Latest news with #windturbine
CBS News
17 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Nantucket offshore wind developer is "hiding" following Trump's election, officials say
According to officials on Nantucket, the developer of the nation's first utility-scale offshore wind project is "hiding" and not responding to their safety queries since Donald Trump's election. The accusation comes after a massive wind turbine broke apart last year and its fragments washed up on beaches of the Massachusetts island. On Tuesday, Nantucket's select board gave Vineyard Wind two weeks to respond to a list of demands, including that it follow deadline requirements for notifying local officials of emergencies. Violations could result in fines up to $250,000, the town said, although it was unclear how such a policy would be enforced. Board member Brooke Mohr suggested the Trump administration's skepticism toward offshore wind projects is to blame for what Mohr said was Vineyard Wind's lack of communication. The town said Vineyard Wind, which is owned by Denmark-based Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure in partnership with Spain-based Iberdrola, has failed to respond to private requests for changes to its protocols. Litigation may be a next step if the town's demands are unmet, officials said. "We believe that they are concerned about the change in policy at the federal level and drawing scrutiny from the new administration, which has ordered a review of offshore wind permitting practices," Mohr said during a virtual briefing with news reporters. "However, hiding is not the solution to their problems, nor is it the solution to our problems." The project about 14 miles off nearby Martha's Vineyard was approved by President Joe Biden's administration in May 2021, a key step in Biden's plans to increase U.S. reliance on offshore wind by 2030. Fiberglass fragments of a massive wind turbine blade that broke apart off Nantucket began washing ashore last summer during the peak of tourist season after pieces of the blade at the Vineyard Wind project began falling into the Atlantic Ocean in July. In the final days of the Biden administration, federal regulators lifted a suspension order on the project, pending the removal of all installed blades manufactured by GE Vernova. GE Vernova, which agreed to pay $10.5 million in a settlement earlier this month to compensate island businesses that suffered losses due to the blade failure, blamed a manufacturing problem at one of its factories in Canada and stated that there was no indication of a design flaw. It reinspected all blades made at the factory and removed other blades made there from the Vineyard Wind location. On Tuesday, town officials accused Vineyard Wind of violating its legal obligations to communicate regularly with the town or engage the town with its emergency response plans following the blade failure. It also said Vineyard Wind hasn't done enough to reduce light pollution. Nantucket officials refused to include Vineyard Wind as a signatory in the $10.5 million settlement, citing the company's "lack of leadership, transparency, and stewardship" following the blade failure. Mohr said in the settlement, the town didn't "seed its rights to hold Vineyard Wind accountable." A Vineyard Wind spokesperson said that after concluding the settlement process, it has "anticipated resuming traditional communications and coordination" with the town "in a manner that supports a productive dialogue." "Vineyard Wind believes the settlement represents a fair and conclusive outcome for all parties, and hopes the Town of Nantucket will move forward in the spirit of that settlement and work together towards a constructive, positive relationship," the company said.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nantucket officials accuse offshore wind developer of going into hiding since Trump's election
BOSTON (AP) — Officials in Massachusetts' Nantucket island on Tuesday accused the developer of the nation's first utility-scale offshore wind project of not responding to their safety queries since Donald Trump's election after a massive wind turbine broke apart last year and its fragments washed up on beaches. Nantucket's select board gave Vineyard Wind two weeks to respond to a list of demands, including that it follow deadline requirements for notifying local officials of emergencies. Violations could result in fines up to $250,000, the town said, although it was unclear how such a policy would be enforced. Board member Brooke Mohr suggested the Trump administration's skepticism toward offshore wind projects is to blame for what Mohr said was Vineyard Wind's lack of communication. The town said Vineyard Wind, which is owned by Denmark-based Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure in partnership with Spain-based Iberdrola, has failed to respond to private requests for changes to its protocols. Litigation may be a next step if the town's demands are unmet, officials said. 'We believe that they are concerned about the change in policy at the federal level and drawing scrutiny from the new administration, which has ordered a review of offshore wind permitting practices,' Mohr said during a virtual briefing with news reporters. 'However, hiding is not the solution to their problems, nor is it the solution to our problems.' The project about 14 miles (23 kilometers) off nearby Martha's Vineyard was approved by President Joe Biden's administration in May 2021, a key step in Biden's plans to increase U.S. reliance on offshore wind by 2030. Fiberglass fragments of a massive wind turbine blade that broke apart off Nantucket began washing ashore last summer during the peak of tourist season after pieces of the blade at the Vineyard Wind project began falling into the Atlantic Ocean in July. In the final days of the Biden administration, federal regulators lifted a suspension order on the project, pending the removal of all installed blades manufactured by GE Vernova. GE Vernova, which agreed to pay $10.5 million in a settlement earlier this month to compensate island businesses that suffered losses due to the blade failure, blamed a manufacturing problem at one of its factories in Canada and stated that there was no indication of a design flaw. It reinspected all blades made at the factory and removed other blades made there from the Vineyard Wind location. On Tuesday, town officials accused Vineyard Wind of violating its legal obligations to communicate regularly with the town or engage the town with its emergency response plans following the blade failure. It also said Vineyard Wind hasn't done enough to reduce light pollution. Nantucket officials refused to include Vineyard Wind as a signatory in the $10.5 million settlement, citing the company's 'lack of leadership, transparency, and stewardship' following the blade failure. Mohr said in the settlement, the town didn't "seed its rights to hold Vineyard Wind accountable." A Vineyard Wind spokesperson said that after concluding the settlement process, it has 'anticipated resuming traditional communications and coordination" with the town "in a manner that supports a productive dialogue.' 'Vineyard Wind believes the settlement represents a fair and conclusive outcome for all parties, and hopes the Town of Nantucket will move forward in the spirit of that settlement and work together towards a constructive, positive relationship," the company said. Leah Willingham, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Penn State Student Cracks 100-Year-Old Equation, Boosting Wind Turbine Efficiency
