Harborough Mail reports Foxton Parish Council has completed an investigation on the effect of wind turbines on health, property, and wildlife. The reports concluded that wind turbines are not an effective solution to energy problems.
Week.com reports a 140 foot wind turbine blade broke off and plummeted into a cornfield after a malfunction occurred. Richard Schetz has four Suzlon Energy turbines on his field and still supports wind energy after the accident. Suzlon is fixing 400 turbine blade that could have the same design flaw that caused the breakage.
RenewableEnergyWorld.com reports Shell’s decision to back out of the London Array wind project left offshore wind farms an uncertain future. That was further proven when the energy director of Centrica stated the wind target is under threat, but British Wind Energy Association remained optimistic and vowed wind power would play a large role in contributing to 15% renewable energy sources by 2020. Since then the London Array is expected to be complete by the end of 2012, Scottish and Southern Energy plans to have 456MW capacity operational by 2011, and a proposal is under review for a 315MW offshore wind farm. If approved, this wind farm will begin construction in 2009 and boast 88 turbines.
RenewableEnergyWorld.com reports Africa is revisiting the possiblity of wind power amongst other renewable sources for electricity after experiencing other sources such as fossil fuels, coal, and hydropower. Part of the slow development of renewable energy was in part due to little government funding, a lack of incentives, and power sectors with a small dominance and close relations to the government. Renewable energy now provides an opportunity for new jobs. Two sets of wind projects installed in the 1990s have quietly proven themselves by covering the cost of their installation and producing power on-grid, and in isolated mini-grids. There are now 3 projects underway in Kenya, projects in South Africa, Ethiopia, and 200MW planned for Tanzania that is expected to have their first phase operational by December 2009.
RenewableEnergyWorld.com reports the Executive Director of the American Wind Energy Association feels that America is paying attention to wind power possibilities after 25-30 years. This is in part to the national campaign by T. Boone Pickens and the challenge set forth by Al Gore to have 100% renewable energy electricity within 10 years. This excitement has also offered a way for transmission planning to take place. Six utilities have teamed together to express an interest in installation before the Public Utilities Commission.
Reuters reports Britain will only be able to meet a quarter of their renewable energy target unless government officials allow for wind turbines to be built close to the shore. Carbon Trust released a reports urging officials to remove any obstacles and to resolve the grid connection problems to allow for wind turbines to be installed. By allowing wind farms to be close to the shores, Britain could reduce carbon emissions by 14%.
DallasNews.com reports the requirement for 20% renewable energy sources by 2015 and a federal subsidy has fueled a high demand for wind power, in fact, an increased capacity by 45% in the last year. Ethanol also experienced a boom, but because wind power is no threat to a food crisis it has become a popular choice. The inconsistency and the transmission of wind power are its vices, and transmission lines could cost between $3 and $6.4 billion to install.
ToledoBlade.com reports that Barack Obama’s acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination for President included his specific plans for change. He proposes to tap natural gas reserves and invest in clean coal technology. He has also pledged to spend $150 billion in wind and solar power.
The Herald reports the outlook for wind energy has never been brighter because of Europe’s soaring energy costs. There are nearly 300 planning applications in Scotland. Land agency, Savills, associate director thinks the Scottish government should provide clear guidance instead of leaving the decision making to the local councillors.
Scientific American reports the U.S. electric grid can’t handle the intermittent currency provided by wind energy. Also, the grid isn’t big enough to handle renewable energy sources. The soluction is high technology and advanced transmission lines that the govenrment isn’t willing to support.