The state DEC office has released a much anticipated draft assessment on possible impacts of a wind farm to be located on a island just off of Sackets Harbor. The project, proposed by a West Seneca Company, Upstate New York Power Corporation, would put 84 wind turbines on Galloo Island, about 12 miles west of Sackets.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation wants to see more studies in the proposed Galloo Island Wind Farm's draft environmental impact statement. Upstate NY Power Corp., backed by Pattern Energy Group LP, San Francisco, plans to build an 84-turbine wind farm on the island rated at 252 megawatts. Recently, Pattern bought out Babcock & Brown Ltd.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has declared itself the lead agency for a state environmental quality review of the proposed Galloo Island Wind Project - a ruling that may set a precedent of state review of future turbine projects. The ruling by DEC Commissioner Alexander B. "Pete" Grannis on Friday afternoon is the first time the state has stepped in to perform a SEQR for a wind project. In the only other case where the commissioner made the lead agency determination, the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency was awarded lead agency status.

DEC Commissioner Alexander B. Grannis in the seven page decision wrote, "I...encourage that Town of Hounsfield Planning Board, in particular, to both participate and clearly articulate any concerns it may have to the DEC." The DEC cited three reasons why it should be the lead agency. This is the first time the state has stepped in to perform an environmental review of a turbine project. Previous projects have been reviewed by municipalities in their respective regions and not by the state. "The first criterion is whether the potential impacts from the proposed actions are of local, regional or statewide significance," the commissioner wrote.

The town of Hounsfield Planning Board wants to be the lead agency for the Galloo Island Wind Project. But the state Department of Environmental Conservation also wants that authority. The town is sending a letter to the department's commissioner Alexander B. "Pete" Grannis, petitioning for the Planning Board to be recognized as lead agency. "We're not going to roll over and die," Hounsfield Supervisor Jean H. Derouin said. The town is concerned not that DEC authority would halt the project altogether, but that the department's lead would "delay it and delay it and delay it," Mr. Derouin said. ...Jack A. Nasca, chief of DEC's energy projects and management division of environmental permits, wrote "the anticipated impacts of the action being considered are primarily of statewide and or regional significance as opposed to local significance." Mr. Nasca cited several examples of state or regional issues: The potential disturbance of fish spawning by the underwater transmission line from the island to mainland, the population of the threatened upland sandpiper birds on Galloo Island, and the proximity to threatened common terns on Little Galloo Island.

Ms. Hemingson also spoke out against the likely impact of wind energy in Connecticut at the Nov. 26 hearing on Governor Dannel Malloy’s energy plan in Torrington. The plan was criticized fo—as numerous oil company owners stated—tilting the field towards large natural gas companies, but Ms. Hemingson said that the plan itself acknowldges that “Connecticut has limited wind potential.”

According to the town website, the purpose of the Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process (WTOP) is to engage in an open, transparent, and collaborative exploration of the range of options for the long-term future of the town's two Wind Turbines - Wind I and Wind II.

Judy Campbell, the Livingston County Board member who distributed a survey form in late May involving a proposed wind farm, was scheduled to meet with some area postmasters on Friday afternoon to discuss making amends for the manner in which deliveries of some of the questionnaires occurred. Campbell distributed 46 copies of the survey to rural residents in southern Broughton and northern Sullivan townships in Livingston County. The surveys concern a proposed K-4 wind tower project being proposed in these areas.

The idea of large wind turbines sprouting up across the rural landscape has created much controversy among families and friends in the small, farming communities. May said he's not received any backlash for his decision. "I haven't had any problems with it, so far. I know some are against it ... and I respect that," he said. Two other St. Henry-area farmers who signed contracts with NextEra are having second thoughts.

Austin charges that the Dennis committee's decision is a "misinterpretation" of the act regarding the turbine's size, "in relation to the surrounding pristine historic area." She says that renewable energy devices "should be designed and constructed in such a manner as to blend in with existing features in the immediate area."

Kenneth Walter, who has opposed the project since its inception in 2007, filed the suit in December of last year, claiming the approximately 265-foot turbine would be detrimental to property occupied by his mother, Alice Walter. Kenneth, in his capacity as trustee, claims the turbine would constitute an unreasonable intrusion on the quality of life of his mother.

A CAMPAIGN to fight plans to build the region's most powerful wind farm at North Charlton has been boosted by a landmark decision in Cumbria.

According to an advance copy the Tuesday's printed agenda for the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, the board will discuss at 7:55 p.m. and consider the approval of an ordinance to regulate the construction of tall structures on certain ridgelines. If approved by the board, the ordinance would effectively prohibit Dominion and BP Wind Energy North America from constructing large-scale wind turbines along the ridgeline of East River Mountain.

The project has been approved by the N.C. Utilities Commission. It would cost about $600 million to build. And construction must start before year end to qualify for a 30% federal tax break. The trouble has been that Iberdrola has not been able to secure a contract from any utility that serves North Carolina to buy the power the wind-farm would produce.

After a lengthy public hearing, the Union County Board of Commissioners is set to decide whether to ask the public for its opinion on Horizon Wind Energy’s plan to build a 300-megawatt wind farm near Union....The state and not Union County is the deciding authority, but wind farm opponents have urged the county board to take a position against Horizon’s plans.

A state government committee will decide in February the future of a proposed wind farm in the northwest part of town. Antrim Wind Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Portsmouth-based Eolian Renewable Energy wants to build 10 wind turbines on private land near Tuttle Hill and Willard Mountain.

A decision on whether a wind farm can be built north of Grantham could be made on Tuesday. Planning officers at South Kesteven District Council have recommended plans to build 10 410ft turbines near Bottesford and Long Bennington be approved. The council's development control committee will consider the matter on Tuesday and have set aside five-and-a-half-hours in which to make a decision. If a decision cannot be reached, the committee will re-convene the following Monday. But anti wind-farm campaign group BLOT this week formally objected to senior planning officer Kevin Cartwirght's report for the committee, calling it "biased" towards the developer Infinergy. Chairman Pandora Mawer said:"It contains no analysis or critique of Infinergy's claims or the Environmental Statement and devotes just one side of A4 to visual impact, which is a major issue."

THE final decision on whether a controversial wind farm near Brent Knoll will be given the go ahead is expected to be announced on Friday. After months of planning meetings and appeal inquiries the planning inspectorate will announce whether or not five wind turbines will be built at a farm off Stoddens Lane. ...The nearest village is Brent Knoll, which is 600m north-east of the proposed site. Several residents of the village were present throughout the entire appeal and the 40 stalwarts were personally thanked by Mr Brookes at the close of the inquiry.

Developers behind plans to build a wind farm in north Northumberland are hopeful the application will be determined later this month. Your Energy, which is seeking permission for the development at Moorsyde, near Berwick, is confident the scheme will be discussed at Berwick Borough Council’s planning committee meeting on Tuesday, January 30. The application for a ten-turbine plant was due to be discussed last month but was deferred after legal representations from Moorsyde Action Group (MAG).

Opponents of plans for a 127 metre-high wind turbine next to Dewlay's cheese business off the A6 near Garstang will find out on Wednesday (Aug 27) if planning bosses are urging approval or refusal of the scheme. Details of the recommendation will be made public on Wednesday when the agenda for the September 3 meeting is published. As reported in last week's Courier more than 300 people have objected to the plans.