Saturday, May 12, 2012

National Wind Watch | May 12, 2012



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Subject: National Wind Watch | May 12, 2012
Date: Sat, 12 May 2012 09:12:05 -0400
From: news@wind-watch.org



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Health, Noise
11 May 2012

Wind Turbine Acoustic Pollution Assessment Requirements
On behalf of the many people around the world, suffering acute and chronic health damage from living near wind turbines, the Waubra Foundation demands that relevant authorities initiate: full frequency spectrum acoustic monitoring inside and outside the homes and workplaces of people claiming health problems caused by the proximity of operating wind turbines; the monitoring must be conducted for sufficient time, under the weather and wind conditions indicated by victims as being contributive to their symptoms; measurements must specifically include, . . . Complete story »
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For every wind turbine brought online, a more stable backup power source must be found. —Michael Milstein, Bonneville Power Administration, Oregon Public Broadcasting, June 11, 2009

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In the News

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Maine
12 May 2012

Wind farm resentments seep back to surface
FREEDOM — For the past four years, the wind turbines atop Beaver Ridge have been churning out power. Residents near the wind farm say the spinning blades are disturbingly loud, but in recent years debate about the development has been relatively quiet. Until now. In late April, a series of events at Town Hall unearthed deep resentments that span six years. The newest sticking point is regulation. Since 2007, there has been no ordinance to regulate industrial wind projects in . . . Complete story »
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California
12 May 2012

Coalition of tribes, environmental leaders and lawyers call for halt to "fast tracking" of massive energy projects on federal public lands
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today signed the Record of Decision, giving a go-ahead for the contentious Ocotillo Express wind project. The announcement came just hours after a coalition of environmental leaders, tribal representatives, off-road vehicle users, outdoor enthusiasts, residents and legal spokespersons called for a national moratorium on the "fast tracking" of massive energy projects on federal public lands. "This industrial wind project is symbolic of what's wrong with the current federal fast-tracking process," Terry Weiner, Imperial County . . . Complete story »
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Australia
12 May 2012

Boorowa's turbine turmoil
Slashing the number of turbines in the proposed Rugby Wind Farm in the Booroowa district has not eased concerns of residents in the district. Project co-developer REpower Australia released a scaled-down version of the Rugby Wind Farm project following community feedback. The revised project has 52 wind turbines dotted between Rugby and Boorowa – down from 90 turbines – with a generating capacity of 166.4 megawatts, producing more than 550 gigawatt-hours of clean energy production each year, enough to power . . . Complete story »
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Massachusetts
12 May 2012

Planning Board will accelerate turbine bylaw work
After Tuesday's town elections are out of the way, the Falmouth Planning Board plans to adopt a weekly meeting schedule so it can develop its wind turbine siting bylaw in time for the November Annual Town Meeting. That decision came after Tuesday night's board meeting, which saw more than 90 minutes of discussion on the draft bylaw, most of it focused on how to precisely define turbines as an accessory use structure. Starting with its next meeting on Tuesday, May . . . Complete story »
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Scotland
12 May 2012

EFTAG to hold council to account
An umbrella group which was set up in east Fife to protect homes and communities from a "tsunami" of wind turbines has promised to hold the new Fife Council administration to account. The East Fife Turbine Awareness Group (EFTAG) — whose members include Graham Lang, who recently shared an anti-windfarm platform alongside tycoon Donald Trump at the Scottish Parliament — said that, irrespective of what party or parties formed the council, it would continue fighting against a "torrent" of speculative . . . Complete story »
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Rhode Island
12 May 2012

Two sites in Bradford chosen for wind turbines
WESTERLY — Two Bradford sites have been selected as locations for wind turbines that could begin generating electricity by the end of 2013. One of the 420-foot turbines would be constructed in a wooded area of the Bradford Preserve. The second turbine would be constructed in an adjacent wooded area off of Old Carriage Road. The town owns both parcels. The Bradford Preserve site is managed by the Westerly Municipal Land Trust, which determined a wind turbine would not adversely . . . Complete story »
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England
12 May 2012

