More renewable power planned

New Zealand
23 Feb 2007

More renewable power planned

More wind farms will be built in both the North and South Islands, as part of Contact Energy's massive investment in renewable power generation. The company has announced a $2 billion plan to develop its existing geothermal stations, and build new ones. Up to four wind farms will also be constructed. Spokesman Jonathan Hill says the company ... Complete story »

WIND FARMS CONCERN

Wind farms in Central Otago could force out hydro power generation to the detriment of the national interest, Contact Energy claims.

Contact fears there is not enough spare transmission capacity for the Project Hayes wind farm proposed by rival generator Meridian Energy and wants an upgrade of Transpower's lines network.

Contact Energy has submitted in favour of Project Hayes as long as it does not affect existing hydro generation.

Wind-generated electricity gets first call on the network, as it cannot be stored, but Contact is arguing its hydro schemes face similar constraints.

Contact general manager of operations David Thomas says in Contact's submission to the upcoming Project Hayes consent hearing the Clutha River catchment essentially provided "run of river" electricity with limited ability to store water.

"Contact is concerned that without significant transmission upgrades, new wind energy in the system will lead to greater transmission constraints and further prevent Contact's hydro plant from generating electricity," he said.

"If this were to occur, then hydro generation would effectively be displaced by wind energy. Such an outcome would not be in the national interest," he said.

Transpower last week told the National Business Review there was little spare capacity in the region's network.

Contact operates the Clyde and Roxburgh hydro dams as well as providing energy from geothermal and oil-fired power stations in the North Island.

All those forms of generation can store raw energy to a certain extent, while wind farms can only generate when the wind is blowing.

By Diane Brown
Otago Daily Times

source: National Wind Watch

Subject: Industrial Wind Alert! 2007-01-29

Subject: Industrial Wind Alert! 2007-01-29


News and Information from Industrial Wind Action
Group < http://www.windaction.org/>www.windaction.org
facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts

