Offshore drilling company StatoilHydro is finding a new way to get energy at sea- with large-scale wind turbines.
"Norwegian energy company StatoilHydro has decided to build the world's first full scale floating wind turbine, Hywind, and test it over a two-year period, offshore Karmoy, Norway. The company is investing approximately NOK400 million, with startup planned for autumn 2009.
StatoilHydro has said that a 2.3MW wind turbine is attached to the top of a so-called spar-buoy, a solution familiar from production platforms and offshore loading buoys.
The rotor blades on the floating wind turbine will have a diameter of 80m and the nacelle will tower some 65m above the sea surface. The floatation element will have a draft of some 100m below the sea surface, and will be moored to the seabed using three anchor points. The wind turbine can be located in waters with depths ranging from 120-700m.
The pilot project will be assembled in Amoyfjorden near Stavanger, Norway, and is to be located some 10km offshore Karmoy in the county of Rogaland. The wind turbine itself is to be built by Siemens."
FULL STORY: StatoilHydro to build world's first full scale floating wind turbine

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie