New Jersey lawmaker pushing for windmills on piers

2009 Nov 27

NEWARK, N.J. — One New Jersey lawmaker wants to add a new attraction to amusement parks along the Jersey shore: windmills.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew is pushing to change state regulations to allow the construction of power-generating windmills on amusement piers.

The Cape May Democrat has introduced legislation that would change coastal regulations that now prohibit energy facilities within 500 feet of the high tide line.

Van Drew says the restrictions are outdated, and that easing rules on environmentally friendly sources of power makes economic sense.

"Every time we put a windmill in, or a solar panel field, we're relying on Mideast oil that much less," he said.

The idea has support from some environmental groups and the president of Steel Pier in Atlantic City, who is lobbying to build five windmills to power all the pier's attractions. State environmental officials couldn't be reached Friday as government offices were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

David Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation says despite concerns over the impact of windmills on migratory birds, the structures are less invasive than large housing developments, casinos or other structures built on piers. Pringle says current restrictions on clean energy are too stringent.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iiCFAtD9zJrIA4dACt6nhP9LFF1AD9C82K080

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Maine wind power test sites chosen VIDEO

2009 Dec 15

Maine officials have identified locations of three offshore wind-power test sites that would be the first of their kind in the nation and could unlock the door to huge reserves of energy.

The administration of Gov. John Baldacci announced Tuesday that the sites will be near Boon Island off York in southern Maine, near Damariscove Island south of Boothbay Harbor, and south of Monhegan Island off Port Clyde.

UMaine Professor Habib Dagher says the test windmills will appear in 2011.

Dagher said winds off Maine's shores have a potential to produce the equivalent of 149 nuclear plants.

Gov. John Baldacci called the offshore test the first of its kind in the country and said, "This is where the future lies."

Read more: http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=112275

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Railroads & Windmills: Berkshire's 'Green' Bets

2009-11-9

By SCOTT PATTERSON

Adair, Iowa

Warren Buffett's blockbuster deal this past week for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. was based partly on the view that railroads are more efficient than trucks when energy prices are high.

But another company in Mr. Buffett's portfolio, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., also is making a "green" bet, building windmills and investing in high-tech batteries in one of the most significant pushes by a regulated utility in clean energy.

Dozens of state-of-the-art windmills that tower over rolling corn and soybean fields in this Iowa town are part of a MidAmerican wind project that generates enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes.

It is one of several wind projects launched since 2004 by MidAmerican, of Des Moines, for billions of dollars. Iowa has become second in the nation in wind-energy capacity, behind Texas, due in part to MidAmerican.

On Thursday, just days after Mr. Buffett's deal for Burlington Northern, an Iowa utility board approved a new, roughly $2 billion wind project that will nearly double MidAmerican's wind capacity in the state, adding between 400 and 600 turbines. MidAmerican also owns wind farms in the Northwest.

Read more: ttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB125755485686735097.html

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