Issue: 2007-01-29


<http://www.windaction.org/news >News Articles

<http://www.windaction.org/news/7636>Power cut for clean energy
January 28, 2007 by Tim Webb in The Independent
Because the subsidy is the same for all forms of
renewable energy, whatever their costs, it is
hardly surprising that the cheapest enterprises,
such as onshore wind, have attracted all the
investment. As John Constable, the policy and
research director of the Renewable Energy
Foundation, says, this "one size fits all"
approach has suppressed the development of more
efficient capacity. "The Renewables Obligation
scheme has been a catastrophe and offers
undeserved hyper-profits," he says.
"Consequently, speculators have simply picked the
least capital-intensive form of renewable
generation just to get on the gravy train. It has
even encouraged wind farm companies to build
onshore at low-wind sites, as opposed to
offshore. "Worse still, the emissions savings
delivered are small and almost unbelievably
expensive."   < http://www.windaction.org/news/7636>more...
Filed under |
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c47/ >Tax Breaks &
Subsidies|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c52/>Energy
Policy|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General|
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c120/>UK
<http://www.windaction.org/news/7625>Net-zero homes: The future lives
here
January 28, 2007 by Candace Page, Staff Writer in Burlington Free Press
South Farm, a six-home development on the edge of
Hinesburg village, is one of the first -- if not
the first -- Vermont subdivision to aim for
"net-zero" status, meaning over the course of a
year it will generate more electricity from
clean, renewable sources than it draws from
utility power lines. Succeeding also means close
to zero emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse
gas.   <http://www.windaction.org/news/7625>more...
Filed under |
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c107/>Vermont|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General
<http://www.windaction.org/news/7616>Mars Hill
residents voice concerns over wind tower noise
January 27, 2007 by Rachel Rice in Bangor Daily News
Wendy and Perrin Todd knew what would happen to
their view of Mars Hill Mountain when crews
starting erecting wind towers near their
backyard. They braced themselves when their home,
newly built on the north side of the mountain,
shook because of the blasting. But what shocked
them — and what they said this week they should
not be expected to live with — is the noise.
"They turned on tower Number 9, and almost
immediately it made enough noise that it was
like, 'Oh my gosh, that can't be right,'" Wendy
Todd said. "It all depends on the wind speed and
direction, but the best way to describe it is you
step outside and look up thinking there's an
airplane. It's like a high-range jet, high-low
roar, but with the windmills, there's a sort of
on and off 'phfoop … phfoop … phfoop'
noise."   < http://www.windaction.org/news/7616>more...
Filed under |
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c43/ >Noise|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c45/>Impact on
People|
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c82/>Maine|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General
<http://www.windaction.org/news/7603>Death of
buzzard in turbine blades heighten windfarms concern
January 27, 2007 by Iain Grant in This is North Scotland
A shocked busload of nuclear workers witnessed
the death of a buzzard after it flew into one of
the wind turbines at Forss. The demise of the
adult buzzard was seen on Wednesday by a group of
workers travelling between New Park business park
at Forss and the neighbouring site at Dounreay at
lunchtime on Wednesday. The financial
administrator, Terry Luckock, reported the death
to the RSPB. She said: "It was a real shame to
see such a beautiful bird killed in this way. It
did not stand a chance given that it collided
with a moving, nine-tonne blade." Ms Luckock, 41,
from Halkirk, does not believe it was an isolated
occurrence.   < http://www.windaction.org/news/7603>more...
Filed under |
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c36/>Impact on
Birds|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c38/ >Impact on
Wildlife|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General|
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c120/>UK
<http://www.windaction.org/news/7579>Maine
Audubon Lauds LURC Commissioners for Denying Redington Wind-Power
Project
January 26, 2007 in Maine Audubon
The state's largest wildlife conservation
organization commends the commissioners of
Maine's Land Use Regulation Commission for their
6-1 decision today to deny a permit for a
controversial wind-power project sited in a
high-mountain Western Maine area zoned for
protection and home to rare wildlife. "Today we
have seen LURC's commissioners take action for
which all Maine citizens can be grateful: They
have upheld the laws that protect unique,
spectacular areas in Maine," said Jennifer Burns,
staff attorney and advocate for Maine
Audubon.   < http://www.windaction.org/news/7579>more...
Filed under |
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c36/ >Impact on
Birds|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c38/>Impact on
Wildlife|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c82/>Maine|
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General
<http://www.windaction.org/news/7567>Panel
rejects wind power in Redington; Decision could
have impact on future projects in Maine
January 25, 2007 by Alan Crowell, Staff Writer in
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
In a decision that could have wide ramifications
for the future of wind power in Maine, the Land
Use Regulation Commission on Wednesday rejected a
plan to place 30 turbines on two western
mountains.   < http://www.windaction.org/news/7567>more...
Filed under |
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c82/ >Maine|
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General|
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c122/>Zoning/Planning
<http://www.windaction.org/news/7581 >Highlanders
say HNWD failed to prove its case
January 25, 2007 by Anne Adams, Staff Writer in The Recorder
Residents and landowners near the proposed
Highland New Wind Development utility site have
long expressed their belief the project poses
many threats, not only to the environment but to
the quality of life in Highland County as related
to its economy. Ralph H. Swecker, Chris Swecker,
Pendleton Goodall, McChesney Goodall, William
Goodall, Wayne Goodall, and Gregory Warnock filed
their post-hearing brief in the case that was
similar to The Nature Conservancy's position on
environmental protection, but also pointed out
the detrimental effects on tourism in the area
and historic sites. The citizens' brief says HNWD
failed to meet its burden of proof that
environmental impacts are acceptable; failed to
provide all the information requested by state
agencies in the process; failed to show how it
would minimize environmental impacts; and failed
to show the project is not contrary to public
interest.   <http://www.windaction.org/news/7581 >more...
Filed under |
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c106/>Virginia|
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General
<http://www.windaction.org/news/7535>Climate
scientists feeling the heat; As public debate
deals in absolutes, some experts fear predictions 'have created a
monster'
January 22, 2007 by Eric Berger in Houston Chronicle
Scientists long have issued the warnings: The
modern world's appetite for cars, air
conditioning and cheap, fossil-fuel energy spews
billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere, unnaturally warming the world. Yet,
it took the dramatic images of a hurricane
overtaking New Orleans and searing heat last
summer to finally trigger widespread public
concern on the issue of global warming. Climate
scientists might be expected to bask in the
spotlight after their decades of toil. The
general public now cares about greenhouse gases,
and with a new Democratic-led Congress, federal
action on climate change may be at hand. Problem
is, global warming may not have caused Hurricane
Katrina, and last summer's heat waves were
equaled and, in many cases, surpassed by heat in
the 1930s.   <http://www.windaction.org/news/7535 >more...
Filed under |
<http://www.windaction.org/news/c61/>USA|
< http://www.windaction.org/news/c112/>General


