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.
Updates on the March 28 wind turbine fire in Rexville/West Union NY
A second public meeting that focused on the March 2023 wind turbine fire in the Town of West Union wasn’t as heavily attended or as contentious as the first. The little town hall was nonetheless still full of residents who were curious, disgruntled, impacted, and worried about the aftermath from the fire. About a dozen landowners attended the regular monthly meeting of the town board, three representatives from NextEra Energy, and a representative from the New York State Department of . . . Complete story »
Four whales die in 4 days: Wind farms creating ‘death zone’ at sea says ex–Greenpeace boss
Drilling foundations for offshore wind turbines and sound pulses used to prepare for the 900-foot towers may be creating a “death zone” for whales, a former Greenpeace chief claims. Patrick Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace and its ex-president in Canada, believes the acoustic systems used by vessels surveying the ocean floor harm the marine mammals’ sense of hearing – risking their crucial ability to navigate, and leading to more dead whales washing up onshore. His intervention comes after four minke . . . Complete story »
Alle-Catt Wind Farm expected to take toll on bald eagles
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation estimates the proposed Alle-Catt Wind Farm across parts of northern Cattaraugus and Allegany counties will kill 41 bald eagles over a 30-year period. Another Invenergy wind project in the town of Canisteo in Steuben County will, if built, kill another 41 eagles, DEC estimated in negotiations with representatives from both wind farms over replacement habitat. Bats would also be killed by the turbines, DEC noted. Instead, Invenergy signed off on a DEC . . . Complete story »
Conservative watchdogs highlight ‘alarming’ surge in whale deaths as wind farms grow off NY, NJ coasts
Conservative watchdog groups ran a guerrilla-style ad campaign on the New Jersey shore for Earth Day, drawing attention to a surge in whale deaths amid the growth of offshore wind farms. Beachgoers in Atlantic City on Saturday looked on as a single-propeller plane carried a a message waving from a banner – “SAVE-WHALES-STOP-WINDMILLS.ORG” – and drivers heading out of town saw a billboard with the same message and a picture of a dead whale washed ashore. The Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow . . . Complete story »
Farmer: Wind turbine fire in rural western New York caused contamination to family, livestock, and land
The scenes were amazing from the recent fire on the Steuben-Allegany county line. A massive wind turbine was on fire, hundreds of feet in the air, black smoke billowing out of the blaze. It was obvious that the turbine was destroyed and the fire burned out after being on fire for hours. What wasn’t obvious was what the fire was burning into the wind … fiberglass. The family downwind and nearby the fire say they have been impacted. According to . . . Complete story »
Heated meeting as residents with fiberglass particles on land, trees and possibly ponds question wind turbine fire
It had to be one of the biggest town meetings in the history of the rural new York town of West Union. Residents packed the town hall while the overflow sat on the front porch. The town highway superintendent brought in some extra chairs to accommodate the crowd. Luckily, the weather was about perfect, so the town hall doors were flung open for the front porch crowd and a breeze. Steuben County Legislator Fred Potter was in attendance along with . . . Complete story »
Turbine construction approved for first large US offshore wind farm
The U.S. Department of the Interior has completed the necessary reviews clearing the way for the start of turbine construction offshore between Rhode Island and New York for South Fork Wind. This will be the first commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project to start turbine construction in federal waters in the United States. The development is being called a major milestone towards meeting the U.S.’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. It is also the first . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine near Greenwood NY catches fire
Fire crews watch as turbine burns 400 feet above West Union, Rexville NY. Fire crews are on site of a wind turbine fire just over the Allegany-Steuben County line in Greenwood. Debris is being extinguished as it falls from the tower but crews are helpless to put out the blaze which is well above the reach. We are assuming this is an electrical fire. Images will be updated if necessary. (((( o )))) Complete story »
Wind farm filings call attention to potential impacts on sea mammals
As developers prepare to deploy legions of wind-energy turbines off the coast of Long Island, new applications for survey and construction work are bringing new scrutiny to the impacts on sea mammals, including the potential “incidental take” of whales, dolphins and seals. That scrutiny comes amid unusual numbers of whale deaths this winter, including 11 on New York and New Jersey shores alone since December, with another Humpback whale found dead in New Jersey on Monday. Federal regulators administering wind-farm . . . Complete story »
US offshore wind farms raise concerns across fishing industry
It is not just the low-frequency radar noises from the survey boats that are disrupting the ecosystem. Cables and other construction needs are creating changes in the marine environment, which can be particularly harmful to bottom-feeding species like scallops, clams and flounder. Complete story »
