Estonian energy firm wants to site windmills atop oil-shale ash fields

Estonia, a nation ravaged by unchecked oil shale production and its environmental consequences, according to international studies, has finally hit on a greener use for fields of oil shale ash.

According to the Baltic Course, described as an “International Internet Magazine (Baltic State news & analytics),” an Estonia energy company wants to erect more than 300 wind turbines atop several ash fields left over from extracting oil from shale rock and sand.

Here’s an excerpt from the Baltic Course article:

windmill field

“Estonian energy giant Eesti Energia is applying for special water usage permit from the Environment Ministry to erect up to 308 wind energy generators and transmission lines in the Livonian Bay, writes Postimees Online/LETA.

“The wind energy generations are planned to be erected in the Ruhnu, Kihnuedela, Kihnukrundi, Kihnulõuna and Jaagupi regions.

“The total area of the wind energy parks together with cable lines is nearly 20,000 hectares.

“Eesti Energia is planning to build new wind energy parks also in Paldiski and on closed oil shale ash fields in Narva.”

This is relevant to Colorado readers because of growing domestic pressure to step up oil shale research and development in the Green River Formation in northwest Colorado, southwest Wyoming and eastern Utah – described as one of the largest oil shale reserves in the world. It may also be of interest to our dedicated Estonia readers.

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