Fwd: N.C. governor signs executive order promoting wind development

N.C. governor signs executive order promoting wind development | Apex eyes mid-Nov. construction start date for Va. project | Opinion: Dominion, Dong Energy are bringing wind's benefits to Va.

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July 31, 2017

News for wind power professionals and advocates

Industry Update

N.C. governor signs executive order promoting wind development

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order Thursday, ordering the state Department of Environmental Quality to continue recruiting and developing new wind projects during the state's 18-month moratorium on the industry. Observers question whether challenges to the bill will arise and if it will provide developers with enough certainty to continue planning projects.

CleanTechnica (7/29)

Apex eyes mid-Nov. construction start date for Va. project

(Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images)

Apex Clean Energy is preparing to break ground on its Rocky Forge project in Botetourt County, Va., and may start construction as early as Nov. 15, according to Development Manager Charles Johnson. "This site is great in terms of wind resource, land available, coexistence with current use of the land," he added.

WDBJ-TV (Roanoke, Va.) (7/25)

Opinion: Dominion, Dong Energy are bringing wind's benefits to Va.

Wind and renewables are gaining traction nationwide and Virginia is finally on the cusp of enjoying access to reliable, union jobs and other great benefits due to a new offshore wind pilot project between Dominion Energy and Dong Energy, writes state Del. Paul Krizek. "Clearly renewable energy like wind and solar is an exciting opportunity for energy infrastructure investment and will provide a growing source of energy in the future as we expand alternatives to coal and oil beyond the current nuclear and natural gas alternatives," he writes.

Connection Newspapers (Alexandria, Va.) (7/27)

Project Focus

Military officials in N.Y. to collaborate with wind industry

Military officials from Fort Drum and Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield in Lewis County, N.Y., have agreed to work with wind developers to advance new projects in the area, say observers. Post officials said turbines can create different challenges from a military perspective, but that their potential economic impact is very important to the local community.

Watertown Daily Times (N.Y.) (7/29)

EDF Energy installs first offshore wind turbine foundation at UK project

EDF Energy Renewables has finished installing the first gravity-based foundation at its 41.5-megawatt Blyth wind project off the coast of England, according to the company. It said the pilot will ultimately feature five MHI Vestas 8.3-MW turbines.

ReNews (UK) (7/31)

Economy, Energy & Trends

Report: Ore. is falling behind in wind, solar development

Oregon has increased its clean energy generating capacity 41-fold over the last 10 years but is still falling behind the national average, according to the Environment Oregon Research and Policy Center. The state's progress might sound fast-paced, but it isn't enough meet its clean energy targets on time, said Environment Oregon advocate Charlie Fisher.

KLCC-FM (Eugene, Ore.) (7/27)

Opinion: Okla. military, wind sectors must learn to coexist

The military and the wind energy industry are economic drivers in Oklahoma and must learn to coexist for the sake of the state's economy, writes the editorial board of the Enid, Okla., News & Eagle. The board encourages military, state government and wind leaders to work together to develop a bill that gives the state a say in turbine siting, yet still meets their respective needs.

The Enid News & Eagle (Okla.) (7/31)

Policy Watch

Opinion: Maneuverings in N.C. wind moratorium are "absurd"

North Carolina's new 18-month moratorium on wind development is unnecessary and an example of how lawmakers like state Sen. Harry Brown are impeding wind simply because the sector has Democratic support, writes the editorial board of The News & Observer in Raleigh. "Obviously, the wind projects wouldn't be approved through the permit process if they were any threat to military exercises," the board writes.

The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (7/30)

Opinion: Neb. should reject Keystone XL in favor of clean energy

The Nebraska Public Service Commission should reject the Keystone XL pipeline and focus on expanding its clean energy infrastructure instead, writes Mark Loscutoff. "Unlike Keystone XL, when wind turbines are built in Nebraska, they provide annual payments to landowners and local property taxes for the lifespan of the turbine, not just for the first few years," he writes.

Omaha World-Herald (Neb.) (7/31)

AWEA News

Second quarter 2017: Top 5 story lines

We know that US wind power posted impressive numbers in 2016. But how is 2017 shaping up? The second quarter results are in and the outlook is strong. AWEA just released its US Wind Industry Second Quarter 2017 Market Report, and it shows development activity up 40% over the same time last year. Read more.

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These stories were selected and summarized by independent editors at SmartBrief Inc., not by AWEA's staff, and do not represent AWEA positions. They reflect the variety of daily coverage of American wind power.