TURBINE ZONING:
link here to continue reading Iberdrola counsel says proposed law likely will prevent development
By MATT MCALLISTER
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2010
HAMMOND — The town's Wind Committee voted 9-1 Tuesday evening to adopt the controversial Residential Property Value Guarantee and move it on to the Town Council as part of its proposed wind zoning law. Committee member and wind farm leaseholder Michele W. McQueer cast the lone dissenting vote.
With the move, the committee appears to have taken direct aim at the company most interested in locating a wind farm in Hammond.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Watertown Daily Times | Cape town lawmakers to discuss ire over Edsall
link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times Cape town lawmakers to discuss ire over Edsall
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010
CAPE VINCENT — The Town Council will meet with the Planning Board in an executive session early in January to discuss "personnel matters" regarding embattled Planning Board Chairman Richard J. Edsall.
Town Attorney Mark G. Gebo advised the town that the meeting can legally be closed to the public because Mr. Edsall is a paid town employee and his work history will be discussed, Town Supervisor Urban C. Hirschey said.
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010
CAPE VINCENT — The Town Council will meet with the Planning Board in an executive session early in January to discuss "personnel matters" regarding embattled Planning Board Chairman Richard J. Edsall.
Town Attorney Mark G. Gebo advised the town that the meeting can legally be closed to the public because Mr. Edsall is a paid town employee and his work history will be discussed, Town Supervisor Urban C. Hirschey said.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
A reason not to do business with Iberdola ~ opinion
s A reason not to do business with Iberdola
A reason not to do business with Iberdola
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010
I read with a great deal of interest the article covering the proceedings of the Hammond Wind Committee. Iberdrola threatening to leave caught my eye, but really did not come as a big surprise to me.
Apparently, some Hammond wind committee members would like a guarantee that their residents are not harmed by property value loss by living next to a farm of 75 500-foot-tall spinning structures. Wind developers across the country (including Iberdrola) have been touting their own financed findings of no impact on property values.
If Iberdrola were genuine in their claim that a wind project has no negative economic consequences for adjacent property owners, then any guarantee to make them whole costs Iberdrola nothing but still allows adjacent property owners to sleep comfortably in the knowledge that they can and will be made whole, if the development in Hammond results in significant loss in property values.
Why can't Iberdrola put their money where their mouth is? Number one, living next to a wind turbine farm does decrease the desirability and will decrease values. There are numerous studies that have shown that, which have been swept under the rug.
Number two, CNBC Financials in a report characterized Iberdrola as a troubled Spanish business desperate to raise cash and reported that they are selling off assets. This company is in financial trouble and wants to use unknowing landowners for their profit and wants to dismiss any responsibility for any damage they do.
The very approach of the developer saying to the community "we're going to take our money and go away if you don't do things our way" should be enough to convince anyone that Hammond has no business doing any business with these people.
Brooke Stark
Hammond
A reason not to do business with Iberdola
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010
I read with a great deal of interest the article covering the proceedings of the Hammond Wind Committee. Iberdrola threatening to leave caught my eye, but really did not come as a big surprise to me.
Apparently, some Hammond wind committee members would like a guarantee that their residents are not harmed by property value loss by living next to a farm of 75 500-foot-tall spinning structures. Wind developers across the country (including Iberdrola) have been touting their own financed findings of no impact on property values.
If Iberdrola were genuine in their claim that a wind project has no negative economic consequences for adjacent property owners, then any guarantee to make them whole costs Iberdrola nothing but still allows adjacent property owners to sleep comfortably in the knowledge that they can and will be made whole, if the development in Hammond results in significant loss in property values.
Why can't Iberdrola put their money where their mouth is? Number one, living next to a wind turbine farm does decrease the desirability and will decrease values. There are numerous studies that have shown that, which have been swept under the rug.
Number two, CNBC Financials in a report characterized Iberdrola as a troubled Spanish business desperate to raise cash and reported that they are selling off assets. This company is in financial trouble and wants to use unknowing landowners for their profit and wants to dismiss any responsibility for any damage they do.
The very approach of the developer saying to the community "we're going to take our money and go away if you don't do things our way" should be enough to convince anyone that Hammond has no business doing any business with these people.
Brooke Stark
Hammond
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Hammond Wind Farm Project Could Be In Jeopardy ~ Video
WWNY TV 7
Jessica Shaw ~ reports
Story Published: Dec 13, 2010 at 5:15 PM EST
It's just a proposal from a committee, but it could be enough to stop a planned wind farm dead in its tracks.
