China Leading Global Race to Make Clean Energy
Shiho Fukada for The New York Times
As China takes the lead on wind turbines, above, and solar panels, President Obama is calling for American industry to step up.
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CloseLinkedinDiggFacebookMixxMySpaceYahoo! BuzzPermalink By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: January 30, 2010
TIANJIN, China — China vaulted past competitors in Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States last year to become the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, and is poised to expand even further this year.
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Shiho Fukada for The New York Times
A worker inside a wind turbine at a factory in Tianjin, China.
A blog about energy, the environment and the bottom line.
Go to Blog » China has also leapfrogged the West in the last two years to emerge as the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels. And the country is pushing equally hard to build nuclear reactors and the most efficient types of coal power plants.
These efforts to dominate renewable energy technologies raise the prospect that the West may someday trade its dependence on oil from the Mideast for a reliance on solar panels, wind turbines and other gear manufactured in China.
“Most of the energy equipment will carry a brass plate, ‘Made in China,’ ” said K. K. Chan, the chief executive of Nature Elements Capital, a private equity fund in Beijing that focuses on renewable energy.
President Obama, in his State of the Union speech last week, sounded an alarm that the United States was falling behind other countries, especially China, on energy. “I do not accept a future where the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders — and I know you don’t either,” he told Congress.
The United States and other countries are offering incentives to develop their own renewable energy industries, and Mr. Obama called for redoubling American efforts. Yet many Western and Chinese executives expect China to prevail in the energy-technology race.
Multinational corporations are responding to the rapid growth of China’s market by building big, state-of-the-art factories in China. Vestas of Denmark has just erected the world’s biggest wind turbine manufacturing complex here in northeastern China, and transferred the technology to build the latest electronic controls and generators.
“You have to move fast with the market,” said Jens Tommerup, the president of Vestas China. “Nobody has ever seen such fast development in a wind market.”
Renewable energy industries here are adding jobs rapidly, reaching 1.12 million in 2008 and climbing by 100,000 a year, according to the government-backed Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association.
Yet renewable energy may be doing more for China’s economy than for the environment. Total power generation in China is on track to pass the United States in 2012 — and most of the added capacity will still be from coal.
China intends for wind, solar and biomass energy to represent 8 percent of its electricity generation capacity by 2020. That compares with less than 4 percent now in China and the United States. Coal will still represent two-thirds of China’s capacity in 2020, and nuclear and hydropower most of the rest.
As China seeks to dominate energy-equipment exports, it has the advantage of being the world’s largest market for power equipment. The government spends heavily to upgrade the electricity grid, committing $45 billion in 2009 alone. State-owned banks provide generous financing.
China’s top leaders are intensely focused on energy policy: on Wednesday, the government announced the creation of a National Energy Commission composed of cabinet ministers as a “superministry” led by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao himself.
Regulators have set mandates for power generation companies to use more renewable energy. Generous subsidies for consumers to install their own solar panels or solar water heaters have produced flurries of activity on rooftops across China.
China’s biggest advantage may be its domestic demand for electricity, rising 15 percent a year. To meet demand in the coming decade, according to statistics from the International Energy Agency, China will need to add nearly nine times as much electricity generation capacity as the United States will.
So while Americans are used to thinking of themselves as having the world’s largest market in many industries, China’s market for power equipment dwarfs that of the United States, even though the American market is more mature. That means Chinese producers enjoy enormous efficiencies from large-scale production.
From the New York Times
In the United States, power companies frequently face a choice between buying renewable energy equipment or continuing to operate fossil-fuel-fired power plants that have already been built and paid for. In China, power companies have to buy lots of new equipment anyway, and alternative energy, particularly wind and nuclear, is increasingly priced competitively.
Interest rates as low as 2 percent for bank loans — the result of a savings rate of 40 percent and a government policy of steering loans to renewable energy — have also made a big difference.
As in many other industries, China’s low labor costs are an advantage in energy. Although Chinese wages have risen sharply in the last five years, Vestas still pays assembly line workers here only $4,100 a year.
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Sunday, January 31, 2010
Big Business and "Process"
Dan Mills on Turbine companies and municipal council
Dear Editor:
The die was cast for the so predictable out-come of the new Wind By-Law of
the Municipal Council of the District of Digby the night that Democracy
died. That was back in summer when, after weeks and months of meetings by
the Planning Advisory Committee ( which included 3 councilors and 3
community volunteers) the deputy-warden, a member of the same, proposed
bringing it to Council for approval.
And so they did! The deputy made the motion. And like the Lone Ranger riding
in on the great horse,Silver with a Tonto or two at his side,coming as it
seemed in the name of the new-found God,Economy, the silver bullet was
fired! And down went our Council as in the ancient Jewish parable of the oak
tree and the reed.(Jesus refers to it in Mt.11,7.)
Or another way perhaps more readily understandable to the child in us: Big
Business came in, and it huffed and it puffed and it blew the house down!
The house was made of straw! ( In consultant fees alone, over
Twenty-Thousand Hard-Earned-Tax-Payers-Dollars huffed right into the 4-site
groups pockets for a by-law which didn't take!) And it was there that
democracy died!
Council decided to do it "Their Way" on the advice of outside companies who
said they wouldn't play if the rules didn't change. And so they discounted
the PAC this time, and all the people, and hired 4-Site to do the deed in
its' own image and likeness.Fait accompli! We're just waiting for the bill
for that one!
"It's just money", I suppose the Council Treasury will avow....but it's a
lot more costly than that, isn't it? Time will prove me right.
Daniel Mills
Digby County
Nova Scotia
Dear Editor:
The die was cast for the so predictable out-come of the new Wind By-Law of
the Municipal Council of the District of Digby the night that Democracy
died. That was back in summer when, after weeks and months of meetings by
the Planning Advisory Committee ( which included 3 councilors and 3
community volunteers) the deputy-warden, a member of the same, proposed
bringing it to Council for approval.
And so they did! The deputy made the motion. And like the Lone Ranger riding
in on the great horse,Silver with a Tonto or two at his side,coming as it
seemed in the name of the new-found God,Economy, the silver bullet was
fired! And down went our Council as in the ancient Jewish parable of the oak
tree and the reed.(Jesus refers to it in Mt.11,7.)
Or another way perhaps more readily understandable to the child in us: Big
Business came in, and it huffed and it puffed and it blew the house down!
The house was made of straw! ( In consultant fees alone, over
Twenty-Thousand Hard-Earned-Tax-Payers-Dollars huffed right into the 4-site
groups pockets for a by-law which didn't take!) And it was there that
democracy died!
Council decided to do it "Their Way" on the advice of outside companies who
said they wouldn't play if the rules didn't change. And so they discounted
the PAC this time, and all the people, and hired 4-Site to do the deed in
its' own image and likeness.Fait accompli! We're just waiting for the bill
for that one!
"It's just money", I suppose the Council Treasury will avow....but it's a
lot more costly than that, isn't it? Time will prove me right.
Daniel Mills
Digby County
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick Power Deal
Power deal still unpopular
New Brunswickers uneasy about NB Power sale
By ALOMA JARDINE Moncton Times & Transcript
Sun. Jan 31 - 4:53 AM
MONCTON, N.B. — First there was disbelief, then anger, then concern as New Brunswickers tried to wade through the terms of the NB Power deal and make up their minds about it.
People have taken issue with almost every aspect of the plan to sell major assets of the New Brunswick electric utility to Hydro-Quebec.
Ask 10 people what they think of the multibillion-dollar agreement and you’ll likely get 10 different opinions.
But a few general themes have emerged.
People are worried about the long-term impact on power rates and on the province’s energy sovereignty. They question why industrial users seem to be getting a better deal than residential ones.
Mostly they feel the way the whole deal has been done stinks — and that has left them angry and suspicious.
"I’d say the thing people are most upset about is this deal has been put together in a very secret fashion. There hasn’t been a lot of public input," says Cocagne, N.B., resident Richard Lachance. "The idea of selling the province’s assets without public input, it’s not right."
The lack of transparency on the government’s part, whether real or perceived, seems to come up time and again when New Brunswickers talk about the reasons they are leery of the deal.
"People have just lost trust and faith in government and it is like they aren’t working for our benefit, they are working for their party’s benefit," Lachance says.
Geoff Martin, a political science professor at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., says he is getting the same vibe, that people are wondering who they can trust to tell them about the deal.
"People are a bit suspicious and also worried about the fine print and how that can come back (on us)," he says. "Maybe people in general are a little bit jaded."
Political science professor Tom Bateman at St. Thomas University in Fredericton says there has been a combination of what he calls process concerns and substance concerns in the public debate.
"I thought earlier in the debate the concerns about substance were fairly clearly articulated," he says. "Questions of sovereignty, the loss of control this province will have over its energy. . . . Other concerns were whether the assets going to Hydro-Quebec were properly valued."
Bateman says the disparity between breaks for industrial and residential users upset people.
But while those concerns remain, the focus has shifted somewhat to questioning the process — the way the deal was made and presented.
"It’s become a bit of a staple of the debate that the government has not consulted enough," Bateman says. "The MOU (memorandum of understanding) of Oct. 29 seemed to come out of nowhere. It took everybody by surprise and one wonders how much on-the-back-of-a-napkin kind of deal this really is."
The complexity of the agreement may be part of the reason people are focusing on issues of process.
"When someone is unwilling or unable to master the substance, then that person is likely to switch to the process," Bateman says. "It has always been there and it may be more strongly the case now than it was before."
Lachance says if there is a good thing in all of the controversy swirling around the NB Power deal, it is that it has got people thinking about energy.
"It is a very important issue for our future. We can’t rely on oil, but what are we moving towards?" he says.
While Lachance believes citizens should be part of the process, he doesn’t support the idea of a referendum.
"To have a provincial referendum where everybody votes on the deal would be sort of a mistake too, because I don’t feel people have the information to make a decision either way," he says.
Bateman says the government is finding itself with a very difficult communication job at this point.
"We are going to get some detail (on the deal) in the form of this massive piece of legislation. We will have the actual document, which will be hideously unreadable. It will be worse reading than the Income Tax Act and people aren’t going to (read) that either," he says.
So can the government dig itself out of the hole it has dug itself into?
"I think what I have noticed of late is that other personalities in the province have spoken out in favour of the deal, the mayors of Saint John and Edmundston," Bateman says. "I think government will have to leverage some of the trust that people have in other personalities.
The Canadian Press
‘I’d say the thing people are most upset about is this deal has been put together in a very secret fashion.’
RICHARD LACHANCECocagne, N.B. resident
New Brunswickers uneasy about NB Power sale
By ALOMA JARDINE Moncton Times & Transcript
Sun. Jan 31 - 4:53 AM
MONCTON, N.B. — First there was disbelief, then anger, then concern as New Brunswickers tried to wade through the terms of the NB Power deal and make up their minds about it.
People have taken issue with almost every aspect of the plan to sell major assets of the New Brunswick electric utility to Hydro-Quebec.
Ask 10 people what they think of the multibillion-dollar agreement and you’ll likely get 10 different opinions.
But a few general themes have emerged.
People are worried about the long-term impact on power rates and on the province’s energy sovereignty. They question why industrial users seem to be getting a better deal than residential ones.
Mostly they feel the way the whole deal has been done stinks — and that has left them angry and suspicious.
"I’d say the thing people are most upset about is this deal has been put together in a very secret fashion. There hasn’t been a lot of public input," says Cocagne, N.B., resident Richard Lachance. "The idea of selling the province’s assets without public input, it’s not right."
The lack of transparency on the government’s part, whether real or perceived, seems to come up time and again when New Brunswickers talk about the reasons they are leery of the deal.
"People have just lost trust and faith in government and it is like they aren’t working for our benefit, they are working for their party’s benefit," Lachance says.
Geoff Martin, a political science professor at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., says he is getting the same vibe, that people are wondering who they can trust to tell them about the deal.
"People are a bit suspicious and also worried about the fine print and how that can come back (on us)," he says. "Maybe people in general are a little bit jaded."
Political science professor Tom Bateman at St. Thomas University in Fredericton says there has been a combination of what he calls process concerns and substance concerns in the public debate.
"I thought earlier in the debate the concerns about substance were fairly clearly articulated," he says. "Questions of sovereignty, the loss of control this province will have over its energy. . . . Other concerns were whether the assets going to Hydro-Quebec were properly valued."
Bateman says the disparity between breaks for industrial and residential users upset people.
But while those concerns remain, the focus has shifted somewhat to questioning the process — the way the deal was made and presented.
"It’s become a bit of a staple of the debate that the government has not consulted enough," Bateman says. "The MOU (memorandum of understanding) of Oct. 29 seemed to come out of nowhere. It took everybody by surprise and one wonders how much on-the-back-of-a-napkin kind of deal this really is."
The complexity of the agreement may be part of the reason people are focusing on issues of process.
"When someone is unwilling or unable to master the substance, then that person is likely to switch to the process," Bateman says. "It has always been there and it may be more strongly the case now than it was before."
Lachance says if there is a good thing in all of the controversy swirling around the NB Power deal, it is that it has got people thinking about energy.
"It is a very important issue for our future. We can’t rely on oil, but what are we moving towards?" he says.
While Lachance believes citizens should be part of the process, he doesn’t support the idea of a referendum.
"To have a provincial referendum where everybody votes on the deal would be sort of a mistake too, because I don’t feel people have the information to make a decision either way," he says.
Bateman says the government is finding itself with a very difficult communication job at this point.
"We are going to get some detail (on the deal) in the form of this massive piece of legislation. We will have the actual document, which will be hideously unreadable. It will be worse reading than the Income Tax Act and people aren’t going to (read) that either," he says.
So can the government dig itself out of the hole it has dug itself into?
"I think what I have noticed of late is that other personalities in the province have spoken out in favour of the deal, the mayors of Saint John and Edmundston," Bateman says. "I think government will have to leverage some of the trust that people have in other personalities.
The Canadian Press
‘I’d say the thing people are most upset about is this deal has been put together in a very secret fashion.’
RICHARD LACHANCECocagne, N.B. resident
Labels:
New Brunswick power electricity
Saturday, January 30, 2010
UFO's Sighted
over parts of Canadian Maritimes
N.L. woman who claims she saw missiles says area not used by model hobbyists
Module body
Fri Jan 29, 8:18 PM
By The Canadian Press
ADVERTISEMENT
HARBOUR MILLE, N.L. - A woman who claims she saw three missiles whiz over Newfoundland's south coast dismisses suggestions the mysterious objects could have been model rockets and claims instead the truth is being covered up.
Emmy Pardy said she clearly saw three huge "grey bullets" powering through the sky Monday off Harbour Mille, a small community of about 150 people.
The reports set off a confusing dance between government departments and the RCMP over who was addressing the issue and what, if anything, was seen.
But Pardy said Friday that suggestions by federal officials that the spot is used frequently by model rocket hobbyists are ludicrous.
"Yeah right - I don't believe that for one minute," she said from her home overlooking the bay where she spotted the mysterious objects.
"It was no model rocket. ... You don't even have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out."
She said everyone in the tiny coastal community knows everyone and she's never heard of people launching homemade rockets from land or sea.
Pardy and two friends claim they saw the objects Monday evening as one was taking pictures of the sunset.
Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams said he was concerned about the sighting, describing himself as a "UFO guy."
Williams said he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and MacKay when the two men were in St. John's.
"They said they've checked everything within the defence systems, they've checked with whoever they could check with and they have absolutely no record of anything, for want of a better term, foreign, that could have happened there," he said.
"Something was seen. But from a Canadian defence perspective, I'm satisfied after talking to the prime minister and the minister of defence that there certainly wasn't anything that was being hidden by the government of Canada."
Calls to the RCMP and Public Safety Canada on Thursday were referred to the Prime Minister's Office, which issued a statement saying only that there was no indication of a rocket launch.
Canadian and French authorities have both investigated reports of rockets appearing off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and have concluded there has been no military testing in the area.
"We can rule out any kind of military exercise," said Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Harper.
Soudas had said on Thursday that there was no evidence of any kind of military testing. But authorities in both Canada and France wanted to make sure, he said, so they looked into the reports further and found no basis for concern.
The French Embassy issued a statement late Thursday indicating that it hadn't conducted any military activity in Newfoundland or nearby St-Pierre-Miquelon at the time of the sightings.
But Pardy said she definitely saw something that looked like a missile and now believes someone is concealing the explanation.
"To me it sounds like they know what happened and somebody's trying to cover something up," she said. "Somebody made a blunder somewhere."
N.L. woman who claims she saw missiles says area not used by model hobbyists
Module body
Fri Jan 29, 8:18 PM
By The Canadian Press
ADVERTISEMENT
HARBOUR MILLE, N.L. - A woman who claims she saw three missiles whiz over Newfoundland's south coast dismisses suggestions the mysterious objects could have been model rockets and claims instead the truth is being covered up.
Emmy Pardy said she clearly saw three huge "grey bullets" powering through the sky Monday off Harbour Mille, a small community of about 150 people.
The reports set off a confusing dance between government departments and the RCMP over who was addressing the issue and what, if anything, was seen.
But Pardy said Friday that suggestions by federal officials that the spot is used frequently by model rocket hobbyists are ludicrous.
"Yeah right - I don't believe that for one minute," she said from her home overlooking the bay where she spotted the mysterious objects.
"It was no model rocket. ... You don't even have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out."
She said everyone in the tiny coastal community knows everyone and she's never heard of people launching homemade rockets from land or sea.
Pardy and two friends claim they saw the objects Monday evening as one was taking pictures of the sunset.
Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams said he was concerned about the sighting, describing himself as a "UFO guy."
Williams said he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and MacKay when the two men were in St. John's.
"They said they've checked everything within the defence systems, they've checked with whoever they could check with and they have absolutely no record of anything, for want of a better term, foreign, that could have happened there," he said.
