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.
Wind resistance
There’s no shortage of wind blowing across the Great Lakes. Turning that wind into energy could be a big step towards lowering carbon emissions in the region. And despite plenty of studies showing vast energy potential, the Great Lakes still don’t have any offshore turbines. That could soon change. A first-of-its-kind project has been approved for Lake Erie: six turbines, eight miles from the Cleveland shoreline. But it hasn’t come easy. Public opposition is the biggest barrier to building wind . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines are a dangerous idea for Lake Erie
Exposing the inherent flaws of a dangerous idea is best done early. The idea of utilizing wind energy above the waters of Lake Erie is again a focus of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in their soon-to-be published second feasibility study. The first report by NYSERDA (in 2011) lists many concerns about placing wind turbines and their infrastructure in one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems and drinking water sources. Since then, threats to drinking . . . Complete story »
Town closely examining potential impacts of wind turbine
Officials pinpointed areas of concern that developers proposing a wind turbine in the town of Florida, a rural community just outside of the city of Amsterdam in Montgomery County, must try to address during the ongoing project review. Aesthetic impacts from the 650-foot-tall turbine that would be in “sharp” contrast to the surrounding landscape seemingly loomed largest as the Planning Board worked through a section of state environmental quality review (SEQR) on Monday. Town engineering consultant Brad Grant led the . . . Complete story »
Undersea plow to clear wide swath for South Fork wind farm cable
The developers of the South Fork Wind Farm have begun preparing the long undersea cable route to Long Island through use of sea-bottom boulder plow that will clear a 52-foot wide swath of the ocean floor, rankling fishermen concerned about impacts on the environment and lost wages. The plowing “may occur perpendicular to Long Island” at a minimum distance of 4 miles, said Meaghan Wims, a spokeswoman for the South Fork Wind Farm, which is being developed by Denmark-based Orsted . . . Complete story »
Turbine firm to pay county for future road damage
More county roads in the town of Villenova are expected to be damaged with the ongoing construction of the Ball Hill Wind project. Last summer Chautauqua County approved a permit fee for the county to be paid $722,100 for expected road damage for the construction of 22 wind turbines in the town of Villenova and three in the town of Hanover. During last week’s county legislature’s Audit and Control Committee meeting, Drew Rogers, Chautauqua County Deputy Director for engineering in . . . Complete story »
Port of Albany walks away from $29.5 million for wind turbine project
ALBANY – The Port of Albany has decided to forgo $29.5 million in federal funding for the $350 million wind turbine tower manufacturing facility it wants to build on the Hudson River to speed up the permitting process after falling behind schedule. The funding – which had been allocated to the Port of Albany by the U.S. Department of Transportation – has been in jeopardy since the summer when the port clear-cut more than 80 acres of waterfront land in the . . . Complete story »
Gas to offshore wind? N.Y. illustrates grid challenge.
Oil and gas companies are asking New York to connect large volumes of offshore wind to the grid at a gas plant, underscoring a national push to transform old fossil fuel sites for renewable energy projects. The move also illustrates a challenge for offshore wind as more projects are announced: Will states move quickly enough to ensure the grid can accommodate the influx of power? “There are opportunities like this from border to border and coast to coast,” said Dan . . . Complete story »
Lawmakers, preservationists share Lake Erie wind turbine concerns
HAMBURG, N.Y. – Several lawmakers joined preservationists on Wednesday to talk about concerns with a proposal to build wind turbines out in the waters of Lake Erie. New York State has been conducting a wind feasibility study to create off-shore wind farms, including one near Hamburg. Preservationists have been speaking out against the proposal for months, saying it could by harmful to wildlife, but most importantly to the water itself. “We do not want to disturb this lake so it affects . . . Complete story »
Proposed wind turbine riles town of Florida residents
TOWN OF FLORIDA – Residents say a 10% discount on their electricity bills from a community wind project proposed on YMCA Road wouldn’t justify any disturbances the 650 foot tall turbine could cause in the town of Florida. “One of the most precious assets of the town of Florida is the peace and quiet and the quality of life,” Deanna DeLuke said. “Anything that even stands a chance of jeopardizing that is not worth it.” Nearly 30 townspeople raised objections and . . . Complete story »
Port of Albany: Residents missed chance to protest Beacon Island project
ALBANY – The Port of Albany says in a new legal filing that the group of Glenmont residents that have sued to stop the port’s planned $350 million wind turbine tower manufacturing plant on the Hudson River should have their lawsuit dismissed because they failed to participate in the town of Bethlehem’s site plan approval process. The residents, represented by Albany attorney Chris Dempf, claimed in their lawsuit challenging the legality of the decisions by the Bethlehem Zoning and Planning . . . Complete story »
