WindAction EDITORIAL (10 Nov) USA - Big wind’s complaint that the language reneges on a previous deal is entirely unfounded. The so-called ‘deal’ AWEA is trying to preserve … was a backroom negotiation between industry and Obama-era IRS lawyers to craft guidance that went well beyond the statute. Congress is finally taking corrective action. ...[T]he GOP... → MORE Recent Articles (10 Nov) New York - The biggest recipient of taxpayer cash on ACENY’s roster is the world’s biggest and most-litigious wind-energy producer: NextEra Energy ...NextEra is using some of that taxpayer cash to sue small towns including Hinton, Okla., and Almer and Ellington in Michigan. What did those tiny towns do to irritate the energy... → MORE (10 Nov) Indiana - People in Fulton County are divided about are divided about possible wind farms coming to town. Thursday night county commissioners held a public meeting to learn about the details of the plans. RES, a renewable energy company, is the company being considered to bring the turbines to town. They're working on... → MORE (10 Nov) UK - The document claims that ‘it has been widely assumed that the underlying costs of offshore wind are falling and that the CfD prices indicate a sudden paradigm for the technology’. Yet, the report points to statistical analysis of the data, covering 86 wind farms, which suggests that the capital cost of... → MORE (10 Nov) Montana - New rules will require big wind farm owners to post bonds with the state of Montana to ensure decommissioning including the removal of giant towers. Draft decommissioning rules were published Thursday by the state Department of Environmental Quality detailing the process and requirements. → MORE (10 Nov) UK - In the inspector’s report, it was recommended the Department for Communities and Local Government throw out the application as damage to the heritage aspects of the area would not be outweighed by the public benefits of the proposed development. → MORE (9 Nov) Australia | Europe - France has been criticised over an “outrageous” plan to build a six-turbine wind farm on a First World War battlefield where thousands of British and Australian soldiers were killed. → MORE (9 Nov) - For skeptics in the energy industry, it provides fuel for their old argument that renewables just don’t make enough money. But the change in fortunes more reflects a formerly niche industry that relied on government support for so long and is now having to fight its own corner against the... → MORE (8 Nov) Minnesota - Saliterman said that while the concerns of landowners in Faribault County are common when it comes to wind turbine installations, the amount of opposition for a project of this size is unusual. ...Saliterman believes the large pushback from landowners is due to misinformation being circulated via social media. → MORE (8 Nov) UK - A bid to build a 12-turbine wind farm near Bonchester Bridge was rejected by councillors this week. ...the plans were thrown out, mainly because of their feared adverse effect on the landscape, properties and historic sites. → MORE (8 Nov) South Dakota - “Don’t be playing in the dirt,” Hanson cautioned them, “until you get a permit.” ...The company moved dirt at several sites in Hand County during 2016, and did other work there too, all without the state energy-conversion permit required by South Dakota law. → MORE (7 Nov) Michigan - A federal judge recently dealt a blow to big wind development in a Tuscola County township. A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources sued Almer Township in U.S. District Court in February alleging that the township's Board of Trustees had systematically tried to prevent the development of a wind farm. → MORE (7 Nov) New York - Among the recommendations in the 118-page report was for military officials to identify areas where wind turbines could pose a threat, to create a Regional Wind Energy Policy Steering Group to raise awareness of potential projects, to become an “Interested Party” on the state Siting Board and to coordinate with... → MORE (7 Nov) Indiana - This page contains three (3) separate letters submitted to the paper describing individual experiences with the operating wind turbines in the community → MORE (7 Nov) Germany - The world’s second-largest maker of wind turbines announced the job cuts as it released disappointing earnings and a 2018 outlook that was below forecasts. “The guidance for next year is 14 per cent lower than the street had expected.” → MORE (6 Nov) New Mexico | Texas - The company says the project could save customers of Xcel subsidiary Southwest Public Service Co., about $2.8 billion in electric costs over 30 years by offsetting higher fuel costs from natural gas and other sources. But PRC utility