News stories tagged with "wind-farm"

(09/29/11) The New York Power Act signed this summer includes an item called Article X. Article X creates a state-run process for siting large power plants.

The Innovation Trails's Emma Jacobs reports how the law meant to streamline new power generation has some local people upset. more

(09/28/11) GLOW, the plan for offshore wind in the Great Lakes reached its final chapter yesterday. The New York Power Authority officially scrapped its plan to support offshore wind farm development in Lake Ontario or Lake Erie.

Emma Jacobs has more for the Innovation Trail. more

(08/31/11) A group called the New York Wind Education Collaborative will hold a public forum on wind energy development Wednesday in Cape Vincent. Two companies have proposed wind farms in the town, and residents there have been divided for years over the issue. Reporter Joanna Richards spoke with a representative of the group about who's involved, why they're coming to Cape Vincent and what they hope to accomplish with the forum. more

(01/11/11) WindTamer, the Rochester-based startup that makes small wind turbines, announced Monday that it's expanding in New York. The move comes with substantial taxpayer help, but as the Innovation Trail's Zack Seward reports, one analyst warns this fairy tale might not have a happy ending. more

(07/17/08) New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is launching an investigation into a wind power developer in Clinton and Franklin counties. The probe will examine alleged conflicts of interest between Noble Environmental Power and local officials. David Sommerstein reports.

(04/23/07) New wind farms in Clinton and Franklin counties will get state funding for generating renewable power for New York. Noble Environmental Power's wind turbines in the towns of Clinton, Ellenburg, Altona, and Chateaugay are among 21 renewable energy projects that will share $295 million under Governor Spitzer's energy policy. Spitzer unveiled the plan in a speech last week. He said it would also reduce state electricity usage by 15% by 2015. And it would also fast-track new power plants that emit low or no emissions, create jobs to retrofit buildings for energy conservation, and lower utility bills. Environmental and business groups, including National Grid, applauded the announcement. We turn to Ben Wiles for a closer look. He's a senior attorney with the Public Utility Law Project, which represents low income and rural residents on New York's energy issues. He told David Sommerstein Spitzer's proposal is a departure from the former Pataki Administration.

(04/28/06) Clayton, in the Thousand Islands portion of the St. Lawrence River, is the latest North Country town to consider a moratorium on industrial scale wind turbines. A developer of the wind farm on the Tug Hill Plateau wants to erect 40 to 60 windmills in Clayton. David Sommerstein reports.

(04/21/06) This week, the Plattsburgh town council voted unanimously for a one-year moratorium on wind farms. There are a couple spots in the town where wind power production would be feasible. But no developer has approached officials with a project. Still, supervisor Bernie Bassett told David Sommerstein Plattsburgh wanted to move cautiously into the world of renewable energy. He says the turbines provoked more questions than answers.

(04/20/06) Schools across the North Country are trimming and tucking in anticipation of next month's budget votes. One district, however, is flush with money. Lowville Central Schools is awaiting a $445,000 check. It's the first of an annual tax payment from the 120-turbine Maple Ridge wind farm located nearby. The district expects another $2 million in January, and more than $3 million each following year. David Sommerstein spoke with Lowville superintendent Kenneth McAuliffe. He says the school board's developed an elaborate 15-year plan. It includes stabilizing the tax levy, saving for future capital costs, and reducing debt. Even after that, McAuliffe says there's $275,000 a year for other purchases.

(04/17/06) Two more North Country towns are embroiled in debate over industrial-size wind farms. In Cape Vincent, hours of public meetings have failed to yield setback requirements for a proposed 60-windmill farm near the St. Lawrence River. The town of Plattsburgh will consider a one-year moratorium on wind farms tonight.

In northern Clinton County, two projects promising almost 300 windmills are moving ahead. One of the companies held open houses last week to court supporters. Opponents have sued to halt the plans. As David Sommerstein reports, at stake are an economic windfall and a rural landscape that could be forever changed.