Search

The article examines Poland's Act on Windfarms, which sets the minimum distance requirement between a wind power plant and residential buildings, forests or national parks, and whether the law violates the Renewable Energy Directive. Topics discussed include the procedures and methods used to ensure the European Union (EU) member countries conform to the directive, analysis of interpretations of the directive and Poland's defenses to uphold its Act on Windfarms.

South Africa is promoting renewable energy such as wind power to address the objectives of both energy security and sustainable development. This paper reviews the nature of policies, institutional set-up and programmes in place to upscale especially onshore wind energy uptake, as reflected in publicly available documents. It shows that South Africa has put in place critical policies, institutions and programmes for wind energy uptake. Among key policy documents and policies are the White Paper on Energy (1998), Renewable Energy White Paper (2003), Energy Act of 2008, and National Climate Change Response White Paper (2011). There is also the Integrated Energy Plan, the Integrated Resource Plan (2010, revised 2013) and Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines for Renewable Energy Projects of 2015. Key institutions noted include the South African National Energy Development Institute, the South African Renewable Energy Council and the South African Wind Energy Association. The main programme is the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme, which resulted in more than 30 installed wind energy projects. Overall, wind energy promises to be among the viable and acceptable technologies in the renewable energy sector in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the laws related to airborne wind-energy systems (AWES), in the U.S. Topics discussed include emergence of commercial wind power generation; legal issues raised by airborne systems; laws related to land-based wind turbines; and advantages of AWES over traditional wind turbines; and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the case 'United States v. Chandler-Dunbar Water Power Co.'

The article reflects on the differences between the Texas Accommodation Doctrine and Surface Damages Act to permit growth of wind energy and comparison of Oklahoma and Texas energy industry economics with the potential conflicts may arise between wind energy companies and oil and gas companies.

The article discusses wind energy development and antinuisance legislation in the U.S. as of June 2012, focusing on a comparison of the legal protections afforded to agricultural facilities in regards to the nation's Right to Farm laws and the proposed protection of wind energy projects from nuisance litigation. Several nuisance-related lawsuits are addressed, including the New York case Boomer v. Atlantic Cement Co., as well as the Missouri Court of Appeals case Tichenor v. Vore.

The article explores the benefits of wind energy to energy demands in the future. With electricity demands to increase by 39% from 2005-2030, the bill Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2011 was proposed by U.S. Congressman Paul D. Tonko to allot additional funding to the Energy Department to invest in wind energy development. Illinois is the fifth largest in wind-generating capacity in the U.S. with wind energy production at 2,438 megawatts per year.

The article discusses the need for some U.S. states facing significant farm development to examine the uniform statewide siting rules adopted and suspended in Wisconsin that geared towards allowing development of wind energy. The rules would allow limited property rights to non-participants and prevent localities from banning wind farms. An overview of the Muscarello v. Ogle County Board of Commissioners case that represents opposition to wind farm development is also offered.

The article discusses Chapter 404 of California Legislature which aims to encourage local agencies to support the state's renewable energy procurement requirements and standardize the installation permit process that allow local governments to implement ordinances. California has regulated small wind systems with few local ordinances to regulate general building with limitation on heights and space. Moreover, California Legislature has enacted AB 1207 that encourages residents to install small wind energy systems with support from the California Energy Commission to certify small wind turbine in compliance with the Uniform Building Code or the California Building Standards Code.

Recent changes in tax law make leveraged lease transactions far more attractive on paper than they were before the changes. However, changes in the economy and the financial industry and other changes in law counterbalance the favorable tax law changes and make it uncertain whether lease transactions will be used to finance new wind facilities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses that New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment has conducted an environmental impact assessment which revealed that environmental regulations should be imposed on the wind power projects in India which use turbines for generating wind power in forested areas.