CHINA FEDS TAKE CONTROL OF WIND

China to limit onshore development with new law; Chinese National Energy Bureau (NEB) is set to announce a new rule limiting the construction of onshore wind farms.
Wu Qi, 21 July 2011 (Windpower Monthly)

"The National Energy Bureau (NEB) said it is [removing] the authority for approving wind farms smaller than 50MW from provincial governments…[A]bout 93% of wind farms in the country [have been] approved by local governments.

"This will markedly reduce the number of approved wind farms and slow down the approval rate in the country. This will reduce market demands for wind turbines and components, said an official."

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"To date, provincial governments are entitled to examine and approve onshore wind farms smaller than 50MW each, with the results put on record with the NEB. The NEB approves the construction of wind farms larger than 50MW.

"China has seen a large number of 49.5MW wind farms approved. Many of these combine to form larger projects…[resulting] in sharp conflicts between local onshore wind farm construction and the overall plan for national new energy development, and conflicts with [the overall gird] plan."