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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Offaly in danger of becoming the wind farm capital of Europe
Responding to the decision by Offaly County Council to grant planning permission for a wind farm at Moanvane, current sitting Laois TD and candidate for Laois-Offaly at the next General Election, Sinn Féin’s Brian Stanley said, “this is a bad decision for Walsh Island and the surrounding area and will have a huge impact on local residents.” “By any standards this is a large-scale development incorporating 12 giant turbines over 500 feet in height. Each turbine is to generate 4 . . . Complete story »
Angst over transmission lines for wind farms
Concern is mounting about the impact of several power transmission lines from new and planned wind farms in the south-west. Scores of residents from the Mortlake and Noorat areas will meet again at Noorat on Thursday to express concern that the scale of 51 kilometre-long transmission line built from the Salt Creek wind farm at Woorndoo, north of Mortlake, to Terang was too large. Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan will address the 7.30pm meeting at the Kolora-Noorat Football Netball Club . . . Complete story »
Maple Grove continues civil discussion of wind turbines
MAPLE GROVE TWP. – On April 16, the Maple Grove Township Board meeting was again filled with close to 200 residents who wanted to voice their opinions about allowing wind turbines in the community. Township Superintendent Kevin Krupp addressed the crowd saying, “Last month was a very good conversation.” Krupp said he talked with Norm Stephens of Almer Township in Tuscola County who told him that he’d never seen such a calm and open dialog about wind turbines in all . . . Complete story »
Maine needs zones free of windmills, power lines
GLENBURN – Since first hiking into the Maine woods in 1965 as a forester and photographer, I note huge changes in our visual landscape, a key asset for quality of life and tourism. Wind farms and power transmission contribute to the visual degradation, and more is coming. In 1983, my son and I slept overnight in the old Barren Mountain fire tower on the Appalachian Trail. At midnight I peered out the window into a starlit sky, extending in all directions . . . Complete story »
Power cuts plague Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth – Patrons at the popular Eviction Bar in Santa Cruz eagerly leaned forward on their stools. In what had been a pulsating first 25 minutes, Manchester City – on the brink of securing the English Premier League football title – had just gone 2-0 ahead of hosts Tottenham Hotspurs. The football was all the more enthralling since Manchester City had been forced to endure three straight defeats in all competitions, prior to their trip to Tottenham. Then, with expectations . . . Complete story »
“Fools Gold, the taxpayer scam called wind energy”
I have read in several papers (including today’s Argus) Bart Pfankuch’s article entitled “Wind Farm Surge draws vocal opposition”. Although written April 2, this article has been everywhere and is still making the rounds over 2 weeks later. I wonder why. Then I heard SDPUC Commissioner Gary Hanson on the radio talking about the same thing. And they were both using the same talking points; “The surge in wind energy in South Dakota was akin to a gold rush”. My . . . Complete story »
Council bill would put more wind turbines on NYC rooftops
The City Council will consider a bill Monday to standardize wind-turbine installation on rooftops as part of a suite of green legislation wending its way through the chamber. Currently, anyone who wants a turbine must apply for a special permit from the Department of Buildings, which is notorious for bureaucracy. “As anyone who’s dealt with [the department] knows, even the most garden-variety projects can often ensnare you in endless strands of red tape,” Councilman Costa Constantinides, a Queens Democrat and . . . Complete story »
‘Big Wind’ is moving into South Dakota
“Big Wind” has set their sights on northeastern South Dakota. They have stealthily contacted local landowners, offering money for the rights to their property. Some landowners have accepted the easy money. However, the majority of land leased to wind developers, is land where the landowner does not reside. Those landowners (‘participators’) will not be subjected to the danger, irritation, and home value loss a turbine and transmission lines erected on that property bring to the people who live next to . . . Complete story »
Johnson & Johnson praised as wind is taken out of its Limerick turbine plans
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been praised after the firm withdrew plans for a controversial wind turbine near its Plassey factory. The Limerick Leader this week revealed, following a public outcry, that the firm is to go back to the drawing board, and resubmit plans for the 100m high structure this summer. It came after a meeting between management at the firm, local residents and metropolitan area councillors. One member present, Cllr Marian Hurley, who lives in nearby Annacotty said: . . . Complete story »
Hundreds of villagers hold officials hostage over Vietnam power plant plans
Hundreds of villagers in central Vietnam’s Binh Dinh province held five local officials hostage for a day before releasing them late on Friday to demand that authorities free more than a dozen people detained for holding an environmental protest, according to sources. Residents of My Tho and My An communes, in Binh Dinh’s Phu My district, on Wednesday held a protest against what state media has reported are plans by Vietnam Trading Engineering Construction’s (Vietracimex) to construct a wind power . . . Complete story »
