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.
New Steuben County wind farm approved
The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board) today granted approval to Eight Point Wind LLC to build and operate a wind farm facility in Steuben County. The Siting Board’s decision follows a rigorous review and public participation process to ensure that the wind farm meets or exceeds all siting requirements. “In keeping with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s goal to develop clean energy resources in New York State and nation-leading Green New Deal, we . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines and radar mix poorly
As budding offshore wind development brings the U.S. to the brink of a new chapter in energy production, questions remain as to how radar interference caused by wind turbines will be diminished or eliminated. Vineyard Wind’s 84-turbine wind farm, slated for an Atlantic lease area about 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, effectively had the rug pulled out from underneath it August 9, when the Department of the Interior announced the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) would hold off . . . Complete story »
Farmersville Town Board passes new wind law to opponents’ dismay
FARMERSVILLE – The Farmersville Town Board voted 4-0 Monday to approve a new wind law allowing 600-foot wind turbines with smaller setbacks than the 2018 local law the Cattaraugus County Planning Board turned down. Board member Richard Westfall, who has a wind lease with Alle-Catt Wind Farm developer Invenergy, recused himself from voting. That meant all four remaining board members had to vote yes to provide the “supermajority” to overcome opposition from the county Planning Board. Supervisor Robert Karcher, Deputy Supervisor . . . Complete story »
Town to amend solar and wind energy laws
The Lansing Town Council will review and possibly draft a final document for a new local law that would amend the land use ordinance related to solar and wind energy systems at its meeting on Aug. 21. According to a current draft, the purpose of the law is to “facilitate and regulate the development and operation of certain renewable energy systems based upon the use of sunlight and wind,” for local residents and energy system companies. “The goal here as . . . Complete story »
Town Board pulls a fast one for Big Wind
New rules, new rules: At its August 14 meeting, the Villenova Town Board came up with a new law called “Abolishment of the Planning Board of the Town of Villenova.” Acting board chairwoman Yvonne Park refused to hear public comment before or after the decision. The town board is faced with a Chautauqua County Supreme Court ruling and an Article 78 lawsuit that says “the responsibility of the planning board is to make recommendations to the town board – a . . . Complete story »
Alle-Catt Wind Farm signs $13.4M letter of intent
FARMERSVILLE – Alle-Catt Wind Farm announced Tuesday it has signed a letter of intent to contribute nearly $13.4 million in new revenue to the Town of Farmersville over the next 20 years through a host community agreement. The announcement comes on the heels of the Farmersville Town Board’s unanimous passage of a new wind law that establishes balanced setback requirements for the local community while investing in Farmersville. “We are committed to the economic future of Western New York communities as . . . Complete story »
Another Voice: Wind turbine farms do not belong in Lake Erie
In April, I attended a meeting with Diamond Wind where the company presented a proposal to place 50 wind turbines in Lake Erie, from Buffalo to Dunkirk. By the end of their presentation every person in attendance was opposed to the plan. I believe if people would take the time to weigh the pros and cons of this proposal, most would come to the same conclusion that I did: Wind turbines do not belong in Lake Erie or in any . . . Complete story »
Wind debate stirs tensions in Barre
During the public comment period, members of the public were very unhappy with the development of the Heritage Wind project as well as the town board, continuing to not only voice their disapproval over the project and how the current proposed windmills will be higher than the town ordinance. In particular, Barbara Verburg noted the supervisor’s letter to the editor in the Orleans Hub on June 27, which said the town board was just having a meeting with representatives of Heritage Wind to discuss concerns over the reimbursement agreement and further discussion over the host agreement. That it wasn’t done and there will be more discussions. “That is not the story as it happened, and you know that,” she said. “I am disgusted how we are trying to change what is true. People in this town voted you in. People in this town wanted you there to be a voice for them and you’re lying to them. That is unbelievable.” Complete story »
Even Andrew Cuomo isn’t sure of New York’s near-impossible climate goals
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo last month signed the most aggressive climate law in the nation. But even he’s not sure it’ll work out as planned, and Cuomo’s not alone. Some of the technology needed to achieve an 85% cut in statewide greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050 isn’t even commercially available yet. It may require more legislation ahead. It will certainly be costly, and it depends on energy sources, including offshore wind farms, that still need to . . . Complete story »
Planning Board tweaks solar and wind law
The Lansing Town Planning Board tweaked a draft of a proposed Solar and Wind law Monday, preparing it for a final draft to be enacted into law by the Town Board. The Planning Board focused on three issues: security fencing, allowing large scale commercial wind farms, and he amount of contiguous prime soil farmland that should be allowed for large solar arrays. Lansing Director of Planning C.J. Randall said the intent of the law is largely to support green-energy producing . . . Complete story »