<http://www.windaction.org/opinions >Opinions

<http://www.windaction.org/opinions/7621>The Wind
Power Debate Continues to Produce Crosswinds of Controversy
January 27, 2007 in Institute for Research on Public Policy

ndustrial Wind Alert! 2007-01-29

Industrial Wind Alert! 2007-01-29

Dear all,

this circulation of links contains info on TrustPower's Southland
Proposals near Gore.

R





< http://www.windaction.org/news/7679>Vandals damage tower at crucial
time
February  1, 2007 by Paul Gorman in The Press
Windflow Technology's efforts to sell New
Zealand-made wind turbines to the world have been
disrupted by vandalism at its Gebbies Pass site
near Christchurch. A 30m-high wind-monitoring
tower worth about $30,000 was found damaged
beyond repair on Tuesday morning after two guy
wires holding the lattice mast were undone, causing it to crash to the
ground.

<http://www.windaction.org/news/7313>TrustPower
to proceed with wind farm in Australia
January 12, 2007 in The New Zealand Herald
TrustPower today announced it would start
constructing a $200 million wind farm in South
Australia's mid-north in April, which it said
would be its Australian beachhead. The company
said plans had been finalised for the
construction of 42 wind turbines on the Hummocks
and Barunga Ranges west of Snowtown, 170km north of Adelaide.

<http://www.windaction.org/news/7310>Data ups hopes for wind farm
January 12, 2007 by Sonia Gerken in The Southland Times
Wind data collected at testing sites near Gore
suggest a wind farm in the area would be almost
as productive as the Tararua wind farm,
TrustPower spokesman Graeme Purches said
yesterday. Mr Purches confirmed there was a "high
likelihood" of a wind farm being built in the
Otaraia area, on Old Coach Rd, about 15km
south-east of Gore, within the next few years.
Indications were it would be a windy winner.

< http://www.windaction.org/news/7174>Farmers mum on wind farm
January  3, 2007 by Juliet Larkin in The Southland Times
Eastern Southland farmers whose land TrustPower
is eying up for a wind farm were reluctant to
speak about the proposed project yesterday
because of confidentiality agreements. TrustPower
said earlier a site at Otaraia, about 15km
south-east of Gore and between Mataura and
Clinton, had been monitored for nine months and
showed good potential for a wind farm. Several
farmers who own land being monitored said they
could not comment because of confidentiality agreements.

January  3, 2007 by NZPA in Stuff
Developers of the Te Rere Hau windfarm in the
Manawatu have confirmed orders for 14 further
wind turbines. The $80 million Te Rere Hau
project was opened in September and now has five
turbines installed and operating. It is a joint
venture between NZ Windfarms Ltd (NZWL), which
has 50 percent, and Australia's Babcock and Brown and NP Power.

Mahinerangi Windfarm Submissions

ULP has created a submission form to enable those who have concerns with TrustPower's application, to send their submission by email. The submission form works in conjuction with Outlook Express which is installed on the majority of systems.

If you haven't sent in a submission yet, now is your chance to make your voices heard.

Closing date for submissions to Clutha District Council is March 2nd 2007.

submission form