Iberdrola Renewables is looking at the town of Hammond in St. Lawrence County as a place to locate a wind farm.
However, Iberdrola doesn't like a new idea being floated by the town's wind committee.
The group is proposing that Iberdrola compensate property owners who see their land values decrease because of the wind farm.
The proposal would also make the developer buy property from a land owner who doesn't like living near the farm.
"This particular proposal is unworkable for any type of development and we are and were willing to work with this committee to find a way to comfort these land owners. Forcing any developer to purchase at an as yet undetermined price, every property owned by a land owner who might want to sell would destroy the economics of any commercial project," said Jan Johnson, spokesperson for Iberdrola.
The developers have sent a letter to Hammond officials saying there's proof their turbines would have no negative effect on land values and if this proposal goes through, the wind project in Hammond would be scrapped.
"I've heard both side of the story - property values don't decrease. I've heard they could. I think something should be in place to protect people if they are affected," said Hammond Town Supervisor Ronald Bertram.
However, Bertram said he's just not sure if this proposal is the right one.
He said the property value proposal still needs to go before the Hammond Town Board, but that probably won't happen until January.
Meanwhile, Iberdrola officials say they're not against having a law to protect land value, they just think this particular one is "unworkable".
Jessica Shaw ~ reports
Story Published: Dec 13, 2010 at 5:15 PM EST
It's just a proposal from a committee, but it could be enough to stop a planned wind farm dead in its tracks.
Iberdrola Renewables is looking at the town of Hammond in St. Lawrence County as a place to locate a wind farm.
However, Iberdrola doesn't like a new idea being floated by the town's wind committee.
The group is proposing that Iberdrola compensate property owners who see their land values decrease because of the wind farm.
The proposal would also make the developer buy property from a land owner who doesn't like living near the farm.
"This particular proposal is unworkable for any type of development and we are and were willing to work with this committee to find a way to comfort these land owners. Forcing any developer to purchase at an as yet undetermined price, every property owned by a land owner who might want to sell would destroy the economics of any commercial project," said Jan Johnson, spokesperson for Iberdrola.
The developers have sent a letter to Hammond officials saying there's proof their turbines would have no negative effect on land values and if this proposal goes through, the wind project in Hammond would be scrapped.
"I've heard both side of the story - property values don't decrease. I've heard they could. I think something should be in place to protect people if they are affected," said Hammond Town Supervisor Ronald Bertram.
However, Bertram said he's just not sure if this proposal is the right one.
He said the property value proposal still needs to go before the Hammond Town Board, but that probably won't happen until January.
Meanwhile, Iberdrola officials say they're not against having a law to protect land value, they just think this particular one is "unworkable".
Iberdrola threatens to pull project
link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times Iberdrola threatens to pull project
COMPANY CALLS RULES 'UNWORKABLE': Proposal would force buyouts if owners oppose wind turbines
By MATT MCALLISTER
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010
HAMMOND — Iberdrola Renewables is threatening to pull its plans for a wind farm here if the Town Council passes rules it deems "unworkable."
The board is considering a law proposed by the town's wind committee that would require Iberdrola Renewables to compensate property owners who see drops in their land values because of the presence of wind turbines. The proposal also requires the company to buy out any property owner who objects to living near a turbine.
Link -->here<-- to the Watertown Times to read the many comments posted to this article!!!
COMPANY CALLS RULES 'UNWORKABLE': Proposal would force buyouts if owners oppose wind turbines
By MATT MCALLISTER
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2010
HAMMOND — Iberdrola Renewables is threatening to pull its plans for a wind farm here if the Town Council passes rules it deems "unworkable."
The board is considering a law proposed by the town's wind committee that would require Iberdrola Renewables to compensate property owners who see drops in their land values because of the presence of wind turbines. The proposal also requires the company to buy out any property owner who objects to living near a turbine.
Link -->here<-- to the Watertown Times to read the many comments posted to this article!!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
- DIVIDING HAMMOND editorial
EDITORIAL
HAMMOND
I do not have a date for this editorial
~~~~~~~~
The Hammond Town Board demonstrated last night why the voters of their community removed two of them from office during the November elections.
After spending the past two years dividing the citizens of Hammond into opposing camps and convincing the majority of the community that their allegience was to out of town wind companies instead of the people who elected them, they voted to pass a controversial wind law with no public notice, no public hearing and no effort to take into consideration any of the objections that their constituents have raised over the past two years.
No one could be too surprised that the town board passed the law just before they left office.
The newly elected members of the town board will just have to use their new majority to repeal the law when they take ofice in January.
