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Wind Alert! 27-Jun-2016News and information from The WindAction Group facts, analysis, exposure of industrial wind energy's real impacts - www.windAction.org |
| Issue: 27-Jun-2016 |
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WindAction EDITORIALA populist revolt against wind? It’s happening! “With each oversized, out-of-scale, in-your-face wind project presented, scores of people join the not-so-quiet ‘war on wind’ raging nationwide…. While Big Media and Big Wind are busy forcing the vision they want, communities are taking aggressive action to limit wind’s negative impacts and will ultimately lead to far fewer projects... → MORE Recent ArticlesWhy plans to replace Diablo Canyon with 100 percent clean energy could fall shortThere remains “a lot that is actually beyond PG&E, to be worked out at the California Public Utilities Commission, California ISO, and other California discussions,” says PG&E’s Strauss. “If action occurs too late, then there may be some challenge to the reliability of the system,” he says. “ → MORE Energy companies battle for property in McLean CountyNortheast McLean County is the site of unlikely turf war. In Chenoa, Lawndale, Lexington and Yates townships, two energy companies are vying to secure property that may be McLean County's next wind farm. → MORE Wind farm sues to block bird death data releaseThe legal dispute was generated by an Ottawa County birding organization, the Black Swamp Bird Observatory in Oak Harbor, which contends that bird death data held by both federal and state agencies is public information. Blue Creek Wind Farm LLC, which operates a wind farm in Van Wert and Paulding... → MORE Proposed Eagle Management Plan could have deadly consequencesA new eagle-management plan proposed by the federal government would give wind energy developers 30-year permits to “take” or incidentally kill protected Bald and Golden Eagles, without requiring the industry to share mortality data with the public or take into consideration such critical factors as proper siting. The so-called Eagle... → MORE Hurling 'boos,' hundreds oppose wind farm on Bethlehem's watershed at zoning hearingThe emotions were generated by a proposal for a 37-turbine farm that would sprawl across as many as 266 acres north and south of Hatchery Road in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County. The land is owned by the Bethlehem Authority, the financial arm of the city's water business, and would... → MORE Windham Asks Iberdrola to Suspend Wind Project “Immediately”“Given the marked unsuitability of the Stiles Brook Forest for an industrial wind installation, we ask that you suspend your involvement with this project immediately.” → MORE Proposed wind farms feeling blowback in Eastern NCThe legislation, House Bill 763, prohibits the skyscraping wind turbines from going up in military flight paths. The bill, which applies safety standards that are stricter than those typically used by the Department of Defense, passed the state Senate this week and now awaits a vote in the House. → MORE Rep. James Frank to file wind farm-related proposalTwo possible wind farm developments in Clay County could threaten flight training missions and radar operations at nearby Sheppard Air Force Base, according to base officials and wind energy opponents. The worst case scenario, officials have said, is that Sheppard's missions are moved elsewhere and Wichita Falls loses an estimated... → MORE Long-term energy contracts under consideration by state lawmakers risk higher prices for ratepayers, report findsAs Massachusetts lawmakers consider requiring the state to solicit long-term contracts for buying offshore wind energy and hydropower, a new study released by an independent consulting group is warning lawmakers to be aware of the potential risks of these long-term contracts. → MORE Planning commission denies temporary towersThe Henry County Planning Commission denied two requests from Apex Clean Energy to build towers in the southern part of the county to gather wind data. The meteorological towers, commonly called met towers, would have been placed in Spiceland and Dudley Township. → MORE PSEG delays energy plan, state wants more wind analysisPSEG Long Island will postpone by two months the long-awaited release of a plan for the Island’s energy sources as LIPA and the state call for further analysis of offshore wind-energy proposals and the state’s clean energy standard. → MORE Mayo group to legally challenge wind farm ruling“At a time when the UK and many other European countries are turning away from wind and investing in better alternatives that are greener, more secure, cost effective and more employment intensive, we need to do the same. → MORE Wind should stand on its own power"If you don't seen any improvement in technology costs and you see the incentives pull away ... there will be fewer places where the electricity price will get you there," he said. "You'd have to look at the exogenous impacts on the environment, and then it's a question of whether... → MORE Developer drops plan to build wind farm in Logan CountyIn the decision, commissioners said Everpower didn’t meet all the requirements of the application and failed to show why the project would have a positive impact on the local economy. ...Commissioner’s also cited a public meeting where about 40 residents spoke out against the project and only the developer spoke... → MORE Consumers Energy taking Tuscola Co. to court over wind turbine taxesWith Consumers’ new petitions, the assessed tax value of “most, if not all” wind turbines in Tuscola County are being contested by the wind energy companies, said Mike Hoagland, controller, Tuscola County. “We’re frustrated,” said Hoagland. “If we lose the dispute, we have to have the money set aside to pay... → MORE SWEDEN: Wind power investment comes with high political riskCan an investor in Swedish wind power -- for example, a European pension fund -- considering the Swedish parliamentary elections in 2018, feel safe for continued reimbursement policy? Jan Hedman and Henrik Wachtmeister of the Confederation of Swedish Landscape Protection, comment about the recent energy deal supported by all political parties... → MORE ENEL Ends Wind Farm Plans