The Talbot County Council agreed to participate in a joint land-use study requested by the Patuxent Naval Air Station at their public meeting last Tuesday. The study has been approved by the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment, which will pay for the study along with matching funds from the southern Maryland counties closest to the base. The Office of Economic Adjustment typically assists communities adversely impacted by Defense Department changes, including base closures or realignments, base expansions, and . . .

The adverse effects of 52 wind turbines on the Kessel VOR-DME in West Virginia do not justify decommissioning the navaid and weakening the area’s aviation infrastructure, AOPA said. The association is urging pilots to comment by May 28 on an FAA study that is weighing a shutdown of the Kessel VOR-DME. The FAA granted AOPA’s request for a two-week extension of the comment period. The navaid serves seven airports; supports numerous instrument approaches, preferred routes, and en route navigation; and . . .

After reading Mr. Robert Spangler’s letter regarding his enthused motivation for the quick inception of wind development in Garrett County and steadfast commitment to achieving this goal, I pondered what his true motivation for such actions may be (“No more property tax hikes in Garrett County,” April 25 Times-News). I soon discovered that he and another family, who have equal interest in seeing the rise of the wind turbines, collectively hold in excess of 207 acres on which the turbines . . .

PRINCESS ANNE — Greater setback requirements were called “key” to offsetting potential problems from wind turbines as Somerset County Commissioners heard from both sides of the issue during a work session last week. Most problems reported in other parts of the country occurred in places where turbines were placed too close to neighboring residences, said attorney Steve Smethurst who represents a group of Marion Station residents who live near farmland that is under contract with a wind energy developer. Many . . .

The battle over offshore wind turbines on Maryland’s Eastern Shore blusters on, but aircraft testers at Naval Air Station Patuxent River won a small victory over land-based windmills in the recent Maryland General Assembly session, which adjourned in April. The Southern Maryland legislative delegation, working with representatives from the governor’s office, SMECO and the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, shepherded a bill through the session that will re-regulate the construction of private windmill generators, giving the Navy a change to review . . .

OAKLAND — On Tuesday, the Board of Garrett County Commissioners came to the consensus of a formula for the setbacks of industrial wind turbines to use in the draft Land Use Management Ordinance. The setbacks for wind turbines from a occupied dwelling would be five times the height measuring from base to the hub of the wind turbine and from a property line it would be three times the height. The same formula was proposed for domestic wind turbines. “What . . .

PRINCESS ANNE — Greater setback requirements were called “key” to offsetting potential problems from wind turbines as Somerset County Commissioners heard from residents on both sides of the issue during a work session. Most problems reported in other parts of the country occurred in places where turbines were placed too close to neighboring residences, said attorney Steve Smethurst, who represents a group of Marion Station residents who live near farmland that is under contract with a wind energy developer. Many . . .

Well, it seems our county commissioners have sold us down the river. I thought that the matter had been settled: No wind turbines in Allegany County. Why would they want to spoil the scenic vista of Dan’s Mountain? Our landscape has already been desecrated enough by strip mines and communication towers. Why add to this? Where was the voice of the citizens in this matter? It would seem that we have gained nothing by electing new commissioners. 2014 is a . . .

PRINCESS ANNE — Somerset County Commissioners plan to make revisions to a controversial industrial wind energy ordinance, including increasing the setback from neighboring residential properties. The commissioners also will meet with Steve Smethurst, the attorney for a group of Marion Station opponents, during a work session next week. Smethurst will be allowed one hour to present a case on behalf of his clients. Although the commissioners generally accept public comment for only 10 days following a public hearing, they have . . .

Lawmakers should reconsider Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal for offshore wind development during the anticipated special session in May, black leaders from across the state said Tuesday. O’Malley (D) announced Tuesday morning that he expected lawmakers to reach a consensus on the budget before May 23 and that a second special session to consider expanding gambling could be called for late summer, prompting the group’s call for action on wind energy. “We just ask that a session for offshore wind be . . .