There is a David and Goliath aspect to these battles between heavily funded corporate interests and citizen activists who come out and stand in the rain with home-made signs. Will the NIMBY's - a designation one should wear with pride - really be able to do something, as they did in Meredith, or will the forces of darkness masking as environmental crusaders prevail? Tune in.

Impact on People Energy Policy USA New York

The cost is phenomenal and since many platform and mooring solutions have yet to be discovered, the price will climb. Then there's the maintenance. Are there experts ready to tackle the problems? And what will the repairmen charge? With Ontario's gargantuan deficit, we better hope they work for free.

Energy Policy Canada New York

The five-member commission plans to hire an independent consultant to review National Grid's procedures for allocating overhead costs to its U.S. utilities, including the Upstate company formerly known as Niagara Mohawk. Staff accountants at the PSC asked for the review after finding instances where National Grid appeared to bill Upstate ratepayers for equipment or expenses in New England and Long Island.

Energy Policy New York

Laura Israel's Windfall and Risteard Ό Domnhnaill's The Pipe both take on the hard challenge of chronicling community conflict. They are both compelling narratives, beautifully produced, elegantly structured, edited authoritatively, with unforgettable characters. They both present a persuasive and powerful point of view, without slighting hard realities.

Impact on People Energy Policy New York

It's occurred in different corners of New York state, and now the question's been raised in the Herkimer County town of Litchfield. Is it proper for gigantic wind turbines to be approved by towns whose own officials might stand to gain financially from the projects? If we are to uphold the principles of good government, then the answer must be "no."

Energy Policy New York

Twelve of 29 Monroe County legislators signed on to an advisory resolution opposing the local construction of offshore wind turbines in Lake Ontario, leaving the resolution's author three short of a majority.

Energy Policy New York

All involved taxing jurisdictions will have to vote for payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements for wind power projects before they are finalized by the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. The agency's board agreed on the proposed uniform tax-exempt policy during its meeting Thursday morning.

Energy Policy New York

Lawmakers in attendance at Tuesday's meeting of the legislature's Economic Development and Planning Committee took issue with a story published in that day's issue of The Palladium-Times that stated, "Discussions by area officials regarding the development of a wind turbine farm based in the Oswego County waters of Lake Ontario have not blown over." They have blown over, legislators said, during a sometimes contentious discussion.

Energy Policy New York

The legislature voted in March to oppose a New York Power Authority project that would locate dozens of wind turbines in Lake Ontario. A proposal made by New York Power Authority called for the construction, siting and operation of wind-turbine facilities in Lake Erie and/or Lake Ontario's eastern basin. The project would include inland transmission lines.

Energy Policy New York

According to the Niagara Gazette account, some Niagara County lawmakers now are talking about rescinding their endorsement, and other elected officials are openly hostile to the idea. State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, Niagara County, apparently provided the most colorful commentary, comparing authority president Richard Kessel to "P.T. Barnum, a carnival barker," according to the Gazette.

Energy Policy New York

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 -- also known as the "cap and trade" bill -- will harm manufacturing jobs and farming by dramatically increasing energy costs, said Gibson, the Republican candidate for the 20th Congressional District seat. The House, with the vote of incumbent Rep. Scott Murphy, passed the bill with a 219-212 vote a year ago. The Senate hasn't voted on the bill.

Energy Policy USA New York

The Chautauqua County Legislature opposes the development of offshore wind power in Lake Erie. Legislators passed a motion opposing the New York Power Authority's proposal to develop wind-generating projects in the Great Lakes during its April meeting. The item was one of the last pieces of business on the legislature's agenda during the marathon four-hour long meeting.

Energy Policy Impact on Landscape New York

Jefferson County legislators lashed out Friday at New York Power Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Kessel after he said the authority won't buy power from any wind farms in the county. "It's an example of how downstate politics tries to pressure upstate New York into agreements and situations that we don't want," said Chairman Kenneth D. Blankenbush, R-Black River.

Energy Policy New York

The Orleans wind economics committee will have a report in the next month on the effects of a commercial wind power development on different aspects of the town. The Town Council created the committee in February to help it understand the economics of wind power projects.

Energy Policy New York

As talk of putting huge wind turbines in Lake Ontario revs up, it's too early for citizens, businesses and governments to pick sides. That's because there are still too many unknowns, such as how many and where the wind turbines would be placed, how visible they would be from the shore, and what the impact would be on fishermen, boaters and birds.

Energy Policy New York

The possibility of the nation's first fresh water wind turbine farm located near Oswego County is turning bleak. The Joint Commission for the Preservation of Lake Ontario Communities met Thursday to discuss the project. However, no members of the agency that proposed the project were present. ..."If this project comes to fruition, we are going to have to retool our businesses," Williams said. "Because there isn't going to be any sports fishing left here. "The view would be irreparably damaged," he added.

Energy Policy New York

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) said today too many questions remain unanswered for windmills to be allowed to be built along the Lake Ontario shoreline. The New York Power Authority announced in December 2009 it is accepting requests for proposals (RFPs) from prospective wind mill companies to construct wind turbines along Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The period for proposals to be accepted will come to a close in March.

Impact on People Energy Policy Impact on Landscape New York

A measure to promote expanded use of solar- and wind-powered electricity-generation systems has been approved by both legislative chambers in Albany. Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) said the bill, which she co-sponsored, changes the current net-metering law to remove restrictions that prevented many non-residential customers from taking part.

Energy Policy New York

We were promised activity and updates on the important but open aspects of a decommissioning plan and a transmission line alternate route through the town of Hounsfield. When eight Jefferson County legislators voted yes to allow tax breaks, we all feared that our leverage was lost and a bad deal was just made worse.

Taxes & Subsidies Energy Policy New York

The proposed payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for Galloo Island Wind Farm passed the Jefferson County Board of Legislators on an 8-7 vote Tuesday night. The final vote on the PILOT will come Thursday morning from the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency board of directors. After that, the developer will be free to seek financing for the project with a guaranteed reduced amount for property taxes.

Energy Policy New York