in Mason CountyENEL sent a message to Mylea Bayless of Bat Conservation International notifying the group that ENEL has made the decision to NOT move forward with the Mason County facility. → MORE Wind turbine project killed in LehightonNicole Nothstein, administrative secretary for the authority, said members were against the location on a watershed, not the alternative energy source. She said the vote reflected board members' intention to protect the watershed. → MORE Corporate tax is big loser for Oklahoma in May"Conventional wisdom says general revenue collections should rebound when oil stabilizes, but the reality is any rebound will be significantly hamstrung by wind incentives without legislative action. The revenue erosion wind incentives caused in May will be the new normal for years unless legislators act," Doerflinger said. → MORE Controversial wind turbine thrown out after blimp displayBut the scheme – which has attracted hundreds of objections – was thrown out by the Banff and Buchan area committee yesterday. Campaigners feared the scale of the turbine was not appropriate to the area. → MORE Chamber takes aim at wind credit in Senate hearingHarbert will argue that the wind production tax credit, or PTC, from the 1990s has been successful in ramping up the amount of electricity produced from wind turbines from a very low number to providing as much as 4.7 percent of the nation's power mix. But it is doing it... → MORE 'Pile-driver din is driving us round the bend' say sleepless Wirral householders"The constant, extremely loud thudding 'heartbeat' late into the night, night after night from pile driving the new crop of these monsters is hardly evidence of whoever is behind this scheme showing any consideration for the residents of Wirral. "These wind farms are rapidly becoming an ugly blot on what is... → MORE Wind turbines affecting North Dakota bird populationsStandup: The Missouri river area in Bismarck is the heart of the migration corridor for whooping cranes. Niemuth doesn't know the effect wind energy has had on the species. → MORE Letcher Township establishes one-mile wind tower setbackThe township adopted an ordinance to establish a 1-mile setback for any turbine larger than 75 feet tall. Under the approved ordinance, no large wind energy system could be built within 5,280 feet of the nearest residence of a non-participating homeowner, or within 1,500 feet of the nearest neighbor's property... → MORE Polish Parliament adopts mandatory setback for industrial wind turbines (10 times turbine height)On 9 June Polish Senate approved the bill providing for mandatory setbacks of new wind farm developments from residential housing, which had already been passed by the Lower House several weeks ago. To become law, the legislation must now be signed by Polish President Andrzej Duda and officially published. The law is expected... → MORE German cabinet puts brakes on clean energy transition In a speech introducing the reforms, Energy and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, vice-chancellor and leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party, described the move as a "paradigm shift" in energy policy. Germany would be leaving behind a system of government-mandated prices, and moving toward a more free-market pricing system, he said. → MORE El Dorado: City files lawsuit regarding wind turbine“What we asked designers for was a wind turbine that would provide all the electricity the waste water plant needed,” said City Manager Herb Llewellyn, adding this was the turbine recommended to the city. “Even when it ran optimally, it never provided the amount of power we asked for.” → MORE Wind farms whipping up opposition across rural IndianaA wind-farm aversion is driving a handful of other rural counties — including some that already have turbines — to put moratoriums on any future development as local debate unfolds. “They’re losing favor all over the state,” said Campbell, who’s now working with like-minded opposition in other communities. → MORE Blanding's turtle protected as turbine approval revokedIn essence, the tribunal ruled that whatever the benefits of renewable energy — and whatever a government’s policy interest in promoting it — they do not override the public interest in protecting against environmental harm. (Migratory birds, bats and monarch butterflies were also said to be at risk under the wind... → MORE Industry plan to reduce deadly effects of blades may not be enough, some scientists sayA research review published in January of this year found that wind turbines are, by far, the largest cause of mass bat mortality around the world. White-nose syndrome, the deadly fungal disease that has decimated bat populations throughout the northeastern U.S., came in second. → MORE England not windy enough, admits wind industry chiefEngland is not windy enough to justify building any more onshore wind turbines, the chief executive of wind industry trade body has admitted. → MORE Whale of an unintended consequenceNear the world’s largest concentration of offshore wind farms (in the North Sea and English Channel), researchers have documented dozens of beached whales — and are reaching alarming conclusions about the relationship between whale deaths and wind farms. They cite ample evidence that noise from the machines interferes with whale... → MORE Area wind project dealt huge blow“The Board of Zoning Appeals went through that massive hearing, reviewed the evidence and did a superb job of analyzing the information and making their decision,” Snyder said. “So I think from the standpoint of the (decision), Judge Bailey’s standpoint is very detailed and clearly shows the connection between the evidence that was presented and the 2,300-foot setback.” → MORE Spain’s Supreme Court backs renewable energy cutsThe Spanish Supreme Court has dealt a new blow to renewable energy producers. In a ruling, the court backed the 2014 government decree that resulted in cuts of nearly €1.7 billion in subsidies for the sector. → MORE Developer sues Clayton over moratorium on wind energy projects The suit asks that a judge annul a local law passed by the council that prohibits the Planning Board from reviewing and approving applications for permits to construct temporary wind measurement