Wind Power News

While somewhat dated, this case, Ecogen LLC v. Town of Italy, 438 F. Supp. 2d 149 (W.D.N.Y. Jul. 2006),  is worth mentioning at least because it is a New York state case in federal district court (these are rare) and offers some guidance on the ins and outs of wind zoning in New York towns, [...]

North American Windpower reported on the launch of a major environmental initiative by mainstream environmental groups and leading wind developers. Per the wind industry magazine, the American Wind Wildlife Institute (whose website is set to launch 11/20) will begin with an operating budget of $3 million for its first two years. To carry out its mission, [...]

The main work of wind turbines is to utilize the energy of wind and convert it into electricity; stronger wind is considered good for electricity production. But the speed of wind should not be too strong because it makes turbines spin too fast and in this process it commits suicide! Why is it so? [...]

Post by windenergyplanning The Peak District National Park Authority has slammed a 4 wind turbine proposal close to the park boundary at Carsington Pastures in the county of Derbyshire in the UK. The Park Authority has decided to team up with Derbyshire Dales Council and go to the High Court to challenge plans for a wind farm near its boundary. This decision was taken despite approval for the 4 wind turbines being granted by a Planning Inspector in July. The national park takes up a huge land area in this part of Britain and as a general rule of thumb, decision makers to do not think that wind energy projects are appropriate in national parks. Opportunities for wind energy are as a result thin on the ground restricting Derbyshire from contributing towards the regional renewable energy targets and in-turn national targets. High court challenges to wind energy projects such as these are resulting in projects taking anything up to 10 years to be consented and built. What is even more interesting is that only a few years ago the Park Authority were investigating opportunities for wind turbines actually within the park. Perhaps they have had a change of personnel?

Summary of CENTERVILLE'S CONCERNED CITIZENS v TOWN BOARD OF TOWN OF CENTERVILLE (CA 08-00282, Memorandum and Order, 11/14/208) The group “Centerville's Concerned Citizens” won an appeal at the Appellate Divison of the Fourth Judicial Department and obtained the invalidation of a local law (Town of Centerville Local Law No. 1 of 2006) regulating the siting of [...]

Here are some pretty unsophisticated home movie clips (totalling one minute) of a July 2008 visit to the Maple Ridge windfarm. Yes, the blogger dragged the blogger's family. If you've been to a windfarm you'll doubtfully have interest. I'm grateful to Bill Burke, who on short notice gratiously showed us (and some impromptu visitors from the Cape [...]

By Timlynn Babitsky Do wind power farms , or even single wind energy turbines negatively impact the property values nearby? This controversial issue has people passionately lined up on both sides armed with anecdotal data and serious research results. The most often cited paper comes from a US study in 2003 ; it claims no negative impact. A second surely to be well cited study conducted in the UK in 2007 shows that property values near wind farms appeared to be negatively impacted. Wind project resistors will no doubt point to the UK study. Which is correct? In an earlier post - Wind Power and Property Values - on this site, I provided an executive brief on the 2003 study, the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REEP). In essence, researchers assembled a database covering every US wind development project between 1998 and 2002 and more than 25,000 property transactions before and after the projects came on line. The 81 page REPP Analytical Report was published In May 2003. The Report concluded that for the ten major wind project locations analyzed, property values increased faster in the view shed in eight of the ten projects. And, in nine of the ten cases property values increased f..

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/nyregion/15billboard.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

KENNEBUNKPORT — Walker’s Point is a little greener these days. Skyline Turbine November 9, 2008 http://www.windenergy.com Last week, a 33-foot-tall windmill was installed to generate electricity for the oceanfront home of former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara. The Bushes decided to buy and install a windmill after being approached by Southwest Windpower, a nationwide company that manufactures wind turbines, said Jim Appleby, personal aide to the former president. “After looking at the specifications, the pros and the cons, they decided that they’d give it a try,” he said. The wind turbine, a Skystream 3.7 model, is capable of generating electricity once wind speed reaches 8 mph, said Bob Greig, president of All Season Home Improvement Co. in Augusta, which installed the windmill. The structure can produce an estimated 400 kilowatts a month at a wind speed of 12 mph. An average household uses about 600 kilowatts a month, Greig said. The Skystream model connects to the utility grid, Greig said. When the turbine does not produce enough electricity, a home will start drawing electricity from its power company. If the turbine produces excess energy, the exce..