"Something was seen. But from a Canadian defence perspective, I'm satisfied after talking to the prime minister and the minister of defence that there certainly wasn't anything that was being hidden by the government of Canada."
Calls to the RCMP and Public Safety Canada on Thursday were referred to the Prime Minister's Office, which issued a statement saying only that there was no indication of a rocket launch.
Canadian and French authorities have both investigated reports of rockets appearing off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and have concluded there has been no military testing in the area.
"We can rule out any kind of military exercise," said Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Harper.
Soudas had said on Thursday that there was no evidence of any kind of military testing. But authorities in both Canada and France wanted to make sure, he said, so they looked into the reports further and found no basis for concern.
The French Embassy issued a statement late Thursday indicating that it hadn't conducted any military activity in Newfoundland or nearby St-Pierre-Miquelon at the time of the sightings.
But Pardy said she definitely saw something that looked like a missile and now believes someone is concealing the explanation.
"To me it sounds like they know what happened and somebody's trying to cover something up," she said. "Somebody made a blunder somewhere."
For your evaluation: Bullfrog Power
From the NB Businessjournal site
Bullfrog Power arrives on the Maritime energy scene
Published Thursday November 5th, 2009
B1QUENTIN CASEY
FOR THE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
- Bullfrog Power is leaping into the Maritimes.
Quentin Casey/For the Telegraph-Journal Tom Heintzman, president of Bullfrog Power, stands outside the Wooden Monkey restaurant in downtown Halifax, which uses the green electricity provider. The company, which touts itself as "Canada's 100 per cent green electricity provider," announced its move into the Maritime electricity market on Wednesday with a launch in Halifax.
Bullfrog, formed in 2005, allows home owners and businesses support renewable power producers in their region by paying extra for electricity.
Essentially, Bullfrog pumps enough renewable electricity into the local grid to match the power used by its customers.
So if you sign up with Bullfrog, the assumption is that all your power needs are covered by renewable sources.
Tom Heintzman, the company's president, compares the electrical grid to a bath tub. More wind and hydro power pumped into the system means less reliance on coal, oil and natural gas.
Bullfrog customers still pay their existing power provider, such as NB Power. They also pay Bullfrog to buy the more-expensive green energy from local generators.
According to Heintzman, customers end up paying about 20 per cent more for their power. But they get the satisfaction of knowing their power needs are covered by clean sources, he said.
"It's like organic food or hybrid vehicles - you give people a choice and you try to use market forces to increase the amount of renewable power," he said in an interview.
"There's no new equipment, there's no change-over cost and there's no change in the reliability."
Bullfrog Power is already available in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
The company serves more than 8,000 homes and 1,000 businesses - and is looking for more with its expansion into Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. "It reveals what can happen when people show they are willing to pay a little bit more for power," Heintzman said.
"It feels like there's quite a bit of enthusiasm for renewable power in the Maritimes."
In the Maritimes, Bullfrog will draw its green power from wind farms and hydro facilities in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
In New Brunswick, the power will come from a small Irving-owned hydro facility in St. George.
Bullfrog mainly pays small operators for their green power, but also invests in some renewable projects. The idea, Heintzman said, is to keep demand for renewable energy high - so that more wind and hydro stations are needed.
According to Heintzman, several new wind projects have been commissioned in Canada to meet the demand of Bullfrog customers.
And a number of companies have already "bullfrogpowered" some or all of their operations.
For example: the Wooden Monkey, a restaurant and bar in downtown Halifax where Heintzman announced the Maritime launch.
And big firms are also on board.
On Wednesday, BMO Financial Group announced it will purchase Bullfrog electricity for all of its 64 Maritime facilities, making it the biggest user of Bullfrog Power in Atlantic Canada.
Over the past two years, BMO has bought Bullfrog power for 78 branches across Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
Bullfrog Power arrives on the Maritime energy scene
Published Thursday November 5th, 2009
B1QUENTIN CASEY
FOR THE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
- Bullfrog Power is leaping into the Maritimes.
Quentin Casey/For the Telegraph-Journal Tom Heintzman, president of Bullfrog Power, stands outside the Wooden Monkey restaurant in downtown Halifax, which uses the green electricity provider. The company, which touts itself as "Canada's 100 per cent green electricity provider," announced its move into the Maritime electricity market on Wednesday with a launch in Halifax.
Bullfrog, formed in 2005, allows home owners and businesses support renewable power producers in their region by paying extra for electricity.
Essentially, Bullfrog pumps enough renewable electricity into the local grid to match the power used by its customers.
So if you sign up with Bullfrog, the assumption is that all your power needs are covered by renewable sources.
Tom Heintzman, the company's president, compares the electrical grid to a bath tub. More wind and hydro power pumped into the system means less reliance on coal, oil and natural gas.
Bullfrog customers still pay their existing power provider, such as NB Power. They also pay Bullfrog to buy the more-expensive green energy from local generators.
According to Heintzman, customers end up paying about 20 per cent more for their power. But they get the satisfaction of knowing their power needs are covered by clean sources, he said.
"It's like organic food or hybrid vehicles - you give people a choice and you try to use market forces to increase the amount of renewable power," he said in an interview.
"There's no new equipment, there's no change-over cost and there's no change in the reliability."
Bullfrog Power is already available in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
The company serves more than 8,000 homes and 1,000 businesses - and is looking for more with its expansion into Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. "It reveals what can happen when people show they are willing to pay a little bit more for power," Heintzman said.
"It feels like there's quite a bit of enthusiasm for renewable power in the Maritimes."
In the Maritimes, Bullfrog will draw its green power from wind farms and hydro facilities in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
In New Brunswick, the power will come from a small Irving-owned hydro facility in St. George.
Bullfrog mainly pays small operators for their green power, but also invests in some renewable projects. The idea, Heintzman said, is to keep demand for renewable energy high - so that more wind and hydro stations are needed.
According to Heintzman, several new wind projects have been commissioned in Canada to meet the demand of Bullfrog customers.
And a number of companies have already "bullfrogpowered" some or all of their operations.
For example: the Wooden Monkey, a restaurant and bar in downtown Halifax where Heintzman announced the Maritime launch.
And big firms are also on board.
On Wednesday, BMO Financial Group announced it will purchase Bullfrog electricity for all of its 64 Maritime facilities, making it the biggest user of Bullfrog Power in Atlantic Canada.
Over the past two years, BMO has bought Bullfrog power for 78 branches across Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Digby Area Tourism Association News
The Digby Area
Tourism Association
I nvites representatives
from the Digby Area
Accommodation Sector for
an information session on a
proposed Room Levy on
February 3rd at 7 pm
Municipal Office,
Seabrook
Tourism Association
I nvites representatives
from the Digby Area
Accommodation Sector for
an information session on a
proposed Room Levy on
February 3rd at 7 pm
Municipal Office,
Seabrook
Labels:
Digby area tourism association
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Fundy Tide Project to get Observation Deck
From CTV site
Fundy energy project to get observation facility
A couple walks on the ocean floor at low tide to view the caves carved in the red sandstone by the Bay of Fundy, N.B., in this undated photo. (Kevin Bissett / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The Canadian Press
Date: Thursday Jan. 28, 2010 10:35 AM ET
PARRSBORO, N.S. — A tidal energy project in Nova Scotia is getting a financial boost from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
The Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy will receive $852,000 to help with construction of an observation facility.
The land-based facility will overlook the technology test site in the Minas Passage, about 10 kilometres west of Parrsboro, N.S.
The building will house an operations and visitor centre, with educational tours, interpretive exhibits and models.
It will also provide laboratory space for research work.
Fundy energy project to get observation facility
A couple walks on the ocean floor at low tide to view the caves carved in the red sandstone by the Bay of Fundy, N.B., in this undated photo. (Kevin Bissett / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The Canadian Press
Date: Thursday Jan. 28, 2010 10:35 AM ET
PARRSBORO, N.S. — A tidal energy project in Nova Scotia is getting a financial boost from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
The Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy will receive $852,000 to help with construction of an observation facility.
The land-based facility will overlook the technology test site in the Minas Passage, about 10 kilometres west of Parrsboro, N.S.
The building will house an operations and visitor centre, with educational tours, interpretive exhibits and models.
It will also provide laboratory space for research work.
Nurse Practioner Issue Still Not Satisfactory
From Saveournurse.wordpress.com
Letter in Chronicle Herald Saturday Jan 23rd
Sorry I didn’t get this posted earlier…Andy
Bring Snider back
Will the health minister please explain why she is wasting taxpayers’ money on interim and sporadic health care for the people of Digby Neck and Islands?
There is an excellent nurse practitioner in the person of Karen Snider ready to resume her full-time duties on Long Island. She is well-respected and trusted by the people. She served a year and proved herself dedicated and more than competent. Yet she was let go for reasons that remain confidential, according to her employer, the South West District health authority.
Now, while SWDHA searches vainly for a replacement for this remote area, taxpayers are incurring travelling and ferry fees for other nurses and doctors to drive down Digby Neck to Freeport. These are doctors and nurses taken from their positions in other parts of the province, plus money, time, fuel, and carbon emissions. The drive from Digby to Freeport, including the ferry, is an hour if you hit the ferry at the right time.
What a wasteful, inefficient system! Karen has a newly built house in Freeport — part of a commitment she made to spend the rest of her career there. No other nurse has come close to that.
Since October, the people have been writing letters pleading with Health Minister Maureen MacDonald to resolve the differences between Karen and SWDHA and reinstate her. They have repeatedly asked her to meet with them and to talk to Karen. They have presented proposals of alternative employment arrangements, all to no avail. The minister has left 1,500 taxpaying citizens without adequate health care in favour of a few bureaucrats. What is going on?
I once had hope for the NDP. I thought they were for the people. My hope is gone.
Sharon G. Palermo, Halifax
Letter in Chronicle Herald Saturday Jan 23rd
Sorry I didn’t get this posted earlier…Andy
Bring Snider back
Will the health minister please explain why she is wasting taxpayers’ money on interim and sporadic health care for the people of Digby Neck and Islands?
There is an excellent nurse practitioner in the person of Karen Snider ready to resume her full-time duties on Long Island. She is well-respected and trusted by the people. She served a year and proved herself dedicated and more than competent. Yet she was let go for reasons that remain confidential, according to her employer, the South West District health authority.
Now, while SWDHA searches vainly for a replacement for this remote area, taxpayers are incurring travelling and ferry fees for other nurses and doctors to drive down Digby Neck to Freeport. These are doctors and nurses taken from their positions in other parts of the province, plus money, time, fuel, and carbon emissions. The drive from Digby to Freeport, including the ferry, is an hour if you hit the ferry at the right time.
What a wasteful, inefficient system! Karen has a newly built house in Freeport — part of a commitment she made to spend the rest of her career there. No other nurse has come close to that.
Since October, the people have been writing letters pleading with Health Minister Maureen MacDonald to resolve the differences between Karen and SWDHA and reinstate her. They have repeatedly asked her to meet with them and to talk to Karen. They have presented proposals of alternative employment arrangements, all to no avail. The minister has left 1,500 taxpaying citizens without adequate health care in favour of a few bureaucrats. What is going on?
I once had hope for the NDP. I thought they were for the people. My hope is gone.
Sharon G. Palermo, Halifax
When the Lights Went Out in Digby...
Lightning strikes cause power failure
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
Article online since January 27th 2010, 12:24
Lightning strikes cause power failure
More than 4,700 Digby County residents were left without power early Tuesday afternoon after lightning struck a transmission structure on Lansdowne Road.
Affected areas included Digby, Digby Neck and Islands, Little River, Mount Pleasant, Marshalltown, Conway, Brighton, South Range and Smith’s Cove.
“It hit the structure in such a way it caused the poles to split apart and caused a fire and it completely destroyed the transmission structure,” said Nova Scotia Power spokesperson Stacey Pineau.
Four crews were sent out to the location and made a temporary repair, which allowed restoration of service within three hours.
The outage occurred from 1:40 p.m. until 4:35 p.m., Pineau said.
“We will need crews to come up and put in a new transmission structure either today or tomorrow,” she said.
There were four or five lightning strikes reported in the Digby area Tuesday.
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
Article online since January 27th 2010, 12:24
Lightning strikes cause power failure
More than 4,700 Digby County residents were left without power early Tuesday afternoon after lightning struck a transmission structure on Lansdowne Road.
Affected areas included Digby, Digby Neck and Islands, Little River, Mount Pleasant, Marshalltown, Conway, Brighton, South Range and Smith’s Cove.
“It hit the structure in such a way it caused the poles to split apart and caused a fire and it completely destroyed the transmission structure,” said Nova Scotia Power spokesperson Stacey Pineau.
Four crews were sent out to the location and made a temporary repair, which allowed restoration of service within three hours.
The outage occurred from 1:40 p.m. until 4:35 p.m., Pineau said.
“We will need crews to come up and put in a new transmission structure either today or tomorrow,” she said.
There were four or five lightning strikes reported in the Digby area Tuesday.
Labels:
Digby County NOva Scotia
Wind Farm Noise Can Cause Problems-Study
Some comments from readers of the telegraph.uk.co near the end
Wind farms can cause noise problems finds study
The noise caused by wind farms can make some people ill, according to experts.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Published: 7:30AM GMT 28 Jan 2010
Comments 34 | Comment on this article
Wind farms have traditionally been seen by protesters as a blot on the British countryside Photo: AFP / GETTY
The study by a panel of independent experts found that the irritation caused by the noise around wind farms can effect certain individuals.
Scientists dismissed the idea of a "wind turbine syndrome" where the vibrations in the air or the particular sound waves from wind turbines cause headaches, nausea and panic attacks.
However, they did concede that the swishing sound caused by wind turbines can "annoy" some people, keeping them awake at night and even causing psychological problems because of the stress.
The Government is planning on building thousands more wind turbines onshore and the report has led calls for more research into the noise effects caused by the turbines.
But the wind industry said if wind turbines were harmful, it would be impossible to live in a city given the sound levels normally present in urban environments.
The Government insisted that wind farms do not have a direct impact on health.
Wind farms have traditionally been seen by protesters as a blot on the British countryside, but it has now emerged that their noise may make people ill.
A new study found no evidence for "wind turbine syndrome" where the wind farms directly cause a host of health problems such as headaches, nausea and panic attacks.
But the swishing sound caused by wind turbines can be a problem for certain people, causing sleep deprivation and even mental health problems.
It has sparked renewed debate on the Government's plans for more onshore wind and led to calls for more research into the problems caused by noise.
A panel of independent experts in public health, audiology and medicine looked at peer-reviewed studies on the health effects of wind turbines.
Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, commissioned by the American Wind Energy Association, found that some people may be "annoyed" by the sound of wind turbines. A major cause of concern is the fluctuating nature of the sound, which is particularly stressful for some people because it is difficult to get accustomed to intermittent noise.
Dr Geoff Leventhall, an honorary fellow of the UK's Institute of Acoustics and one of the authors of the study, said noise from wind turbines can disturb people in the same way as any other noise pollution, such as an airport nearby.
"The conclusions of our report were that the main effects of wind turbines noise is similar to the effect of any other noise and will disturb people if they are listening to a noise they do not want to hear. One of the main effects is sleep disturbance which can lead to other stress related effects."
Presenting the evidence at a Wind Turbine Noise meeting organised by the IOA in Cardiff, he emphasised that only a small number of people find the noise distressing, which can lead to sleep deprivation and psychological problems.
"The number of people who suffer these extreme effects are small and ** if the turbines are designed properly the effects are minimised even further," he added.
Jane Davis is hoping to take the country's first private nuisance case against a wind farm to the High Court.
The 54-year-old was forced to move from her home in Lincolnshire after eight wind turbines were built in 2006.
The qualified nurse said one in five wind farms cause noise problems for the local people.
"All I know is the amount of health problems people have suffered since [the turbines were put up] seem to be excessive in relation to what was happening," she said. "Those symptoms include sleep deprivation, tittinus, vertigo, depression, raised blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart beat), needing to go the lavatory at night more often than you would normally, pneumonia, ear infections, stomach disorders and psychological stress."
Mrs Davis said 190 campaigners around the country have complained of noise and are expected to consider legal proceedings if the test case is successful.
"This is not Nimbyism. These things have devastated my life and continue to do so," she said. "The last four years have been hell and there has been no redress."
The Government has plans to build up to 6,000 new turbines onshore over the next ten years.
Mary Stevens, policy officer at the charity Environment Protection UK, said there will need to be more research into the problems caused by noise.
"While we fully support the deployment of renewable energy, we believe, that like any major development, the siting and operation of wind farms must be carried out with full regard to any significant and lasting impacts on local environmental quality and health," she said.
However the British Wind Energy Association pointed out that the new report said there were no direct health effects from wind farms.
"The findings of the study tally with UK research on the subject. In 2007 a Government-backed study carried out by the University of Salford found that only one wind farm in the UK was ever found to present a noise nuisance to residents and the issue has since been resolved," a spokesman said.
Wind turbines by numbers
The Government wants to built up to 6,000 new wind turbines on land over the next ten years.
At the moment there are more than 2,500 turbines onshore.
The turbines are around 300ft high
Onshore wind provides around 2.5 per cent of the country's electricity needs
The current limit for noise is 43 maximum decibels at night
Campaigners want it reduced to 33 decibels at night
If wind turbines cause problems so do human hamster cities, car exhaust (black lungs/ cancer), trains, neon lights, electricity, chemicals, cigarettes, music, plastics....
Kelvin Jones
on January 28, 2010
at 11:18 PM
Report this commentNow for a study on the deleterious effects of urban traffic noise, please.
Phil
on January 28, 2010
at 10:22 PM
Report this commentMilly Leadley, take a moment and actually read the wind industry guff you've just regurgitated. It's arrant nonsense and 10 minutes independent thought and research would show you how disingenuous it is. Wind turbine noise is different from any other noise pollution be it traffic, trains, aircraft or industrial plant, including air conditioning. The impulsive nature and low frequency content means that it carries further, is more disturbing and is heard over other noises such as traffic and the wind in the trees.
