Among the 800 bills filed this week in the Texas legislature are some that would making building renewable energy facilities more difficult. One would increase setback requirements on the location of wind turbines according to the San Antonio Report. Click here for San Antonio Report
Category: Wind Energy
Judge’s ruling reveals exasperation of man’s fight against Kansas wind farm
A Kansas man’s persistent fight against a NextEra Energy wind farm recently revealed the exasperation of the judge dealing with the case. “This case has been bogged down for nearly 18 months with an ongoing cycle of pleading, motions to dismiss, repleading, more motions to dismiss, and now yet another futile attempt to replead,” …
Energy issues decided in Tuesday elections
Energy issues were at the heart of elections all over the country on Tuesday. Texas Republican Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian easily defeated Democratic challenger Luke Warford. He will remain as chair of the agency that regulates the oil and gas industry in Texas. Christian has been on the commission since 2016 and campaigned on …
Northeast Kansas county considers ‘hold’ on solar and wind farm development
A county in northeast Kansas is considering a moratorium on all future wind and solar farm. Jack County commissioners scheduled a hearing this week to discuss the possibility according to KSNT. Click here for KSNT
Power Pool cost allocating plan okayed by FERC despite opposition by Oklahoma regulators
The Southwest Power Pool just won the right to spread the costs of certain transmission projects across its 14-state footprint, despite the objections of American Electric Power and Excel Energy. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted 3-2 on Friday in support of the SPP’s proposal reported Utility Dive. The plan had been opposed by …
Iowa wind turbine caught fire early Monday morning
A burning wind turbine lit up the the night sky over eastern Iowa this week. Firefighters were called to the scene early Monday morning to near Williamsburg, a town about 35 miles southwest of Cedar Rapids, reported the Kansas City Star. An investigation is underway not only by firefighters but also MidAmerican Energy. Click …
Eastern Colorado residents worry about wind farms
Concern is growing in Eastern Colorado about the maintenance and cleanup of aging wind farms that have proliferated in the past few decades. Some counties are following what others are doing across the country—creating their own rules in the absence of state regulations according to a report by the Colorado Sun. Click here …
New Mexico makes way for more public land wind farms
The state of New Mexico announced the results of two large public land lease sales for construction of wind farms. Pattern Energy won both bids for a total of 15,000 acres offered by the New Mexico State Land Office. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reported one lease was for 2,318 acres in Lincoln County while the …
US offshore wind energy industry to boom in next few years
Imagine an energy workforce booming from a thousand jobs in 2022 to nearly 58,000 in about 8 years. It’s what the National Renewable Energy Laboratory based in Colorado is predicting for the U.S. offshore wind workforce. It estimates the offshore wind industry will need between 15,000 and 58,000 full-time jobs every year beginning in …
Supreme Court sides with wind farm in fight over production tax credits
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled this week against county assessors who argued in support of ad valorem tax assessments on wind farms. It’s a ruling that will affect nearly every county in the state where a wind farm is located and could result in the loss of millions of dollars for those counties as …