By starting over again, it's possible that the new town board can hammer out a compromise ordinance that's acceptable to the majority of citizens in Hammond.
The first step, however, wil be to give the citizens of Hammond an opportunity to offer their views to a board whose membership is committed to the citizens who elected them instead of out of town multibillion dollar foreign corporations.
Hammond~ Iberdrola: RPVG Draft Is 'Unworkable'
link here to continue reading The Journal
Iberdrola: RPVG Draft Is 'Unworkable'
By MATT MCALLISTER
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2010
HAMMOND - While Iberdrola Renewables says a proposed law requiring wind turbine companies to compensate property owners who see drops in their land values could force the company to drop plans for a development in Hammond, Town Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram says he supports the ordinance.
"I think that's one area they've definitely made progress," Mr. Bertram said Wednesday of the "Residential Property Value Guarantee Agreement" (RPVG) proposed by wind committee member, Richard K. Champney, a real estate lawyer with offices in Alexandria Bay and Pulaski. "Personally, I believe it's vital in protecting the citizens of Hammond."
Iberdrola: RPVG Draft Is 'Unworkable'
By MATT MCALLISTER
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2010
HAMMOND - While Iberdrola Renewables says a proposed law requiring wind turbine companies to compensate property owners who see drops in their land values could force the company to drop plans for a development in Hammond, Town Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram says he supports the ordinance.
"I think that's one area they've definitely made progress," Mr. Bertram said Wednesday of the "Residential Property Value Guarantee Agreement" (RPVG) proposed by wind committee member, Richard K. Champney, a real estate lawyer with offices in Alexandria Bay and Pulaski. "Personally, I believe it's vital in protecting the citizens of Hammond."
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Lyme forms 2 wind power study committees
link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times | Lyme forms 2 wind power study committees
Lyme forms 2 wind power study committees
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2010
CHAUMONT — The Lyme Town Council has appointed 14 people to two committees that will investigate wind issues over the next three months and produce a report by April.
Richard Nagel will chair the wind economics committee, which also will include Peter Rogers, co-chairman, Susan Warner, Guy Gosier, Scott Discount, David Henderson and Richard Freshour.
Lyme forms 2 wind power study committees
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2010
CHAUMONT — The Lyme Town Council has appointed 14 people to two committees that will investigate wind issues over the next three months and produce a report by April.
Richard Nagel will chair the wind economics committee, which also will include Peter Rogers, co-chairman, Susan Warner, Guy Gosier, Scott Discount, David Henderson and Richard Freshour.
Friday, December 10, 2010
*Cape Vincent Town Council appoints 2; Mingle leaving
link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times | Cape Vincent Town Council appoints 2; Mingle leaving
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010
CAPE VINCENT — The Town Council on Thursday appointed Richard H. Macsherry and Patrick W. McCarthy to replace two Planning Board members who are leaving at the end of the year.
Planning Board member Andrew R. Binsley resigned following a heated meeting Nov. 10. At that meeting, wind farm opponents attempted to block Chairman Richard J. Edsall from leaving the room after the meeting was adjourned.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2010
CAPE VINCENT — The Town Council on Thursday appointed Richard H. Macsherry and Patrick W. McCarthy to replace two Planning Board members who are leaving at the end of the year.
Planning Board member Andrew R. Binsley resigned following a heated meeting Nov. 10. At that meeting, wind farm opponents attempted to block Chairman Richard J. Edsall from leaving the room after the meeting was adjourned.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Corruption on Cape Vincent boards
Corruption on Cape Vincent boards
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010
The Cape Vincent Planning Board and Town Council have majorities with contracts with either British Petroleum or Acciona altogether worth around $200,000 per year for 20 years. These contracts include loyalty oaths swearing "to help in all permitting processes."
In September the Planning Board (Richard Edsall, Tom Reinbeck, and George Mingle) voted to accept the Environmental Impact Study from Acciona as complete. This study includes a totally discredited sound study from the developer Acciona, which is at odds with a study commissioned by the Town Council.
The Cape Vincent Planning Board was required by law to inform the Lyme Planning Board of all proceedings. Lyme was ignored on all accounts by the Cape Planning Board.
On Oct. 27 a special work session to discuss Criteria for Site Plan Review was shut down by protesters. Mr. Edsall, Mr. Mingle, Andrew Binsley, and Mr. Reinbeck chose to spitefullly vote and accept with no discussion all of Acciona's suggestions.