Chris Hanning
on January 28, 2010
at 10:08 PM
Report this commentWindfarms are a scam. Rajendra Pachauri has vested interests in wind energy companies. James Delingpole, where are you on this scam? People don't hear the sound that affects and causes their ill health because one cannot 'hear' infrasound. The energy lobby wrote their own article. One couldn't call that peer-reviewed. It's all political ideology and Pachaure is behind the mess so believed by all governments. If only the politicians would do their own homework instead of relying on the lobbyists. The entire concept is a scam designed to hike your energy bills to new heights!
AndyInCanada
on January 28, 2010
at 10:01 PM
Report this commentJust the sight of them makes me feel ill.
Wouldn't be so bad if they were really an effective way of making electricity and not simply a means of making money.
Perry
on January 28, 2010
at 09:52 PM
Report this commentIf you are a fisherman who digs
for his own bait like "worms" you
may not be able to find very many
around the wind farms??????
bernie
on January 28, 2010
at 09:51 PM
Report this commentIf you are a fisherman who digs
for his own bait like "worms" you
may not be able to find very many
around the wind farms??????
bernie
on January 28, 2010
at 09:49 PM
Report this commentIt's the power of advertising and propaganda that is pushing these wind farms.
And now Miliband has the damned cheek to say it is socially un-acceptable to be against them,
Richard Kellaway
on January 28, 2010
at 09:31 PM
Report this commentOver the very cold weather period after Xmas wind generators were contributing a massive half of one percent of UK power.
david
on January 28, 2010
at 08:02 PM
Report this commentMary Young
Thank you for the link to www.windturbinesyndrome.com. Those are exactly the symptoms suffered by my sister and others who are sensitive to this noise. I will pass it on.
I hope that Frederick Roots and Liam McDermott have learned something new. Birds and beasts get more consideration than people when it comes to protection of habitat in the hills of Wales, and elsewhere it seems.
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 07:48 PM
Report this commentWind energy could help to reach the Uk target of producing 15% of enenry needs by 2020. Wind energy is not the answer to the enery gsp just a contribution, and the noise syndrome is most certainly not true as they make as much noise as air-conditioning and that only is you stand in the same field, and the wind turnine has to be over a 650m away from any household.
Milly Leadley
on January 28, 2010
at 07:42 PM
Report this commentThe negatives of wind power so greatly outweigh the small amount of energy they produce I'm surprised the European environmentalist don't demand they be stopped. As a bird lover it sickens me to think of the thousands of birds being killed. The development of Nanosolar has rendered wind obsolete but the monied interests behind them continue to thrive. Let's stop them!
jim greenfield
on January 28, 2010
at 07:07 PM
Report this commentRoll on the day when compensation claims start to roll in from families whose lives have been ruined by these utterly pointless monstrosities.
@Frederick Roots - perhaps you might like to put an offer in on Jane Davis' house. You could probably get it for next to nothing...
David
on January 28, 2010
at 07:06 PM
Report this commentWind power is environmentally devastating. As a bird lover it sickens me. With the development of Nanosolar wind is obsolete. The turbines must be taken down!
jim greenfield
on January 28, 2010
at 07:06 PM
Report this commentNor only is the potential for audio damage to be considered, in the USA there are reports of these turbines causing major interference with air traffic radar.
mahatchma
on January 28, 2010
at 06:11 PM
Report this commentA new study found no evidence for "wind turbine syndrome"
OR
But the swishing sound caused by wind turbines can be a problem for certain people, causing sleep deprivation and even mental health problems.
Now which is it? I have been the recipient of a steady cyclical acoustic force, and indeed it caused me great discomfort
mike b
on January 28, 2010
at 05:52 PM
Report this commentAmazed that these turbines can still obtain insurance cover. In due time a court will award damages for the nuisance inflicted and health problems caused. Would not want to be the insurer who has to pay up.
Tom
on January 28, 2010
at 05:25 PM
Report this comment"independent experts"
"Scientists dismissed the idea.."
"the government insisted that..."
Does this sound familiar? Global warming anyone??
Jillian
on January 28, 2010
at 05:18 PM
Report this commentA Danish woman bought an upland farm near Pencader in West Wales, and a Swedish firm put up several wind turbines. Those living near are being made ill by the noise, but the Danish lady has returned to Denmark, and collects a handsome rent. I find this very cruel. I know that village well, and feel sorry for the innocent people living there. They really need to be listened to seriously.
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 05:11 PM
Report this commentExpat in France
One reason why no one is commenting is that wind farms are located in remote country areas, such as upland Wales, and not in the lush meadows where Daily Telegraph readers live. In areas that would be suitable, such as around Salcombe, they are seen off by the ferocious Daily Telegraph reading locals. It's the poor who suffer, as usual.
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 04:47 PM
Report this commentIf there is no noise from wind turbines why, then, is an international Conference held every two years on - Wind Turbine Noise?
To the couple of couch experts who have so glibly commented - do you really imagine that many families from different countries have abandoned their homes because they're all nutters?
Do yourself a favour and learn about the subject, as some of us have tried to do, before pontificating. Click on to www.windturbinesyndrome.com and look at the reports, letters and videos or, even better, obtain Dr Nina Pierpont's peer-reviewed book Wind Turbine Syndrome. When you've done so, you may be grateful that you live 100 miles, or whatever, away!
Mary Young
on January 28, 2010
at 04:47 PM
Report this commentFrederick Roots:"There is no possibility that noise at the level produced by a wind farm could actually CAUSE illness. It's just total rubbish."
A highly dubious assertion in the context of the long established disturbance to some people caused by ultra low frequency sound. Sound in the region of 2Hz would seem to cause nausea and other distressing phenomena. Unlike higher frequencies it carries for some distance and can penetrate thick walls.
Greg Lorriman
on January 28, 2010
at 04:40 PM
Report this commentThe sheer bile of "Frederick Roots" and "Liam McDermott" covers a deep ignorance of the facts and utterly closed minds.
It is beyond doubt that wind turbine noise causes not just sleep disturbance but also ill health. Check out the work of Dr Nissenbaum at the Mars Hill wind farm in Maine as well as the data collected by Wind Concern Ontario in addition to that of Dr Nina Pierpont.
Dr Leventhall's insistence that the symptoms of "wind turbine syndrome", which are consistent across many countries and cultures, are not due to low frequency sound is not shared by a number of equally well qualified experts.
Whatever the cause, it is evident that wind turbines continue to be placed far too close to housing. The recent discovery that the DTI/DECC edited out recommendations by its own consultants to reduce permitted noise levels in 2007 adds to the suspicion that the industry knows that there is a problem and is doing it's best to hide it.
Chris Hanning
on January 28, 2010
at 04:34 PM
Report this commentDarius
Thank you for that explanation. My sister was driven out of her Welsh farm where she had been very happy for 30 years. It was the low frequency noise that affected her. I thought she was going to die, and the worst thing was that nobody believed her. She moved house and was immediately restored to health
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 04:32 PM
Report this commentit is not the level of the noise from wind farms which is generally the problem, but the "noise quality". In a small number of cases this leads to a low level, but steadily fluctuating sound. According to a survey a few years ago, only four out of 130 UK wind farms had this problem and not everybody who could hear it had a bad rection to the sound. So this puts the whole thing into a clearer perspective.
HG
on January 28, 2010
at 04:21 PM
Report this commentFrederick,
The ultra low frequency waves produced as the turbine tips and blades rotate carry for miles, and they can be detected by the human body, and can be upsetting or unsettling.
To make the situation more complex, ULF levels will vary by position, nodes and antinodes of resonance that are also dependant on terrain and intermodulation between other adjacent turbines, so it is impossible to quantify a "reasonable"dB level of annoyance.
These are unique in this effect.
Spend a few hours living next to a nightclub using sub bass bins; you’ll see what I mean.
The aspect of no control over the sound makes its psychological impact worse.
A right to a good nights sleep is vital to the nations mental health.
Darius
on January 28, 2010
at 04:03 PM
Report this comment"...wind farms can make some people ill..."
They make me ill just thinking about them...
Expat in France
on January 28, 2010
at 03:24 PM
Report this commentWind farms are useless since there is no guarantee of wind. In our worse winter for 30 years, there was so little wind that wind farms were only producing about 8% of their rated output. If we had had only wind energy, there would have been power cuts. Electrictity would have had to have been rasioned so that people received electricty for only about 1.5 hrs per day. That would mean that all homes would be without heating nearly all day long (even with gas or oil, electrity is required for the pump). There would have been tens of thousands of old people dying had we been reliant upon wind enrgy. A similar experience with the floods in Northhumberland in November last year. What is required is energy security and wind farms cannot provide this and the entire idea should be scrapped
/7085086/Wind-farms-can-cause-noise-problems-finds-study.html
Wind farms can cause noise problems finds study
The noise caused by wind farms can make some people ill, according to experts.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Published: 7:30AM GMT 28 Jan 2010
Comments 34 | Comment on this article
Wind farms have traditionally been seen by protesters as a blot on the British countryside Photo: AFP / GETTY
The study by a panel of independent experts found that the irritation caused by the noise around wind farms can effect certain individuals.
Scientists dismissed the idea of a "wind turbine syndrome" where the vibrations in the air or the particular sound waves from wind turbines cause headaches, nausea and panic attacks.
However, they did concede that the swishing sound caused by wind turbines can "annoy" some people, keeping them awake at night and even causing psychological problems because of the stress.
The Government is planning on building thousands more wind turbines onshore and the report has led calls for more research into the noise effects caused by the turbines.
But the wind industry said if wind turbines were harmful, it would be impossible to live in a city given the sound levels normally present in urban environments.
The Government insisted that wind farms do not have a direct impact on health.
Wind farms have traditionally been seen by protesters as a blot on the British countryside, but it has now emerged that their noise may make people ill.
A new study found no evidence for "wind turbine syndrome" where the wind farms directly cause a host of health problems such as headaches, nausea and panic attacks.
But the swishing sound caused by wind turbines can be a problem for certain people, causing sleep deprivation and even mental health problems.
It has sparked renewed debate on the Government's plans for more onshore wind and led to calls for more research into the problems caused by noise.
A panel of independent experts in public health, audiology and medicine looked at peer-reviewed studies on the health effects of wind turbines.
Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects, commissioned by the American Wind Energy Association, found that some people may be "annoyed" by the sound of wind turbines. A major cause of concern is the fluctuating nature of the sound, which is particularly stressful for some people because it is difficult to get accustomed to intermittent noise.
Dr Geoff Leventhall, an honorary fellow of the UK's Institute of Acoustics and one of the authors of the study, said noise from wind turbines can disturb people in the same way as any other noise pollution, such as an airport nearby.
"The conclusions of our report were that the main effects of wind turbines noise is similar to the effect of any other noise and will disturb people if they are listening to a noise they do not want to hear. One of the main effects is sleep disturbance which can lead to other stress related effects."
Presenting the evidence at a Wind Turbine Noise meeting organised by the IOA in Cardiff, he emphasised that only a small number of people find the noise distressing, which can lead to sleep deprivation and psychological problems.
"The number of people who suffer these extreme effects are small and ** if the turbines are designed properly the effects are minimised even further," he added.
Jane Davis is hoping to take the country's first private nuisance case against a wind farm to the High Court.
The 54-year-old was forced to move from her home in Lincolnshire after eight wind turbines were built in 2006.
The qualified nurse said one in five wind farms cause noise problems for the local people.
"All I know is the amount of health problems people have suffered since [the turbines were put up] seem to be excessive in relation to what was happening," she said. "Those symptoms include sleep deprivation, tittinus, vertigo, depression, raised blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart beat), needing to go the lavatory at night more often than you would normally, pneumonia, ear infections, stomach disorders and psychological stress."
Mrs Davis said 190 campaigners around the country have complained of noise and are expected to consider legal proceedings if the test case is successful.
"This is not Nimbyism. These things have devastated my life and continue to do so," she said. "The last four years have been hell and there has been no redress."
The Government has plans to build up to 6,000 new turbines onshore over the next ten years.
Mary Stevens, policy officer at the charity Environment Protection UK, said there will need to be more research into the problems caused by noise.
"While we fully support the deployment of renewable energy, we believe, that like any major development, the siting and operation of wind farms must be carried out with full regard to any significant and lasting impacts on local environmental quality and health," she said.
However the British Wind Energy Association pointed out that the new report said there were no direct health effects from wind farms.
"The findings of the study tally with UK research on the subject. In 2007 a Government-backed study carried out by the University of Salford found that only one wind farm in the UK was ever found to present a noise nuisance to residents and the issue has since been resolved," a spokesman said.
Wind turbines by numbers
The Government wants to built up to 6,000 new wind turbines on land over the next ten years.
At the moment there are more than 2,500 turbines onshore.
The turbines are around 300ft high
Onshore wind provides around 2.5 per cent of the country's electricity needs
The current limit for noise is 43 maximum decibels at night
Campaigners want it reduced to 33 decibels at night
If wind turbines cause problems so do human hamster cities, car exhaust (black lungs/ cancer), trains, neon lights, electricity, chemicals, cigarettes, music, plastics....
Kelvin Jones
on January 28, 2010
at 11:18 PM
Report this commentNow for a study on the deleterious effects of urban traffic noise, please.
Phil
on January 28, 2010
at 10:22 PM
Report this commentMilly Leadley, take a moment and actually read the wind industry guff you've just regurgitated. It's arrant nonsense and 10 minutes independent thought and research would show you how disingenuous it is. Wind turbine noise is different from any other noise pollution be it traffic, trains, aircraft or industrial plant, including air conditioning. The impulsive nature and low frequency content means that it carries further, is more disturbing and is heard over other noises such as traffic and the wind in the trees.
Chris Hanning
on January 28, 2010
at 10:08 PM
Report this commentWindfarms are a scam. Rajendra Pachauri has vested interests in wind energy companies. James Delingpole, where are you on this scam? People don't hear the sound that affects and causes their ill health because one cannot 'hear' infrasound. The energy lobby wrote their own article. One couldn't call that peer-reviewed. It's all political ideology and Pachaure is behind the mess so believed by all governments. If only the politicians would do their own homework instead of relying on the lobbyists. The entire concept is a scam designed to hike your energy bills to new heights!
AndyInCanada
on January 28, 2010
at 10:01 PM
Report this commentJust the sight of them makes me feel ill.
Wouldn't be so bad if they were really an effective way of making electricity and not simply a means of making money.
Perry
on January 28, 2010
at 09:52 PM
Report this commentIf you are a fisherman who digs
for his own bait like "worms" you
may not be able to find very many
around the wind farms??????
bernie
on January 28, 2010
at 09:51 PM
Report this commentIf you are a fisherman who digs
for his own bait like "worms" you
may not be able to find very many
around the wind farms??????
bernie
on January 28, 2010
at 09:49 PM
Report this commentIt's the power of advertising and propaganda that is pushing these wind farms.
And now Miliband has the damned cheek to say it is socially un-acceptable to be against them,
Richard Kellaway
on January 28, 2010
at 09:31 PM
Report this commentOver the very cold weather period after Xmas wind generators were contributing a massive half of one percent of UK power.
david
on January 28, 2010
at 08:02 PM
Report this commentMary Young
Thank you for the link to www.windturbinesyndrome.com. Those are exactly the symptoms suffered by my sister and others who are sensitive to this noise. I will pass it on.
I hope that Frederick Roots and Liam McDermott have learned something new. Birds and beasts get more consideration than people when it comes to protection of habitat in the hills of Wales, and elsewhere it seems.
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 07:48 PM
Report this commentWind energy could help to reach the Uk target of producing 15% of enenry needs by 2020. Wind energy is not the answer to the enery gsp just a contribution, and the noise syndrome is most certainly not true as they make as much noise as air-conditioning and that only is you stand in the same field, and the wind turnine has to be over a 650m away from any household.
Milly Leadley
on January 28, 2010
at 07:42 PM
Report this commentThe negatives of wind power so greatly outweigh the small amount of energy they produce I'm surprised the European environmentalist don't demand they be stopped. As a bird lover it sickens me to think of the thousands of birds being killed. The development of Nanosolar has rendered wind obsolete but the monied interests behind them continue to thrive. Let's stop them!
jim greenfield
on January 28, 2010
at 07:07 PM
Report this commentRoll on the day when compensation claims start to roll in from families whose lives have been ruined by these utterly pointless monstrosities.
@Frederick Roots - perhaps you might like to put an offer in on Jane Davis' house. You could probably get it for next to nothing...
David
on January 28, 2010
at 07:06 PM
Report this commentWind power is environmentally devastating. As a bird lover it sickens me. With the development of Nanosolar wind is obsolete. The turbines must be taken down!
jim greenfield
on January 28, 2010
at 07:06 PM
Report this commentNor only is the potential for audio damage to be considered, in the USA there are reports of these turbines causing major interference with air traffic radar.
mahatchma
on January 28, 2010
at 06:11 PM
Report this commentA new study found no evidence for "wind turbine syndrome"
OR
But the swishing sound caused by wind turbines can be a problem for certain people, causing sleep deprivation and even mental health problems.
Now which is it? I have been the recipient of a steady cyclical acoustic force, and indeed it caused me great discomfort
mike b
on January 28, 2010
at 05:52 PM
Report this commentAmazed that these turbines can still obtain insurance cover. In due time a court will award damages for the nuisance inflicted and health problems caused. Would not want to be the insurer who has to pay up.
Tom
on January 28, 2010
at 05:25 PM
Report this comment"independent experts"
"Scientists dismissed the idea.."
"the government insisted that..."
Does this sound familiar? Global warming anyone??
Jillian
on January 28, 2010
at 05:18 PM
Report this commentA Danish woman bought an upland farm near Pencader in West Wales, and a Swedish firm put up several wind turbines. Those living near are being made ill by the noise, but the Danish lady has returned to Denmark, and collects a handsome rent. I find this very cruel. I know that village well, and feel sorry for the innocent people living there. They really need to be listened to seriously.