Villagers resist bid to create 'Turbine Heath'
Angry villagers claim their homes are in danger of being surrounded by a spiralling number of wind turbines. Work has already started on five giant windmills on the outskirts of Clacton. German company Renerco is building the county's first onshore windfarm at Earls Hall. The controversial project sparked outrage when it was proposed six years ago and was turned down by Tendring Council. Anti-turbine protestors set up STAPLE – South Tendring Action to Protect the Local Environment – to fight . . . Complete story »
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England
12 May 2012

Windfarm traffic chaos: debate
Residents could be faced with three months of traffic chaos if plans for a five-turbine windfarm are given the go-ahead. Lorries will make more than 2,000 trips through Haverigg during the construction of the windfarm on land adjacent to HMP Haverigg. Plans have been submitted to Copeland Borough Council by Partnerships for Renewables (PfR) but a decision is not due for several months. A total of 1,042 lorries carrying cement, gravel and other aggregates would travel to the site, off . . . Complete story »
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Nebraska
12 May 2012

Wind farm requires tons of materials, miles of roads, cables
KEARNEY — Tons of concrete and rebar, miles of roads and electrical cables, and some mighty big cranes are the materials and tools required to build the Broken Bow Wind farm. The general contractor, Wanzek Construction, has constructed more than 60 wind farms of 20 turbines or more. That includes six projects for Edison Mission Group, owner of the project now under construction in the hills of southern Custer County. Jake Nikle of Wanzek's Fargo, N.D., office provided the Hub . . . Complete story »
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California
12 May 2012

Bureau of Land Management blesses Ocotillo Express wind turbine project
A 112-wind-turbine project set to be built east of Ocotillo received approval from the Department of Interior on Friday, the Bureau of Land Management announced. The announcement comes about two weeks after the Board of Supervisors approved the project amidst heavy opposition from the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the Quechan Tribe, environmentalists and some Ocotillo residents who appealed for the project's denial. The Ocotillo Express LLC Wind Energy project will be built mostly on BLM land and hence, this . . . Complete story »
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Kansas
12 May 2012

County adopts countywide zoning plan
Pratt, Kan. — Pratt County Commissioners Dwight Adams, Charles Rink and Joe Reynolds unanimously adopted countywide zoning Monday, during their regular meeting. Prior to approving the proposed ordinance, commissioners listened to telephone comments from Erica Eckley of the Center for Agricultural Law, Iowa State University, concerning possible lawsuits caused by what she referred to as "takings". "Takings" refer to loss of income due to regulations imposed on space and airspace. Compensation under state statutes may be compelled as a result . . . Complete story »
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Massachusetts
12 May 2012

Vineyard homeowner's appeal of Cape Wind project fails
Another court challenge against Cape Wind has failed. On Wednesday the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rejected an appeal by Thomas M. Melone, a 13-year summer resident of Edgartown, who nearly two years ago was denied an opportunity to formally intervene in a state review of a business deal between Cape Wind and National Grid. In August 2010 Mr. Melone filed an appeal of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities' approval of a long-term power purchase agreement between Cape Wind and . . . Complete story »
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Massachusetts, Complaints
11 May 2012

One week in, neighbors complain of turbines' effects
FAIRHAVEN — Karen Isherwood's teacup Chihuahua, Hercules, barked at Kevin McKenna as he entered her backyard on Teal Circle Thursday afternoon. A tire swing hanging from a Locust tree swayed in the breeze as tips of wind turbine blades peeked out from above the trees, powering the town's wastewater treatment plant less than a half-mile away. "This is better than yesterday," McKenna said, looking at the turbine and crossing his arms. "We're on the less noisy side today." The wind . . . Complete story »
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Rhode Island
11 May 2012

Eminent domain concerns buffet wind plans
EAST BAY — The Warren Town Council joined several other area towns Tuesday night in expressing concern over legislation that would create a nine-member East Bay Energy Consortium — and give it the power of eminent domain. Town council members took no action on the legislation, but said they'll meet with Warren's representatives and senator to discuss what could happen if the current bill to officially establish EBEC as a quasi-public agency is approved by the General Assembly. At issue? . . . Complete story »
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Vermont
11 May 2012