We now know that climate change is happening and that the most likely cause is human activity. The predicted rises in global temperatures are likely to have devastating economic, social and environmental effects with the poorest people being the most likely to lose their homes. Despite this house price reduction is often cited as the main concern when renewable energy projects are proposed in the western world. There has been a number of public opinion polls carried out in the UK and other countries with regard to renewable energy and specifically wind energy. These polls carried out at different stages of the wind farm life generally show support for wind energy. However because wind energy technology is relatively new, there has been very little work carried out in relation to effects on property prices. A study was however carried out in the US by the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) further to claims from anti-wind energy campaigners that wind turbines were depreciating property prices. REPP's objective was to determine whether property prices close to wind farms were affected. They looked at 24,300 property transactions in 10 locations over a period of 6 years. For some..

It is often difficult to hear wind turbine sound above the normal background sound for example the noise the wind itself makes and the rustling of trees - unless you are very close to a wind farm. Even when the wind speed increases, the difference in sound is difficult to detect. So if this is the case and wind turbines are so quiet why is it that many anti- wind energy campaigners say that they are noisy and that as a result your house price will fall? References are made to “low frequency noise”, “infrasound” and “amplitude modulation” which can sound terrifying if you are a layperson like me. Claims of high levels of both low frequency noise and infrasound from wind turbines have been dismissed by experts. Below is hopefully a brief and clear explanation of the commonly used terms often referred to by anti-wind energy campaigners, together with a summary of the most recent research carried out. Starting at the beginning, noise and sound are acoustic waves carried on oscillating particles in the air. The diagram below shows how sound and noise is processed. A response is formed after the sound has been perceived by someone and it is at this stage where a huge varianc..

SAVE UP TO 25% ON YOUR COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC BILLS! Skyline Turbine is now your dealer and installer for the Power-Save product line. Buy It Now The Power-Save 3400 & Power-Save 3200 Reduce the Amount of Inductive Load in Commercial and Industrial Environments Power-Save 3400 The Many Benefits of the Power-Save 3400 & Power-Save 3200 Include: –> Lowers electric bills up to 25%! –> Reduces electricity required by inductive loads (motors)! –> Enhances capacity of existing electrical system! –> Eliminates harmful power surges! –> Protects appliances and sensitive electronic equipment! –> Reduces harmful effects caused by electrical noise! –> Power Factor Optimization! Power-Save 3200 Only $649.00 - Order Securely Online or Call 434 882 1620 * Plus shipping & handling; Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover Accepted * Please contact us direct if purchasing units for Canada as they require special CSA labelling Power-Save 3400 Shows Incredible Results in Commercial Application! “I have a Power-Save 3400 commercial / industrial unit installed in my 28,000 square foot, 4-story office building. The building is home to a number of diffe..

Skyline Turbine officially begins carrying Power Save Products which simply hook to your electrical panel and can cut your electric draw to your meter by 25% which can cut your bill by 25.

by Timlynn Babitsky Suspicious shenanigans by wind developers in upstate New York has prompted the State’s Attorney General to develop a code of conduct for wind energy companies doing business in The Empire State. There is no question that wind power in New York State has the potential to make positive changes for many who live there, but the ends should never justify the means . And, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, absolutely agrees. In an early September post on my website – Wind Power Greed - I painted an ugly picture of wind energy lust. Some wind farm developers in upstate New York were bribing local officials to get permission to build wind towers, colluding among developers to avoid competitive wind option leases, and shutting down discussion in local town meetings looking for the quickest way possible to acquire enough land to make their wind farms a reality. Thanks to the concerted efforts of a number of good folks and solid investigation by the NY Attorney General, New York State now has a Wind Power Code of Ethics that spells out quite clearly what must, and must not occur as developers and towns bring wind energy to the state. Although subscription to the code is n..

Use the Wind.net has great photos of how they set up the mat foundation for the Skystream. Along with lots of other information on the process of installing. 

Skyline Turbine is happy to announce financing for your Wind Turbine purchases.  Please contact Dan Boyle at 434-882-1620 to learn more about these exciting opportunities.

The claim by wind power resistors that “ infrasound ” is a health problem for people living anywhere near modern wind turbines is not supported by facts . There is general agreement among acousticians that infrasound from wind turbines is not a problem. There is a turbine noise issue to which we do need to pay attention, but inaudible noise making your body parts vibrate is just not it. Infrasound is sound with a frequency too low to be heard by the human ear – in general it is bass waves with a frequency below 20 Hz to 22 kHz. We are surrounded by and have evolved within an environment of naturally occurring infrasound — ocean waves, wind, earthquakes, pounding surf, waterfalls, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and anything that produces a naturally occurring slow oscillation of the air. And of course, there is a whole lot of human generated infrasound – from slow speed fans to engines, cars, buses, trains, motorcycles, airplanes, explosions, and machinery. Yet the fuzzy connection between wind turbine infrasound and risk to human health continues. It hinges on the idea that high levels of low frequency noise excite the body to vibrate, most notably in the chest, and that..

