ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES MUST BE RESOLVED

Key issues such as bird kills, construction of transmission lines through environmentally sensitive areas, and the dissemination of reliable information must be resolved before wind can continue to develop, says the National Wind Co-ordinating Committee (NWCC) in iuts first major announcement. The committee of 60 is headed by Resolve Inc, an environmental dispute resolution organisation, using money from the US Department of Energy. Members are from the American Wind Energy Association, American Public Power Association, Edison Electric Institute, and Electric Power Research Institute. Organisations participating in NWCC affiliated activities -- such as the avian sub-committee -- include Kenetech, SeaWest and Zond from the wind industry and US Fish and Wildlife Service. "The group has taken some time to gel," says Abby Arnold of Resolve, in explaining the timing of NWCC's statement, seven months after the committee first met. Resolve was brought in to help members resolve issues. "It appears they have a common goal -- to promote wind," adds Hap Boyd, who is on the steering committee. "So far there seems to be a genuine interest to work together."