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.
Rate impact of LIPA’s green energy transition remains unclear
As LIPA prepares a road map to transition to all green energy by 2040, ratepayers have been left with only a scattering of clues about how the state-mandated renewable revolution will affect their wallets. LIPA, PSEG and outside experts are embarking on a yearlong study of energy resources to determine how best to transition to a mostly green energy grid by 2030 – just over nine years away. As LIPA chief Tom Falcone recently noted, many of the green-energy sources are . . . Complete story »
Mixed reviews for South Shore wind farm
If Long Beach residents are concerned about a private company’s $3 billion proposal to build a 174-turbine wind farm 15 miles off the South Shore, few of them voiced it at a virtual hearing on the matter on July 8. Only a handful of people commented at the second hearing held by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on a proposal by the Norway-based Equinor to build the Empire Wind project. Equinor has been awarded contracts by New York . . . Complete story »
NYISO cites costs, capacity in Cuomo clean energy plan
The operator of the state’s high-voltage electric grid has thrown cold water on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ambitious clean energy plan that seeks to get half of the state’s electricity from renewable energy by 2030. The New York Independent System Operator, which also runs the state’s wholesale electric markets, told state regulators in a filing last Friday that adding the amount of solar panels and wind turbines to the grid needed to achieve the goal, known as the Clean Energy Standard, . . . Complete story »
Legal skirmish erupts over new fast track for green power projects
ALBANY – Renewable energy projects in New York are often touted for what they can do to slash dirty fossil fuel emissions and make the state more self-reliant when it comes to its power needs. But a process for turbo-charging reviews for green energy projects is now under legal attack, with an assortment of rural towns, bird conservation clubs and citizen groups arguing the state government has stripped localities of sufficient time to evaluate the plans. The platoon of plaintiffs includes . . . Complete story »
Fishing, bird groups want deeper review of the impact of Empire Wind
Bird lovers and commercial fishermen want the federal government to dig deeper as it begins a two-year environmental review of a massive wind farm planned for the waters off Long Island’s South Shore. During three public sessions that concluded Thursday to set the agenda for the review, representatives of bird and fishing interests urged the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to look beyond the standard studies to determine how the 174 turbines up to 951 feet tall would impact . . . Complete story »
Port of Albany wind turbine project to get more environmental review
BETHLEHEM – The Port of Albany’s proposed $350 million wind tower assembly facility in Glenmont – one of the most significant renewable energy economic development projects in Capital Region history – will get an in-depth environmental review from the town of Bethlehem, as expected for a project of such a size and scope. The Bethlehem planning board voted July 6 to issue a s0-called positive declaration for the preparation of a state-required draft environmental impact statement for the project, plans . . . Complete story »
Cuomo big-foots in the name of reducing NY’s carbon footprint
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plans for siting renewable energy facilities, such as solar farms and windmills, are meeting righteous resistance from upstate locals. The intrusive facilities are key to the gov’s $26 billion “clean energy, clean economy” initiative, which Cuomo pretends will boost New York’s post-COVID-19 economy. The pressure is on his administration to replace the 2000 megawatts of clean energy lost when the Indian Point nuclear plant – which accounted for 30 percent of the state’s carbon-free power production – shut down . . . Complete story »
Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions could impact Alle-Catt Wind Farm
Two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions – including one ruling establishing Amish religious freedom – could figure in arguments before the Appellate Division’s Fourth Department of State Supreme Court next month involving the proposed Alle-Catt Wind Farm. Great Valley environmental attorney Gary Abraham, representing the Coalition of Concerned Citizens fighting the 117-turbine wind farm, has challenged the New York State Board on Electric Generation Sites and the Environment’s approval of Alle-Catt’s Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need on June 3, 2020. . . . Complete story »
New York wanted faster approval for renewable energy projects. Now communities want to slow it down.
A special New York state office that streamlines the approval process of renewable energy projects is the target of a lawsuit. Environmental groups and towns are suing because they say they have no voice on projects in their backyard. The Office of Renewable Energy Siting was created last year to speed up a years-long process to approve large solar and wind energy projects. Several upstate New York towns, as well as bird-watching groups, said the agency violates state law that . . . Complete story »
Borrello questions chairman on wind study
A Great Lakes Wind Feasibility Study is supposed to be completed before the end of the year. The study is sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority – and state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, wants to make sure NYSERDA’s reappointed chairman, Richard Kauffman, is aware of the study and what it could mean for the Great Lakes. Kauffman was reappointed NYSERDA board chairman on June 11 after being confirmed by the state Senate on June 10, . . . Complete story »