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 05:11 PM
Report this commentExpat in France
One reason why no one is commenting is that wind farms are located in remote country areas, such as upland Wales, and not in the lush meadows where Daily Telegraph readers live. In areas that would be suitable, such as around Salcombe, they are seen off by the ferocious Daily Telegraph reading locals. It's the poor who suffer, as usual.
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 04:47 PM
Report this commentIf there is no noise from wind turbines why, then, is an international Conference held every two years on - Wind Turbine Noise?
To the couple of couch experts who have so glibly commented - do you really imagine that many families from different countries have abandoned their homes because they're all nutters?
Do yourself a favour and learn about the subject, as some of us have tried to do, before pontificating. Click on to www.windturbinesyndrome.com and look at the reports, letters and videos or, even better, obtain Dr Nina Pierpont's peer-reviewed book Wind Turbine Syndrome. When you've done so, you may be grateful that you live 100 miles, or whatever, away!
Mary Young
on January 28, 2010
at 04:47 PM
Report this commentFrederick Roots:"There is no possibility that noise at the level produced by a wind farm could actually CAUSE illness. It's just total rubbish."
A highly dubious assertion in the context of the long established disturbance to some people caused by ultra low frequency sound. Sound in the region of 2Hz would seem to cause nausea and other distressing phenomena. Unlike higher frequencies it carries for some distance and can penetrate thick walls.
Greg Lorriman
on January 28, 2010
at 04:40 PM
Report this commentThe sheer bile of "Frederick Roots" and "Liam McDermott" covers a deep ignorance of the facts and utterly closed minds.
It is beyond doubt that wind turbine noise causes not just sleep disturbance but also ill health. Check out the work of Dr Nissenbaum at the Mars Hill wind farm in Maine as well as the data collected by Wind Concern Ontario in addition to that of Dr Nina Pierpont.
Dr Leventhall's insistence that the symptoms of "wind turbine syndrome", which are consistent across many countries and cultures, are not due to low frequency sound is not shared by a number of equally well qualified experts.
Whatever the cause, it is evident that wind turbines continue to be placed far too close to housing. The recent discovery that the DTI/DECC edited out recommendations by its own consultants to reduce permitted noise levels in 2007 adds to the suspicion that the industry knows that there is a problem and is doing it's best to hide it.
Chris Hanning
on January 28, 2010
at 04:34 PM
Report this commentDarius
Thank you for that explanation. My sister was driven out of her Welsh farm where she had been very happy for 30 years. It was the low frequency noise that affected her. I thought she was going to die, and the worst thing was that nobody believed her. She moved house and was immediately restored to health
mariwarcwm
on January 28, 2010
at 04:32 PM
Report this commentit is not the level of the noise from wind farms which is generally the problem, but the "noise quality". In a small number of cases this leads to a low level, but steadily fluctuating sound. According to a survey a few years ago, only four out of 130 UK wind farms had this problem and not everybody who could hear it had a bad rection to the sound. So this puts the whole thing into a clearer perspective.
HG
on January 28, 2010
at 04:21 PM
Report this commentFrederick,
The ultra low frequency waves produced as the turbine tips and blades rotate carry for miles, and they can be detected by the human body, and can be upsetting or unsettling.
To make the situation more complex, ULF levels will vary by position, nodes and antinodes of resonance that are also dependant on terrain and intermodulation between other adjacent turbines, so it is impossible to quantify a "reasonable"dB level of annoyance.
These are unique in this effect.
Spend a few hours living next to a nightclub using sub bass bins; you’ll see what I mean.
The aspect of no control over the sound makes its psychological impact worse.
A right to a good nights sleep is vital to the nations mental health.
Darius
on January 28, 2010
at 04:03 PM
Report this comment"...wind farms can make some people ill..."
They make me ill just thinking about them...
Expat in France
on January 28, 2010
at 03:24 PM
Report this commentWind farms are useless since there is no guarantee of wind. In our worse winter for 30 years, there was so little wind that wind farms were only producing about 8% of their rated output. If we had had only wind energy, there would have been power cuts. Electrictity would have had to have been rasioned so that people received electricty for only about 1.5 hrs per day. That would mean that all homes would be without heating nearly all day long (even with gas or oil, electrity is required for the pump). There would have been tens of thousands of old people dying had we been reliant upon wind enrgy. A similar experience with the floods in Northhumberland in November last year. What is required is energy security and wind farms cannot provide this and the entire idea should be scrapped
/7085086/Wind-farms-can-cause-noise-problems-finds-study.html
Labels:
wind farms noise health issues
French Designer Starck Creates Turbines
Designer Starck turns to micro wind turbines
Reuters – French designer Philippe Starck gestures during a news conference to present a new line of Micro Wind … Wed Jan 27, 11:10 am ET
MILAN (Reuters) – French designer Philippe Starck, creator of chic hotels, high-tech lamps and modern-style furniture, has turned his attention to energy with the design of two sleek micro wind-power turbines aimed at domestic use.
Starck on Wednesday unveiled the "Revolutionair" turbines, made by Italy's Pramac, which makes power generation equipment, after two years of work on the project.
The turbines, which will be made in the Tuscan city of Siena and can be placed in the garden or on the roof, consist of the quadrangular 400W WT model with a power output of 400W and the helicoidal shaped 1KW WT, which can generate power of 1 KW.
Their Italian reference prices will start from about 2,500 euros ($3,515) and 3,500 euros respectively.
"We have to help people to produce energy, to be part of the fight," Starck told a news conference at the unveiling in Milan.
"Energy should not be a punishment, we should create a desire (among people to produce it)."
Starck is famous for interiors that have included the private apartments of former French President Francois Mitterrand as well as products such as transparent chairs and the spider-like Juicy Salif fruit juicer.
Reuters – French designer Philippe Starck gestures during a news conference to present a new line of Micro Wind … Wed Jan 27, 11:10 am ET
MILAN (Reuters) – French designer Philippe Starck, creator of chic hotels, high-tech lamps and modern-style furniture, has turned his attention to energy with the design of two sleek micro wind-power turbines aimed at domestic use.
Starck on Wednesday unveiled the "Revolutionair" turbines, made by Italy's Pramac, which makes power generation equipment, after two years of work on the project.
The turbines, which will be made in the Tuscan city of Siena and can be placed in the garden or on the roof, consist of the quadrangular 400W WT model with a power output of 400W and the helicoidal shaped 1KW WT, which can generate power of 1 KW.
Their Italian reference prices will start from about 2,500 euros ($3,515) and 3,500 euros respectively.
"We have to help people to produce energy, to be part of the fight," Starck told a news conference at the unveiling in Milan.
"Energy should not be a punishment, we should create a desire (among people to produce it)."
Starck is famous for interiors that have included the private apartments of former French President Francois Mitterrand as well as products such as transparent chairs and the spider-like Juicy Salif fruit juicer.
Labels:
wind turbines Starck France
Video: Nova Scotia's Fishermen Talk
Cpaws Nova Scotia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-CtaMtozNc&feature=channelCPAWS NS Through Our Eyes:
www.youtube.com
This film is the voices and opinions of fishermen in Nova Scotia about the changes they have witnessed in their lives to the local fisheries.
www.youtube.com
This film is the voices and opinions of fishermen in Nova Scotia about the changes they have witnessed in their lives to the local fisheries.
Labels:
Nova Scotia fishermen
New comment via email
From Denis Bone:
I eventually made it back to Nigeria and, even more eventually, managed to open your blog site, not really sure what a blog is or how it works but find it interesting.
Have a look at the website www.openhydro.com, they are making exactly the things I am talking about. I have written to them about the fact that they do not, in their documentation, make the case for the incidental benefit of having a large seabed 'trawler exclusion zone' around the installed turbines. This zone would allow the regeneration and protection of large areas of the seabed habitat for bottom dwellers and feeder that has been destroyed by continuous trawling. A major benefit for the world!
The other comment I would like to make is in response to the talk of the increased efficiency of wind turbines. These people are talking about mechanical efficiency that only applies when the wind is blowing. They ignore the fact in their calculations that when the wind is not blowing the turbines are, of course, zero percent efficient. The wind predictions are approximations at best. True efficiency figures should include the wind availability factor, either that or two sets of efficiency figures should be given, one for mechanical efficiency and one for time efficiency. As tidal flow is extremely predictable, precise figures can be calculated for the output of tidal turbines and, barring mechanical breakdown, can be relied upon.
Must go,
take care,
Regards,
Denis
--
Denis Bone, Nigeria
I eventually made it back to Nigeria and, even more eventually, managed to open your blog site, not really sure what a blog is or how it works but find it interesting.
Have a look at the website www.openhydro.com, they are making exactly the things I am talking about. I have written to them about the fact that they do not, in their documentation, make the case for the incidental benefit of having a large seabed 'trawler exclusion zone' around the installed turbines. This zone would allow the regeneration and protection of large areas of the seabed habitat for bottom dwellers and feeder that has been destroyed by continuous trawling. A major benefit for the world!
The other comment I would like to make is in response to the talk of the increased efficiency of wind turbines. These people are talking about mechanical efficiency that only applies when the wind is blowing. They ignore the fact in their calculations that when the wind is not blowing the turbines are, of course, zero percent efficient. The wind predictions are approximations at best. True efficiency figures should include the wind availability factor, either that or two sets of efficiency figures should be given, one for mechanical efficiency and one for time efficiency. As tidal flow is extremely predictable, precise figures can be calculated for the output of tidal turbines and, barring mechanical breakdown, can be relied upon.
Must go,
take care,
Regards,
Denis
--
Denis Bone, Nigeria
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Scuba Divers May Find Work
Blogger's Note: Where's Digby's scuba school or renewable energy tech school?? We could use those here!They would provide training and employment.
Scuba program expecting big growth
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 | 11:30 AM AT Comments1Recommend4CBC News
With a new facility and a growing demand from industry, P.E.I.'s Holland College is expecting big increases in enrolment at its commercial diving program.
'I heard about it when I was actually in Australia.'
— student Evan PalmerThe program relocated from Georgetown to the Marine Centre in Summerside this month. There is more space and they no longer have to use a diving tank for instruction, because they're only 100 meters from the water.
This year there are 12 students in the program, but next year they expect as many as 32. Instructor Stephen White said part of that increase will come from the increased exposure of being in the Marine Centre.
"Somebody that's a captain of a ship, he knows other dive companies. These are people that use divers, so word gets out amongst the industry," said White.
But the school is also developing an international reputation. Student Evan Palmer, a native of Moncton, decided to return to Canada to take this particular course. "They've a good reputation; they're known all around the world," said Palmer.
"I heard about it when I was actually in Australia."
White said the push for alternative energy in the Maritimes will create a lot of work for commercial divers in the coming years.
"Offshore wind farms, for instance, is a big one that's coming up now. Tidal power in the Bay of Fundy, there's a big project there," he said.
Despite the increase in enrolment and graduates, White does not expect his students will have any trouble finding work they have finished the course.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/01/27/pei-scuba-course-college-584.html#ixzz0drhPe2Qq
Scuba program expecting big growth
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 | 11:30 AM AT Comments1Recommend4CBC News
With a new facility and a growing demand from industry, P.E.I.'s Holland College is expecting big increases in enrolment at its commercial diving program.
'I heard about it when I was actually in Australia.'
— student Evan PalmerThe program relocated from Georgetown to the Marine Centre in Summerside this month. There is more space and they no longer have to use a diving tank for instruction, because they're only 100 meters from the water.
This year there are 12 students in the program, but next year they expect as many as 32. Instructor Stephen White said part of that increase will come from the increased exposure of being in the Marine Centre.
"Somebody that's a captain of a ship, he knows other dive companies. These are people that use divers, so word gets out amongst the industry," said White.
But the school is also developing an international reputation. Student Evan Palmer, a native of Moncton, decided to return to Canada to take this particular course. "They've a good reputation; they're known all around the world," said Palmer.
"I heard about it when I was actually in Australia."
White said the push for alternative energy in the Maritimes will create a lot of work for commercial divers in the coming years.
"Offshore wind farms, for instance, is a big one that's coming up now. Tidal power in the Bay of Fundy, there's a big project there," he said.
Despite the increase in enrolment and graduates, White does not expect his students will have any trouble finding work they have finished the course.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/01/27/pei-scuba-course-college-584.html#ixzz0drhPe2Qq
Renewable Energy News from Australia
Renewable energy news
Trev - Another Aussie Electric Car
Meet Trev, the two-seater renewable energy vehicle; designed and built by staff and students at the University of South Australia.
How Many Solar Panels To Power Australia?
Supporters of solar power often wonder how many solar panels it would take to power Australia and if grouped together, how much land would they occupy?
Hawthorn Supermarket Goes Solar
The Renaissance Supa IGA supermarket in Hawthorn, Victoria, is leading the Australian retail sector in reducing its carbon emissions by installing a solar power system provided by Energy Matters.
The Solar Royals
Some members of the Royal Family have been dabbling in solar power for over 30 years.
France, Germany To Reduce Feed In Tariffs
Two major markets for solar power are about to face interesting times. France and Germany will be cutting the rates paid to solar power system owners for generating electricity under their respective feed in tariff programs.
NSW Solar Scheme Loophole To Be Closed
A loophole revealed in New South Wales' Solar Bonus Scheme that could see electricity retailers offering credit instead of cash will be closed.
Suntech Panels To Power Shanghai World Expo
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. recently announced the commissioning of two Suntech solar panel powered grid connected solar energy systems on the China Pavilion and the Theme Pavilion of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Solarfun - Odd Name, Great Solar Panels
The name Solarfun to some people is reminiscent of good times at the beach rather than high quality solar power components. Nevertheless, that's exactly what Solarfun products are - and at a very economical price.
Trev - Another Aussie Electric Car
Meet Trev, the two-seater renewable energy vehicle; designed and built by staff and students at the University of South Australia.
How Many Solar Panels To Power Australia?
Supporters of solar power often wonder how many solar panels it would take to power Australia and if grouped together, how much land would they occupy?
Hawthorn Supermarket Goes Solar
The Renaissance Supa IGA supermarket in Hawthorn, Victoria, is leading the Australian retail sector in reducing its carbon emissions by installing a solar power system provided by Energy Matters.
The Solar Royals
Some members of the Royal Family have been dabbling in solar power for over 30 years.
France, Germany To Reduce Feed In Tariffs
Two major markets for solar power are about to face interesting times. France and Germany will be cutting the rates paid to solar power system owners for generating electricity under their respective feed in tariff programs.
NSW Solar Scheme Loophole To Be Closed
A loophole revealed in New South Wales' Solar Bonus Scheme that could see electricity retailers offering credit instead of cash will be closed.
Suntech Panels To Power Shanghai World Expo
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. recently announced the commissioning of two Suntech solar panel powered grid connected solar energy systems on the China Pavilion and the Theme Pavilion of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Solarfun - Odd Name, Great Solar Panels
The name Solarfun to some people is reminiscent of good times at the beach rather than high quality solar power components. Nevertheless, that's exactly what Solarfun products are - and at a very economical price.
With-It Royals
Renewable Energy NewsFRIDAY 22 JANUARY, 2010 | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Solar Royals
by Energy Matters
Attention has certainly been drawn to the Royal Family again in Australia with the recent visit of Prince William.
While the media focus on the Prince's visit has been on photo opportunities and the ongoing republican debate murmuring in the background, there's more to William than barbecues, chatting with music stars and toting machine guns. It seems Prince William has a green streak too and recognises the crossroads that society has found itself at.
In a recent speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tusk Trust, an organisation that protects endangered species in Africa, he commented, "The imperative of balancing conservation of wildlife and natural resources with the ever-growing needs of the human race is at the heart of the great challenge facing mankind today."
While the Royal Family has often endured criticism for what is viewed as a privileged and consumptive lifestyle, some members haven't just been talking about the environment, but also making attempts to "go green" for years - decades in fact.
Prince Charles' passion for the environment is well known and last year he began investigating the possibility of installing solar panels on his London residence, Clarence House. Prior to that his household had become carbon-neutral through energy efficiency and carbon offsetting measures. Prince Charles also recently converted two of his vehicles to run on biodiesel and another on bio-ethanol fuel.
But Charles isn't the first "Solar Prince" - his father can lay claim to that title. Prince Philip installed a solar hot water system over 30 years ago at Sandringham.
Other efforts by the Royal Family include initiatives by the Queen herself. An organic vegetable garden was added to the grounds at Buckingham Palace last year - the first time such a garden has been in place since the push for "victory gardens" during World War 2; a concept that helped the nation feed itself through some very dark years.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Solar Royals
by Energy Matters
Attention has certainly been drawn to the Royal Family again in Australia with the recent visit of Prince William.
While the media focus on the Prince's visit has been on photo opportunities and the ongoing republican debate murmuring in the background, there's more to William than barbecues, chatting with music stars and toting machine guns. It seems Prince William has a green streak too and recognises the crossroads that society has found itself at.
In a recent speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tusk Trust, an organisation that protects endangered species in Africa, he commented, "The imperative of balancing conservation of wildlife and natural resources with the ever-growing needs of the human race is at the heart of the great challenge facing mankind today."
While the Royal Family has often endured criticism for what is viewed as a privileged and consumptive lifestyle, some members haven't just been talking about the environment, but also making attempts to "go green" for years - decades in fact.
Prince Charles' passion for the environment is well known and last year he began investigating the possibility of installing solar panels on his London residence, Clarence House. Prior to that his household had become carbon-neutral through energy efficiency and carbon offsetting measures. Prince Charles also recently converted two of his vehicles to run on biodiesel and another on bio-ethanol fuel.
But Charles isn't the first "Solar Prince" - his father can lay claim to that title. Prince Philip installed a solar hot water system over 30 years ago at Sandringham.
