Wind Watch: Industrial Wind Energy News
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Brunswick board to stake out position on offshore turbines
Offshore wind turbines are back on the radar for southeastern North Carolina local governments. Brunswick County’s board of commissioners will consider a resolution opposing offshore wind turbines sited fewer than 24 nautical miles of the shoreline, following the lead of a handful of its oceanfront towns, including Bald Head Island, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Caswell Beach. The board is set to meet at 3 p.m. Monday in the commissioners’ chambers, Sandifer Administration Building, 30 Government Center Drive, Bolivia. . . . Complete story »
Call to ban onshore windfarm developments in Clare
Councillor Ian Lynch has described the West Clare Municipal District (WCMD) as “saturated with windfarms”. Addressing the July meeting of the district, he warned that the landscape and the viability of rural communities could be destroyed unless such a ban is imposed. The Independent member also said that with the future development of offshore wind energy infrastructure at the Moneypoint site, the need for more onshore facilities no longer exists. “West Clare is saturated with windfarms already and allowing planning . . . Complete story »
New 14-turbine wind farm proposal near Carnlough ‘at an early stage of design’
A new 14-turbine wind farm has been proposed for a site two miles from Carnlough on the Antrim coast. The project is being developed by Larne-based company Renewable Energy Systems based at Millbrook. A proposal of application notice has been submitted to the Department of Infrastructure ahead of a planning application expected to be submitted later this year. This is the same company that is behind a proposal for Ballygilbert Wind Farm outside Ballygally. In May, Mid and East Antrim’s . . . Complete story »
Fire breaks out at Tesla Big Battery; toxic smoke warning issued
Emergency services are warning of toxic smoke after a fire erupted at Victoria’s new Tesla Big Battery, the largest lithium-ion battery in the country. One of the Tesla megapack batteries at the site in Moorabool, near Geelong, caught fire during testing shortly after 10am on Friday, according to French renewable energy giant Neoen. “We can confirm that during initial testing today at approximately 10-10.15am a fire occurred within one of the Tesla Megapacks at the Victorian Big Battery,” Neoen Australia . . . Complete story »
Victoria’s Tesla Big Battery catches fire
French renewable giant Neoen’s Victorian Big Battery at Geelong caught fire on Friday, only a day after it began operations. In the first major fire at big battery project in Australia, a Tesla Megapack battery caught fire at the 300 megawatt battery project at Moorabool, near Geelong, just after 10am. It comes only two months since a unit at Callide C coal-fired power station exploded and caught fire in Central Queensland. The Australian Energy Market Operator confirmed the big battery . . . Complete story »
Stark County residents voice opposition to wind energy project
Frustrated and vocal residents descended on a usually scarce attended meeting of the Stark County Planning and Zoning meeting on Thursday, as the first public commentary session began on a Marathon and One Energy proposed wind energy project on Patterson Lake. The overwhelming consensus from residents who took to the podium was for the county to stop the project and reject construction of wind turbines within the city of Dickinson. In May, Marathon Petroleum Corp. signed an agreement with One . . . Complete story »
‘Back to square one’
DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP – The Douglass Township Planning Commission is hoping for another year to work on the challenge of creating a fair wind energy ordinance. Well over 100 people attended Wednesday’s three-hour-plus Douglass Township Planning Commission meeting, where a proposed “Citizens Ordinance” on wind energy was tabled until late October and the Planning Commission voted to recommend the township board extend a wind energy moratorium until August 2022. – DN Photo | Elisabeth Waldon More than 100 people packed Douglass Township Hall . . . Complete story »
Study: right whales seen tear-round in waters targeted for offshore wind development
North Atlantic right whales can now be found year-round in offshore wind development areas in the waters off Southern New England, a new study found. Previously, it was thought that the critically endangered whales were only present in high numbers in waters off Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard from late winter to early spring. But new research, published July 29 in Endangered Species Research, has revealed that dozens more individual whales are using the area in the fall and summer – and . . . Complete story »
Locals opposed to plan for wind turbine near Bagenalstown
A proposed wind turbine in Bagenalstown is set encounter local opposition. A wind turbine, which has a tip height of 85.5 metres, is proposed for Kildreenagh, Bagenalstown along with a 25 metre sq substation. Two locals who contacted The Nationalist say they have concerns about the impact of the structure if it is granted permission. Both individuals, who did not wish to be named, said there was little information about the proposal and a lack of consultation. They also cite . . . Complete story »
Farmersville’s voiding of Alle-Catt road use agreement overturned by judge
LITTLE VALLEY – A judge earlier this week overturned the Farmersville Town Board’s decision to void a road use agreement with Alle-Catt Wind Energy, but said it could be voided at some future date. Acting Cattaraugus County Supreme Court Judge Terrence Parker also ruled that an anti-wind farm town board member did not have a personal conflict of interest when he voted to void the agreement. On Oct. 12, 2020, the town board voted to void the 2019 agreement, which members . . . Complete story »