Derby Line wind: Balking on the border
DERBY — If Derby Selectman Karen Jenne has her way, the Derby Select Board will vote Monday to oppose the Derby Line Wind Project. And then Jenne hopes that Encore Redevelopment — having lost support from the select board of the host community — will pull the plug on the wind project that has fueled opposition now on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border. The Derby Select Board has already voted to stop negotiating with Encore, with a majority of . . . Complete story »
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Massachusetts
11 May 2012

Salem conducts sound testing for possible turbine
The Salem Energy Planning Office has begun an additional round of acoustic testing on Winter Island Road in Salem and Naugus Head in Marblehead, part of what Salem city officials describe as efforts to address community concerns about the possibility of a wind turbine being constructed on Winter Island. "The sound testing measures the background noises in the residential areas nearest to the proposed site," said Paul Marquis, Salem's Energy Manager. "The testing is happening because of criticism we received . . . Complete story »
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Ontario
11 May 2012

Pay more for wind turbines
It doesn't happen too often but Armow resident Ashley Duncan received applause and a standing ovation from some Kincardine councillors after delivering her address on the pending Samsung/Pattern wind farm development in her area. Duncan got right to the point, urging council to approve a building permit increase for turbines to 35 thousand dollars apiece — well above the normal going rate. That works out to more than 3.4 million dollars. She says if the turbine developers are going to . . . Complete story »
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Massachusetts, Opinions
11 May 2012

Making my intentions clear: Unfortunate response to my 'KidWind' email
Dear Nancy and Susan, I extend my sincere apologies that you felt threatened by my email. It was intended to express my respect for what you do and simultaneously a concern that not all appropriate information is being considered relative to industrial wind. I apologize also for sending the email in all caps. I do not appreciate and have never intentionally used all caps in my communications. In review, I believe that when I attached the list of sponsors from . . . Complete story »
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Ontario
11 May 2012

Municipalities on the outside looking in
More and more across eastern Ontario, citizens are standing up in opposition to large-scale solar- and wind-power projects. It's pushback against the province's Green Energy Act, which took away the ability of municipalities to regulate where megaprojects can and cannot be built. In Kingston's rural area to the northwest, Samsung is about to build a 100-megawatt solar facility on 800 acres of land it has accumulated through private deals with landowners. Kingston has no power to officially criticize, alter or . . . Complete story »
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Letters, U.S.
11 May 2012

Blowing in the wind, at a very high cost to consumers
Your May 5 editorial "Gouged by the Wind" is a powerful blow for sanity. If users of electric energy in Minnesota are paying only a whopping $0.1076 per kilowatt-hour, then we in New Jersey should wish for similar good fortune. Here in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative-skewered New Jersey, my residential electric bill was running at around $0.18 per kilowatt-hour the last time I checked. This is over 1.6 times the rate which applies in Minnesota. RGGI is an economically destructive . . . Complete story »
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Texas
11 May 2012

District judge throws out lawsuit about Sinton wind turbine dispute
SINTON — A judge dismissed a lawsuit about a Sinton wind turbine project today, saying the court doesn't have jurisdiction to hear the case. The ruling effectively halts the Sinton school district's plan to build two turbines on its high school campus unless the district decides to appeal to a higher court. Superintendent Steve VanMatre and the district's attorney, Roger Hepworth, said they would discuss the situation with the school board. The district sued the city of Sinton to try . . . Complete story »
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Colorado, Letters
11 May 2012

Sticker shock with municipal energy
As the funds are pouring in and we are beginning to flex our sustainability muscles, it seems like a good time to help Boulder citizens visualize how their municipal energy money is going to be spent. First, imagine the entire Pearl Street Mall is covered with a one-foot thick carpet of taxpayer's $100 bills and a gigantic wind turbine has been erected next to the West End. During the big kick-off ceremony for the Boulder Sticker Shock Electric Company, the . . . Complete story »
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Nebraska
11 May 2012

