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 do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
NJ, wind-farm developer push for smaller wind-energy area off Hamptons
A top New Jersey utility official and a wind-farm developer on Friday raised objection to the idea that wind turbines should be excluded from waters off the Hamptons, arguing inclusion would foster competition. The official’s request follows federal release Wednesday of proposed wind-farm areas for the waters between New York and New Jersey that unexpectedly excluded two areas 15 miles from Long Island from a proposed lease sale later this year or early next year. New York state and local . . . Complete story »
Feds’ decision removes 2nd largest potential NY wind farm from consideration
The federal government’s decision to nix two wind-energy areas off the Hamptons from an upcoming offshore lease auction removes the second biggest wind-energy area in the region while putting a greater onus on projects that would be located just 23 miles from New Jersey. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, in an unexpected decision Wednesday, announced that two wind-farm areas known as Fairways North and Fairways South would not be offered in the round of auctions that could take . . . Complete story »
NYS Public Service Commission still accepting resident comments on proposed Guilford wind farm
The New York State Public Service Commission held a virtual public statement hearing Thursday afternoon to receive comments concerning the Guilford wind turbines project. High Bridge Wind, LLC is seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Commission. This certificate would authorize the company to construct and operate a proposed major wind farm, while subject to the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need that has already been issued last month. In addition, . . . Complete story »
East Hampton Trustees urge Ørsted to get wind farm fisheries studies underway immediately
Members of the East Hampton Town Trustees this week said that South Fork Wind Farm developer Ørsted needs to get fish population surveys started immediately, even though the actual proposal will not be finalized until later this spring, so as to be able to capture the full two seasons worth of data demanded by a fisheries study mandated in state approvals for the project. As one of the agreed-to conditions to the approval of Ørsted’s cable landing plan, the developers . . . Complete story »
Feds nix Hamptons sites from offshore wind sale
The federal government has removed two contested offshore wind-energy areas off the Hamptons from its upcoming lease sale of waters off Long Island’s South Shore, citing conflicts with commercial fishing, shipping and lack of commercial viability. The move, first reported by Newsday Wednesday, was applauded by critics of the prospective Hamptons wind farms, which would have been seen 15 miles from shore. “That’s excellent news,” said Jay Schneiderman, supervisor of Southampton Town, who opposed turbines off the East End. Instead, . . . Complete story »
Cost of cleaner air could be another 55 cents per gallon
ALBANY – A bill in the state Senate that would impose a carbon tax to help the state meet its green energy goals could cost New York motorists an extra 55 cents per gallon at the pump, according to testimony Tuesday on the proposed measure. “The idea of an industry wide carbon fee is still an open issue,” said Ken Pokalsky, vice president at the state Business Council, who said the gas hike would generate an estimated $2.3 billion in revenue . . . Complete story »
Wainscott village petitioners will try again
Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott, whose petition to force a vote to incorporate a 4.4-square-mile expanse of the hamlet was rejected by East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc last month, announced on Sunday that it will prepare a new petition to present later this year. “We believe the best alternative is to rework our petition to address the issues he raised, rather than engage in lengthy litigation now,” Gouri Edlich, the group’s chairwoman, said in the statement. Work . . . Complete story »
NYSERDA chief to feds: No wind farms off Hamptons
New York State will emphasize its position that windfarms off the Hamptons are a nonstarter as federal regulators begin the public process of auctioning off lease rights to waters off the South Shore. Doreen Harris, the newly named president and chief executive of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, in an interview Thursday, said the state next week will make a detailed case for instead focusing on two other wind areas to the west. Harris had previously . . . Complete story »
Environmentally safe energy: Who says so?
As I point my camera at the beautiful fall foliage they stick out as very foreign objects in the grand landscape that Mother Nature has given us country folks. Swinging my camera toward a flying flock of geese, the tall “white monsters” in the background ruin the image I’m trying to capture of wild and free wildlife. I have visions of a bald eagle or a red-tailed hawk getting whacked by one of those fast-moving blades coming down while he . . . Complete story »
State bill would hinder local taxation of wind and solar projects, opponents say
Local officials say a proposal in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s stack of proposed budget amendments in effect subsidizes large-scale wind and solar projects by barring towns from taxing them at their full value. The measure would direct two state agencies to calculate a model for appraising the value of wind and solar projects, using “a discounted cash flow approach” to determine how much the projects are worth. A discount rate for renewable energy projects’ property taxes also would be determined . . . Complete story »
