Special Temporary Provisions (Section 112) of the Town's zoning. Under Section 112, permits may be granted only for a use or purpose that cannot be accomplished by compliance with provisions of the ordinance. Attorney Hagopian argues that Deepwater's proposal does not meet the "exigent circumstance requirements" including risks to public health and safety or any other emergency or urgent necessity that warrants invoking this provision.
Objection to Deepwater Wind meteorological tower proposal - Block Island
This letter was submitted to the Town of New Shoreham on Block Island prior to the Town granting permission for Deepwater Wind to erect a met tower on town land under the Special Temporary Provisions (Section 112) of the Town's zoning. Under Section 112, permits may be granted only for a use or purpose that cannot be accomplished by compliance with provisions of the ordinance. Attorney Hagopian argues that Deepwater's proposal does not meet the "exigent circumstance requirements" including risks to public health and safety or any other emergency or urgent necessity that warrants invoking this provision.
The 'Citizens for Open Government' through its Attorney Richard Porter filed this motion to dismiss the special use permit application and the public hearing in the matter of FPL Energy Illinois Wind LLC. FPL Energy is seeikng a permit to erect up to 151 industrial scale wind turbines in an area currently zoned A-1, agricultural District. Attorney Richard Porter argues that the application is incomplete and the use not permitted according to current laws in the County. Attorney Porter's detailed arguments can accessed by clicking on the link below. The County took no action on this motion.
Letter sent to the Oregon Department of Energy by First Wind (UPC Wind) announcing the company's withdrawal of the application for site certification on the Cascade Wind facility.
In his decision, dated January 5, 2009, NY Supreme Court Justice David Michael Barry found that the Town of Hamlin's town board failed to follow New York state law in adopting Local Wind Law 3-2008. The intent of Local Wind Law 3-2008 is to govern placement of industrial wind turbines within the town. The full text of Judge Barry's decision can be downloaded by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page. The suit was filed by the Hamlin Preservation Group.
Union Township adopted this wind energy ordinance governing the placement of industrial scale wind turbines in the town.
The Town of Enfield, in New York, received the below comments in reference to the Town's Proposed Wind Energy Facilities Local Law. The town board voted to ignore the County's recommendations and adopt the law with no changes.
On October 19, the town of Wallagrass, ME passed a 6-month moratorium on wind energy development to become effective October 16, 2008. The wording of the ordinance can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) is one of the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the country Established in 2002 under Senate Bill 1078 and accelerated in 2006 under Senate Bill 107, California's RPS obligates investor‐owned utilities (IOUs), energy service providers (ESPs) and community choice aggregators (CCAs) to procure an additional 1% of retail sales per year from eligible renewable sources until 20% is reached, no later than 2010.The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and California Energy Commission (CEC) are jointly responsible for implementing the program.
At the August 4, 2008 town meeting, the Town of Ridgeville located in Monroe County Wisconsin passed a wind ordinance to govern placement of wind energy turbines in the town. Section VI of the ordinance establishes the development and performance standards to be adhered to, including turbine sound limits and setbacks. The full ordinance can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
This paper, prepared by community noise experts George Kamperman and Richard R. James, was presented at the 2008 International Noise Conference held in Dearborn, Michigan. The abstract of the paper appears below. The full body of the report can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
The Town of Wilton, in Monroe County Wisconsin, recently adopted a land use ordinance that governs the placement of wind energy turbines in the town. Sections H and L of the ordinance address the standards pertaining to turbine sound limits and setbacks respectively. The full ordinance can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
The Magnolia Township in Rock County Wisconsin passed a wind ordinance to govern placement of wind energy turbines in the town. Sections G and J of the ordinance define standards pertaining to turbine sound limits and setbacks respectively. The full ordinance can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
Attorney Eliu Romero filed this variance application before the Taos County, New Mexico Planning Commission to erect sixty-five industrial turbines. The purpose of the variance application is to gain permission from the County to place structures in the county that exceed the height limits. Several of Mr. Romero's responses to the application questions suggest he has no knowledge as to the purpose and intent of a variance request or the conditions under which it can be approved. The application inaccurately cites the turbine height at 284-feet rather than 384-feet.
Concerned Citizens to Save Roxbury have petitioned the Roxbury, ME selectboard to hold a special meeting to determine whether the voters would support a 180-day moratorium on wind energy development. The petition filed with the selectboard and other related documents are detailed below. All documents can be accessed in full by clicking on the below links.
This full-page advertisement appeared this week in both the Blackfoot and the Post Register newspapers in Idaho. The ad responds to the recent 4-3 vote by the Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission to approve a giant wind project in Wolverine Canyon. An appeal of the decision has been lodged with the County Commissioners.
The Township of Clay Banks, Wisconsin approved a wind energy ordinance to govern the construction of wind energy conversions systems (turbines) within the Township's boundaries. The full ordinance can be downloaded by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page. The sections on Noise and Setback requirements are excerpted and presented below.
Testimony of Mr. Michael McCann, a certified general real estate appraiser with 28-years experience appraising residential and commercial property. Mr. McCann addresses the possible impacts of wind turbine development on residential properties located within 1500-feet of the turbines. His full testimony can be read by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
Jon Boone, an intervenor on the Clipper Wind proposal before the Maryland PSC presented these comments to the PSC in regard to Case No: 8938 Criterion Wind. The Criterion Wind project is the same project as the Clipper Wind proposal only reduced down to 70MW to qualify for fast-track review.
An ordinance of the township of West Providence, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, concerning and regulating the placement, construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of wind turbine generators, the issuance of land use permits in connection therewith, and prescribing penalties for violations hereof. Section 12.1 of the ordinance pertaining to setbacks is included below (2,000 feet from a property line; 2,500 feet from all structures). The full text can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
Excerpt of minutes from the Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission public hearings on the Ridgeline Energy wind facility slated for Wolverine County. This except includes testimony by Idaho Fish and Game staff biologist Jim Mende.