It was an illegal vote in that there is no voting in a work session, the meeting was not called to order, the criteria were written by Acciona, and no one knew it happened. It them took 45.6 seconds.
This criteria includes barring all people (except landowners) from the properties under contract with Acciona. No hunting, no snowmobiling, no walking, no bird watching. Since Acciona sets precedent, BP will also bar people from their properties. Imagine that.
Meanwhile, British Petroleum is usurping Cape Vincent's right to determine local zoning laws by doing "archeological surveys" placing turbines 1,300 feet from houses and property lines. Cape Vincent has never publicly agreed to 1,300 foot setbacks.
The Planning Board, when informed, shrugs and says "not our business." Mr. Edsall, as chairman, has denied for five years and continues to deny the public the right to speak at meetings. This is contrary to the First Amendment and the board's own bylaws.
For the last six years we have all had to learn and give board members the chance to understand and do the honorable thing (not re-signing contracts with BP or Acciona, true recusal or resignation).
However, the evidence makes it clear that the Planning Board, with the approval of the Town Council, is riding roughshod over the citizens of Cape Vincent. They should all resign.
The Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. today at the town offices and Town Council at 6 p.m. Thursday at the recreation hall. The corruption in Cape Vincent is crawling off the plate, and it seems important to keep the public informed.
Hester Chase
Cape Vincent
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010
The Cape Vincent Planning Board and Town Council have majorities with contracts with either British Petroleum or Acciona altogether worth around $200,000 per year for 20 years. These contracts include loyalty oaths swearing "to help in all permitting processes."
In September the Planning Board (Richard Edsall, Tom Reinbeck, and George Mingle) voted to accept the Environmental Impact Study from Acciona as complete. This study includes a totally discredited sound study from the developer Acciona, which is at odds with a study commissioned by the Town Council.
The Cape Vincent Planning Board was required by law to inform the Lyme Planning Board of all proceedings. Lyme was ignored on all accounts by the Cape Planning Board.
On Oct. 27 a special work session to discuss Criteria for Site Plan Review was shut down by protesters. Mr. Edsall, Mr. Mingle, Andrew Binsley, and Mr. Reinbeck chose to spitefullly vote and accept with no discussion all of Acciona's suggestions.
It was an illegal vote in that there is no voting in a work session, the meeting was not called to order, the criteria were written by Acciona, and no one knew it happened. It them took 45.6 seconds.
This criteria includes barring all people (except landowners) from the properties under contract with Acciona. No hunting, no snowmobiling, no walking, no bird watching. Since Acciona sets precedent, BP will also bar people from their properties. Imagine that.
Meanwhile, British Petroleum is usurping Cape Vincent's right to determine local zoning laws by doing "archeological surveys" placing turbines 1,300 feet from houses and property lines. Cape Vincent has never publicly agreed to 1,300 foot setbacks.
The Planning Board, when informed, shrugs and says "not our business." Mr. Edsall, as chairman, has denied for five years and continues to deny the public the right to speak at meetings. This is contrary to the First Amendment and the board's own bylaws.
For the last six years we have all had to learn and give board members the chance to understand and do the honorable thing (not re-signing contracts with BP or Acciona, true recusal or resignation).
However, the evidence makes it clear that the Planning Board, with the approval of the Town Council, is riding roughshod over the citizens of Cape Vincent. They should all resign.
The Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. today at the town offices and Town Council at 6 p.m. Thursday at the recreation hall. The corruption in Cape Vincent is crawling off the plate, and it seems important to keep the public informed.
Hester Chase
Cape Vincent
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Cape Vincent community wind project low on fuel
link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times Cape Vincent community wind project low on fuel
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2010
CAPE VINCENT — The vitriolic dissension over a pair of proposed industrial wind farm projects has made the going tough for a group of residents looking to gain support for a community wind project.
The rancor has hurt the community project as participants in the industrial projects are focused on supporting them, while opponents of the industrial projects increasingly don't want any wind power in the town at all.
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2010
CAPE VINCENT — The vitriolic dissension over a pair of proposed industrial wind farm projects has made the going tough for a group of residents looking to gain support for a community wind project.
The rancor has hurt the community project as participants in the industrial projects are focused on supporting them, while opponents of the industrial projects increasingly don't want any wind power in the town at all.
Cape Vincent's community wind project
SED on Cape Vincent's community wind project
First published: December 07, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Below, in its entirity is a statement from Sustainable Energy Development, Ontario, on the community wind project:
Join SED and the RC&D to Discuss Community Wind
Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED), an Ontario, NY based company, works with municipalities, businesses, schools, farms and homeowners to develop high quality, community-scale wind projects. SED’s wind development services offer solutions to the diverse energy challenges facing these entities and provide a clear path to achieving project goals.