The Toledo Zoo  in Ohio has entered the world of windpower.   Green by Design installed a Skystream 3.7 on a 60' monopole tower as part of the parking lot expansion project.  

Q:  How much energy does a Skystream produce?  A:  About 400 kilowatt-hours per month at 12 mph (5.4 m/s) average wind speed. Q:  What is the typical Cost of a Skystream?  A:  $12,000-$18,000 in the United States, depending on local conditions & incentives. Q:  How can I get through Planning & Zoning? A:  Start with the  Getting Connected Guide (PDF) Q:  How can I learn more about Skystream? A:   Visit the Skystream Website . Q:  How to buy? A:   Click here to find your local dealer  or call 928-779-9463.

On Friday, October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424 was passed, which included a new federal-level investment tax credit (ITC) for qualified small wind turbines. The ITC is worth up to $4,000 and available for units installed through 2016. This legislation marks the first federal incentive for small wind systems since 1985.  Q: How does an ITC work? A:  The ITC is a fund that helps people offset taxes owed to the U.S. government every year. People paying taxes can claim against owed taxes at the end of the year with an ITC. If one does not pay taxes they would not be eligible for the ITC.  Southwest Windpower is working with the creators of this program for further clarity around this. Q: What does the new tax credit mean for future Skystream customers? A:  The tax credit is worded “credit of 30 percent of the installed cost up to $4,000 or $500 per ∏ kilowatt up to $4,000” (whichever is less). For a Skystream customer, you can receive a $2,400** credit for a turbine. Should you purchase two turbines, you can receive a $4,000 tax credit. We are investigating the exact amount of the tax credit for a Skystream - it is unclear if the cred..

See Skystream in Action - November 15, 2008 Holiday Open House, Green by Design Showroom Stop by for our Holiday Open House! Enjoy refreshments and browse a selection of eco-friendly gifts. Learn more about alternative energy and see a Skystream 3.7 in action! Location: 19551 N. Dixie Highway Bowling Green, OH 43402 Hours: 9 am - 3 pm For more information, contact Michelle O'Dell 877.636.3366  info@starksinc.com www.starksinc.com

Whenever we talk about noise we often think of unwanted sound for example vehicles, factories, snorers and all those other anti-social forms that we have to share our world with. We rarely refer to the waves in the sea or a babbling brook as noise but as “natural sounds”. Whether it is human made or naturally occurring, virtually everything that moves will result in some sound. Wind turning the blades of wind turbines results in sound just as the wind moving the leaves in trees. Modern wind turbines are however generally quiet in operation, and compared to the noise of road traffic, trains and aircraft, the noise from wind turbines is very low. There are guidelines in place for any new land use, with the aim of protecting the quality of life for nearby residents. In the UK a document entitled “ Assessment and Rating of Noise From Wind Farms, ETSU R’97 ” (published in 1997) sets out guidelines which wind farm companies are required to demonstrate they can comply with. Noise from wind turbines will not be allowed to exceed a specified limit which is usually no more than 5dB (A) above the prevailing background noise existing prior to the construction of the wind farm. Compa..

The wind energy industry is the fastest growing segment of renewable energy production. There is a great need and increasing demand for skilled wind energy related technicians. Right now in the US , there are jobs going unfilled . Community Colleges - mandated to respond quickly to changing demands in the job market - are scrambling to retrain Americans for the next wave of job opportunities .  Are you ready for your new job? In Texas alone the wind energy related job future looks excellent. For information on the employment potential , salary potential , and job location opportunities , in just Texas Click here . Now look into the job opportunities in the wind industry in your state . Check the job hunt websites and look into those renewable energy categories. Are you ready to get that job in wind technology? How about solar? Biodiesel? Geothermal? Sure, I can already hear you saying, “I'm too old to retrain.  I've spent my whole life working as a ________ (fill in the blank) and I just don't know much about this new energy stuff.”   Hold on …. what makes you think that your many years experience as a machinist, electrician, tool and die technician, br..