NPPD moratorium could stall wind energy development in Nebraska
Nebraska's gust of wind energy could be slowing to a breeze. The Nebraska Public Power District — considered the leader in wind energy development in the state — intends to build few, if any, wind farms over the next five years. Wind energy supporters view NPPD's decision — outlined in a resolution — as a moratorium. They say the state's largest electric utility should be doing more, not less, to develop wind energy resources. Nebraska has the fourth best wind . . . Complete story »
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Maine, Opinions
11 May 2012

Vanishing Vacationland
I have been vacationing and now living in Maine since 1949. The lure of The North Woods was ingrained in me from my earliest memories. Our family came every summer from wherever we lived at the time. Alabama, Ohio, New York, Maryland, New Jersey … none of them had the draw we had to this beautiful, wild wilderness. We brought a number of families with us over the years to experience Maine, and every one of them ended up coming . . . Complete story »
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Mexico
11 May 2012

Protesters block work at Latin America's biggest wind farm
Political conflicts have prevented the start of work on Latin America's largest wind farm, the 396MW Mareña Renovables project in Oaxaca, Mexico, which is being built by the turbine supplier Vestas. Protesters from the San Dionisio del Mar communal assembly stopped 30 wind farm workers laying out routes for access roads in the Barra de Santa Teresa area. The protesters say they have set up a permanent watch to make sure the contractors do not return. The San Dionisio commune, . . . Complete story »
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Ontario
11 May 2012

Peninsula prime for turbines; Plans for 200 turbines running into local opposition
Wind farm developers see the scenic Bruce Peninsula as an ideal locale for industrial turbines. At least two companies have announced plans to erect some 200 turbines throughout the northern stretch of Bruce County. "We have always believed that the Bruce Peninsula is a good wind area to add to the Ontario grid and we believe that is why our project is still on track," said Daniel LeBlanc, project director for Preneal Canada, which hopes to build up to 75 . . . Complete story »
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Quebec, Vermont
11 May 2012

Enter the Canadians
DERBY, VT/STANSTEAD, QUE. – Stanstead can now officially intervene on the proposed Derby Line Wind project, according to an order by the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) issued May 9. Stanstead residents and town officials are in an uproar over the proposed project and have held rallies against it. Stanstead Mayor Philippe Dutil even threatened to shut off the water to Beebe Plains, VT, if Vermont towns and villages on the border support the project. The Town of Stanstead requested . . . Complete story »
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Letters, U.K.
11 May 2012

Locals powerless against the wind-power lobby
Terence Blacker's experiences and complaints are echoed throughout many other rural communities whose lives have been blighted, or are under threat, from the erection of wind turbines ("The public has bought the myths of the vast wind energy industry", 1 May). Local people around here are fighting a planning application to build four 125m-tall wind turbines (bigger than the London Eye) less than a mile from the rural hamlet of Hollingdon and the villages of Soulbury and Stoke Hammond in . . . Complete story »
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Scotland
11 May 2012

Turbines swtiched off in fears over safety
A local campaigner wants wind turbines removed from school grounds, claiming they pose a real risk to children. Brenda Herrick made the call after it emerged that turbines at six primary schools in Caithness have been switched off amid fears about the potential danger they pose to pupils. Mrs Herrick has welcomed the move but she now wants to see them taken down altogether. And she claims that some parents are horrified at seeing the structures in school grounds The . . . Complete story »
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Scotland
11 May 2012

Anger at time taken to shut down turbines
Action to shut down wind turbines in school playgrounds amid fears over children's safety should have been taken months ago, an Inverness councillor has claimed. Donnie Kerr is concerned it has taken Highland Council nearly four months to respond to fears raised by councillors and residents. He said: "I would have liked to have seen these things suspended when the issue was first raised. I'm not happy they were kept going. No way do I want to see a child . . . Complete story »
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Massachusetts
11 May 2012