staff say the projected savings aren’t guaranteed. T → MORE (6 Nov) USA - Jim Carson, principal at the RisQuant Energy consultancy in St. Paul, Minnesota, said he does not trust the LCOE numbers, saying, "They explicitly ignore 'integration costs,' reliability value and externalities." The location value of generation -- where it is located, relative to load -- is also excluded for consideration, Carson said.... → MORE (4 Nov) Denmark | USA - The Danish wind turbine giant could run out of puff as a result of a new Republican tax proposal. → MORE (3 Nov) Australia - A plan to build a massive 223 turbine wind farm near Penshurst has been abandoned. → MORE (2 Nov) Maryland - “Our committee has become concerned that the planned wind farm development off the coast of Ocean City, as currently conceived, could have a serious, negative impact on Ocean Pines Association property owners, as well as a majority of county residents and businesses,” Wolf said. “Our apprehension is based on certain... → MORE (29 Oct) Maine - Four area members of the Legislature have joined county commissioners in Somerset and Piscataquis counties in opposition to proposed industrial wind projects in the Moosehead Lake region as a threat to the area’s tourism-dependent economy. → MORE (27 Oct) Vermont - MONTPELIER — The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules accepted sound standards crafted by the Public Utilities Commission for wind turbines by a 5-2 vote. This rule-making initiative is a requirement of 2016’s Act 174 energy siting policy. → MORE (27 Oct) Nebraska - Hines and Harms both reiterated that Fish and Wildlife could only make recommendations to NPPD, but that ultimately it was NPPD that decided the route for the transmission line. “We suggested two alternate routes that would have minimal environmental impact,” Harms said. “NPPD came back and said those routes wouldn’t work... → MORE (27 Oct) Michigan - A costly legal war over wind turbines in northern Lapeer County is such a sure bet that an insurance agent told the Burnside Township Board of Trustees Monday he won’t run the risk of writing an insurance policy for the municipality. ...“Now I know why I’m here,” Lansky told the... → MORE (26 Oct) Rhode Island - With nearly 3,000 registered taxpayers casting ballots, the measure passed with 50.2 percent of the vote. While no windmill ever was constructed, the $6.5 million in potential borrowing has been hanging over the town’s head. As that vote reaches its seven-year anniversary, however, the town is ready to relinquish the burden. → MORE (26 Oct) Virginia - Apex Clean Energy will not start site work by the end of this year, as originally planned, on a project to build up to 25 giant, power-generating turbines on top of a Botetourt County mountain, a company official said Wednesday. → MORE (26 Oct) South Dakota - The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission turned down an application Wednesday for a wind-energy complex proposed for Clark County. The regulatory panel voted 3-0 to reject Crocker Wind Farm. The project called for up to 200 turbines spread across more than 29,000 acres north of Clark. → MORE (24 Oct) Massachusetts - Last week, The Green Center and a dozen citizens filed the motion asking to be allowed to intervene, even though the trial is over and a ruling has already been issued. In documents, they argue taxpayer interests had not been adequately protected by the town. → MORE (23 Oct) UK - Pat Spence is begging ScottishPower Renewables to do 'the decent thing' and buy her out of her home after she claims windfarm noise became unbearable. → MORE (20 Oct) Ontario - Fourteen Chatham area well owners have now filed water well interference complaints against the developers of a 34 turbine wind power project near their farms. The Council of Canadians is demanding work stop immediately on the North Kent One Wind project (owned by Samsung Energy and Pattern Energy) before more... → MORE (20 Oct) Indiana - “We were able to receive good input from both sides of the issue,” he said. “The process was a little slower than we expected, but time is not the issue. We just want to make sure we do it right and that’s what we’re trying to do. → MORE (20 Oct) UK - Those fighting the wind farm at Cairn Duhie, 1.5km south east of the village of Ferness, said it would destroy the stunning scenery and nature which attracts tourists, particularly the Dava Moors which has special landscape area (SLA) status and the Cairngorm National Park. → MORE (19 Oct) Minnesota - The Minnesota Legislative Energy Commission in the Senate held a hearing on Wind Turbine Noise and Health Effects on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The hearing agenda, full audio and speaker submissions