Demand is growing nationwide for wind turbine technicians, technologists, engineers, and wind energy educators. How is this pressuring universities, colleges, community colleges and technical schools to prepare their students for this rising job skills demand? A small sample of the educational scramble to meet the demands of this new “industrial revolution” points to an area of exploding job growth. Are you ready? Community colleges are mandated to prepare their students for real jobs in their local regions. As you might expect then, the early bird programs in wind technology related education are sprouting up at the community college level. For example: Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari New Mexico offers Certificate and Degree programs in Wind Energy Technology . Providing instruction in wind turbine technology, turbine maintenance, tower safety, and wind economics. Students in both their one and two year programs “will be prepared for rewarding and profitable careers in this growing field.” Oklahoma State University's Oklahoma City campus will offer the state's first wind turbine technology degree program starting January ’09. Their 2-year associates’..

Newly elected President Barack Obama is to put into motion energy and climate bills next year in an effort to both stimulate and make greener America's frail economy. Committing $150 billion in investment over 10 years, Obama hopes to create 5 million green collar jobs and catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future based on technologies such as wind energy and solar power. The ‘New Energy America plan’ has been branded “a bold new national goal on energy efficiency” on Obama's web-site. The plan proposes a long term extension to the production tax credit and a nationwide renewable portfolio standard requiring that 10% of electricity comes from renewable energy sources by 2012 and 25% by 2025. Through the plan Obama has committed to extend the production tax credit, currently worth 2 cents per kWh for 5 years. The key question - is this enough to give the renewable energy industry the same confidence as Obama? Above photo of Obama signing turbine blade taken from the Sierra Club press release

The small wind turbine market is expected to grow by 18-20% through the next two years. When new tax incentives ($1,000 - $4,000 per system) go into effect in January ‘09, that growth will only accelerate. Between tax incentives, rising energy costs and increased environmental consciousness, residential and commercial scale wind turbine demand is already exploding . But until now, small wind systems have disappointed many. Then along came SWIFT. “The SWIFT Wind Turbine design solves many of the challenges of previous residential and commercial scale wind turbines: it registers as a whisper on decibel charts, it's efficient, it's safe and it's clean,” states Cascade Engineering’s Michael Ford, on their new SWIFT Wind Turbine system. Available in the US and Canada, the SWIFT Wind Turbine system provides businesses and homeowners an effective solution to lower energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. The unique design of the SWIFT system lies in the outer ring that connects to the turbine blades. As the wind travels down the blades and is dispersed along the outer ring, the outer ring acts as a diffuser eliminating noise and keeping the turbine quiet . It is the firs..

Congratulations to Barack Obama on his win over John McCain to become the 44th President of the United States.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Total 2007 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 175 225 0* 400 2008 98* 292 308 246 228 153 92 84 97 164 2009 2010 * December, 2007 - Skystream shut down from software problem with cold and would not restart. * January, 2008 - Skystream down until the 27th. Produce 98kWh in the 5 days remaining in the month.

Layoffs continue to mount, unemployment claims reach new highs, and all indicators are “consistent with a deep recession” in the American economy. Let’s stop focusing on what has been and now is gone. We need to gear up ASAP for what Tom Friedman calls “the next great industrial revolution” – ‘green jobs’ in the new energy technology revolution. Global warming is not a myth . And despite some politician’s attempt to “say it ain’t so,” climate change really is man-made . Thousands of concerned observers around the world already agree that solar, wind, geothermal, ocean wave, and every other form of renewable, non-polluting energy will be the only forms with which Spaceship Earth – and all animal life (including us humans) will be able to survive . Elsewhere on this website I point blog readers to Tom Friedman’s latest book – Hot, Flat and Crowded . In it he says that the US can re-establish its world economic leadership by creating technologies to make the Earth livable for man. As he sees it, new energy technology IS the “next great industrial revolution.” And so back to the tanking US economy. The US is in deep economic trouble right now, today. ..

Appalachian State U. in North Carolina is the go-to place for state-of-the-art information on the small wind systems and turbines currently available in the American Marketplace. Its Small Wind Initiative (SWI) also demonstrates the value of research, partnership, and collaboration in wind energy projects. Supported by Appalachian State University’s Department of Technology, North Carolina State Energy Office, and the US Department of Energy, SWI is nationally recognized in the small wind industry for the quality of both its efforts and results. Even more impressive is its focus on outreach. The SWI test and demonstration site on Beech Mountain in western North Carolina features the latest small wind turbine systems suitable for residential, farm, or business applications. The facility is open to the public and provides a unique a hands-on training experience with educational tours, workshops, and seminars. But their outreach is not just local and site based. Performance assessment data on the small systems they test is provided to any interested party that requests it. This includes utility companies, manufacturers, landowners, state agencies, the press, and anyone else. The Ap..