Other efforts by the Royal Family include initiatives by the Queen herself. An organic vegetable garden was added to the grounds at Buckingham Palace last year - the first time such a garden has been in place since the push for "victory gardens" during World War 2; a concept that helped the nation feed itself through some very dark years.
The People are the Economy- Dan Mills
Dear Editor:
I have pastored many Churchs'. I wish to tell my story of two which I shall
both call St.James.
St.James 1 was an older smaller one and cosmetically deprived.I attended my
first meeting, and heard the Chair plead for a "runner" for the aisle. Long
discussion, and then a yes for such purchase. With a great sigh, the Chair
expressed with almost jubilation:"There now,we're getting somewhere!" We all
were relieved and never thought we'd hear of it again.
Subsequently, as if an opening prayer we were to hear: "Now we have the
runner; we're getting somewhere." A short few years later a major renovation
was engaged, and I saw the runner lying on the ground in someones back yard.
St.James 11 preceded several years the one above. The little Church was a
work in progress built by the people as time and resources were available.
When I arrived, they had just accessed a large roll of carpet for the
sanctuary but had not yet had time to lay it.
In my early days of getting around to find and meet the people, I offered a
hitchhiker (who was quite ill) a drive to his home a distance from the
highway. When we arrived at his home in a small fishing village, he invited
me to come in to meet his wife and family, five children all of school age.
The main floor, though clean, was as bare-bones as you could get.
The couple told me of their struggles, and offered to show me the upper
floor where all the children slept. Bare walls and studs,one could see the
daylight through the outside walls. Not a speck of insulation to be seen.
But even worse ? The old rough floor with cracks and splinters upon which
these children had to walk!
A day or two later, I met a young UCC Minister whose Charge covered pretty
much the same as mine. I asked if he knew these people, and of their
situation. He had recently heard of it, but like me,knew not what he could
do.
We decided on a plan to reach out to our respective faith communities, and
to the personnel at a small Military Stn.nearby. In a few short days,
Rev.Don and I had a team in place worth more than its weight in gold.In a
week or so, people had traversed two counties solliciting materials and
furnishings, and in free evenings and a weekend or so,the job was all but
done except for that splintered floor.
I took it back to my small community with an update, and this still one
need. They looked at each other; they looked at me;they looked at their roll
of carpet, and without a blink in unison,almost, they said: "We'll use
this!"
I struggle with the misguided notion by our leaders that our first need is
to "build the economy" no matter what the cost to the people. I, to my dying
breath,will submit that "people are the economy of a Municipality,a
Province,or a Nation! Look after people, and the economy will find itself!"
My two St.James communities saw economy with far different eyes. Which one
do you think was right? Which one understood the mission?
Daniel Mills
I have pastored many Churchs'. I wish to tell my story of two which I shall
both call St.James.
St.James 1 was an older smaller one and cosmetically deprived.I attended my
first meeting, and heard the Chair plead for a "runner" for the aisle. Long
discussion, and then a yes for such purchase. With a great sigh, the Chair
expressed with almost jubilation:"There now,we're getting somewhere!" We all
were relieved and never thought we'd hear of it again.
Subsequently, as if an opening prayer we were to hear: "Now we have the
runner; we're getting somewhere." A short few years later a major renovation
was engaged, and I saw the runner lying on the ground in someones back yard.
St.James 11 preceded several years the one above. The little Church was a
work in progress built by the people as time and resources were available.
When I arrived, they had just accessed a large roll of carpet for the
sanctuary but had not yet had time to lay it.
In my early days of getting around to find and meet the people, I offered a
hitchhiker (who was quite ill) a drive to his home a distance from the
highway. When we arrived at his home in a small fishing village, he invited
me to come in to meet his wife and family, five children all of school age.
The main floor, though clean, was as bare-bones as you could get.
The couple told me of their struggles, and offered to show me the upper
floor where all the children slept. Bare walls and studs,one could see the
daylight through the outside walls. Not a speck of insulation to be seen.
But even worse ? The old rough floor with cracks and splinters upon which
these children had to walk!
A day or two later, I met a young UCC Minister whose Charge covered pretty
much the same as mine. I asked if he knew these people, and of their
situation. He had recently heard of it, but like me,knew not what he could
do.
We decided on a plan to reach out to our respective faith communities, and
to the personnel at a small Military Stn.nearby. In a few short days,
Rev.Don and I had a team in place worth more than its weight in gold.In a
week or so, people had traversed two counties solliciting materials and
furnishings, and in free evenings and a weekend or so,the job was all but
done except for that splintered floor.
I took it back to my small community with an update, and this still one
need. They looked at each other; they looked at me;they looked at their roll
of carpet, and without a blink in unison,almost, they said: "We'll use
this!"
I struggle with the misguided notion by our leaders that our first need is
to "build the economy" no matter what the cost to the people. I, to my dying
breath,will submit that "people are the economy of a Municipality,a
Province,or a Nation! Look after people, and the economy will find itself!"
My two St.James communities saw economy with far different eyes. Which one
do you think was right? Which one understood the mission?
Daniel Mills
New Flights to Atlantic Canada
New flights to Atlantic Canada 1/26/2010 11:17:00 AM
Atlantic Canada is now even closer with two new direct flights to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and an additional flight to Halifax Nova Scotia
Reaching the spectacular Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, which make up Atlantic Canada, will be even easier in Summer 2010 as two new flights launch to, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador and one new flight commences operation to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Air Canada will be introducing a daily non-stop flight between London Heathrow and St. .John’s. The new service will be the only daily non-stop flight between London and Newfoundland & Labrador and will operate from 27th May 2010 until 26th September 2010. Flights to this stunning area, renowned for its wildlife, beautiful scenery, whale-watching, icebergs, national parks and friendly people will start from £618.50. To book see www.aircanada.com.
Leading Canadian direct-sell tour operator, GO Travel Direct, has launched a low-cost, transatlantic air charter service to Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The new flights will be operated by Monarch, the UK's largest independent charter airline and sold in the UK by tour operator Jetaway 2 Canada.
Operating during the peak summer season, from June to October 2010, UK travellers can make the short hop from London Gatwick to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Halifax, Nova Scotia in just 4 hours and 45 minutes. Return flights from Gatwick to St. John’s will start from just £350 and from Gatwick to Halifax from £350. Jetaway2Canada.com is ATOL bonded and a member of the Travel Trust Association. To book visit www.jetaway2Canada.com
The new flights are an exciting development for the region and bring a wider choice of flights to holidaymakers looking to head to the Atlantic Canada region, Canada’s nearest provinces to the UK. Halifax, Nova Scotia is already serviced by a range of flights provided by Air Canada, Canadian Affair and Icelandair providing a convenient gateway to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
For more information on Atlantic Canada visit www.AtlanticCanadaHoliday.ca
Atlantic Canada is now even closer with two new direct flights to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and an additional flight to Halifax Nova Scotia
Reaching the spectacular Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, which make up Atlantic Canada, will be even easier in Summer 2010 as two new flights launch to, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador and one new flight commences operation to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Air Canada will be introducing a daily non-stop flight between London Heathrow and St. .John’s. The new service will be the only daily non-stop flight between London and Newfoundland & Labrador and will operate from 27th May 2010 until 26th September 2010. Flights to this stunning area, renowned for its wildlife, beautiful scenery, whale-watching, icebergs, national parks and friendly people will start from £618.50. To book see www.aircanada.com.
Leading Canadian direct-sell tour operator, GO Travel Direct, has launched a low-cost, transatlantic air charter service to Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The new flights will be operated by Monarch, the UK's largest independent charter airline and sold in the UK by tour operator Jetaway 2 Canada.
Operating during the peak summer season, from June to October 2010, UK travellers can make the short hop from London Gatwick to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Halifax, Nova Scotia in just 4 hours and 45 minutes. Return flights from Gatwick to St. John’s will start from just £350 and from Gatwick to Halifax from £350. Jetaway2Canada.com is ATOL bonded and a member of the Travel Trust Association. To book visit www.jetaway2Canada.com
The new flights are an exciting development for the region and bring a wider choice of flights to holidaymakers looking to head to the Atlantic Canada region, Canada’s nearest provinces to the UK. Halifax, Nova Scotia is already serviced by a range of flights provided by Air Canada, Canadian Affair and Icelandair providing a convenient gateway to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
For more information on Atlantic Canada visit www.AtlanticCanadaHoliday.ca
Responsibility and Wind Turbines
From the Oklahomawatchdog.org
The responsibility of operating wind turbines
By Andrew Griffin on January 26, 2010
Print This Article OKLAHOMA CITY — Despite the “air” being taken out of the recent wind power craze as America struggles in the midst of a recession, companies across America see wind power as a safe, clean alternative to dirtier methods of generating power.
In fact, for many years now, particuarly in the western United States, wind turbines have sprouted across the landscape. During a recent drive from Oklahoma City to Big Bend National Park in Texas, an area of west Texas near Abilene, was awash in massive wind turbines and wind farms. Most were spinning in the wind. Some were not. So, what happens when a wind farm stops generating electricity and is effectively abandoned by its owner?
Here in Oklahoma, wind farms are appearing in many areas of the western portion of the state. While most are operating, there are undoubtedly some wind turbines that are no longer operating. In Oklahoma, interestingly enough, Ted H. Smith, a columnist writing for Red Dirt Report, Oklahoma Watchdog’s sister website, wrote a column this week addressing this issue titled “Why no plugging bonds for wind turbines?”
Smith notes that while oil wells drilled in Oklahoma, a “plugging bond” or “decommissioning bond” is not required for builders who abandon wind turbines. Writes Smith: “If we know that someday wind turbines will wear out and need to be taken down, why don’t we require the builders of these towers to post a decommissioning bond with the state for every tower they build?”
A good question indeed.
The responsibility of operating wind turbines
By Andrew Griffin on January 26, 2010
Print This Article OKLAHOMA CITY — Despite the “air” being taken out of the recent wind power craze as America struggles in the midst of a recession, companies across America see wind power as a safe, clean alternative to dirtier methods of generating power.
In fact, for many years now, particuarly in the western United States, wind turbines have sprouted across the landscape. During a recent drive from Oklahoma City to Big Bend National Park in Texas, an area of west Texas near Abilene, was awash in massive wind turbines and wind farms. Most were spinning in the wind. Some were not. So, what happens when a wind farm stops generating electricity and is effectively abandoned by its owner?
Here in Oklahoma, wind farms are appearing in many areas of the western portion of the state. While most are operating, there are undoubtedly some wind turbines that are no longer operating. In Oklahoma, interestingly enough, Ted H. Smith, a columnist writing for Red Dirt Report, Oklahoma Watchdog’s sister website, wrote a column this week addressing this issue titled “Why no plugging bonds for wind turbines?”
Smith notes that while oil wells drilled in Oklahoma, a “plugging bond” or “decommissioning bond” is not required for builders who abandon wind turbines. Writes Smith: “If we know that someday wind turbines will wear out and need to be taken down, why don’t we require the builders of these towers to post a decommissioning bond with the state for every tower they build?”
A good question indeed.
New Turbines Reduce the Cost of Producing Green Energy
Blogger's Note:
New turbine models are more efficient. They also reduce the cost of producing green energy - yes, there is a cost to producing green energy. The statement below says traditional turbines were only 50 percent efficient. Most data suggests they were only 20 - 30 percent efficient. Which models would you want, the new ones or the old ones?
Watch the video at treehuggers.com or youtube
Jet Engine Wind Turbine is 4X More Efficient, Will Hit Market Soon (Video)
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.26.10
A traditional wind turbine extracts only 50% of the available wind energy in the given area it occupies. So perhaps it's time to up the ante, and move past the towering turbines, as iconic as they may be for the clean energy revolution. This is the thinking behind FloDesign's idea--they've created a wind turbine based on the design of jet engine--and they say it's 3-4 times more efficient that the current standard. And thanks to $42 million in recently received funding, this jet engine wind turbine is about to hit the market. Video of the turbine in action after the jump.
Flodesign just received $34.5 million in venture capital, along with $8 million in grants from the DOE, allowing it to begin commercial production on its tested turbine.
Here's how the innovative design looks in action:
As explained in the video, the vast efficiency comes from the technology which "forces air through a small hole to create a pressure differential."
TreeHugger first reported on FloDesign's jet engine wind turbine a little over a year ago, before it had secured funding for large scale deployment. Back then, Matt was intrigued that the proposed unit would reduce the cost of generating electricity by wind power by half by effectively doubling the output from a single turbine.
And it's good to see an idea take off--even exceeding initial expectations in terms of efficiency. FloDesign has evidently garnered so much interest in their technology that it's ""aiming to transform itself from a research and development organisation into a mainstream renewables firm," according to Cleantechnica. Interest has been piqued, and venture capital firms have taken notice--FloDesign may be a major player in the clean energy sector in year to come. And who knows? Its jet engine wind turbine design may be the next pervasive icon of the wind power industry.
New turbine models are more efficient. They also reduce the cost of producing green energy - yes, there is a cost to producing green energy. The statement below says traditional turbines were only 50 percent efficient. Most data suggests they were only 20 - 30 percent efficient. Which models would you want, the new ones or the old ones?
Watch the video at treehuggers.com or youtube
Jet Engine Wind Turbine is 4X More Efficient, Will Hit Market Soon (Video)
by Brian Merchant, Brooklyn, New York on 01.26.10
A traditional wind turbine extracts only 50% of the available wind energy in the given area it occupies. So perhaps it's time to up the ante, and move past the towering turbines, as iconic as they may be for the clean energy revolution. This is the thinking behind FloDesign's idea--they've created a wind turbine based on the design of jet engine--and they say it's 3-4 times more efficient that the current standard. And thanks to $42 million in recently received funding, this jet engine wind turbine is about to hit the market. Video of the turbine in action after the jump.
Flodesign just received $34.5 million in venture capital, along with $8 million in grants from the DOE, allowing it to begin commercial production on its tested turbine.
Here's how the innovative design looks in action:
As explained in the video, the vast efficiency comes from the technology which "forces air through a small hole to create a pressure differential."
TreeHugger first reported on FloDesign's jet engine wind turbine a little over a year ago, before it had secured funding for large scale deployment. Back then, Matt was intrigued that the proposed unit would reduce the cost of generating electricity by wind power by half by effectively doubling the output from a single turbine.
And it's good to see an idea take off--even exceeding initial expectations in terms of efficiency. FloDesign has evidently garnered so much interest in their technology that it's ""aiming to transform itself from a research and development organisation into a mainstream renewables firm," according to Cleantechnica. Interest has been piqued, and venture capital firms have taken notice--FloDesign may be a major player in the clean energy sector in year to come. And who knows? Its jet engine wind turbine design may be the next pervasive icon of the wind power industry.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Maine Island Turbines Noisy
From seacoastonline.com
Maine island wind turbines create noise problems
1/26/2010 January 25, 2010 2:00 AM
VINALHAVEN, Maine (AP) — A wind power project dedicated two months ago on Maine's Vinalhaven island is creating plenty of power, but it's also creating problems for neighbors who say the turbines are noisy and disruptive.
When the island's three turbines were turned on in November, they were touted as a way to generate electricity at lower rates for residents on Vinalhaven and nearby North Haven.
Related Stories
Maine wind industry seminar setN.H. wind turbine opponents appeal to high courtBoon Island selected as wind turbine demonstration siteMaine identifies 3 offshore wind-power test sitesMaine ocean wind demo sites to be named todayMaine ocean wind demo sites to be namedUNH gets money for deepwater wind projectMaine site too windy for millsCity business installs rooftop wind turbineW. Maine wind project going on lineMaine wind power project gets boostGovernor to kick off Maine Wind Energy ConferenceN.H. grand hotel installs wind turbineMaine wind conference setGroups file appeal against Maine wind farm The Portland Press Herald says a number of residents who were supporters of the project are having a change of mind because of the noise issues. They say the noise, which varies with wind speed and direction, ranges from mildly annoying to intrusive and is disrupting the quiet solitude that comes with island living.
In the wake of the complaints, the developer is taking steps to lessen the affect on residents.
Maine island wind turbines create noise problems
1/26/2010 January 25, 2010 2:00 AM
VINALHAVEN, Maine (AP) — A wind power project dedicated two months ago on Maine's Vinalhaven island is creating plenty of power, but it's also creating problems for neighbors who say the turbines are noisy and disruptive.
When the island's three turbines were turned on in November, they were touted as a way to generate electricity at lower rates for residents on Vinalhaven and nearby North Haven.
Related Stories
Maine wind industry seminar setN.H. wind turbine opponents appeal to high courtBoon Island selected as wind turbine demonstration siteMaine identifies 3 offshore wind-power test sitesMaine ocean wind demo sites to be named todayMaine ocean wind demo sites to be namedUNH gets money for deepwater wind projectMaine site too windy for millsCity business installs rooftop wind turbineW. Maine wind project going on lineMaine wind power project gets boostGovernor to kick off Maine Wind Energy ConferenceN.H. grand hotel installs wind turbineMaine wind conference setGroups file appeal against Maine wind farm The Portland Press Herald says a number of residents who were supporters of the project are having a change of mind because of the noise issues. They say the noise, which varies with wind speed and direction, ranges from mildly annoying to intrusive and is disrupting the quiet solitude that comes with island living.
In the wake of the complaints, the developer is taking steps to lessen the affect on residents.
Labels:
Maine Island wind turbines noise
Monday, January 25, 2010
Gerson-Lehman Group on Energy
Samsung Buries Ontario Deep into Third-World Abyss
January 24, 2010
this Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor
Analysis of: [Canada]Samsung Signs $6.6 Billion Deal to Build Wind and Solar Power in Ontario
Published at: greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com
Summary
Economies of the Third-World are usually defined by “sweat shops” or “branch-plants” operations. The definition has recently been enforced onto the province of Ontario by Samsung’s “Green Deal” as a reminder to all, that the auto-industry “branch-plant” policies of 60’s have just found a worthy successor which -- as opposed to the already known perils of car industry – has, in the long run, all the features of setting the Province on the slide into the socio-economic oblivion.
