www.windaction.org

Cape officials: wind contract holders' comments should be separated
February 21, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily News

Town officials have filed yet another formal complaint to the state Public Service Commission, this time calling attention to BP Wind Energy's "cooperation clauses" in Cape Vincent Wind Farm land leases and good-neighbor agreements. In a recent letter to the PSC, Town Council members argue that many "pro-project comments" submitted by the public to PSC's website were made by leaseholders.

Also filed under [ General]

Cape Vincent passes resolution calling for halt on wind farm siting process
February 14, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily News

The Town Council, at a special meeting Wednesday, passed a resolution calling on the state Public Service Commission to halt "any discussion, consideration or determination" regarding wind turbine noise impacts until the effects of infrasound and low frequency noise are properly assessed.

Also filed under [ General]

Moratorium approved on wind turbines
February 7, 2013 by Pam Robinson in Commack Patch

The Town Board voted Tuesday night to impose a 128-day moratorium on applications and permits for wind turbines. The delay is designed to provide the town time to establish regulations on several aspects, including noise, size, height, zoning and use.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning]

Citing Wisconsin turbine noise study, Cape councilman calls for statewide wind moratorium
February 5, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily News

Town officials are urging the Association of Towns of the State of New York to support a resolution calling for a ban on industrial wind development, pointing to a similar movement in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Towns Association last month adopted a resolution advising the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to enact a moratorium on wind farms.

Also filed under [ Noise]

Lyme boards approach decision on wind turbine setbacks, noise limits
February 2, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily News

The setback was reduced by Town Council members, who have the final say, to five times the height of a structure ...Height and other limitations still have to be established, but officials are considering noise limits of 35 decibels at night - from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. - and 50 decibels during the day.

Also filed under [ General]

Nonprofits: localities should have say on turbines
January 25, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily Times

Thousand Islands Land Trust's executive director, Jake R. Tibbles, said that while the land trust "supports the concept of renewable energy and strongly advocates energy efficiency and conservation activities," it does not support the siting of large commercial wind turbines.

Also filed under [ General]

Residents approve of Hammond plan
January 24, 2013 by Amanda Purcell in Watertown Daily Times

Developed by the residents with help from the St. Lawrence County Planning Office, a local review committee, the town council and village board last summer and fall, the document recommends community improvement projects regarding agriculture, business, governance, housing, industry, infrastructure and land use. Concerns mostly pivoted on the plan's language regarding consultation with wind developers.

Also filed under [ General]

Cape Vincent, Lyme representatives question responsiveness of BP officials for wind farm proposal
January 22, 2013 by Gordon Block in Watertown Daily Times

Town representatives echoed a common complaint Tuesday morning as they criticized BP Wind Energy for not answering their questions or providing enough information about its planned wind farm project. The three-hour joint meeting also included questions about the level of resident support for the proposed $300 million, 124-turbine project.

Also filed under [ General]

Wind turbine noise generates controversy
January 19, 2013 by John Mason in Register Star

Wind turbines that were installed on Carson Road in 2011 have been fueling some controversy with neighbors over the past six months. While the windmills were supposed to be quiet, the neighbors say this is far from the case.

Also filed under [ Noise]

Suspicious salesperson in LeRoy
January 13, 2013 by Alecia Kaus in The Batavian

After a short investigation, Police have determined there are six salespeople canvassing the area for a company called Invenergy. After a check of one of the subjects, Police have determined he has a suspended license and is from the Syracuse area. Police will be escorting him to the McDonalds on Main Street in LeRoy for a ride.

Also filed under [ General]

Wind company leaves Hammond; will pursue project in Clayton
January 9, 2013 by Pam McDowell in Thousand Island Sun

Iberdrola Business Development Manager Jenny Briot has stated that her company is canceling 100 projects in the United States, according to leaseholder James Pitcher, who had been in conversations with her regarding the future of wind in Hammond and elsewhere.

Also filed under [ General| USA]

Iberdrola Renewables withdraws from Hammond wind leases
January 8, 2013 in Watertown Daily Times

"We are removing the meteorological towers and no longer developing the project." Mr. Copleman said regulatory uncertainty and the wind energy market were factors in the company's decision. He could not immediately say how many lease holders were affected.

Also filed under [ General]

Iberdrola still on the fence about Horse Creek Wind Farm
January 8, 2013 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily Times

"We will see if there are opportunities to take advantage of the tax credit window, consistent with our near-term business plans, and are evaluating our national pipeline to see which projects under development represent the best opportunities to push forward," Mr. Copleman said.

Also filed under [ General]

Pomfret board discusses wind tower law
January 7, 2013 by Shirley Pulawski in Observer Today

Revisions to Pomfret's 2007 local law regarding non-commercial small wind towers are under way. Wind energy conversion systems, or WECS, were a topic of discussion at a recent town board workshop meeting.

Also filed under [ Zoning/Planning]

Copenhagen Wind Farm developers seeking second test tower
January 3, 2013 by Steve Virkler in Watertown Daily Times

The Copenhagen Wind Farm project proposes up to 49 turbines, generating a maximum of 80 megawatts, on as many as 62 private parcels in the town of Denmark just to the north of the 195-turbine Maple Ridge Wind Farm.

Also filed under [ General]

Invenergy mulls wind farm future after tax credit extension
January 3, 2013 by Matt Surtel in Daily News Online

Town Supervisor Gerald Stout said he had exchanged e-mails with Miller on Wednesday morning, and believed the company was tentatively planning construction in spring. "I would be surprised if they chose not to go forward with it now especially," Stout said.

Also filed under [ General]

Change in wind hurts future
December 29, 2012 by Brian Nearing in Albany Times Union

Wind energy plans have been shrinking in the state, as the industry faces a glut of cheap natural gas resulting from hydrofracking, uncertainty over federal support and dwindling financing.

Also filed under [ Tax Breaks & Subsidies| USA]

Lyme has been "ignored," "marginalized" by state and BP Wind Energy, officials say
December 27, 2012 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily Times

Lyme officials said the town has been "ignored" and "marginalized" by both BP Wind Energy, developer of the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm, and the state. Although there will be no wind turbines in the town under the developer's latest proposal, BP still would need to run a transmission line connecting the wind farm to a substation in Lyme.

Also filed under [ General]

PSC responds to conflict concerns
December 19, 2012 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily Times

In a letter dated Tuesday, PSC's acting secretary, Jeffrey C. Cohen, said department staff will "ensure that Commissioner Harris does not receive any documentary information pertaining to the Cape Vincent project and will be instructed, once an application is filed, not to discuss this matter with her."

Also filed under [ General]

Cape officials request ‘assurance' commissioner will not influence wind project
December 18, 2012 by Jaegun Lee in Watertown Daily Times

"Please understand that we in Cape Vincent have had a long, tortuous history of local municipal officials who have had direct conflicts of interest with BP and the other wind developer Acciona Energia," they wrote in a letter to PSC Secretary Jaclyn A. Brilling. "As a community we are very, very sensitive to the conflict issue."

Also filed under [ General]