can be accessed here. → MORE (19 Oct) UK - If no electricity is produced by one of the turbines for a year it has to be removed, and the work to do this carried out within six months of this deadline due to the condition that is currently in place. The land this turbine was situated on would then... → MORE (18 Oct) Massachusetts - David Dardi, who lives near the turbine and who had been keeping track of the turbine noise, said the turbine continued to “disrupt the sleep and adversely impact the lives and health of both my neighbors and myself.” ...Selectman Karen Canfield said she would support to curtail the use of... → MORE (18 Oct) Iowa - Editor's Note: This is a continuation of the story titled "Tempers Flare at Public Hearing on Wind Turbine Application" that ran in the Reporter on Oct.10. → MORE (18 Oct) Nebraska - The Sandhills are one of the world’s largest contiguous grasslands and the largest stabilized sand dune region. They are 11-percent groundwater derived wetlands. They provide crucial habitat to migratory birds. The Sandhills remain pristine and unaltered. They are unique and truly Nebraska’s finest natural resource. Most residents of the Sandhills, as... → MORE (17 Oct) Maine - "A couple of months ago there was a meeting held right here where I'd say over 200 fishermen came and voiced their concerns about this project overall and there was not a single voice of support." → MORE (13 Oct) Illinois - For the second time in a month, the Ford County Board voted Monday night to place a moratorium on granting any future wind farm permits until the county’s permitting ordinance is reviewed. Last month’s vote was taken without the specific action listed on the agenda for the meeting, so it was... → MORE (12 Oct) Ontario - WindShare's own blog about the Exhibition Place turbine shows it has been plagued with problems over the past five years. The issues began after the turbine's main bearing was replaced in 2011. ...A series of what the operators called "cascading faults" took the turbine off line from the summer of... → MORE (10 Oct) Indiana - INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana should not regulate statewide zoning requirements for wind turbine development, those in the industry said Thursday, despite requests from Hoosiers who favor state controls to assure consistency. → MORE (28 Sep) Europe - An explosion was heard prior to the fire at the Dutch wind farm, Zeewolde, which is one of the country's largest; Two technicians were on the site when the accident happened. → MORE (27 Sep) Oklahoma - The Denver Federal Appeals court, in a unanimous decision overturned a lower court ruling and said Enel Green, the owner of Osage Wind, had to obtain a mining permit in the construction of its wind farm in western Osage County, land controlled by the Osage Nation. → MORE Recent Documents (10 Nov) UK - The new report prepared by economics professor Gordon Hughes, a former advisor to World Bank, Dr Capell Aris, a fellow of the IET, and Dr John Constable of the Global Warming Policy Forum, explains how the broad assumption that offshore wind prices are falling is not valid. Through a detailed statistical... → MORE (10 Nov) Texas - Attached to this page are two letters by the American Bird Conservancy sent to EDF Renewables in regard to EDF's proposed Vista Mountain wind project slated for Hamilton and Mills counties in Texas. The letters raise specific concerns with the impact of the turbines on the ecologically-sensitive Texas Hill Country/Cross Timbers Region... → MORE (3 Nov) Michigan - This important decision by US District Court Judge Thomas L. Ludington addresses two arguments proffered by the wind industry. The first relates to the industry's argument that noise standards for limiting turbine noise emissions that are based on Lmax are not reasonable. The second discusses the argument that restricitve ordinances, in this case... → MORE (30 Oct) USA - This new report examines how locations where industrial wind turbines were erected near residences experienced measurable upticks in suicide. The researcher identifies three indirect tests of the role of low-frequency noise exposure including those most vulnerable to the noise, prevailing wind direction and potental of greater noise impacts, and turbine noise resulting... → MORE (13 Oct) Ontario - This report by the Fraser Institute finds that Ontario’s Green Energy Act and its induced inefficiencies, have caused electricity prices to increase dramatically —now the highest in Canada—have cost the province an estimated 74,881 manufacturing jobs since the 2008 recession. High electricity prices are threatening industrial competitiveness, in particular that of... → MORE
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