Analysis
[ 1 ] Let’s start with assorted problems first, In 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy did a review of recent literature discussing the "non-technical barriers" and suggestions to make renewable energy use more palatable. We shall mention a few major issues that should have had a substantial impact on the Samsung decision-making deal and, as it is, would have cast even more ominous impact on the Province :
[1.1] High capital cost of renewable energy technologies compared with conventional energy.
[1.2] Failure to account for all costs and benefits of energy choices. This includes failure to internalize all costs of conventional energy (e.g., effects of air pollution, risk of supply disruption) and failure to internalize all benefits of renewable energy: e.g., cleaner air, energy security. ( NOTE: This issue is clearly ideologically tainted as the “air pollution”, if needed, can be totally alleviated by a fraction of the cost of installing the brand new -- and never, so far, having fullfiled the promises, anywhere in the world where it was installed – energy distributing environment from the scratch.)
[1.3] Inadequate workforce skills and training. This includes lack in the workforce of adequate scientific, technical, and manufacturing skills required for renewable energy development; lack of reliable installation, maintenance, and inspection services; and failure of the educational system to provide adequate training in new technologies.
[1.4] Contract bidding mechanisms: Governments place an obligation on supply companies to accept electricity from renewable energy generating technologies which have been awarded contracts by government. Generators win these contracts by taking part in a competitive bidding process organized by the government or a specified agent of the government. Historically, competition has usually taken place within technology 'bands', that is, such that competing bids are only compared between generators employing the same technology. For example, wind generator against wind generator. Essentially, this means there are usually different competitions going on at the same time for each technology. Generally, the lowest bids are awarded contracts, provided they meet any criteria set down by the government as part of the competitive process. Examples of such a mechanism in practice include the UK's Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO), Ireland's Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) and the French EOLE.The only problem there is the lack of stakeholder/community participation in energy choices and renewable energy projects.
.
[ 2 ] Let us now leave out the first two issues that are highly important; however, as they have been completely omitted by the Ontario-Samsung deal, there are issues [1.3] and [1.4] that tell the story in full:
[2.1] R. Denley wrote in The Ottawa Citizen:”…. In a global economy, the winners are the countries that develop companies of international scale, companies that create high-value jobs at home and produce big taxes that support their national governments. The also-rans can buy a slice of the second-tier action if they are willing to offer big enough incentives. It's much like colonialism, but the countries with the money don't have to go to the bother of running the colonies directly….” TheThird World definition indeed. It directly answers the issue [1.3] above that has been the Ontario curse from the day one and, with the 80’s to the new century educational and immigration patterns; it has fast started on the sure way South.
Ontario governments like to crow about how great this province is. The Samsung deal reflects a much different reality, a tacit admission that the best the Province is capable of is assembling things under careful supervision from foreign companies (Auto-Pact revisited.) To make it even more vivid, Samsung, which is a relative newcomer to the green energy business, has said it is looking to use expertise from its other heavy industry divisions, including its shipbuilding group, to establish itself as a major manufacturer of wind turbines!
[2.2] the deal had a familiar shape of a developing country “standard”. One partner was a successful international consortium with deep pockets and manufacturing expertise, the other a backward jurisdiction so hungry for jobs that it had to pay the big company what amounts to a bribe to do the deal. The whole thing was arranged directly with the jurisdiction's leader without the bother of competition. It's the kind of deal one might expect in the Third World, except that it was Ontario on the Third World side of the equation. But the worst is yet to come:
[2.3] there are numerous Ontario companies trying to get a foothold in the green energy business. After all, “wind turbines derived from the shipbuilding”, as was Samsung claim, don’t seem to be a rocket science métier. If the government had cut a similar deal to support made-in-Ontario innovation, it could perhaps have been justified. Instead, it is slamming the door on these Ontario companies right in their own backyard.
"The Samsung deal is not just about manufacturing wind turbines," said OEC spokesperson Paul Kahnert."…It's a private scheme to generate electricity at outrageous ... rates -for years to come…." Kahnert said the province's electrical utilities operators can buy, install and maintain made-in- Ontario windmills more cheaply without Samsung in the picture. The fact of the matter is therefore quite simple. The Ontario Government has given away $7B of taxpayer’s money to offshore interests with NO assurance that Ontario society’s investment will create the promised jobs and economies of scale for alternative power generation. There are, at least, two of possible explanations for this:
[2.3.1] One possibility is that companies make bids against future cost reductions, taking advantage of the preparation period that the mechanisms usually allow before the payment period begins. If the economics of development are not sufficiently attractive towards the end of this period then the project does not go ahead.
[2.3.2]Another possibility is that some companies actually make bids they know will never become economic and will never be developed purely to deny the opportunity for a successful bid to their competitors.
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Questions for the authorEngage this author or other Legal, Economic & Regulatory Affairs experts
Contributed by a Member of the GLG Legal, Economic & Regulatory Affairs Councils
Request a Consultation with this Author
January 24, 2010
this Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor
Analysis of: [Canada]Samsung Signs $6.6 Billion Deal to Build Wind and Solar Power in Ontario
Published at: greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com
Summary
Economies of the Third-World are usually defined by “sweat shops” or “branch-plants” operations. The definition has recently been enforced onto the province of Ontario by Samsung’s “Green Deal” as a reminder to all, that the auto-industry “branch-plant” policies of 60’s have just found a worthy successor which -- as opposed to the already known perils of car industry – has, in the long run, all the features of setting the Province on the slide into the socio-economic oblivion.
Analysis
[ 1 ] Let’s start with assorted problems first, In 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy did a review of recent literature discussing the "non-technical barriers" and suggestions to make renewable energy use more palatable. We shall mention a few major issues that should have had a substantial impact on the Samsung decision-making deal and, as it is, would have cast even more ominous impact on the Province :
[1.1] High capital cost of renewable energy technologies compared with conventional energy.
[1.2] Failure to account for all costs and benefits of energy choices. This includes failure to internalize all costs of conventional energy (e.g., effects of air pollution, risk of supply disruption) and failure to internalize all benefits of renewable energy: e.g., cleaner air, energy security. ( NOTE: This issue is clearly ideologically tainted as the “air pollution”, if needed, can be totally alleviated by a fraction of the cost of installing the brand new -- and never, so far, having fullfiled the promises, anywhere in the world where it was installed – energy distributing environment from the scratch.)
[1.3] Inadequate workforce skills and training. This includes lack in the workforce of adequate scientific, technical, and manufacturing skills required for renewable energy development; lack of reliable installation, maintenance, and inspection services; and failure of the educational system to provide adequate training in new technologies.
[1.4] Contract bidding mechanisms: Governments place an obligation on supply companies to accept electricity from renewable energy generating technologies which have been awarded contracts by government. Generators win these contracts by taking part in a competitive bidding process organized by the government or a specified agent of the government. Historically, competition has usually taken place within technology 'bands', that is, such that competing bids are only compared between generators employing the same technology. For example, wind generator against wind generator. Essentially, this means there are usually different competitions going on at the same time for each technology. Generally, the lowest bids are awarded contracts, provided they meet any criteria set down by the government as part of the competitive process. Examples of such a mechanism in practice include the UK's Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO), Ireland's Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) and the French EOLE.The only problem there is the lack of stakeholder/community participation in energy choices and renewable energy projects.
.
[ 2 ] Let us now leave out the first two issues that are highly important; however, as they have been completely omitted by the Ontario-Samsung deal, there are issues [1.3] and [1.4] that tell the story in full:
[2.1] R. Denley wrote in The Ottawa Citizen:”…. In a global economy, the winners are the countries that develop companies of international scale, companies that create high-value jobs at home and produce big taxes that support their national governments. The also-rans can buy a slice of the second-tier action if they are willing to offer big enough incentives. It's much like colonialism, but the countries with the money don't have to go to the bother of running the colonies directly….” TheThird World definition indeed. It directly answers the issue [1.3] above that has been the Ontario curse from the day one and, with the 80’s to the new century educational and immigration patterns; it has fast started on the sure way South.
Ontario governments like to crow about how great this province is. The Samsung deal reflects a much different reality, a tacit admission that the best the Province is capable of is assembling things under careful supervision from foreign companies (Auto-Pact revisited.) To make it even more vivid, Samsung, which is a relative newcomer to the green energy business, has said it is looking to use expertise from its other heavy industry divisions, including its shipbuilding group, to establish itself as a major manufacturer of wind turbines!
[2.2] the deal had a familiar shape of a developing country “standard”. One partner was a successful international consortium with deep pockets and manufacturing expertise, the other a backward jurisdiction so hungry for jobs that it had to pay the big company what amounts to a bribe to do the deal. The whole thing was arranged directly with the jurisdiction's leader without the bother of competition. It's the kind of deal one might expect in the Third World, except that it was Ontario on the Third World side of the equation. But the worst is yet to come:
[2.3] there are numerous Ontario companies trying to get a foothold in the green energy business. After all, “wind turbines derived from the shipbuilding”, as was Samsung claim, don’t seem to be a rocket science métier. If the government had cut a similar deal to support made-in-Ontario innovation, it could perhaps have been justified. Instead, it is slamming the door on these Ontario companies right in their own backyard.
"The Samsung deal is not just about manufacturing wind turbines," said OEC spokesperson Paul Kahnert."…It's a private scheme to generate electricity at outrageous ... rates -for years to come…." Kahnert said the province's electrical utilities operators can buy, install and maintain made-in- Ontario windmills more cheaply without Samsung in the picture. The fact of the matter is therefore quite simple. The Ontario Government has given away $7B of taxpayer’s money to offshore interests with NO assurance that Ontario society’s investment will create the promised jobs and economies of scale for alternative power generation. There are, at least, two of possible explanations for this:
[2.3.1] One possibility is that companies make bids against future cost reductions, taking advantage of the preparation period that the mechanisms usually allow before the payment period begins. If the economics of development are not sufficiently attractive towards the end of this period then the project does not go ahead.
[2.3.2]Another possibility is that some companies actually make bids they know will never become economic and will never be developed purely to deny the opportunity for a successful bid to their competitors.
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Questions for the authorEngage this author or other Legal, Economic & Regulatory Affairs experts
Contributed by a Member of the GLG Legal, Economic & Regulatory Affairs Councils
Request a Consultation with this Author
Labels:
Ontario wind turbines
Econ.Dev't Agency News
the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program is at the heart of everything we do here at ADEDA. Why? First and foremost, it gives us the opportunity to express our thanks for the contribution you've made to the community. BRE also enables us to effectively link local, provincial and federal programs and services. We also get a better sense of the specific business issues our entrepreneurs in Annapolis Digby are facing. Through the BRE process, we have learned that many local companies would like to improve their marketing skills. Here’s a great opportunity to do so:
INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Expert Internet marketing know-how can hard to come by, particularly when you’re working flat out at running your own business. The Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative, with support from the Department of Economic and Rural Development, is sponsoring an inexpensive internet marketing workshop. Session topics include ‘Building Websites that Sell’ and ‘What is Social Media and How Do I Use It?’ You can also sign up for free 1-on-1 consultations with experts who will critique your website.
TV SHOW GENERATES VALUABLE EXPOSURE
Speaking of marketing, Chef Lynn Crawford really gave our region a boost with the broadcast of her new TV show, Pitchin' In, on Canada's Food Network, earlier this month. Aside from all the great PR for our lobster industry, the media time is worth $288,000 to our region, a figure well beyond our current marketing budgets.
STUDENT JOBS PROGRAM
The Federal government has announced the launch of Canada Summer Jobs 2010, which supports work experiences for students and helps provide important community services. Funding will be offered to not-for-profit, public-sector and small private-sector employers to create high-quality summer job opportunities for young people 15 to 30 years old who are full-time students and intend to return to school in the next school year. Here are the details.
Is Nova Scotia Running Out of Agricultural Land?
The short and long term future of the existing agricultural lands will be the subject of a province-wide consultation later this month. According to Canadian census figures, cleared farmland has declined steadily since at least 1901. There are only 181,915 hectares of active farmland left in Nova Scotia, with a large concentration here in the Annapolis Valley. A series of public meetings will take place to look at what the future holds for our agricultural resources.
GOING SOMEWHERE?
Winter driving is hazardous so please remember to check road conditions before getting behind the wheel. You can do this by viewing highway webcams or simply by calling 511. The province is, in fact, asking for your feedback on the 511 highway service info line … do you have suggestions for improvements?
Here’s something for those who would like to take part in the local arts scene: Secret Seeds, one of the region’s newest cultural endeavors, is an event built around a series of short plays. Organizers will be meeting on Saturday to discuss ideas … you are invited to share your expertise and enthusiasm!
INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Expert Internet marketing know-how can hard to come by, particularly when you’re working flat out at running your own business. The Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative, with support from the Department of Economic and Rural Development, is sponsoring an inexpensive internet marketing workshop. Session topics include ‘Building Websites that Sell’ and ‘What is Social Media and How Do I Use It?’ You can also sign up for free 1-on-1 consultations with experts who will critique your website.
TV SHOW GENERATES VALUABLE EXPOSURE
Speaking of marketing, Chef Lynn Crawford really gave our region a boost with the broadcast of her new TV show, Pitchin' In, on Canada's Food Network, earlier this month. Aside from all the great PR for our lobster industry, the media time is worth $288,000 to our region, a figure well beyond our current marketing budgets.
STUDENT JOBS PROGRAM
The Federal government has announced the launch of Canada Summer Jobs 2010, which supports work experiences for students and helps provide important community services. Funding will be offered to not-for-profit, public-sector and small private-sector employers to create high-quality summer job opportunities for young people 15 to 30 years old who are full-time students and intend to return to school in the next school year. Here are the details.
Is Nova Scotia Running Out of Agricultural Land?
The short and long term future of the existing agricultural lands will be the subject of a province-wide consultation later this month. According to Canadian census figures, cleared farmland has declined steadily since at least 1901. There are only 181,915 hectares of active farmland left in Nova Scotia, with a large concentration here in the Annapolis Valley. A series of public meetings will take place to look at what the future holds for our agricultural resources.
GOING SOMEWHERE?
Winter driving is hazardous so please remember to check road conditions before getting behind the wheel. You can do this by viewing highway webcams or simply by calling 511. The province is, in fact, asking for your feedback on the 511 highway service info line … do you have suggestions for improvements?
Here’s something for those who would like to take part in the local arts scene: Secret Seeds, one of the region’s newest cultural endeavors, is an event built around a series of short plays. Organizers will be meeting on Saturday to discuss ideas … you are invited to share your expertise and enthusiasm!
Labels:
ADEDA Nova Scotia
Officials Were Warned About Wind Farm
(Source: The Daily Item)By Marcia Moore, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
Jan. 22--SUNBURY -- Two separate Northumberland County boards of commissioners were cautioned since 2006 by three legal advisers about "shortcomings" in a Sunbury firm's wind farm proposal.
At issue is the land-lease agreement between the county and Penn Wind, a 29-year deal that is in the midst of being renewed and has been in jeopardy for months.
The two sides are hoping to keep the project afloat and plan to meet early next week.
Commissioner Vinny Clausi, who has loudly voiced his displeasure with the financial details and discrepancy about the amount of land involved, and Commissioner Kurt Masser said they're optimistic about reaching an agreement.
Since 2007, the county has been leasing land in Coal and East Cameron townships to the company for $1 a year, with an agreement that the county would receive $56,000 a year once the site begins generating wind energy.
Late last week, Penn Wind CEO Justin Dunkelberger revealed the company's intention to sell the lease to an unidentified California company for $1 million and allow it to set up wind turbines on the land.
Masser said he was surprised to learn an outside company might be stepping in, but said he's willing to work with any business that's able to bring jobs and revenue to the county.
"I want to do what's right for the taxpayer," he said, agreeing that the county should reap more financially from the project.
Masser played down the impact of political contributions he received from Penn Wind representatives during the 2007 election, including $600 from James Garman and $500 from Chris Purdy, both of Sunbury, and $100 from Dunkelberger, of Northumberland.
"If I was pushing to get (the deal) done, it might be an issue," Masser said. "But I've been saying all along that we should put our concerns on the table and lay out what we want."
He said that will likely occur when commissioners return to the negotiating table with Penn Wind next week.
And, Masser said, "Unless everyone can agree to the terms, I won't vote for it."
Even before the first contract was signed in 2007, then-county solicitor Guy Schlesinger raised questions about whether the county would receive its fair share. The former board, headed by Samuel Deitrick, along with Masser and Frank Sawicki, went ahead with the contract to lease about 500 acres for $1 a year until a 23-acre site is developed.
In 2008, solicitor Hugh Jones wrote to the commissioners recommending the contract not be signed.
He cited "shortcomings" in the deal cited by former planning Director Steve Bartos, including the lack of provisions for giving the county a percentage of the wind energy revenue and failure to place a limit on how long Penn Wind can lease the property at $1 a year without developing the site.
Despite the concerns addressed by Jones, the current board -- Sawicki, Masser and Vinny Clausi -- signed the deal for another year.
Assistant solicitor Kymberley Best added her concerns about the project last week in a letter in which she described the contract as "disadvantageous" to the county.
On Friday, three days after Best's letter was written, the commissioners learned that Penn Wind planned to sell its lease and allow an outside company to develop the site.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Jan. 22--SUNBURY -- Two separate Northumberland County boards of commissioners were cautioned since 2006 by three legal advisers about "shortcomings" in a Sunbury firm's wind farm proposal.
At issue is the land-lease agreement between the county and Penn Wind, a 29-year deal that is in the midst of being renewed and has been in jeopardy for months.
The two sides are hoping to keep the project afloat and plan to meet early next week.
Commissioner Vinny Clausi, who has loudly voiced his displeasure with the financial details and discrepancy about the amount of land involved, and Commissioner Kurt Masser said they're optimistic about reaching an agreement.