towers, commonly called Met towers. → MORE Judge upholds county denial of Dan's Mountain wind farm projectCUMBERLAND — Allegany County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Finan has upheld the county's denial of a 17-turbine wind farm project on Dan’s Mountain, according to The Associated Press. → MORE Calls for dismissal of Health Director Chua Xiong’s determination concerning Shirley Wind The Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy (BCCRWE) of Wisconsin have called for former Health Director Chua Xiong’s conclusions regarding wind turbines and health concerns to be dismissed due to the flawed process by which submitted evidence was selectively reviewed and inconsistently weighed, or ignored altogether. A summary of the situation is provided... → MORE CWLP shells out $100M-plus for wind powerFor Springfield aldermen opposed to the 10-year-old Sierra Club deal that required the city to buy power from two wind farms, December 2018 can’t come fast enough. By then, both contracts will have expired, at which point City Water, Light and Power estimates it will have spent up to $150 million.... → MORE Maryland Governor vetos RPS legislation “The goal of House Bill 1106 to increase the State’s Renewable Energy Portfolio (RPS) to 25% by 2020 is laudable, but increasing taxes to achieve this goal is the wrong approach. In 2014, Maryland ratepayers already were assessed over $104 million dollars for renewable energy credits (RECs),” the last year... → MORE Appeals court rips BLM review of contested Ore. wind projectBoth groups, which had appealed U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman's 2013 decision to throw out the case more than two years ago, have long argued the Steens Mountains location is not a proper site for an industrial-scale wind farm. They argued the project would have destroyed the grouse's nearby winter... → MORE Fort Drum relays some concerns about wind turbine development, says more research necessaryThough its radar technology can mitigate some of the turbines’ effects, the post said it is not a complete solution. The post currently has routine aviation training take place in the areas around Clayton and Henderson, where turbines are being considered. Existing windmills at the Maple Ridge farm in Lewis... → MORE Poland adopts limits on where wind farms can be builtWind farms must be built at a distance from housing of at least 10 times the height of the turbine, or about 1.5 to 2 km, under the law which was adopted by the lower house of parliament on Friday. The new regulations will also result in higher property taxes for... → MORE The growing battle between Wyoming lawmakers and the largest wind developer in AmericaWyoming lawmakers are calling such statements a bluff. The Cowboy State’s bountiful breeze means developers will continue to flock to its vast expanses of wind-blown prairie, regardless of the tax, they say. What’s more, they argue, Congress extended the $23-per-megawatt-hour tax credit for wind producers last year. They contend Power... → MORE Weyerhaeuser/Plum Creek pull out of petition battle with Moosehead Group“If Weyerhaeuser is pulling the plug on the Misery Ridge project, it’s a great day for the Moosehead region. ...Avoiding this disaster will allow us to redirect or energy and our resources to growing our economy and promoting the richness and world-class natural beauty that makes this region outstanding,” → MORE North Smithfield puts a hold on wind turbinesSaying that the town’s current laws do not adequately address the threat posed by the development of wind energy, the North Smithfield Town Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance that places a moratorium on the creation of turbines Monday night. → MORE No automatic tax breaks for Apex, local governments sayThe towns and school districts that would be affected by the proposed Apex Clean Energy wind power project are saying no to property tax breaks for the project. → MORE Yates passes moratorium on wind energy conversion systemsThe Yates Town Board passed a six-month moratorium on wind energy conversion systems at Thursday’s meeting. → MORE Denmark to scrap green energy tariffDenmark will scrap the “expensive and ineffective” tariff that has been financing renewable energy development since 1998, the government has announced. ...“The PSO tariff is expensive and ineffective. We have long believed that the rising costs are unsustainable and now it is abundantly clear that we have to find an... → MORE Recent DocumentsABC comments on 30 year Eagle Take Permits The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is taking public comment until July 5 (2016) on an eagle-management plan that could weaken protections for eagles, including the issuing of 30-year permits to wind energy and other companies that allow the “take” (or harm) of thousands of eagles. The American Bird... → MORE Steens Mountain wind project rejected: Onda v. Jewell The Ninth District Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the Oregon Natural Desert Association, and rejected a wind turbine project on Steens Mountain in southeast Oregon. The 104-megawatt project proposed by Columbia Energy Partners would have erected 70 wind turbines and a high-capacity transmission line on Steens Mountain. The approximately 100... → MORE Wind turbines cause chronic stress in Badgers (Meles Meles) in Great Britain This important paper appears to have identified a relationship between wind turbines and stress levels in badgers. The abstract and introduction of the paper are provided below. The full paper can be accessed by clicking the links on this page. → MORE Recent PicturesWildcat Wind Turbine blade failure Another of the GE 1.6 megawatt wind turbines at the Wildcat Wind facility in Tipton and Madison Counties, Indiana, experienced a catastrophic failure. Residents in the area have lost county the number of times this has happened at the site. Special thanks to the folks in Tipton County for sharing this... → MORE Turbine fire in Texas, again Another turbine was consumed by fire. This time at the Prairie Dog Wind Project in Shallowater, Texas. Firefighters were rightfully concerned that burning pieces from the turbine would cause a brush fire. → MORE |
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