Wind Power News: New York
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Enfield board to discuss wind farm
ENFIELD — A special working meeting to review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the Black Oak Wind Farm will be held Wednesday by the Enfield Town Board. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Enfield Community Building, 182 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca.
City officials defend wind power agreement with Viridian Energy
HUDSON – Common Council President Don Moore and Mayor William Hallenbeck both strongly defended the city’s new wind-energy agreement with Viridian Energy at Monday’s Common Council meeting. But others city officials raised questions about it. At a press conference May 8, Hallenbeck announced Hudson would be switching to 100 percent locally produced wind energy in June, buying it through Viridian’s Pure Green program. He estimated this would save the city $40,000 a year. On Saturday, Victor Mendolia, who has announced . . .
Congressman Bill Owens joins Russell, Blankenbush and Ritchie in opposing Article 10 industrial wind siting in the Golden Crescent and Thousand Islands regions
Yesterday a letter from Congressman William Owens was posted on the New York State Public Service Commission website as a comment to British Petroleum’s intent to develop a massive industrial wind turbine sacrifice zone in the Town of Cape Vincent, NY. (I call it a “sacrifice zone” because the only way British Petroleum can get it done under Article 10 is to violate our home rule land use laws. We make the sacrifice.) In his comment letter, Congressman Owens objected . . .
Seven years of spinning turbines have brought windfall to Lewis County communities
Further north; BP’s proposed wind project in the town of Cape Vincent has many residents concerned about the impact on their property values. A recent Clarkson University study found that wind farms in two other upstate New York counties depressed property values between 10 and 20 percent – but Lewis County seems immune to that problem. Economics professor Martin Heintzelman says that might be because of differences in the landscape or setbacks from homes, or “It’s also possible that the people in Lewis County might – and this is obviously a broad generality – but it may be that they don’t mind the turbines as much as people in other places.”
That’s not true of everyone, however. Gordon Yancey owns the Flat Rock Inn, a snowmobiler bar and hotel on a small ridge overlooking farmland, outside Lowville. Driving up the gravel road to the inn, it’s obvious what attracted Yancey here when he built his inn 24 years ago: the view is spectacular.
One Cape Vincent blogger settles lawsuit; judge pares action against second
A judge has dismissed several causes of action in a defamation suit brought by wind farm development supporters against a local blogger, while a second blogger has reached a settlement with the wind supporters. Richard C. Wiley Sr., author of a blog at jeffersonleaningleft.blogspot.com, and Kathryn A. Hludzenski, author of pandorasboxofrocks.blogspot.com, were sued in July in state Supreme Court by Gary J. King, Marty T. Mason, Donald J. Mason, Harvey J. White, Paul C. Mason, Darrell and Marlene Burton and . . .
Wind turbine moratorium continues in Huntington while town board drafts legislation
Wind turbines will not be coming to Huntington Township anytime soon, as a moratorium on applications and permits for the alternative energy sources will be extended until December. The 128-day moratorium was first established in February, but the Huntington Town Board decided that it needed more time to draft legislation that would regulate the turbines. Among the board’s concerns are establishing regulations for the size, height, zoning, use, and noise produced by the wind turbines, since there is currently no . . .
Wind company approaches Orleans
LaFargeville – industrial wind company Iberdrola Renewables is reconsidering expanding the Horse Creek Wind Farm into the town of Orleans. The company had initially shown interest in Orleans, the withdrew plans for the project last year. Iberdrola’s senior business developer Jenny Briot met with Orleans supervisor Kevin Rarick and Councilman Thomas Johnson on May 1 two inform the town that the company may possibly proceed with an application under an Article 10 filing with the New York State Public Service . . .
Huntington Town extends moratorium on wind turbines
The Huntington Town Board has voted unanimously to extend until December a moratorium on issuing permits regarding wind turbines. The board voted in February to have a 128-day moratorium but since has decided it needs more time to figure out legislation that would regulate the alternative energy source. “The departments are grappling with a lot and looking at a lot of options so they… Content Preview This content is exclusive for Newsday digital access and 7-day home delivery subscribers and . . .
Cape Vincent’s town board, WPEG apply for 99% of intervenor funds
The town government hopes to hire several experts — three in conjunction with the Wind Power Ethics Group — to review and critique BP’s Cape Vincent Wind Project proposal with intervenor funding made available under Article X. Of the $99,750 the wind developer was required to provide under state law, Cape Vincent’s town board and WPEG together applied for $98,840. This is 99 percent of intervenor funds made available for five municipalities — village and town of Cape Vincent, town . . .
Officials: turbine company silent
LIMESTONE — Town of Carrollton leaders confirmed at Wednesday’s board meeting that they have seen wind company representatives driving through the community recently, but none have spoken to them about the use of routes through town for transporting wind turbine materials. That was the word from Town Supervisor Dave Frederick when questioned by audience members about the status of the controversial wind farm project in the neighboring town of Allegany. “First off, EverPower has not contacted us” about using roads . . .