Since 2007, the county has been leasing land in Coal and East Cameron townships to the company for $1 a year, with an agreement that the county would receive $56,000 a year once the site begins generating wind energy.
Late last week, Penn Wind CEO Justin Dunkelberger revealed the company's intention to sell the lease to an unidentified California company for $1 million and allow it to set up wind turbines on the land.
Masser said he was surprised to learn an outside company might be stepping in, but said he's willing to work with any business that's able to bring jobs and revenue to the county.
"I want to do what's right for the taxpayer," he said, agreeing that the county should reap more financially from the project.
Masser played down the impact of political contributions he received from Penn Wind representatives during the 2007 election, including $600 from James Garman and $500 from Chris Purdy, both of Sunbury, and $100 from Dunkelberger, of Northumberland.
"If I was pushing to get (the deal) done, it might be an issue," Masser said. "But I've been saying all along that we should put our concerns on the table and lay out what we want."
He said that will likely occur when commissioners return to the negotiating table with Penn Wind next week.
And, Masser said, "Unless everyone can agree to the terms, I won't vote for it."
Even before the first contract was signed in 2007, then-county solicitor Guy Schlesinger raised questions about whether the county would receive its fair share. The former board, headed by Samuel Deitrick, along with Masser and Frank Sawicki, went ahead with the contract to lease about 500 acres for $1 a year until a 23-acre site is developed.
In 2008, solicitor Hugh Jones wrote to the commissioners recommending the contract not be signed.
He cited "shortcomings" in the deal cited by former planning Director Steve Bartos, including the lack of provisions for giving the county a percentage of the wind energy revenue and failure to place a limit on how long Penn Wind can lease the property at $1 a year without developing the site.
Despite the concerns addressed by Jones, the current board -- Sawicki, Masser and Vinny Clausi -- signed the deal for another year.
Assistant solicitor Kymberley Best added her concerns about the project last week in a letter in which she described the contract as "disadvantageous" to the county.
On Friday, three days after Best's letter was written, the commissioners learned that Penn Wind planned to sell its lease and allow an outside company to develop the site.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
About Gaia
James Lovelock and Silver Donald Cameron
Father of the Gaia hypothesis
, IT's IMPORTANT for Gaia that
human beings survive," says
James Lovelock.
"Our intelligence, if it can be
integrated as part of the whole plane-
tary system, would make ours the first
intelligent planet in the galaxy, per-
haps. What a wonderful future for hu-
mans!"
A great scientist needs great courage
and a great imagination - and Jim
Lovelock has both, in spades.
It is now 40 years since he rattled the
scientific world and electrified the rest
of us by publishing Gaia: A New Look
at Life on Earth (1979), which argued
that the Earth behaves like a single
living organism that creates and main-
tains a viable environmentfor life.
The Gaia hypothesis - named for the
Greek Earth goddess - implied that
the world was far more complex than
modern reductionist science had imag-
ined. It offered a coherent vision of the
whole living world that echoed all our
wisdom traditions and renewed the
human sense of wonder.
Mainstream scientists were horri-
fied. Many still are. But Lovelock's bold
insights, and his continuing explora-
tion of their implications, became the
foundations of "Earth system science,"
the study of systems like the circulation
of the oceans, the maintenance of the
atmosphere and the relationships
among the earth's many systems.
Noted author Gwynne Dyer considers
Lovelock "the most important figure in
both the life sciences and the climate
sciences for the past half-century," and
compares his achievements to Dar-
win's.
Slight, cheerful and white-haired,
Lovelock is now 90 years old, though he
looks decades younger. He published a
new book last year, The Vanishing Face
of Gaia. He and his American-born wife
Sandy spend their summers in Devon,
England, and their winters in her home
town of st. Louis, Mo., where I came
calling one brilliant January morning.
Lovelock resembles a geologist in his
easy navigation of the vastness of deep
time, but he recalls the Enlightenment
sages in his assumption that science is
a single enterprise, artificially split
into disciplines. He has been self-em-
ployed as a freelance scientist and in-
strument-maker for 50 years, largely
because of "silly people who would say
to me, 'You can't do biology, you're a
chemist.' As ifl didn't have a brain."
Freedom from institutional politics
allowed him to indulge his preference
James Lovelock is the author of Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth. (SILVER DONALD CAMERON)
C, where crocodiles lived and bred.
Lovelock thinks that's the kind of
world we're creating - and because of
our essentially tribal politics, our ef-
forts to avoid it will likely fail. Since a
less habitable Earth won't sustain a
global population of seven billion, pop-
ulations will crash. Human beings
should plan a "sustainable retreat" to
the Arctic region. Canadians should
prepare for hordes of people trying to
relocate to northern Canada.
Is this inevitable?
No, says Lovelock. Gaia is far more
complex than we understand, and we
do not even know the depth of our igno-
rance. A scientist can only say that this
nightmare scenario is probable. But we
should prepare for it now, while the
world is still a reasonably civilized
place.
The real horror would be if our spe-
cies survived, but its fmest achieve-
ments were lost - science, art, culture.
Lovelock believes we could be the
evolutionary ancestors of an intelli-
gent, post-tribal species that will serve
an aging Gaia as her consciousness.
This is a colossal vision of tragedy -
and redemption.
Lovelock smiles.
"Gaia needs us," he says. "What a
wonderful future for humans!"
SILVER DONAI.D CAMERON
for observation over computer model-
ling and permitted him to follow the
evidence fearlessly, wherever it led.
In 2007 he was "shocked" to learn
that the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change had "reached a consen-
sus on a matter of science.'!
Science is about nature. Consensus is
about politics.
So where has the evidence led him
lately?
Sea level, Arctic ice cover and ocean
algae populations, he says, are the best
indicators of global warming - and
they all reveal that the earth is heating
up much faster than the panel's projec-
tions. Furthermore, the evidence from
the Earth's last hot period, 55 million
years ago, shows that global temper-
atures don't necessarily change slowly
and evenly; they can flip fairly quickly
to hotter or colder states.
On that earlier occasion, most ofthe
Earth became a scorching desert. Life
retreated to the shores of an Arctic
Ocean with surface temperature of 21
Visit Silver Donald Cameron's website at
www.silverdonaldcameron.ca
Father of the Gaia hypothesis
, IT's IMPORTANT for Gaia that
human beings survive," says
James Lovelock.
"Our intelligence, if it can be
integrated as part of the whole plane-
tary system, would make ours the first
intelligent planet in the galaxy, per-
haps. What a wonderful future for hu-
mans!"
A great scientist needs great courage
and a great imagination - and Jim
Lovelock has both, in spades.
It is now 40 years since he rattled the
scientific world and electrified the rest
of us by publishing Gaia: A New Look
at Life on Earth (1979), which argued
that the Earth behaves like a single
living organism that creates and main-
tains a viable environmentfor life.
The Gaia hypothesis - named for the
Greek Earth goddess - implied that
the world was far more complex than
modern reductionist science had imag-
ined. It offered a coherent vision of the
whole living world that echoed all our
wisdom traditions and renewed the
human sense of wonder.
Mainstream scientists were horri-
fied. Many still are. But Lovelock's bold
insights, and his continuing explora-
tion of their implications, became the
foundations of "Earth system science,"
the study of systems like the circulation
of the oceans, the maintenance of the
atmosphere and the relationships
among the earth's many systems.
Noted author Gwynne Dyer considers
Lovelock "the most important figure in
both the life sciences and the climate
sciences for the past half-century," and
compares his achievements to Dar-
win's.
Slight, cheerful and white-haired,
Lovelock is now 90 years old, though he
looks decades younger. He published a
new book last year, The Vanishing Face
of Gaia. He and his American-born wife
Sandy spend their summers in Devon,
England, and their winters in her home
town of st. Louis, Mo., where I came
calling one brilliant January morning.
Lovelock resembles a geologist in his
easy navigation of the vastness of deep
time, but he recalls the Enlightenment
sages in his assumption that science is
a single enterprise, artificially split
into disciplines. He has been self-em-
ployed as a freelance scientist and in-
strument-maker for 50 years, largely
because of "silly people who would say
to me, 'You can't do biology, you're a
chemist.' As ifl didn't have a brain."
Freedom from institutional politics
allowed him to indulge his preference
James Lovelock is the author of Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth. (SILVER DONALD CAMERON)
C, where crocodiles lived and bred.
Lovelock thinks that's the kind of
world we're creating - and because of
our essentially tribal politics, our ef-
forts to avoid it will likely fail. Since a
less habitable Earth won't sustain a
global population of seven billion, pop-
ulations will crash. Human beings
should plan a "sustainable retreat" to
the Arctic region. Canadians should
prepare for hordes of people trying to
relocate to northern Canada.
Is this inevitable?
No, says Lovelock. Gaia is far more
complex than we understand, and we
do not even know the depth of our igno-
rance. A scientist can only say that this
nightmare scenario is probable. But we
should prepare for it now, while the
world is still a reasonably civilized
place.
The real horror would be if our spe-
cies survived, but its fmest achieve-
ments were lost - science, art, culture.
Lovelock believes we could be the
evolutionary ancestors of an intelli-
gent, post-tribal species that will serve
an aging Gaia as her consciousness.
This is a colossal vision of tragedy -
and redemption.
Lovelock smiles.
"Gaia needs us," he says. "What a
wonderful future for humans!"
SILVER DONAI.D CAMERON
for observation over computer model-
ling and permitted him to follow the
evidence fearlessly, wherever it led.
In 2007 he was "shocked" to learn
that the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change had "reached a consen-
sus on a matter of science.'!
Science is about nature. Consensus is
about politics.
So where has the evidence led him
lately?
Sea level, Arctic ice cover and ocean
algae populations, he says, are the best
indicators of global warming - and
they all reveal that the earth is heating
up much faster than the panel's projec-
tions. Furthermore, the evidence from
the Earth's last hot period, 55 million
years ago, shows that global temper-
atures don't necessarily change slowly
and evenly; they can flip fairly quickly
to hotter or colder states.
On that earlier occasion, most ofthe
Earth became a scorching desert. Life
retreated to the shores of an Arctic
Ocean with surface temperature of 21
Visit Silver Donald Cameron's website at
www.silverdonaldcameron.ca
A Fall-Down or Lay-Down Zone
Wind turbines blown away; CCI Energy project denied by Planning Board
By Nancy White / nwhite@cnc.com
Fri Jan 22, 2010, 11:35 AM EST
Tools: Print
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Cohasset -
Wind turbines may not have a future in Cohasset under the current zoning bylaw.
The Planning Board on Wednesday night once again denied CCI Energy’s wind turbine application.
Down the road, the current wording of the bylaw on setbacks will likely prohibit a turbine’s construction anywhere in town.
This time around it was not the technical aspects – the shadow flicker, the noise impacts, the visual impact, the ice throw – that derailed the twin turbine proposal sited off Route 3A. Rather, it was an issue that did not even come to light during the first round, eight-month-long, public hearing process last year.
According to Cohasset’s wind energy conversion facility bylaw there must be “laydown area” equal to the height, including the turbines’ blades, and that laydown area must not encroach on a residential district.
Recently it came to the attention of the applicant and the planning board that the Trustees of Reservations’ Whitney and Thayer Woods, one of the adjacent properties to the proposed siting for the turbines, is zoned “Residential C District.”
The laydown area largely falls on property zoned technology/business district, but part of both turbines’ laydown area falls on the Whitney and Thayer Woods property, which is currently utilized for open space.
“We spent so much time looking over the complicated portion of the application, we failed to look at the simplest – the setback issue,” said Planning Board member Stuart Ivimey, who was the sole vote against the project the first time around. “Under the application of the bylaw (this project) simply can’t be done.”
Planning board members used the words “embarrassing,” “unfortunate,” “conflicted” and “stuck” to describe where they were on Wednesday night.
The ultimate vote was 1-3, with three members voting against approval of the special permit application and one, member Clark Brewer, voting in favor. Planning Board member Jean Healey Dippold did not vote because she did not serve on the board during the entire course of the application.
The vote denies the project application, put forth by a private developer, Plymouth-based CCI-Energy, which proposed the installation of two 1.65-megawatt sized wind turbines sited off Route 3A on the Scituate Hill behind Graham Waste Services and Hingham Lumber. The towers are 462-feet (or 100-meters) in height, including the height of the blades.
The project has had a long and arduous history with vocal opposition from a group of neighbors and residents around town and over a dozen lengthy (and at times contentious) public hearings. The Planning Board effectively denied it in May. The application, which is the first under town’s wind energy conversion facility bylaw, has been on the Planning Board’s docket since September 2008, but returned to the planning board in early December due to a court ordered remand. Sufficient and material changes were made to the application since its denial and the planning board was ordered to re-consider the application in light of those changes.
The Planning Board, as chair Al Moore explained on Wednesday, is a “quasi-judicial board.”
“We look at the bylaws and act upon them,” Moore said. “When a bylaw passes that is somewhat unpopular, it puts us in a difficult position as we try to follow those rules and bylaws fairly.”
Moore congratulated the applicant on addressing all the technical aspects of the application, but ultimately felt the portion of the bylaw that addressed the setback could not be overlooked.
The Planning Board spent more than an hour deliberating. The deliberation took several twists and turns as members tried to reach a consensus. Several motions and amendments to those motions were proposed and discussed.
Notably, Brewer proposed approving one turbine, the one sited farther away from Route 3A. However, his motion failed to receive any support and a vote was not taken. The board did take a 3-1 vote to deny the special permit (Ivimey, Moore, and member Charles Samuelson voted in favor of denial; Brewer voted against). The vote could not constitute a denial because according to state statutes a super-majority, with at least four members agreeing to a motion to approve or deny, is necessary.
Moore also proposed a motion that would have approved the project contingent on the applicant seeking a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals on the setback issue.
Eventually, Ivimey moved to approve the application for the sole purpose of bringing the proceedings to a close.
“There is no other motion that will bring this to a head, to a termination,” Ivimey said.
During the deliberation Samuelson noted the bigger picture evident in what came to be the ultimate denial of the project.
“The way the bylaw is written (not allowing a fall down zone in a residential district) prohibits wind turbines from being built in Cohasset,” Samuelson said. All the large swaths of land targeted as potential turbine sites are in, or abut, residential districts. “I would support the (Alternative Energy Committee) adding something in (the bylaw) to enable these types of facilities to be built.”
In an e-mail sent after Wednesday’s decision, CCI-Energy legal counsel Kenneth Ingber said the project became “an unintended casualty of that flawed language (in the bylaw).
“The Planning Board went out of its way to commend CCI Energy for fully and satisfactorily answering every concern raised in the initial denial of the application for a wind energy project on Scituate Hill,” Ingber said.
“CCI reaffirms that its proposed project exemplifies Cohasset's stated goal of encouraging wind energy and remains the single best project in the single best location in the town. It is in as remote a location as there is in Cohasset yet still will provide the Town of Cohasset the significant financial and green benefits of a good wind energy project.”
Ingber said the CCI Energy would re-evaluate the situation and determine the best way to proceed.
“CCI Energy remains committed to realizing a wind energy project that Cohasset overwhelmingly wants to see implemented,” Ingber said.
By Nancy White / nwhite@cnc.com
Fri Jan 22, 2010, 11:35 AM EST
Tools: Print
Comments
ShareThisStumbleUpon
Newsvine
del.icio.us
Digg
Cohasset -
Wind turbines may not have a future in Cohasset under the current zoning bylaw.
The Planning Board on Wednesday night once again denied CCI Energy’s wind turbine application.
Down the road, the current wording of the bylaw on setbacks will likely prohibit a turbine’s construction anywhere in town.
This time around it was not the technical aspects – the shadow flicker, the noise impacts, the visual impact, the ice throw – that derailed the twin turbine proposal sited off Route 3A. Rather, it was an issue that did not even come to light during the first round, eight-month-long, public hearing process last year.
According to Cohasset’s wind energy conversion facility bylaw there must be “laydown area” equal to the height, including the turbines’ blades, and that laydown area must not encroach on a residential district.
Recently it came to the attention of the applicant and the planning board that the Trustees of Reservations’ Whitney and Thayer Woods, one of the adjacent properties to the proposed siting for the turbines, is zoned “Residential C District.”
The laydown area largely falls on property zoned technology/business district, but part of both turbines’ laydown area falls on the Whitney and Thayer Woods property, which is currently utilized for open space.
“We spent so much time looking over the complicated portion of the application, we failed to look at the simplest – the setback issue,” said Planning Board member Stuart Ivimey, who was the sole vote against the project the first time around. “Under the application of the bylaw (this project) simply can’t be done.”
Planning board members used the words “embarrassing,” “unfortunate,” “conflicted” and “stuck” to describe where they were on Wednesday night.
The ultimate vote was 1-3, with three members voting against approval of the special permit application and one, member Clark Brewer, voting in favor. Planning Board member Jean Healey Dippold did not vote because she did not serve on the board during the entire course of the application.
The vote denies the project application, put forth by a private developer, Plymouth-based CCI-Energy, which proposed the installation of two 1.65-megawatt sized wind turbines sited off Route 3A on the Scituate Hill behind Graham Waste Services and Hingham Lumber. The towers are 462-feet (or 100-meters) in height, including the height of the blades.
The project has had a long and arduous history with vocal opposition from a group of neighbors and residents around town and over a dozen lengthy (and at times contentious) public hearings. The Planning Board effectively denied it in May. The application, which is the first under town’s wind energy conversion facility bylaw, has been on the Planning Board’s docket since September 2008, but returned to the planning board in early December due to a court ordered remand. Sufficient and material changes were made to the application since its denial and the planning board was ordered to re-consider the application in light of those changes.
The Planning Board, as chair Al Moore explained on Wednesday, is a “quasi-judicial board.”
“We look at the bylaws and act upon them,” Moore said. “When a bylaw passes that is somewhat unpopular, it puts us in a difficult position as we try to follow those rules and bylaws fairly.”
