Lyme could pass 6-month moratorium on personal wind turbines

By JAEGUN LEE
 TIMES STAFF WRITER
 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

CHAUMONT — The town of Lyme soon could enact a six-month moratorium on personal wind turbines, putting a hold on the installation of such structures while the local government puts together a new zoning law.

The task of coming up with new rules for placement of small residential turbines, and solar and biomass energy development in Lyme will be given to the Planning Board — which introduced earlier this year tough limits on the height, noise level and placement of industrial wind turbines.

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Henderson to allow construction of wind turbine at farm

By GORDON BLOCK
TIMES STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

HENDERSON — A long-disputed private wind turbine project will be allowed in the town as the result of discussions between town officials and representatives from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

The 10-kilowatt wind turbine generator, to be located at 11375 Whitney Road, had been considered by the farm’s owners as an allowed addition for a farm under the state Constitution that was not subject to town rules. The town passed a comprehensive wind turbine ban in 2010.

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Cape Planning Board requests clarification from wind farm developer

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — The town Planning Board on Friday decided not to take any action on BP’s local application for the Cape Vincent Wind Farm.

The Planning Board recently had demanded that BP Wind Energy share its latest plans with town officials and update, amend or abandon its local application.

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Lowville officials nix digester plan with zoning change denial

By STEVE VIRKLER
TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

LOWVILLE — Lowville town officials had a hard time digesting the notion of a manure and food-waste digester facility here.

The Town Council voted 4-0 Thursday not to undertake a zoning change for a property off Markowski Road that would be needed for CH4 Biogas, Atlantic Beach, Fla., to build a proposed $15 million to $17 million digester facility on the site. Councilman Stephan M. Zubrzycki abstained, saying he did not have enough information on the matter.

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River Agency looks to cash in on low-cost power

By AMANDA PURCELL

JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

LOUISVILLE — The St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency and state representatives are moving ahead with legislation that would allow the agency to use proceeds from the sale of low-cost power not being used to help businesses. The River Agency recently secured 20 megawatts of low-cost power from the New York Power Authority for economic development. The original contract granting the power that was rejected two years ago also allowed the River Agency to sell on the open market whatever power was not granted to businesses and use the profits to spur economic growth. That ability was considered outside the scope of NYPA’s powers under state law and was a reason why the original power contract was rejected by then-Gov. David A. Paterson. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times

Economic Development Council seeks state funding for projects

POTSDAM - Applying for its second round of state economic development funding, the North Country Regional Economic Development Council submitted 21 priority projects to the state Friday as part of its annual progress report.

One of the priority projects submitted for funding associated with Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties:

■ Cape Vincent Green Energy Willow (Cape Vincent) — Assist in an operation to plant, grow and harvest short-rotation willow for electricity production, which supports needed resources for the ReEnergy biomass plant at Fort Drum.

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BP takes first step toward Article X process for Cape Vincent Wind Farm

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012


CAPE VINCENT — BP took its first step in applying for an Article X review process Monday by submitting a Public Information Plan for its Cape Vincent Wind Farm project to the state energy siting board.
But some town officials believe the paperwork is just a publicity stunt to keep local wind lease holders excited about the prospect of a project — which is likely to cost more than $300 million — while BP tests the waters to see if the U.S. government will continue to subsidize wind farms.
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BP takes first step toward Article X process for Cape Vincent Wind Farm

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — BP took its first step in applying for an Article X review process Monday by submitting a Public Information Plan for its Cape Vincent Wind Farm project to the state energy siting board.

But some town officials believe the paperwork is just a publicity stunt to keep local wind lease holders excited about the prospect of a project — which is likely to cost more than $300 million — while BP tests the waters to see if the U.S. government will continue to subsidize wind farms.

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times

Cape Vincent hires new zoning officer

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — The Town Council has hired James G. Millington, Lyme and Dexter’s zoning officer, as its new zoning enforcement officer.
His starting salary will be $11,800. Mr. Millington’s predecessor, Edward P. Bender, who held the part-time position for seven months, recently stepped down, saying that enforcing Cape Vincent’s new and more comprehensive zoning law, adopted Aug. 1, would be a “full-time job.

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BP ~ Cape Vincent Wind Farm Application Documents ~No Downloading Required

1.
BP ~ Application to Site , Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York.
September 17, 2012

2.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit A

3.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit B

4.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit C

5.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit D

6.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit E

7.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit F1

8.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit G

9.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit H

10.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. Exhibit I

11.
BP ~ Application ~ to site Wind Electric Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, New York. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM

Hammond anti-wind group distances itself from letter’s signers

By AMANDA PURCELL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

HAMMOND — A group opposed to commercial wind development distanced itself Wednesday from a letter it signed along with an oil industry-backed group calling for an end to federal wind power subsidies.

A spokeswoman for the Concerned Residents of Hammond said Wednesday the group did not intend to align itself with the conservative group Americans for Prosperity, which is backed by billionaire Kansas oil magnates Charles and David Koch. A Concerned Residents member signed the Sept. 6 letter along with more than 60 other anti-wind-development groups. It calls for federal legislators to allow the Product Tax Credit for wind developers to expire at the end of the year.

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Cape Vincent Planning Board gives BP an ultimatum

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — BP’s local wind application lives — for now.

Cape Vincent’s Planning Board on Wednesday night issued an ultimatum to the developer of the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm, giving the firm until Oct. 3 to submit a “meaningful and comprehensive response” to the town government regarding its latest plans.

If this request is not complied with, said board Chairman Richard H. Macsherry, BP’s application will be declared “incomplete and abandoned.”

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Morristown approves Wind Energy Law

By SEAN EWART
Watertown Daily Times
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

MORRISTOWN – The town of Morristown voted, Tuesday, to approve the Wind Energy Law that establishes guidelines for any future wind energy development in the town.
The motion passed unanimously after being brought up by Council Member David VanArnam.
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Local anti-wind groups make odd bedfellows with petroleum-backed nonprofit

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2012

Local anti-wind advocates are joining forces with a conservative group backed by oil industry interests to end the federal wind tax credit.
In a recent letter sent to federal lawmakers, 64 organizations across the country demanded that the U.S. government let the production tax credit for wind energy expire at the end of the year.
Link to original from the Watertown Times