Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to grant no more extensions to NYRI, a group of investors who want to build an electrical transmission line from Oneida to Orange counties. In April, New York Regional Interconnect Inc. withdrew its application to the state's Public Service Commission to build a $2.1 billion power line ...NYRI has asked FERC to review its case, trying to keep the project alive.

The Morristown Wind Energy Committee is looking at ways to protect landowners from wind power companies that default on taxes. The committee met Wednesday to discuss including a section in its proposed wind law that separates a half-acre parcel for each wind turbine to protect landowners from losing their entire properties if a wind company fails to pay its taxes. The committee suggested surveying the individual parcels and deeding each piece separately.

Maple Ridge Wind Farm is one of several farms in the state causing problems for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Buffalo. Maple Ridge in Martinsburg, Harrisburg and Lowville has created interference for the service's Doppler radar in Montague. "It does pose a problem for the immediate Tug Hill area," said David A. Zaff, meteorologist for the service. "The biggest problem is during a severe weather event."

The state Comptroller's Office is apparently viewing the High Sheldon Wind Farm as a good investment. The New York State Common Retirement Fund has invested $15 million in the project that became operational in March, officials announced Monday. ...But though High Sheldon has its supporters, the project has also generated numerous complaints from some residents.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund invested $15 million in Invenergy's High Sheldon Wind Farm, located in Wyoming County, through Credit Suisse Customized Fund Investment Group, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced Monday.

New York Regional Interconnect Inc. is seeking help from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to revive plans for a large electrical transmission line from Marcy in Oneida County to New Windsor in Orange County. In two years of meetings and hearings, the proposed line was condemned by most local residents, officials and activists, who deemed it unnecessary, too expensive, and a threat to health and property values.

Less than two months after he stood outside, in Buffalo's windswept Inner Harbor, New York State Power Authority president and CEO Richard Kessel came to the Falls on Tuesday to say plans for the Great Lakes Offshore Wind project are moving forward fast. "We have had 14 requests for expressions of interest (in developing offshore wind energy projects)," Kessel said.

After a month of negotiation, Cohocton town officials are expecting a settlement with wind developer First Wind to the tune of $635,000. The Cohocton town board gave a tentative OK to the agreement to fix up town roads damaged by construction equipment at Monday night's board meeting, but there are a few minor issues left to iron out, said town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus.

Elizabeth Booth wants the Arkwright Town Board to "go no further" with the Horizon Wind Farm development until the company agrees to sign a Wind Code of Ethics. At Monday's town board meeting, Booth said two companies operating in Chautauqua County which she identified as Noble Environmental Power and First Wind, have signed this code developed by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

The town of Hartsville is exercising its rights for more control over a environmental impact statement that will be done in connection to wind farm studies. Supervisor Steve Dombert said the town board unanimously passed a resolution to make a formal request to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The incentive money has been approved and the cement foundation has been poured for Mexico's first wind turbine, which is expected to be operating at some point this summer. The turbine will be erected on state Route 69 in the yard of Mexico resident, Vito Fleming, who anticipates experiencing a tall order of savings from the structure that will power his home.

In a letter to Town Council members dated May 29, ECCO's attorney, Gary A. Abraham, argued against a letter from Iberdrola to the town dated May 20. "Specifically, ECCO seeks by these comments to avoid town board action that might rubber stamp the most vacuous statements paraded before you by Iberdrola as findings of fact," Mr. Abraham wrote.

Iberdrola Renewables Inc. is paying for part of a forested wetland restoration project along the Deer River in the town of Montague. Iberdrola is the owner of Maple Ridge Wind Farm and developer of the proposed Roaring Brook Wind Farm. "We were made aware of the project and we consider the restoration project important to the area and recreation and tourism in the community so we wanted to be a part of it," Iberdrola spokeswoman Jan Johnson said.

New owners have taken over the reins for a proposed wind-turbine project in Beekmantown and have met with the town to show why they feel the project should move forward. Penn Energy Trust, which first became involved as the land-purchasing agent for Windhorse Power in the summer of 2007, has bought sole control of the project and is attempting to move forward despite several setbacks the former company faced.

An informal public session for town of Hammond residents with Iberdrola Renewables, a commercial wind-farm developer, left at least some residents complaining that their questions were not answered. About 100 people came to the meeting, most armed with a list of questions and data sheets. Many said they were disappointed by the one-on-one format, with no formal presentation and participants approaching the panel to ask questions one at a time. Several who attended the meeting said a town hall-style forum would have been more successful.

Members of the public asked Monday that the construction of Galloo Island Wind Farm include attempts at increasing public access and preserving history on the island. The comments came during two public hearings on the project at the Hounsfield Public Safety Building. Upstate NY Power Corp., backed by Babcock & Brown Ltd., plans to build an 84-turbine wind farm on the island rated at 252 megawatts.

Members of the public were of a divided mind Saturday - calling for more studies and saying the time for studying is over on the St. Lawrence Wind Farm. About 150 people attended a public hearing at Cape Vincent Recreation Park and 36 made comments on the supplemental environmental impact statement, an update of the draft environmental impact statement the Planning Board required on June 28, 2007. Acciona is looking to build the 53-turbine project in the northern agricultural district of the town.

It's either a great blessing or a total mess, depending which side you talk to. For every argument supporting or against local wind energy development, there's seemingly an equally strident counterpoint. It's been no different over the past four years regarding the High Sheldon Wind Farm. The sparring included vocal debate and a failed lawsuit by some residents opposing the project.

The town Planning Board approved a request by Horse Creek Wind Farm developer Iberdrola Renewables to extend a suspension of its application for a second year. In June 2008, the board approved a one-year suspension. When that period ends May 15, the second yearlong period will begin. Jenny L. Burke, business developer with Iberdrola, reiterated that the effects of a mysterious fungal disease on bat populations was the main reason for the original suspension.

The turbines don't come without controversy. In early March, a wind turbine in Altona, N.Y., fell to the ground. No one was hurt. In the following days, Noble Environmental Power, which owns 257 turbines in Clinton and Franklin counties, blamed a combination of a "power loss" and a "wiring anomaly" for the topple. To this day, they have offered no further explanation.