Green Energy News

A proposed new wind farm in Clay County has sparked concern and opposition from some residents, and now, Sheppard Air Force Base is expressing concern and caution. Base officials say the location of the new turbines could interfere with flight training because of its proximity to flight paths and also possible interference with radar. The main concern is for the safety of their pilots and the impact wind farms have on the radar when tracking the aircraft. And they are . . .

The multibillion-shilling wind power project in Kinangop has hit a dead end after the Environment and Lands Court in Nakuru revoked its licences. The court also ordered that the petitioners be paid Sh2 million suit cost. Justice Sila Munyao on Thursday declared null and void the licences allowing establishment of the Sh15 billionwind power plant. Munyao said, however, his decision does not mean the court is against the project or mark the end of the key energy investment, which is . . .

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The fate of a bill regulating renewable energy projects is up in the air after passing the Senate Thursday. After spending months drafting the bills, senators rewrote large portions of the measure on the floor Thursday. Now, representatives may scrap it for parts and start over. The next battle between renewable energy developers and local planners will be fought in the House of Representatives. Thursday, the Senate considered amendment after amendment on a bill a handful of . . .

MONTPELIER – According to the results of a recent poll by VPR, a majority of Vermonters favor the development of more solar and wind energy projects. That same survey, however, found that residents have significant concerns with the regulatory process used to determine where they go. It’s a paradox that Senate lawmakers are trying to resolve by giving communities more say in the siting process. But critics say they’re doing it at the cost of the state’s green energy goals. Melodie . . .

A company owned by Texas tycoon T. Boone Pickens has lost a NAFTA claim against Canada over Ontario’s wind energy procurement process. Mr. Pickens’ company, Mesa Power Group LLC, filed a claim in 2011 alleging that the Ontario government discriminated against the privately owned wind energy company, which had planned to build four wind farms in the province. Mr. Pickens founded Mesa in 2007 to build wind projects across North America, and was pursuing four in southwestern Ontario with total . . .

A lawsuit by a Texas oil tycoon that alleged there was political interference at the highest levels in the awarding of wind farm contracts in Ontario has been rejected by an international tribunal. In what sources say was a split decision, the tribunal confirmed Canada complied with its obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement. T. Boone Pickens sued under Chapter 11 of NAFTA, claiming damages of $653 million plus interest after his company, Mesa Power Group LLC, lost . . .

US company NextEra Energy Resources has taken the wraps off plans to build up to 32 turbines at the 103.4MW Eight Point wind farm in western New York State. Regulatory filings show that the project area encompasses 99,000 acres of land leased from private landowners in Steuben County. The developer plans to apply for approval under the Siting Board’s Article 10 permitting process. NextEra anticipates the interconnection facilities will include a new 115kV switchyard adjacent to the 115kV Bennett Substation . . .

Despite appeal ruling, White Pines developer cleared to begin construction of 27 industrial wind turbines in South Marysburgh and Athol The Tribunal that concluded an industrial wind project in South Marysburgh and Athol will cause serious and irreversible harm to little brown bats and Blanding’s turtles—both endangered species in Ontario—decided last Tuesday it won’t stop the developer from clearing the site and constructing the 27-turbine project. The next day the developer withdrew its offer of community benefit to Prince Edward County. GREEN . . .

In March, the size of the U.S. labor force rose by nearly 400,000, as many working-age people who were previously on the sidelines jumped back into the job hunt.

MONTPELIER, Vt. – Senators approved a renewable energy siting bill on Thursday but shot down amendments favorable to towns, ratepayers and victims of industrial wind-turbine noise. After a marathon six-hour session, the long-anticipated energy siting bill S.230 passed the Senate by a 22-3 vote. The Democratic-controlled body voted down a handful of key amendments, ultimately draining enthusiasm from those who want towns to have real authority in the siting process. The legislation sets up a statewide planning process in which . . .

KINGSTON – After more than a year, the Board of Health wants to revisit a shadow flicker regulation for Kingston wind turbines. At its last meeting the board scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Monday, May 16, to start the process over again and not wait until ongoing litigation between the town and Independence wind turbine owner Kingston Wind Independence is settled. Residents who attended that meeting made their opinions clear. Prospect Street resident Joyce Gerraughty said the board . . .

CHATEAUGAY –– The Board of Education has voted not to allow a tax exemption for solar or wind projects within the school district boundaries –– a move school officials say is intended to ensure them a seat at the table during negotiations for a PILOT for the Jericho Rise wind farm. The Franklin County Industrial Development Agency has been negotiating with representatives of EDP Renewables, the parent company of Jericho Rise Windfarm LLC, over a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement that would enable . . .

A crowd of around 200 people gathered Wednesday evening at the Huron County Expo Center for a public hearing held by the Huron County Planning Commission. It was pertaining to DTE Energy’s attempt to construct a new wind energy project in areas of Bloomfield, Dwight, Lincoln and Sigel Townships, which are all zoned by the county. This was the first step in the process of establishing a wind energy overlay district. DTE Wind Energy Manager Matt Wagner spoke before the . . .

Community solar has hit a tipping point. It has become a major focus of the renewable energy sector and the subject of multiple reports and conferences where it is emerging as a highly flexible and customizable way to bring solar to a broad range of utilities and customers.

State Grid Corp. of China, which manages the electricity grid in the world’s most populous nation, blamed a lack of planning for congestion in its network that forced authorities to limit the amount of power renewable energy generators can sell.

When the final tally was taken Thursday on a bill designed to improve the siting of renewable energy projects in the Senate, it passed 22-3. Sounds like a slam-dunk piece of legislation with wide support, right? This bill was anything but that. Senators spent four and a half hours wading through some 30 amendments before ending up with a patchwork bill that almost no one likes. “There are significant flaws,” said Ben Walsh, energy policy advocate for the Vermont Public . . .

Although Botetourt County officials have approved the wind turbine project on North Mountain, it still needs approval from federal and state agencies. Some Rockbridge area residents are still not sold on the project, which would put 25 sleek wind turbines taller than the Statue of Liberty atop the iconic ridgeline. The project would produce 75 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power the typical energy use of 20,000 homes each year. It would be Virginia’s first utility-scale wind energy project, . . .

Opponents of additional wind farm projects in Clay County may have gained a powerful ally: Sheppard Air Force Base. Two high ranking base officials told attendees of a Thursday town hall meeting in Henrietta that the installation of a proposed wind turbine farm in the area could interfere with base radar and could limit the number of days pilots are able to train. It’s also possible that a wind energy development could force the Department of Defense to move Sheppard’s . . .

Stowe officials agree with their counterparts in more than 100 other Vermont towns that they should have more say about where renewable energy projects are located. The Stowe Select Board formally adopted Monday a resolution penned by Rutland officials, asking the Legislature to change state law about siting and approval of such projects. The resolution also urges lawmakers to change the way the Vermont Public Service Board does business. Now, the three-person board has the final say on whether to . . .