Buckland slows solar, wind building
BUCKLAND — Voters placed 13-month moratoriums on solar panel and wind turbine installations at Wednesday's annual town meeting. "These moratoriums will allow us sufficient time to address the effects of such structures in town," said Planning Board Chairman John Gould. Rather than hastily crafting bylaws to regulate the size and other aspects of windmill or solar installations, the board wants the time to be thorough in drafting regulations. The solar moratorium allows all sizes of roof-mounted installations, but limits ground-mounted . . . Complete story »
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Massachusetts
11 May 2012

Shelburne panel to proceed with windfarm meeting May 24
SHELBURNE — Despite the Planning Board's rejection of a subdivision application for a commercial wind turbine project, the Zoning Board of Appeals will go forward with a scheduled public hearing for the Mount Massaemet Windfarm on May 24, at 8 p.m. at the Buckland Shelburne Elementary School. ZBA Chairman Joseph Palmeri said Thursday he had spoken with wind farm applicant Frederick Field, "and, as of this time, he's made no decision to withdraw the application." "The hearing will only be . . . Complete story »
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Maryland, West Virginia
11 May 2012

Wind turbines cause safety, access concerns for airports
The adverse effects of 52 wind turbines on the Kessel VOR-DME in West Virginia do not justify decommissioning the navaid and weakening the area's aviation infrastructure, AOPA said. The association is urging pilots to comment by May 28 on an FAA study that is weighing a shutdown of the Kessel VOR-DME. The FAA granted AOPA's request for a two-week extension of the comment period. The navaid serves seven airports; supports numerous instrument approaches, preferred routes, and en route navigation; and . . . Complete story »
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Illinois
11 May 2012

County Board sends wind turbine issue back to committee
PEORIA COUNTY, Ill — A Peoria county couple's plan to build a wind turbine on their property was effectively shut down at Thursday nights county board meeting. George and Kim Blackburn had hoped to build a 70 foot windmill in their backyard using grant money. The problem is the couple only receives that funding if the project is completed by next month. Tonight the County board voted to send their request back to the zoning board to further study possible . . . Complete story »
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Illinois
11 May 2012

Personal wind turbine unlikely for Medina Township residents
PEORIA — A proposal by two Medina Township residents to build an electricity-generating wind turbine on their riverfront property was, as expected, returned by the Peoria County Board to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday for further safety review. That likely kills the proposal – which nearby residents and environmentalists worried would kill or drive away a series of migratory birds including federally protected bald eagles – said petitioners George and Kim Blackburn, who consider it unlikely that they'll . . . Complete story »
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California
11 May 2012

Documentary "Windfall" shows tonight at 7 pm; Exploration of industrial wind impacts on a rural community
A special free showing of the award-winning documentary 'Windfall,' an exploration of industrial wind impacts on a rural community, will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Landmark Theater in Hillcrest. The showing is cosponsored by Backcountry Against Dumps and The Protect Our Communities Foundation. Hundreds of industrial wind turbines are currently proposed for public, private and tribal lands in East County with 400-800 thousand acres of Wind Resource Area proposed for designation in the County's Wind Energy Ordinance . . . Complete story »
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England
11 May 2012

Windfarm crusade reaches Minister
A campaign to give local communities a stronger say in windfarm development is being taken to Westminster. Northumberland Conservatives have written a letter to Government Energy Minister Charles Hendry calling for a change in national windfarm policy to allow local people more say in where turbines are erected. The letter, which is signed by county councillors, Hexham MP Guy Opperman and campaigner Anne-Marie Trevelyan, argues that as the UK is set to meet carbon reduction targets, which are used to . . . Complete story »
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Vermont
11 May 2012

Wind project in northwestern Vermont gets new investor
Construction has started on a 10 megawatt wind energy development in northwestern Vermont. The Georgia Mountain project will feature four wind towers over 400 feet high. The development was launched by a local family. But recently it attracted a major new investor. Vermont renewable energy entrepreneur David Blittersdorf is now a member-owner of Georgia Mountain Community Wind LLC. Some neighbors opposed to the wind development say the owners or state regulators should have told them that construction was about to . . . Complete story »
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Ontario
11 May 2012