A Penn State engineering student has cracked a 100-year-old aerodynamic puzzle, offering a refined approach that could transform wind turbine design. Divya Tyagi, an undergraduate at the Schreyer Honors College, developed a solution that addresses gaps in a 1935 model by British aerodynamicist Hermann Glauert, providing engineers with a more robust tool for renewable energy innovation. Glauert's original work established a theoretical limit for wind turbine power output but overlooked key forces, such as wind pressure and blade bending, that turbines encounter daily. Tyagi's research, rooted in calculus of variations, fills these gaps by calculating precise values for thrust and bending moment across various tip speed ratios — critical for modern turbine performance. 'I created an addendum to Glauert's problem, which determines the optimal aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine by solving for the ideal flow conditions,' Tyagi said, per a Penn State news release. Her thesis, published in Wind Energy Science, earned her the Anthony E. Wolk Award for the best aerospace engineering project at Penn State. Professor Sven Schmitz, her adviser and co-author, highlighted the breakthrough's scope. 'Glauert's original work focused only on the power coefficient. But turbines also have to survive physical loads, like wind pressure pushing against the blades,' he said, per The Brighter Side. 'Tyagi's method accounts for these forces and gives us a clearer picture of total aerodynamic performance.' The simplicity of Tyagi's approach, using calculus of variations to optimize complex interactions, could benefit both classrooms and industry. 'The real impact will be on the next generation of wind turbines using the new knowledge that has been unveiled,' Schmitz added, according to Penn State. 'As for Divya's elegant solution, I think it will find its way into classrooms across the country and around the world.' Tyagi noted the practical payoff: 'Improving the power coefficient of a large wind turbine by just 1% has significant impacts on the energy production of a turbine. … A 1% improvement in power coefficient could notably increase a turbine's energy output, potentially powering an entire neighborhood.' Her work also enhances turbine durability, potentially reducing costs with lighter, longer-lasting designs. Now pursuing a master's degree, Tyagi is tackling airflow around helicopter rotors for the U.S. Navy, using computational fluid dynamics to improve flight safety. Reflecting on her undergraduate effort, she said, 'I would spend about 10 to 15 hours a week between the problem, writing the thesis, and on research. It took a long time because it was so math-intensive. But I feel really proud now, seeing all the work I've done.' Schmitz, who had challenged four students with the problem over decades, credited Tyagi's persistence. 'There had to be an easier way to do it. That's when Divya came in. She was the fourth student I challenged with looking at it, and she was the only one who took it on. Her work is truly impressive.' Her contribution could reshape wind energy as the industry seeks more efficient and resilient turbines. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan supplier exploring wind turbine plan
A key supplier to car maker Nissan is exploring plans for a new wind turbine to help reduce carbon emissions. Unipres (UK) Ltd, an automotive manufacturing company, wants to install a 492ft (150m) tip wind turbine at its Sunderland plant on Cherry Blossom Way, in Washington. The firm, which supplies press-formed vehicle parts to the Nissan plant in Washington, said the wind turbine could generate up to 5MW. An application to Sunderland City Council planning officials has requested a "scoping opinion" on the plans to look at environmental impacts. Site plans show the wind turbine proposed for a parcel of land near the Unipres boundary with the Nissan plant site, which already has wind turbines. It was noted the "energy generated would be distributed directly to the warehouse and would function to meet the energy needs of the facility". Applicants said the proposed development would "aim to reduce the carbon emissions from the facility" and would be "largely self-sustainable", with any "excess energy" potentially being exported back to the national grid. 'Employment benefits' Following the period of operation, estimated at 25 years, the applicant is also expected to "decommission" the wind turbine "in line with best practice industry guidance". The supporting environmental impact scoping report adds: "The proposed development would have economic and employment benefits in the form of contracting opportunities for local and regional contractors both for construction activities themselves and throughout the supply chain." A decision on the screening opinion request will be made by the council following a consultation exercise, with a decision expected in coming months. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this topic Nissan Sunderland looking to cut 250 jobs Nissan supplier factory pledges more than 180 jobs Related internet links Sunderland City Council Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
BBC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Sunderland Nissan supplier exploring wind turbine plan
A key supplier to car maker Nissan is exploring plans for a new wind turbine to help reduce carbon (UK) Ltd, an automotive manufacturing company, wants to install a 492ft (150m) tip wind turbine at its Sunderland plant on Cherry Blossom Way, in firm, which supplies press-formed vehicle parts to the Nissan plant in Washington, said the wind turbine could generate up to application to Sunderland City Council planning officials has requested a "scoping opinion" on the plans to look at environmental impacts. Site plans show the wind turbine proposed for a parcel of land near the Unipres boundary with the Nissan plant site, which already has wind was noted the "energy generated would be distributed directly to the warehouse and would function to meet the energy needs of the facility".Applicants said the proposed development would "aim to reduce the carbon emissions from the facility" and would be "largely self-sustainable", with any "excess energy" potentially being exported back to the national grid. 'Employment benefits' Following the period of operation, estimated at 25 years, the applicant is also expected to "decommission" the wind turbine "in line with best practice industry guidance".The supporting environmental impact scoping report adds: "The proposed development would have economic and employment benefits in the form of contracting opportunities for local and regional contractors both for construction activities themselves and throughout the supply chain."A decision on the screening opinion request will be made by the council following a consultation exercise, with a decision expected in coming months. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
