Watertown Daily Times | Need for tax breaks vexing
Subsidy opponents say taxpayer cash going to the rich
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2008
Money doesn't grow on trees, but it may grow on windmills.
The developers of the four proposed wind farms in Jefferson County could capitalize on tax breaks and incentives at the federal, state and local levels through their projects. Opponents say the subsidies take taxpayer money and give it to those who already are rich.
"It's the taxpayers and electric customers that are taken to the cleaners," said Glenn R. Schleede, a widely known wind power opponent who has worked for electric utilities and the federal Office of Management and Budget.
continue reading at this link---Watertown Daily Times | Need for tax breaks vexing
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
BP says Court ruling comes too late~ zoning law too restrictive
WWNY TV 7
filed: August 26, 2008
A court victory for wind farm advocates in the town of Lyme has apparently come too late to save a proposed wind farm project.
British Petroleum Alternative Energy, which had hoped to build turbines in the town, halted plans after council members passed a zoning law that BP found to be too restrictive.
The advocacy group Voters for Wind sued the town and won.
While the case was being decided in state supreme court, BP went ahead with its plans to build 95 turbines in the town of Cape Vincent.
“We do need to move forward and so we are moving forward with our plans in the town of Cape Vincent. I think it would be tough for them (Lyme officials) to come up with something that we could work with within the time line of our current project. But, for some future project, it’s certainly possible,” said Jim Madden of BP.
If BP or another wind farm developer approaches the town in the future, officials will need to address the zoning issues.
The zoning law originally passed with a three to two vote.
According to the judge’s ruling, if town officials want to pass the zoning law again, they will legally need one more vote for a majority of four to one.
The town could also appeal the ruling or go back to the drawing board.
“I think we need to be fair. We need to do what’s best for everyone in the town, so I’m hoping that we can find a fair and happy medium,” said Town Supervisor Scott Aubertine.
The town board is expected to discuss the issue at its next meeting September 10.
WWNY TV 7
25 August 2008
filed: August 26, 2008
A court victory for wind farm advocates in the town of Lyme has apparently come too late to save a proposed wind farm project.
British Petroleum Alternative Energy, which had hoped to build turbines in the town, halted plans after council members passed a zoning law that BP found to be too restrictive.
The advocacy group Voters for Wind sued the town and won.
While the case was being decided in state supreme court, BP went ahead with its plans to build 95 turbines in the town of Cape Vincent.
“We do need to move forward and so we are moving forward with our plans in the town of Cape Vincent. I think it would be tough for them (Lyme officials) to come up with something that we could work with within the time line of our current project. But, for some future project, it’s certainly possible,” said Jim Madden of BP.
If BP or another wind farm developer approaches the town in the future, officials will need to address the zoning issues.
The zoning law originally passed with a three to two vote.
According to the judge’s ruling, if town officials want to pass the zoning law again, they will legally need one more vote for a majority of four to one.
The town could also appeal the ruling or go back to the drawing board.
“I think we need to be fair. We need to do what’s best for everyone in the town, so I’m hoping that we can find a fair and happy medium,” said Town Supervisor Scott Aubertine.
The town board is expected to discuss the issue at its next meeting September 10.
WWNY TV 7
25 August 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Clayton~ Town keeping mum on noise report
Watertown Daily Times | Town keeping mum on noise report
HORSE CREEK WIND FARM: Clayton, refusing requests to see findings, says document too preliminary
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008
CLAYTON — Town officials have refused to let residents see a report evaluating the noise study done for Horse Creek Wind Farm.
The officials claim the report, by Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, an acoustic engineering firm in Sudbury, Mass., is too complicated and preliminary to be released.
Continue reading at this link---Watertown Daily Times | Town keeping mum on noise report
HORSE CREEK WIND FARM: Clayton, refusing requests to see findings, says document too preliminary
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008
CLAYTON — Town officials have refused to let residents see a report evaluating the noise study done for Horse Creek Wind Farm.
The officials claim the report, by Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, an acoustic engineering firm in Sudbury, Mass., is too complicated and preliminary to be released.
Continue reading at this link---Watertown Daily Times | Town keeping mum on noise report
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Judge slams Lyme on turbine law
A report posted by Channel 7 WNYTV news (no longer accessable)
a group of local residents known as “Voters for Wind” filed a protest challenging the ordinance under section 265 of the New York Town Law. Under the law, when a written protest is filed, a supermajority vote (75%) is required to pass such an ordinance. Because no supermajority vote occured, the Voters for Wind challenged the decision of the Town Council in an Article 78 proceeding in the state’s Supreme Court (New York’s trial court).The Town Council had refused to take the written protest into account as some land owners’ signatures were not present and it considered others ineligible.
Judge slams Lyme on turbine law
Judge slams Lyme on turbine law
By BRIAN KELLY
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2008
CHAUMONT — A state Supreme Court judge has ruled the Lyme Town Council acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" when it rejected 10 property owners' petition protesting the adoption of a local law regulating the siting of wind turbines.
Judge Hugh A. Gilbert also declared Thursday the town law adopted May 6, which, among other things, required a minimum setback of 4,500 feet from the high-water marks of Lake Ontario and the Chaumont River, is invalid.
