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.
Over objections, eastern Broome wind farm gets green light
An attempt to derail an eastern Broome County wind farm failed Thursday when the state’s Electric Generation Siting Board rejected an appeal from opponents. Meeting through electronic means because of the coronavirus outbreak, by a 5-2 vote, the board dismissed claims by detractors that the project would harm a fragile rural environment. The board gave Calpine Inc. the green light to proceed with the 27-turbine project, known as Bluestone Wind, that received the initial go-ahead earlier this year. “The project . . . Complete story »
Turbine work upsets residents; Out-of-town workers expected to soon pause project
CHARLOTTE – Siblings Dustin and Allison Baldwin of Cherry Creek have noticed a surge in foot traffic at the South Dayton Super Duper, where they both are employed. While nearly all grocery stores have been overwhelmed with panicked shoppers seeking toilet paper, canned goods and other must-haves, the Super Duper in particular has had several out-of-state customers who apparently are working for wind company Innogy. According to James Denn of the state Public Service Commission, work is supposed to pause soon, . . . Complete story »
BCCR Press Statement re NY Siting Board Meeting on Wind Turbines
County Concerned Residents (BCCR) spokesperson Anne Lawrence has called on the New York Siting Board at their meeting today (Thursday, April 9) to urge Governor Cuomo to apply the same rule for locating Industrial Wind Turbines in Broome County as he did for the residents of Long Island. He promised the affluent communities in that part of the State that these huge behemoths would be no closer than 30 miles from their homes. The people of Broome County deserve no . . . Complete story »
New York becomes first state to establish renewables siting office in an effort to speed up deployment
Dive Brief: In an effort to speed the development of large-scale clean energy resources, New York lawmakers authorized the creation of an Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and took steps to accelerate transmission investment to move carbon-free electricity to load centers. The new siting rules will ensure renewables projects larger than 25 MW can receive approval within a year. Under the current process, siting for these projects takes two to three years, experts say. The new office was approved last . . . Complete story »
Is Cassadaga Wind a potential Covid-19 vector?
New York’s governor has decreed that “all non-essential workers must stay home.” But work on the Innogy wind turbine project in Chautauqua County continues: truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, excavators, loggers, flagmen and others are working in Cherry Creek and Charlotte. This work is not essential and for health reasons shouldn’t it be stopped until the Covid-19 pandemic is abated? Literalists will respond that according to “the law” (Executive Order 202.6) utilities are classified as “essential infrastructure” and given a . . . Complete story »
Giglio blasts policy items remaining in Cuomo’s budget proposals
Assemblyman Joseph Giglio and state Sen. George Borrello both expressed frustration Thursday with the policy items that remain in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget. Giglio, R-Gowanda, was especially concerned that Article 23, which eliminates “home rule” in the siting of alternate energy facilities, is in the budget. The revised wind and solar siting laws would create a new state office to promote alternative energy projects like the proposed Alle-Catt Wind Farm in northern Cattaraugus and Allegany counties over the objections . . . Complete story »
Contact local legislators about new renewable energy act, says Concerned Citizens For Rural Preservation
Are you aware that Governor Cuomo included the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act as part of a 30-day budget amendment titled Article 23? This amendment is to the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) bill. The Act, unveiled a few weeks ago in a 30-day budget amendment, is now included in the governor’s 2020-21 budget proposal. https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy21/exec/fy21bills.html read: TED New Part JJJ (pdf) This rushed action will not allow public hearings or the ability for the . . . Complete story »
Officials outraged over proposed solar siting changes
A proposed budget amendment that would cut local voices out of the solar permitting process is moving forward despite pushback from Greene and Columbia county officials. Negotiations are continuing on the proposed changes to siting solar and wind energy, known as the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act, said a spokesman in the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “It is impossible to say if anything outside the normal will get done, but renewable energy siting is still on . . . Complete story »
Department of State to oversee renewable siting office
Sen. Kevin Parker, chair of the chamber’s Energy Committee, said the budget will include a landmark shift to how new renewable projects get sited – and the process will be overseen by the Department of State. Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed to rewrite the permitting process for large-scale wind and solar projects, which have faced delays and drawn-out battles under the Article 10 process he signed into law in 2011. The final deal is set to mirror Cuomo’s plan in substance, although . . . Complete story »
Gov. Cuomo’s power grab — take action
Dear neighbor: Are you aware that Gov. Cuomo included the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act as part of a 30-day budget amendment titled Article 23? This amendment is to the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) bill. The act, unveiled a few weeks ago in a 30-day budget amendment, is now included in the governor’s 2020-21 budget proposal: https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy21/exec/fy21bills.html. Read TED New Part JJJ (pdf). This rushed action will not allow public hearings or the ability . . . Complete story »