Powassan wind project not yet off the ground
Powassan council was recently unwilling to pass a resolution of support for the proposal due to questions about the size and scope of the project, the effect on property values and concerns about possible links between wind turbines and long-term health issues. Complete story »
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Wales
11 May 2012

Number of Powys turbines 75% of England
The number of wind turbines in the planning pipeline in Powys is 75 per cent of that for the whole of England. This means that 328 turbines await planning consideration in Powys alone, compared to 448 across England. According to figures released by trade body RenewableUK, in the whole of Wales there are 574 turbines awaiting consideration, while 88 have been approved but not yet built; 32 are under construction; and 529 are operational, 216 of which are in Powys. . . . Complete story »
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Australia, Letters
11 May 2012

Test for bad vibrations
Kane Thornton ("Anti-wind farm blowhards threaten rural incomes", 9/5) should persuade the large energy companies to properly assess the noise pollution which their wind turbines emit, rather than denigrating rural residents and others who are concerned about the growing number of "wind farm refugees", driven out by noise and vibration. Infrasound and low-frequency noise from any source have long been known to be unhealthy if the exposure is long enough and the dose high enough. A court in Ontario last . . . Complete story »
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Ireland, Letters
11 May 2012

Tilting at wind turbines
Some years ago, while driving from Kilkenny to Galway on a fine summer evening, I took some time to visit the area. The countryside was beautiful. The landscape was rural and unspoilt. Ireland was looking its best. I then came to a small village called Templetuohy. Here the aspect changed. Large wind turbines were scattered around the area. These turbines stood like sentinels dominating the surroundings and completely changing the atmosphere of the countryside. They were forbidding and alien to . . . Complete story »
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West Virginia
11 May 2012

WVU researchers study how to keep wind turbines out of eagles' flight path
When researchers at West Virginia University were trying to figure out why so many golden eagles were being killed by wind turbines – and how to prevent it – they decided they needed to know how the birds figured out where to fly. And that led them to trying to understand whether birds opted to fly fast and get to their feeding grounds early, but tired, or fly more slowly, and arrive well-rested. Why would that help with a solution . . . Complete story »
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Scotland
11 May 2012

Wind farm company plans extra turbines at Fairburn
The company which runs the Fairburn Wind Farm is proposing to build an extension of extra turbines. As part of SSE Renewables proposals to erect more turbines on the site near Strathconon, representatives of the company are due to meet with Muir of Ord Community Council tonight (Thursday) to present their plans. The exact number of turbines is still uncertain – the maximum has been set at 35, although it is expected to be fewer than that. The existing wind . . . Complete story »
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California
11 May 2012

Do wind turbines harm animals?
With an increasing number of industrial-scale wind turbines around the world, numerous reports are surfacing to suggest that noise, infrasound and stray voltage (dirty energy) may be harmful to livestock and wildlife. While evidence is largely anecdotal, incidences of mass die-offs of farm animals, chickens laying soft-shelled eggs, high animal miscarriage rates and disappearance of wildlife near turbines provide pause for reflection. These and other incidents suggest a need for scientific study to determine safety before additional wind energy facilities . . . Complete story »
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Scotland
11 May 2012

Council suspends operation of school wind turbines
Highland Council has taken immediate action to temporarily suspend operations of wind turbine installations at 16 school sites – including Dornoch Academy, Rosehall Primary and Stoer Primary. Following enquiries from councillors and members of the public, The Highland Council commissioned the Building Research Establishment, an independent organisation, to evaluate all wind turbine installations on or adjacent to school sites. Based on initial feedback from BRE, the council have decided to close down the turbinesuntil the risks are fully assessed and . . . Complete story »
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From the Resource Library:
Wind Turbine Noise at Grays Farm, Deeping St Nicholas
Davis, Jane | Tweet it

Sample Video Wind Turbine Construction | Tweet it

Visit an Ally Greentown Citizens for Safe Energy | Tweet it

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Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2425/4993 - Release Date: 05/12/12

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