Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has pulled plans to build an industrial wind farm in the hilltowns in the Helderberg Mountains. ...Landowners approached by Cinco Energy Land Services, a consultant hired by Shell to secure contracts in the four communities, resisted Shell's offers. They say they were strong-armed by Cinco employees who told them the project was a "done deal."

Shell WindEnergy has abandoned plans to build two 50-megawatt wind farms in the hill towns of Albany County. The company encountered some resistance from landowners who wanted more financial consideration for land leases. Others were against wind farms altogether. Residents reported today they received letters from Shell saying the company decided to stop looking...

Two of the state's largest developers of wind power agreed on Thursday to follow a new, stringent code of conduct created by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been investigating the companies over allegations that they bribed or intimidated municipal officials to approve wind projects. By agreeing to follow the code of conduct, the companies, Noble Environmental Power and First Wind, agreed not to hire or give gifts to town officials responsible for approving wind power projects.

After allegations of corruption in the development of wind energy across New York, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced today an agreement with two major wind farm companies for more transparency over the industry. ...The attorney general's office developed a Wind Industry Ethics Code that the firms will adhere to and created a task force made up of district attorneys and watchdog groups to monitor whether the wind companies are following the code of conduct. The companies face up to $50,000 in fines for a first offense of the code, and up to $100,000 for subsequent offenses.

Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new Wind Industry Ethics Code that establishes guidelines to facilitate the development of alternative energy in New York while assuring the public the wind power industry is acting properly and within the law. The Code calls for new oversight through a multi-agency Task Force, and establishes unprecedented transparency that will deter any improper relationships between wind development companies and local government officials.

Two wind power companies under investigation for possible improper dealings with local government officials agreed this morning to adopt a set of ethics principles designed to provide a level of transparency into the rapidly expanding alternative energy sector. ...The code bans wind companies from hiring local government officials or their relatives for one year after approval of a wind energy deal. It also bans companies from seeking, using or receiving "confidential information" obtained by a locality about a pending project. Companies also will have to post on a web site the names of any municipal officials or their relatives with any financial stake in the firms.

Most local wind development companies said they're sheltered from the credit market turmoil that is rocking alternative energy development. The industry is facing investment problems and falling oil and natural gas prices, the New York Times reported Oct. 21. And the Malone Telegram has reported Noble Environmental Power suspended construction of a 14-turbine wind farm in Bellmont until July or August. But local developers say their projects are safe from the national economic problems.

Some residents worry over what widespread wind development might mean for these historic and predominantly agricultural communities, known for their beautiful vistas. This fall, Shell has been quietly trying to sign up landowners for a 50-turbine wind project it envisions for two sites here. But town officials and locals have accused the company of misleading residents about the inevitability of the project in an attempt to get them to agree to contracts, accusations Shell has refused to address. "It's like the gold rush with no boundaries," said Berne Town Supervisor Kevin Crosier, who wants the state Attorney General's office to investigate.

As popular as they are with the vast majority of people, wind farms often stir such controversy in the communities in which they're proposed. Common concerns about people living near proposed wind farms include noise, visual pollution and impact on property values. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo also announced this summer he was investigating several wind-energy companies, though not the one that has lease options on land in Hamlin, after hearing complaints of cozy lease deals with local officials and other potentially improper behavior. Judging by the poll, these things concern only a minority of people.

[A]long with the money here and elsewhere has come a change in the landscape in upstate New York. An industry has come to the farmland, and not everyone is happy. People either seem to love the turbines or hate them. There is little common ground. “I see communities being split down the middle because of the money coming in over the years,” said East Aurora attorney Arthur Giacalone, who represents wind opponents in Sheldon. “They’ve destroyed this town,” said Sheldon resident Nadja Laska, who sued to stop the project with four of her neighbors.

New York state faces a number of challenges as it attempts to reach goals of 25-percent clean energy by 2013 and a 15 percent reduction in overall energy use by 2015, the CEO of New York Independent System Operator said Wednesday. Correcting bottlenecks in the state's 11,000 miles of transmission lines and improving wind generation are two of the short-term solutions ...