Continue reading via this link
a group of local residents known as “Voters for Wind” filed a protest challenging the ordinance under section 265 of the New York Town Law. Under the law, when a written protest is filed, a supermajority vote (75%) is required to pass such an ordinance. Because no supermajority vote occured, the Voters for Wind challenged the decision of the Town Council in an Article 78 proceeding in the state’s Supreme Court (New York’s trial court).The Town Council had refused to take the written protest into account as some land owners’ signatures were not present and it considered others ineligible.
Judge slams Lyme on turbine law
Judge slams Lyme on turbine law
By BRIAN KELLY
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2008
CHAUMONT — A state Supreme Court judge has ruled the Lyme Town Council acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" when it rejected 10 property owners' petition protesting the adoption of a local law regulating the siting of wind turbines.
Judge Hugh A. Gilbert also declared Thursday the town law adopted May 6, which, among other things, required a minimum setback of 4,500 feet from the high-water marks of Lake Ontario and the Chaumont River, is invalid.
Continue reading via this link
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Cape's proposed wind law unveiled
Cape's proposed wind law unveiled
SETBACKS LISTED: Date has not been set for committee to meet
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008
CAPE VINCENT — The town released the preliminary zoning law amendment for wind energy facilities this week.
Supervisor Thomas K. Rienbeck said Wednesday that the committee appointed by the board has not yet found a date to meet.
Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times
SETBACKS LISTED: Date has not been set for committee to meet
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008
CAPE VINCENT — The town released the preliminary zoning law amendment for wind energy facilities this week.
Supervisor Thomas K. Rienbeck said Wednesday that the committee appointed by the board has not yet found a date to meet.
Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times
Friday, August 15, 2008
Cape Vincent to air turbine zoning plan
COMMITTEE FORMED:
Both sides of wind farm debate represented on panel studying draft law
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008
CAPE VINCENT — The Town Council will release a preliminary zoning law regulating placement of wind turbines on its Web site as early as Monday.
The council, meeting Thursday, also appointed an eight-member committee to examine the draft and make recommendations on the setback and noise requirements. The members are town Supervisor Thomas K. Rienbeck, Michael J. Bourcy of the Jefferson County Planning Department, Councilman Mickey W. Orvis, town Planning Board Vice Chairman Thomas D. Ingersoll, Planning Board member George A. Mingle, village Trustee Robert G. Doud, Urban C. Hirschey of the Wind Power Ethics Group and Beth A. White of Voters for Wind.
Continue reading
Both sides of wind farm debate represented on panel studying draft law
Both sides of wind farm debate represented on panel studying draft law
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008
CAPE VINCENT — The Town Council will release a preliminary zoning law regulating placement of wind turbines on its Web site as early as Monday.
The council, meeting Thursday, also appointed an eight-member committee to examine the draft and make recommendations on the setback and noise requirements. The members are town Supervisor Thomas K. Rienbeck, Michael J. Bourcy of the Jefferson County Planning Department, Councilman Mickey W. Orvis, town Planning Board Vice Chairman Thomas D. Ingersoll, Planning Board member George A. Mingle, village Trustee Robert G. Doud, Urban C. Hirschey of the Wind Power Ethics Group and Beth A. White of Voters for Wind.
Continue reading
Both sides of wind farm debate represented on panel studying draft law
Saturday, August 9, 2008
EZ changes limit future benefits
Watertown Daily Times Wind power
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008
The financial boon from the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lewis County is undeniable. Millions of dollars have flowed to the county, school districts and towns hosting the 195 turbines.
The governments have used the tax windfall responsibly to reduce or stabilize taxes or invest in long-deferred projects. The towns of Harrisburg and Martinsburg, which are home to most of the turbines, have used part of their funds to lower tax rates and establish capital reserve accounts.
Link here to original --http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080809/OPINION01/74276025/Wind+power
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008
The financial boon from the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lewis County is undeniable. Millions of dollars have flowed to the county, school districts and towns hosting the 195 turbines.
The governments have used the tax windfall responsibly to reduce or stabilize taxes or invest in long-deferred projects. The towns of Harrisburg and Martinsburg, which are home to most of the turbines, have used part of their funds to lower tax rates and establish capital reserve accounts.
Link here to original --http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080809/OPINION01/74276025/Wind+power
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Combined ~ British Petroleum and Acciona Spain ~ Turbine Map ~ Cape Vincent
This Is What British Petroleum and
Acciona Spain
have planned for Cape Vincent's future
191, 450 ft. tall industrial turbines
Friday, August 1, 2008
Probing Wind Farms: Burgeoning, vital industry must be kept free of taint | Syracuse Post Standard Editorial
Probing Wind Farms: Burgeoning, vital industry must be kept free of taint | syracuse.com
Friday, August 01, 2008, 5:02 AM
Every wind-generating power company in New York needs to come under closer scrutiny.
There is just too much public money at stake. An aggressive watchdog is needed to make sense of the complicated deals they make, to protect taxpayers and to monitor the conduct of public officials whose decisions can yield wind generators millions of dollars.
That's why a state attorney general's investigation of two wind-power companies is so important -- and why a critical, independent eye should be kept on the rest of the industry.
Title link to original
Friday, August 01, 2008, 5:02 AM
Every wind-generating power company in New York needs to come under closer scrutiny.
There is just too much public money at stake. An aggressive watchdog is needed to make sense of the complicated deals they make, to protect taxpayers and to monitor the conduct of public officials whose decisions can yield wind generators millions of dollars.
That's why a state attorney general's investigation of two wind-power companies is so important -- and why a critical, independent eye should be kept on the rest of the industry.
Title link to original
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