Together, SED and the Black River-St. Lawrence Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) are investigating the potential for community wind development in the Cape Vincent area. The RC&D works with partners to provide local leadership and coordination for projects devoted to environmental conservation, community improvement, economic development and the wise use of natural resources.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) defines community wind as projects smaller than 20 megawatts in which a local governing body passes a resolution supporting the project; members of the community are offered the opportunity to participate in an ownership interest in the project and are involved in the decision making process in its development; or the project’s local benefit is demonstrated in terms of retail power costs, benefits to the local grid, is incorporated into a micro-grid or helps to resolve remote power issues. Based on this definition, the future of community wind development in Cape Vincent lies in the hands of the people who live there.
In the fall of 2009, the RC&D secured a Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Office for $99,000. The RBEG program provides grants to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises in rural areas of cities up to 50,000 in population with priority to applications for projects in open country, rural communities and towns of 25,000 and smaller. This grant is being used to assess the potential of a community wind project in the Cape Vincent area. SED has extensive experience in performing such analyses for wind projects since its inception in 2002. The work SED has performed to date has primarily focused on finding a suitable location for a wind measurement tower, so that wind data can be gathered and analyzed. A site prospecting map, along with a list of development guidelines, was presented at a public forum in June of 2010.
This grant program is designed to assess economic development opportunities and to form or support the formation of local enterprises that can realize these opportunities. The RC&D is helping the community create this group of local citizens. SED’s involvement is to provide professional wind energy expertise to assess the technical and economic aspects of a community scale wind project.
This is a community wind model that places local residents in the center of the decision making and encourages local ownership. This community group has yet to be formed, but now is the time to take the first step.
First published: December 07, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Below, in its entirity is a statement from Sustainable Energy Development, Ontario, on the community wind project:
Join SED and the RC&D to Discuss Community Wind
Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED), an Ontario, NY based company, works with municipalities, businesses, schools, farms and homeowners to develop high quality, community-scale wind projects. SED’s wind development services offer solutions to the diverse energy challenges facing these entities and provide a clear path to achieving project goals.
Together, SED and the Black River-St. Lawrence Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) are investigating the potential for community wind development in the Cape Vincent area. The RC&D works with partners to provide local leadership and coordination for projects devoted to environmental conservation, community improvement, economic development and the wise use of natural resources.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) defines community wind as projects smaller than 20 megawatts in which a local governing body passes a resolution supporting the project; members of the community are offered the opportunity to participate in an ownership interest in the project and are involved in the decision making process in its development; or the project’s local benefit is demonstrated in terms of retail power costs, benefits to the local grid, is incorporated into a micro-grid or helps to resolve remote power issues. Based on this definition, the future of community wind development in Cape Vincent lies in the hands of the people who live there.
In the fall of 2009, the RC&D secured a Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Office for $99,000. The RBEG program provides grants to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises in rural areas of cities up to 50,000 in population with priority to applications for projects in open country, rural communities and towns of 25,000 and smaller. This grant is being used to assess the potential of a community wind project in the Cape Vincent area. SED has extensive experience in performing such analyses for wind projects since its inception in 2002. The work SED has performed to date has primarily focused on finding a suitable location for a wind measurement tower, so that wind data can be gathered and analyzed. A site prospecting map, along with a list of development guidelines, was presented at a public forum in June of 2010.
This grant program is designed to assess economic development opportunities and to form or support the formation of local enterprises that can realize these opportunities. The RC&D is helping the community create this group of local citizens. SED’s involvement is to provide professional wind energy expertise to assess the technical and economic aspects of a community scale wind project.
This is a community wind model that places local residents in the center of the decision making and encourages local ownership. This community group has yet to be formed, but now is the time to take the first step.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Uniform tax-exempt policy gets no changes
link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times | Uniform tax-exempt policy gets no changes
Uniform tax-exempt policy gets no changes
JEFFERSON PILOTS: Wind projects must negotiate individually
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010
After years of review and debate, Jefferson County's uniform tax-exempt policy won't change.
Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency's board of directors voted on the policy, which governs payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, during Thursday's meeting.
Uniform tax-exempt policy gets no changes
JEFFERSON PILOTS: Wind projects must negotiate individually
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2010
After years of review and debate, Jefferson County's uniform tax-exempt policy won't change.
Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency's board of directors voted on the policy, which governs payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, during Thursday's meeting.
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