-December 26,2019-
Scottish company Cierco files wind turbine request off Vandenberg
The California State Lands Commission is still juggling two applications related to offshore wind projects in state waters near Vandenberg AFB. One, proposed on August 23, 2019 by Cierco Projects Corporation is for a floating offshore wind demonstration project titled “CADEMO”.
The staff report says Cierco proposes to install and operate up to four 12 MW floating offshore wind turbines moored to the sea floor. All turbines are proposed to link to each other and from one communication and transmission connection from the center turbine to a substation that could land south of Point Arguello on the Vandenberg Air Force Base. For this installation, the nearest turbine is proposed to be 2.9 miles seaward of the mean high tide line.
Staff reviewed the application and notified Cierco on September 20, 2019 that the application was incomplete and requested additional information. Since then, Cierco has provided additional information, but the application status remains incomplete.
The other project by IDEOL, a French firm was to be heard by the Commission but had been removed from the agenda at their December meeting.
from press reports
Lompoc wind farm moves forward
“On November 20, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the installation of 29 wind turbines on 3,000 acres of land south of Lompoc, a project that would double Santa Barbara’s renewable energy production and provide for the electricity needs of 30 percent of the county’s households. The Strauss Wind Energy Project, proposed by Strauss Wind LLC, an affiliate of the German company BayWa LLC, is an updated version of the Lompoc Wind Energy Project that was approved in 2009 but then terminated before construction could begin due to economic conditions created by the Great Recession. The potential harm to local bird populations loomed large during the public comment section. Strauss proposed a number of practices that could be implemented to reduce risks to local bird populations, such as installing sensors that would halt turbine rotation whenever a large bird crosses into a zone surrounding the turbine.”
It would also provide $40 million in tax revenue to the county over 30 years.
Ships at sea to use cleaner fuel in New Year
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced their global regulation will substantially reduce harmful sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions from ships comes into effect from 1 January 2020, bringing significant benefits for both human health and the environment.
From 1 January 2020 the global upper limit on the sulphur content of ships’ fuel oil will be reduced to 0.50% (from 3.50%). Known as “IMO 2020”, the reduced limit is mandatory for all ships operating outside certain designated Emission Control Areas*, where the limit is already 0.10%.
The new limit will mean a 77% drop in overall SOx emissions from ships, equivalent to an annual reduction of approximately 8.5 million metric tonnes of SOx. Particulate matter – tiny harmful particles which form when fuel is burnt – will also be reduced.
As a result, reductions in stroke, asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases are expected. Cutting sulphur emissions from ships will also help prevent acid rain and ocean acidification, benefitting crops, forests and aquatic species.
The new limit is part of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution form ships (MARPOL), a key environmental treaty under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the United Nations specialized agency responsible for developing and adopting standards for preventing pollution from ships, as well as shipping safety and efficiency, and maritime security.
The decision to cut the global limit for sulphur in ships fuel oil to 0.50% was made in 2008 and confirmed again in October 2016.