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Wind Power News: New York
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Total pauses New York offshore wind farm plans after Trump win
TotalEnergies SE has halted the development of an offshore wind farm it plans to build off the coast of New York, as US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to obstruct the green industry championed by his predecessor. “Offshore wind, I have decided to put the project on pause” with Trump’s return, Total Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne said at an energy industry conference in London on Tuesday. The move by the French oil and gas giant is one of the . . . Complete story »
BOEM finally acknowledges the harm caused by offshore wind farms
In a surprising yet overdue move, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released its Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the New York Bight. This document, despite its extensive layers of technical jargon and cautious language, marks a pivotal shift. It appears to be a rare admission from BOEM that offshore wind farms are indeed capable of causing harm—biologically, socioeconomically, physically, and culturally. The PEIS covers six commercial wind energy leases off the shores of New Jersey . . . Complete story »
Renewables also hurt our waters
There are numerous well-meaning organizations working to protect Chautauqua Lake and the watersheds in the county. Many studies have been conducted to assess problems and provide solutions. One conclusion they all agree on is that any type of pollution entering the water system has an impact on the lakes and waterways. The seminars, conferences, studies, expert reports overlook one thing: solar and Wind development. The pollution caused by the industrial development of thousands of acres of forest, agricultural land, and . . . Complete story »
On the lookout for Nantucket wind farm fragments
Debris from a 115,000-pound, 300-foot-tall GE Vernova wind turbine blade, which fell from the Vineyard Wind farm off Nantucket in mid-July while it was being tested, may end up at southern-facing beaches in Montauk during the coming days, East Hampton Town officials warned Wednesday. [Bonnie Brady posted on X on August 18 that she had found 6 pounds of debris in Montauk.] The pieces of the blade, made of fiberglass and foam, are assumed to be small or even “popcorn . . . Complete story »
Tempers flare in Newport. Turbine debris found on Long Island. Vineyard Wind’s Suspension Order.
As we follow the developments of the Vineyard Wind offshore turbine blade accident, we note the more and more frequent postings and photos of blade debris, not less, as time passes, being found on shores of Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, the Cape, Portsmouth RI, Tiverton, Little Compton, and now off Montauk Long Island. Tempers are at a breaking point, as seen at a recent Newport City Hall meeting – the Newport Police are now trying to find the man in this . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine blade accident off Nantucket raising concerns on LI
As the developer of Empire Wind sets the stage for construction of a project 12 miles off Long Beach, officials and residents are keeping an eye on the aftermath of an offshore wind turbine blade break off the Massachusetts coast. The blade mishap, in waters 12 miles from Nantucket Island, has left a debris field on popular beaches and led to a halt of turbine construction work for Vineyard Wind, the nation’s second project in federal waters, which already had . . . Complete story »
Lawmakers advocate against wind turbine installation in Lake Erie
Crashing waves, footprints in the sand, and oceanic-like views are just a few of the sights you can expect when you spend a day at Sunset Bay. But they’re also the sights that lawmakers fear may soon be tarnished. “This is the gem of Western New York, and we need to protect it,” said New York State Assemblymember David DiPietro. State and local lawmakers across Erie and Chautauqua counties gathered at Cabana Sam’s in Irving Wednesday afternoon to once again . . . Complete story »
Senator George Borrello cites Comptroller’s audit of Climate Act planning and implementation failures
Senator George Borrello provided the following comments on Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s recent audit citing numerous failures of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in the planning and implementation of the Climate Act. Among the criticisms contained in the audit were charges that the agencies failed to: develop viable plans for the transition, using accurate data and updated assessments as projects were delayed and cancelled. account for new energy laws and . . . Complete story »
FAA to study height of Empire Wind turbines, which exceed obstruction standards
A division of the Federal Aviation Administration has launched a study of the Empire Wind offshore wind farm planned for 14 miles off the coast of Long Beach, noting that planned turbines exceed FAA obstruction standards by 453 feet. Empire Wind, which called the review an “anticipated next step” in the project, has already received key state and federal approvals, and last week announced securing a contract with New York State. In a May 28 letter, the FAA’s Obstruction Evaluation . . . Complete story »
Schoharie County towns file lawsuit against N.Y. over solar, wind farm tax methods
More than a dozen towns in Schoharie County are suing the state of New York, claiming they’re not only being low-balled by the state’s method of taxing solar and wind projects, but that the new rules are unconstitutional. In 2021, the state established new rules requiring solar and wind farms that generate over one megawatt of electricity be assessed using a model formula. However, the town supervisors, listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, contend that local assessors have the “ultimate . . . Complete story »
