The Town of Lyme wants the state Department of Environmental Conservation to consider the possibility that noise from Galloo Island Wind Farm could annoy town residents on Point Peninsula. "Whereas the Impact Statement declares the noise generated by this project poses no significant noise impact, the Town of Lyme respectfully submits this letter expressing its concern to the contrary," states an April 29 letter from the town to DEC and the town of Hounsfield.

The Town Board most recently heard from Cohocton Town Justice Hal Graham, who signed a lease with First Wind for a turbine that began operating in January on his Lent Hill Road property, about 2,000 feet from his house. He now calls it a mistake. Since First Wind's Cohocton wind development went live - and even prior to that, during the construction phase - nearby homeowners have complained about turbine noise. Graham likened the noise from the tower on his property and another on a neighbor's property that's only 1,050 feet away to jet engines.

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.

A Friday ruling by the State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, invalidated the 12-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deal given to the power generator by the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency in October 2006. ...The IDA had granted the power company a 12-year, $192 million PILOT in exchange for the company's promise to pursue a shot at building a state-subsidized clean coal plant under former Gov. George Pataki's Advanced Clean Coal Initiative.

Forty-seven additional mechanics liens have been filed by a Michigan construction company against Noble Environmental Power. The Aristeo Construction Company filed the liens on April 17. ...The liens are in addition to 19 such documents filed Feb. 13 in connection with the Noble Wethersfield Wind Park.

It was explained that a work session was held and information from the wind hearing was compiled. The board wasn't to have a work session with their attorney, Robert Knorr to go over contract terms with him and Supervisor Spalti said it would be a closed session. Leslie J. Lange, reporter from the Arcade Herald noted that the windmill law does not fall into the category for a closed session according to the Open Meeting Law. Supervisor Spalti left the meeting to obtain a book from which to refer. Councilwoman Cornwall said that the discussion was related to ‘litigation'. Deeming it litigation, she felt that meeting with their attorney is a confidential meeting.

The Orleans Wind Committee had early consensus on setbacks that would be the farthest in the county, if adopted. Though the committee will continue to review the plans presented Tuesday night, members agreed on setbacks of 3,000 feet, or six times the turbine height, from nonparticipating residents' property lines, participating residents' dwellings, state or federal-regulated wetlands and forests, public buildings, historic areas and livestock barns.

Town Board members plan to decide next week whether they consider an application from EcoGen LLC to develop 18 wind turbines complete. ...If the board deems the application complete, its next steps include declaring itself lead agency, completing an environmental review form, sending a referral to the Yates County Planning Board and setting a public hearing 62 days from the date the application is deemed complete.

Town officials would like to regulate wind energy and adult entertainment, asking for the public's opinions regarding both issues. ...Supervisor Sally Carlson said about seven people from the Jamestown Audubon Society raised concerns during Tuesday's wind energy hearing about the possibility of commercial windmills within two miles of Chautauqua Lake affecting migratory birds.

The town's wind committee submitted a four-page proposal for a revised local law on wind energy production to the Clayton Town Council at its regular meeting Wednesday. The recommendations cover a range of issues, including noise limits and setbacks for wind turbines.

Board members received other input from those in attendance, including comments from acoustical engineer Rick James, of Michigan. James told the board, based on the state Department of Environmental Conservation recommendations for decibel increases, the acceptable noise level for the region was 27-30 dBA. The current standard for wind farms in Steuben County is 50 dBA. "Fifty decibels is based on the needs of the wind developers," he said. "It is not based on science ... it is a smokescreen."

The proposed Ripley-Westfield Wind LLC wind farm project moved another step closer to reality Tuesday. The proposed project, which would generate 125 megawatts of electricity, was the subject of the Industrial Development Agency's meeting.

A New York state utility is exploring whether it is possible to put electricity-generating wind turbines in the Great Lakes, rather than inland or along the shoreline. The state-owned New York Power Authority on Wednesday began asking potential developers how they would go about constructing an offshore wind project in Lake Erie or Lake Ontario.

The state Power Authority announced an initiative today that could lead to the construction of a billion-dollar wind farm off the Lake Erie or Ontario shoreline. The project would involve building a wind farm and also seeding a local industry to manufacture and assemble wind turbines, authority officials say.

If the investors behind the failed New York Regional Interconnect powerline project want to try again, they will have to start back at square one, New York regulators say. Tuesday, the New York Public Service commission officially dismissed NYRI's Article VII application which sought permitting authority for a 190-mile long high voltage transmission line.

In an effort to make the Naples Town Board aware of the possible impact of Prattsburgh's wind turbines, two local residents were invited to present information about the Cohocton and Prattsburgh wind farms to the board during its April 13 meeting. The reports from Hal Graham and John Servo raised perennial questions about the hazards of wind turbines and the abrogation of property rights.

The Bath town board will begin a review of possible land use regulations that would govern the future location of wind turbines in the town. Councilwoman Robin Lattimer Monday told boardmembers improved wind energy technology may make the municipality a candidate for wind farm developments.

Orleans Wind Committee members said they supported Chairman Stephen Bingeman's April 7 Letter to the Editor. In the letter, he asked residents of Clayton to stop writing to Orleans officials to encourage adopting specific requirements in a zoning law for wind power development. Mr. Bingeman's letter said 15 such letters had been received by Orleans officials.

Town residents will have until June 1 to review and raise questions about the supplemental draft environmental impact statement Horizon Wind Energy filed with the town board on its Arkwright Summit Wind project. This supplement comes in addition to the draft environmental impact statement Horizon filed with the town board last August that drew a roomful of residents at a public hearing.