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.
Energy companies accused of bid rigging and racketeering in US lawsuit
A cybersecurity company filed a $110m lawsuit in New York this week, accusing the Spanish global energy company Iberdrola and its US subsidiary Avangrid of bid rigging and racketeering. The 72-page federal court complaint outlines an elaborate scheme by Iberdrola executives to generate millions of dollars in wasteful equipment expenditures in order to turn a profit from its utility customers in New York, Connecticut and Maine. The lawsuit further alleges that much of this equipment was never put to use . . . Complete story »
Biden administration approves South Fork wind farm off Rhode Island
The U.S. Interior Department said on Wednesday it approved the South Fork offshore wind power project off the coast of Rhode Island, making it the second commercial-scale wind project with federal approval. The decision comes as the administration of President Joe Biden seeks to rapidly expand the U.S. offshore wind industry as part of its broader effort to decarbonize the nation’s power sector by 2035, and the whole economy by 2050, to fight climate change. The approximately 130-megawatt South Fork . . . Complete story »
Early review of South Fork Wind Farm project found power shortfalls during peak summer periods
LIPA in 2017 decided to move ahead with the South Fork Wind Farm project despite internal findings that its ability to produce energy during critical summer-peak times would be limited to around half the days it was needed, according to a confidential review done for LIPA. A copy of that review released earlier this year as part of a lawsuit filed by a ratepayer says even with the wind-farm operating, there’d still be power shortfalls on 77 of the 152 . . . Complete story »
State approves shift for two turbines in Number Three Wind project
LOWVILLE – A third amendment to the Number Three Wind project was approved Monday by the state Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment. The petition to amend the project’s Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need again was filed on Oct. 4, seeking approval to “shift” two of the turbines, one by 100 feet and the other by 58 feet, to “avoid impacts to a wetland conservation easement” but also to avoid delays in construction. The turbines will be . . . Complete story »
Equinor nixes massive concrete foundations for LI wind farms
The Norwegian company that plans to erect as many as 174 offshore wind turbines starting at 14 miles off Jones Beach, has decided against setting the devices on giant concrete foundations on the seabed, and instead will turn to less costly pile-driven structures. The decision drew quick rebuke from two major environmental groups and marks a significant change from developer Equinor’s earliest plans for the projects, called Empire Wind 1 and 2. The wind farms are scheduled to bring power . . . Complete story »
Wind farm cable will run deeper under Wainscott beach, Ørsted says
Representatives of Ørsted and Eversource, the companies that will be constructing the South Fork Wind farm off Montauk, told local residents this week that the final designs for the installation call for the electrical cable to be buried far deeper below the Wainscott beach where it will emerge from the ocean than originally planned, and will require fewer of the large underground “vaults” than early designs showed. During a “virtual open house” hosted online by engineers from Ørsted on Monday . . . Complete story »
NextEra proposes wind-farm transmission projects around state
The company that once was awarded – then lost – a contract to build what was to be Long Island’s first wind farm off Jones Beach announced Friday that it’s taking another crack at the market. NextEra Energy Transmission New York said it’s submitted multiple proposals to the state grid manager to develop high-voltage transmission projects to deliver offshore wind power around the state. NextEra is an affiliate of the former FPL Energy and Florida Power & Light of Juno Beach, Florida. . . . Complete story »
Court says Sanford Town Board failed to support its own local law
The latest setback in the fight by residents against industrial wind turbines on the steep hills of Deposit and Windsor can be laid unequivocally at the doorstep of the Sanford Town Board. That is not our verdict but the words of the New York State Appellate Court in their decision rejecting the case brought by local campaigners. The Court said that the Town Board had failed to follow up on a law which would have forced Bluestone Wind to increase . . . Complete story »
Humprey proposes wind power facilities law
HUMPHREY – The Humphrey Town Board will convene a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at the Town Hall, 4500 Humphrey Road, on a proposal to adopt a wind energy facilities law. All interested parties for or against the law may attend. A copy of the proposed local law is available for review in the town clerk’s office during regular hours. Also on Monday evening, the board will conduct a public hearing to review the proposed 2022 town budget. Complete story »
Freedom, Farmersville elections turn on wind power
The future of wind energy is on the line in this election in two Cattaraugus County towns: Freedom and Farmersville. The shadow of dozens of 600-foot wind turbines from the proposed Alle-Catt Wind Farm is cast over the two towns in the northeastern part of the county. Invenergy, the Chicago-based wind developer, has been in the area for four years trying to sell the wind farm’s economic benefits to municipalities – Freedom and Farmersville in Cattaraugus County and Centerville and Rushford . . . Complete story »