Moore congratulated the applicant on addressing all the technical aspects of the application, but ultimately felt the portion of the bylaw that addressed the setback could not be overlooked.
The Planning Board spent more than an hour deliberating. The deliberation took several twists and turns as members tried to reach a consensus. Several motions and amendments to those motions were proposed and discussed.
Notably, Brewer proposed approving one turbine, the one sited farther away from Route 3A. However, his motion failed to receive any support and a vote was not taken. The board did take a 3-1 vote to deny the special permit (Ivimey, Moore, and member Charles Samuelson voted in favor of denial; Brewer voted against). The vote could not constitute a denial because according to state statutes a super-majority, with at least four members agreeing to a motion to approve or deny, is necessary.
Moore also proposed a motion that would have approved the project contingent on the applicant seeking a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals on the setback issue.
Eventually, Ivimey moved to approve the application for the sole purpose of bringing the proceedings to a close.
“There is no other motion that will bring this to a head, to a termination,” Ivimey said.
During the deliberation Samuelson noted the bigger picture evident in what came to be the ultimate denial of the project.
“The way the bylaw is written (not allowing a fall down zone in a residential district) prohibits wind turbines from being built in Cohasset,” Samuelson said. All the large swaths of land targeted as potential turbine sites are in, or abut, residential districts. “I would support the (Alternative Energy Committee) adding something in (the bylaw) to enable these types of facilities to be built.”
In an e-mail sent after Wednesday’s decision, CCI-Energy legal counsel Kenneth Ingber said the project became “an unintended casualty of that flawed language (in the bylaw).
“The Planning Board went out of its way to commend CCI Energy for fully and satisfactorily answering every concern raised in the initial denial of the application for a wind energy project on Scituate Hill,” Ingber said.
“CCI reaffirms that its proposed project exemplifies Cohasset's stated goal of encouraging wind energy and remains the single best project in the single best location in the town. It is in as remote a location as there is in Cohasset yet still will provide the Town of Cohasset the significant financial and green benefits of a good wind energy project.”
Ingber said the CCI Energy would re-evaluate the situation and determine the best way to proceed.
“CCI Energy remains committed to realizing a wind energy project that Cohasset overwhelmingly wants to see implemented,” Ingber said.
CPV and Skypower
CPV Canada Receives Court Approval to Purchase the Wind Portfolio of the Former SkyPower Corporation
Press Release Source: CPV Canada Development ULC On Tuesday January 19, 2010, 3:33 pm EST
TORONTO, Jan. 19 /CNW/ - CPV Canada Development ULC ("CPV") announced today that it has received approval from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice pursuant to the Companies Creditor Arrangement Act to complete its acquisition of the wind development portfolio of the wind energy company Interwind - which was formerly part of SkyPower's renewable generation and development business. Closing is anticipated to take place the week of February 8.
"We are delighted the court, creditors and Interwind management have accepted our offer as the best way to move forward Interwind's portfolio of renewable energy projects," said Sean Finnerty, CPV Sr. Vice President. "CPV is committed to growing our portfolio of renewable energy projects in Canada and help build a bridge to a sustainable energy future."
CPV Canada Development ULC, an affiliate of Competitive Power Ventures, Inc., is advancing a broad portfolio of wind and natural-gas generation projects across North America. Led by a blue chip management team and the financial backing of the investment fund Warburg Pincus, CPV is fast becoming a leader in the development of renewable energy.
For more information about the project and CPV please go to www.cpv.com.
About CPV
CPV is comprised of three main business lines: Wind Generation Development, Asset Management, and Thermal Generation Development.
(x) Wind Generation Development: CPV Renewable Energy Corp. currently has
6,100 MW of high quality wind generation projects under site control,
1,800 MW of which are in advanced development; including over 350 MWs
with executed long term PPAs.
(x) Asset and Energy Management: CPV currently manages the day-to-day
operation, maintenance and energy trading of over 4,400 MW of
generation in eight states to provide improved financial returns and
enhanced environmental protection to the owners and greater benefits
to the consumers.
(x) Thermal Generation Development: CPV is actively developing combined-
cycle and combustion turbine facilities totaling approximately 4,300
MW of generation, in markets with the greatest need for efficient,
reliable electricity capacity in the U.S. and Canada.
The acquisition of Interwind would be a further expansion of its presence in the Canadian market. CPV is currently developing a 400 MW natural gas-fired peaking facility in North Dumfries (near Cambridge), and a 1,200 MW combined cycle natural gas-fired project in the Nanticoke area (consistent with Canada and Ontario's efforts to reduce its electric generation carbon footprint by reducing the reliance on coal).
For further information
Braith Kelly, (860) 713-3309, bkelly@cpv.com
Press Release Source: CPV Canada Development ULC On Tuesday January 19, 2010, 3:33 pm EST
TORONTO, Jan. 19 /CNW/ - CPV Canada Development ULC ("CPV") announced today that it has received approval from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice pursuant to the Companies Creditor Arrangement Act to complete its acquisition of the wind development portfolio of the wind energy company Interwind - which was formerly part of SkyPower's renewable generation and development business. Closing is anticipated to take place the week of February 8.
"We are delighted the court, creditors and Interwind management have accepted our offer as the best way to move forward Interwind's portfolio of renewable energy projects," said Sean Finnerty, CPV Sr. Vice President. "CPV is committed to growing our portfolio of renewable energy projects in Canada and help build a bridge to a sustainable energy future."
CPV Canada Development ULC, an affiliate of Competitive Power Ventures, Inc., is advancing a broad portfolio of wind and natural-gas generation projects across North America. Led by a blue chip management team and the financial backing of the investment fund Warburg Pincus, CPV is fast becoming a leader in the development of renewable energy.
For more information about the project and CPV please go to www.cpv.com.
About CPV
CPV is comprised of three main business lines: Wind Generation Development, Asset Management, and Thermal Generation Development.
(x) Wind Generation Development: CPV Renewable Energy Corp. currently has
6,100 MW of high quality wind generation projects under site control,
1,800 MW of which are in advanced development; including over 350 MWs
with executed long term PPAs.
(x) Asset and Energy Management: CPV currently manages the day-to-day
operation, maintenance and energy trading of over 4,400 MW of
generation in eight states to provide improved financial returns and
enhanced environmental protection to the owners and greater benefits
to the consumers.
(x) Thermal Generation Development: CPV is actively developing combined-
cycle and combustion turbine facilities totaling approximately 4,300
MW of generation, in markets with the greatest need for efficient,
reliable electricity capacity in the U.S. and Canada.
The acquisition of Interwind would be a further expansion of its presence in the Canadian market. CPV is currently developing a 400 MW natural gas-fired peaking facility in North Dumfries (near Cambridge), and a 1,200 MW combined cycle natural gas-fired project in the Nanticoke area (consistent with Canada and Ontario's efforts to reduce its electric generation carbon footprint by reducing the reliance on coal).
For further information
Braith Kelly, (860) 713-3309, bkelly@cpv.com
Labels:
wind turbines Canada
Posting Comments
Once again, your comments/posts are welcome. However they will neither be read nor posted if a full name and location aren't seen. Thanks. Kathleen Gidney Nova Scotia Canada
Friday, January 22, 2010
P.E.I and Community Wind Farms
Summerside sets example for community wind power projects
A1BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Stumble Upondel.icio.usDiggFacebookPrintEmail5 Comment(s)Now that New Brunswick's existing wind farms are expanding, the next step is to help individual communities harness the power of the wind to generate their own electricity, Energy Minister Jack Keir said yesterday.
1 of 3
GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPTBy the end of the year, this lineup of TransAlta windmills seen from the Magnetic Hill area will include 18 new units. GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPTSteve Snyder, left, CEO and president of TransAlta, chats with Energy Minister Jack Keir at the Lions Club in Riverview yesterday. GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPTDr. Yves Gagnon "The big wind farms represent large-scale investments by big companies. A 100-megawatt wind farm is a $200-million to $250-million investment. That's a lot of money where I come from and so, in order to get those big wind farms on, you need big companies to invest.
"The next step to get wind on the grid is small community wind farms that generate about 10-megawatts, and so we're going to put a renewable policy in place that's going to allow a smaller wind farm to also get onto the grid."
The provincial government has been working on a new policy for community wind farms for about two years and Keir hinted yesterday that an announcement is coming soon.
The energy minister was in Riverview with officials of the TransAlta Corporation to announce that 18 more windmills will be added to the Kent Hills Wind Farm south of Moncton. TransAlta already has 32 windmills at the site, which began commercial operations in December 2008. Construction of another 18 windmills is expected to begin later this year and cost about $100 million.
Once complete, the Kent Hills site will provide 160 megawatts of electricity per year, enough to supply about 9,000 homes. TransAlta will hold an open house in Moncton on Jan. 28 for companies that want to participate in the construction project. TransAlta president Steve Snyder said local contractors and suppliers will be hired for many aspects of the construction project.
"Once this expansion is complete, the 150-megawatt Kent Hills Wind Farm will be the largest wind farm in Atlantic Canda," Keir said.
New Brunswick communities thinking about setting up their own wind farm might find inspiration across the Northumberland Strait in the City of Summerside. The P.E.I. community generates its own electricity, sells it to NB Power and uses the money for its own infrastructure projects.
"When the wind is blowing, we have enough capacity to power the whole city but, most of the time, we have to buy electricity from NB Power," Terry Murphy, the chief administrative officer for the City of Summerside, said yesterday.
Summerside has a population of about 15,000 and recently built the new Credit Union Place, a 4,000-seat, multi-use arena complete with pools, fitness centre and bowling alley.
Murphy said Summerside has had its own electrical utility since 1885 and historically purchased power from New Brunswick. It also had diesel-powered backup generators for emergencies.
He said the city's idea to build a wind farm came along with the new arena. The arena had a $40-million price tag but the city could get only $10 million in government money, but it could get $22 million of the $30 million required to build the wind farm. It used infrastructure money from the gas tax fund to set up four big windmills that each generate three megawatts of electricity for a total of 12 megawatts. The windmills are set up on the shores of Malpeque Bay but inside city limits.
Murphy likes to state that Summerside is the only city in Canada that is bordered on two sides by the ocean.
The city-owned utility sells the electricity it generates to NB Power for approximately $1 million a year, and puts that money back into infrastructure.
Murphy said the big decision was to divert infrastructure money that could have gone into paving streets toward windmills, but the city figured it was better to use that money to build something that would create an ongoing revenue stream.
He said the other tough part was negotiating a deal to sell that power.
"There's no sense in building a wind farm unless you can get a fair rate on the grid."
Keir said yesterday that New Brunswick will continue looking at ways to generate new wind energy and that won't change with the controversial sale of NB Power's assets to Hydro-Quebec.
"New Brunswick is always going to be in charge of their energy policy, their energy initiatives and their energy sovereignty. That's not going to change," Keir said.
He added that TransAlta has long-term power purchase agreements with NB Power, and the windmills will remain the property of TransAlta. He said community wind farms would have similar deals.
Keir said having big companies like TransAlta invest their own money to build and operate the windmills makes good financial sense.
"We could do it ourselves, but there's large investment dollars required for it," Keir said. "My own personal view is that government funds should be used on hospitals and schools and roads. If we can get the private sector to invest in our communities and these types of project, I'm more than willing to let the private sector do it."
But Yves Gagnon, chairman of the K.C. Irving Centre for Sustainable Development at l'Université de Moncton, disagrees. Gagnon, who was present at yesterday's announcement in Riverview, says the provincial government should set up a crown corporation to deal with wind power so the province can benefit from the profits of its operation.
"The large economic impacts from the generation of electricity are in the control of the profits, so you need to control the profits if you want economic impact. And controlling the profits means you need to own the wind farm," Gagnon said.
"The government is hammering the message of self-sufficiency. Well, if we want self-sufficiency we need to exploit our natural resources to the benefit of the population of New Brunswick. By this announcement, what the New Brunswick government is saying is that the self-sufficiency agenda is dead."
A small group of protesters, angry over the sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec, stood outside shivering in the cold yesterday. Keir admitted there is still a lot of opposition to the deal with many calling for a referendum, but he said people voted for change and the Graham government is making changes.
"We've got an opportunity before us that I've never seen in a long time. I believe in my heart the opportunity we've got with this proposed agreement with Hydro-Quebec is an opportunity to change the economic landscape in New Brunswick in such a positive way than we've had before, and I want to take advantage of that."
He also said progress is being made on tidal power as 15 sites along the Bay of Fundy are being studied.
Keir added that New Brunswick is also watching with interest the research Nova Scotia is doing on tidal power.
A1BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Stumble Upondel.icio.usDiggFacebookPrintEmail5 Comment(s)Now that New Brunswick's existing wind farms are expanding, the next step is to help individual communities harness the power of the wind to generate their own electricity, Energy Minister Jack Keir said yesterday.
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GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPTBy the end of the year, this lineup of TransAlta windmills seen from the Magnetic Hill area will include 18 new units. GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPTSteve Snyder, left, CEO and president of TransAlta, chats with Energy Minister Jack Keir at the Lions Club in Riverview yesterday. GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPTDr. Yves Gagnon "The big wind farms represent large-scale investments by big companies. A 100-megawatt wind farm is a $200-million to $250-million investment. That's a lot of money where I come from and so, in order to get those big wind farms on, you need big companies to invest.
"The next step to get wind on the grid is small community wind farms that generate about 10-megawatts, and so we're going to put a renewable policy in place that's going to allow a smaller wind farm to also get onto the grid."
The provincial government has been working on a new policy for community wind farms for about two years and Keir hinted yesterday that an announcement is coming soon.
The energy minister was in Riverview with officials of the TransAlta Corporation to announce that 18 more windmills will be added to the Kent Hills Wind Farm south of Moncton. TransAlta already has 32 windmills at the site, which began commercial operations in December 2008. Construction of another 18 windmills is expected to begin later this year and cost about $100 million.
Once complete, the Kent Hills site will provide 160 megawatts of electricity per year, enough to supply about 9,000 homes. TransAlta will hold an open house in Moncton on Jan. 28 for companies that want to participate in the construction project. TransAlta president Steve Snyder said local contractors and suppliers will be hired for many aspects of the construction project.
"Once this expansion is complete, the 150-megawatt Kent Hills Wind Farm will be the largest wind farm in Atlantic Canda," Keir said.
New Brunswick communities thinking about setting up their own wind farm might find inspiration across the Northumberland Strait in the City of Summerside. The P.E.I. community generates its own electricity, sells it to NB Power and uses the money for its own infrastructure projects.
"When the wind is blowing, we have enough capacity to power the whole city but, most of the time, we have to buy electricity from NB Power," Terry Murphy, the chief administrative officer for the City of Summerside, said yesterday.
Summerside has a population of about 15,000 and recently built the new Credit Union Place, a 4,000-seat, multi-use arena complete with pools, fitness centre and bowling alley.
Murphy said Summerside has had its own electrical utility since 1885 and historically purchased power from New Brunswick. It also had diesel-powered backup generators for emergencies.
He said the city's idea to build a wind farm came along with the new arena. The arena had a $40-million price tag but the city could get only $10 million in government money, but it could get $22 million of the $30 million required to build the wind farm. It used infrastructure money from the gas tax fund to set up four big windmills that each generate three megawatts of electricity for a total of 12 megawatts. The windmills are set up on the shores of Malpeque Bay but inside city limits.
Murphy likes to state that Summerside is the only city in Canada that is bordered on two sides by the ocean.
The city-owned utility sells the electricity it generates to NB Power for approximately $1 million a year, and puts that money back into infrastructure.
Murphy said the big decision was to divert infrastructure money that could have gone into paving streets toward windmills, but the city figured it was better to use that money to build something that would create an ongoing revenue stream.
He said the other tough part was negotiating a deal to sell that power.
"There's no sense in building a wind farm unless you can get a fair rate on the grid."
Keir said yesterday that New Brunswick will continue looking at ways to generate new wind energy and that won't change with the controversial sale of NB Power's assets to Hydro-Quebec.
"New Brunswick is always going to be in charge of their energy policy, their energy initiatives and their energy sovereignty. That's not going to change," Keir said.
He added that TransAlta has long-term power purchase agreements with NB Power, and the windmills will remain the property of TransAlta. He said community wind farms would have similar deals.
Keir said having big companies like TransAlta invest their own money to build and operate the windmills makes good financial sense.
"We could do it ourselves, but there's large investment dollars required for it," Keir said. "My own personal view is that government funds should be used on hospitals and schools and roads. If we can get the private sector to invest in our communities and these types of project, I'm more than willing to let the private sector do it."
But Yves Gagnon, chairman of the K.C. Irving Centre for Sustainable Development at l'Université de Moncton, disagrees. Gagnon, who was present at yesterday's announcement in Riverview, says the provincial government should set up a crown corporation to deal with wind power so the province can benefit from the profits of its operation.
"The large economic impacts from the generation of electricity are in the control of the profits, so you need to control the profits if you want economic impact. And controlling the profits means you need to own the wind farm," Gagnon said.
"The government is hammering the message of self-sufficiency. Well, if we want self-sufficiency we need to exploit our natural resources to the benefit of the population of New Brunswick. By this announcement, what the New Brunswick government is saying is that the self-sufficiency agenda is dead."
A small group of protesters, angry over the sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec, stood outside shivering in the cold yesterday. Keir admitted there is still a lot of opposition to the deal with many calling for a referendum, but he said people voted for change and the Graham government is making changes.
"We've got an opportunity before us that I've never seen in a long time. I believe in my heart the opportunity we've got with this proposed agreement with Hydro-Quebec is an opportunity to change the economic landscape in New Brunswick in such a positive way than we've had before, and I want to take advantage of that."
He also said progress is being made on tidal power as 15 sites along the Bay of Fundy are being studied.
Keir added that New Brunswick is also watching with interest the research Nova Scotia is doing on tidal power.
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