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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.

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.'

There have been conflicting accounts of the role and influence of local opposition within planning application outcomes for wind power developments. There is an expanding literature that considers public responses to proposed renewable energy developments and much of this suggests that public opposition is a key factor in the slow growth in renewable energy capacity. However, this paper will show that local opposition groups' power over such planning processes is very limited, and in fact extends only so far as delaying an outcome. Through a thematic content analysis of objection letters to one particular proposed wind power development, the key issues raised in connection with the development will be highlighted. Subsequently, these issues will be compared with those discussed in the official report of the planning appeals process, and it will be shown that the concerns of local objectors had little influence over the eventual verdict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in the case Swecker v. Midland Power Cooperative related to the interpretation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding the avoided cost rate for the purchases of power of wind generator.

An interview with Professor Karsten Neuhoff, head of the Climate Policy Department at economic research institute DIW Berlin, is presented. Neuhoff discusses the reason behind the introduction of voluntary direct marketing in the German federal government's wind power legislation in 2012, the reasons for not lowering the management premium for direct marketers, and the impact of mandated direct marketing on project-based financing of new wind turbines.

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.