New court documents appear to contradict sworn statements by Prattsburgh Supervisor Harold McConnell about his involvement in a windfarm land deal. Kevin Bernstein, attorney for Windfarm Prattsburgh, submitted additional information about the transaction Monday to state Supreme Court Justice Marianne Furfure. ...McConnell has maintained the payments were for token assistance and should not have prevented him from voting twice in favor of eminent domain proceedings on behalf of the energy company. Bernstein's report indicates McConnell was actively involved in the sale, but still maintains McConnell's votes were proper.

Two windmill blades head north on Main Street at Delavan Avenue toward the Kensington Expressway in an example of misrouting. If you've been downtown in recent days, you may have noticed some very long flatbeds carrying some big cargo tying up traffic. It turns out that the trucks are carrying giant wind turbine blades bound for a new Wyoming County wind farm, and a routing error has been taking them through the heart of downtown Buffalo.

Noble Environmental Power has stopped work at its Bellmont and Chateaugay wind-energy projects and laid off its workers. And it appears the bankruptcy of one of its major financial backers may have played a part. "Due to conditions in the financial markets, Noble Environmental Power has had to scale back its development plans for 2009," Noble Chief Executive Officer Walter Howard said in a written statement. ...The work stoppage and layoffs could also be connected to the ongoing investigation Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launched in July against Noble and another wind-energy company, First Wind of Massachusetts. He issued subpoenas to both firms requesting all paperwork associated with the land agreements and easements that each received from property owners and public officials. Cuomo's office is investigating whether the officials were unduly influenced or bribed to make deals.

A windmill farm may be on its way to the Town of Barton, but as to when it will happen is still years away. The windmill farm is being sought by Gamesa Energy USA, which is the United State's branch of Gamesa Corp. The company, which is based in Spain, specializes in sustainable energy technologies, mainly wind power. The company was represented at Monday's town council meeting by Timothy Vought, who is the director of development for Gamesa's Atlantic region.

The board hosted a public hearing on the updated code, which, according to town Supervisor Steve Dombert, was revised following the alleged conflicts of interest of former board members. During the hearing, resident Leslie Grill asked why board members should not be allowed to speak at all on areas they have a conflict of interest. "But to muzzle the official ... seems to be unwise," he said. "Someone who has an interest in something has obviously reviewed the topic."

America's wind energy boom has largely bypassed the densely populated Northeast. ...But today New York is the Northeast's wind capital. There, giant wind farms are producing renewable energy and reviving rural economies. But the turbines are also dividing neighbors and sparking an angry debate. As part of a collaboration with Northeast stations, David Sommerstein of North Country Public Radio reports from the region's largest wind farm.

The town attorney is reworking an agreement between Naples and First Wind to make it clear that by accepting a cash payment, the town is not endorsing the Cohocton wind farms now under construction. The Town Board has voted to accept $50,000 in what are called "mitigation funds," to make up for any detrimental effect the appearance of windmills may have on Naples' historic landmarks.

Winds of doubt are swirling around one Northeast-based wind farm developer with projects in Hawai'i. Newton, Mass.-based First Wind (formerly known as UPC Wind) has found itself one of the targets of an ongoing investigation conducted by the New York attorney general's office. ...The probe of is of special interest to island energy and business affairs, since First Wind has built and operates a wind farm on Maui and has designs for more farms on Moloka'i and on O'ahu. ...While First Wind enjoys a good reputation in Hawai'i, developments in towns like Cohocton provide a less savory picture of the wind developer. Which image will be believed may depend on the results of the New York AG office's investigation of the firm, which have not yet been released.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, may blast the huge power line planned for the region at public hearings later this month, but those voices won't really count. The crucial test will come this winter in Albany, far from the spotlight. That's when some 300 organizations and state agencies present evidence to the Public Service Commission about New York Regional Interconnect, which proposes a 190-mile power line from Utica to New Windsor that would slice through Sullivan and Orange counties. "The evidentiary hearings are most important."