Lyme planners drafting new law for personal wind turbines

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012

CHAUMONT — Lyme town planners are drafting a new law limiting the placement and height of personal wind turbines with a goal to submit their final recommendation to the Town Council by the end of December.

Lyme Planning Board Chairman Frank J. Congel said town officials hope to get the new rules in place — not only for small wind, but also for solar and biomass energy development — by March 1, before the 2013 construction season.

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Henderson to focus on formulating “small wind law”

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2012

HENDERSON — Formulating a new wind law for personal turbines has been on the Town Council’s back burner for months.

But Supervisor Raymond A. Walker said now that the town has got a few things out of the way — such as adopting its 2013 budget — the “small wind law” is next on the council’s agenda.

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State siting law a form of Eminent Domain

  Letter to the editor ~ Watertown Times
by Steve Rutigliano 
 Three Mile Bay
~~~~
 In 2008, I wrote a letter to the Times on a form of eminent domain by foreign wind companies right here in Jefferson County.
The dictionary defines eminent domain as the inherent power of the state to seize a citizen’s private property without owner’s consent.

“In simple terms that the government can take privately owned land, as long as the land will be used by the public and the owner is paid a fair price for the land, what the amendment calls just.” Used by the public being the key phrase...  Link to the original .

Clarkson prof works to modernize NY state's energy grid

A big reason the electrical grid needs to get smarter is to incorporate energy from renewable sources like the wind and sun. 
In practice, that would mean controlling the grid so that it uses renewable energy sources as its first choice, and relies on traditional sources as a backup when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. 

by Joanna Richards

Potsdam, NY, Nov 27, 2012 —Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced New York would invest $250 million to develop smart grid technologies to modernize the state's energy grid. 

 IBM has just awarded a Clarkson University professor working on smart energy grid systems a $10,000 grant to help him continue his research, and develop coursework for students to train the next generation to use this hot technology.

http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/20959/20121127/clarkson-prof-works-to-modernize-ny-state-s-energy-grid

BP holds open house in Cape Vincent

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — New York state is broke and it is now up to municipalities to find new sources of revenue to stay afloat — such as hosting a wind farm, according to a town of Eagle official.

“This state is dead. Towns, they’ve got to find new money sources,” Eagle Supervisor Joseph Kushner said Saturday at BP Wind Energy’s open house at the Cape Vincent Recreation Park, where dozens of residents streamed through to learn about the large wind farm proposed for the town. “I’m not telling Cape Vincent what to do because our circumstances are different, but if the project moves ahead, try to get the best deal out of it.”

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times

Property owners briefed on details of Fort Drum training area buffer program

The post has shifted its focus to the south because of concerns about wind turbines.

By GORDON BLOCK
TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2012

COPENHAGEN — As Fort Drum and affiliated groups push their land conservation focus to property south of the installation, farmers received a pitch on a program that would purchase their long-term development rights.

The Army Compatible Use Buffer program, a partnership among the post, the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust and Ducks Unlimited, has spent more than $3 million in the past few years to limit development in areas deemed important by the post. Eleven projects have been included in the program, which covers about 2,430 acres around the post, primarily on its western side. [Watertown Times]

Wind development presentation scheduled in Cape Vincent

MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — There will be a public meeting at 1 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Recreation Park on James Street to discuss wind energy development in the town.

The meeting — sponsored by the nonprofit Black River-St. Lawrence Resource Conservation and Development Council — will feature a presentation by Loren W. Pruskowski, chief financial officer and co-founder of Sustainable Energy Developments, Ontario, N.Y., on the final assessment of a wind farm feasibility study.

From their website SED

Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED) works with municipalities, businesses, schools, farms and homeowners to develop high quality, community-scale wind power projects. SED’s wind development services offer solutions to the diverse energy challenges facing enterprises and provide a clear path to achieving project goals.

Town officials asserted home rule at meeting

On Oct. 23 the towns of Lyme and Cape Vincent met BP Project Manager Richard Chandler for the very first time.

I write to thank the town and planning boards from both towns.

 As a citizen who has been concerned about the unethical development of wind, this was a night to remember. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Horse Creek Wind Farm developer might upsize project, begin state siting process as soon as next spring

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2012

CLAYTON — Horse Creek Wind Farm’s developer could introduce a larger project under the state’s Article X siting process.

Paul N. Copleman, communications manager with Iberdrola Renewables Inc., said the current proposal — which would be considered by a state siting board instead of Clayton planners if, and when, the developer moves forward — is for a wind farm of up to 126 megawatts.

Continue reading Via this link to the Watertown Times

Lyme to consider moratorium on personal turbines Nov. 14

 By JAEGUN LEE

TIMES STAFF WRITER

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2012

 — Residents seeking a permit for personal wind turbines have only a few weeks until a six-month ban on such structures is expected to be enacted.

 Lyme Supervisor Scott G. Aubertine said the town expects the Jefferson County Planning Board to review its proposal at a board meeting Tuesday. Once it receives some feedback, Lyme plans to pass a moratorium on personal wind turbines at a Nov. 14 Town Council meeting.

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Though its signature wind turbine project is ending, Port of Ogdensburg remains busy

By CHRISTOPHER ROBBINS

TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012

OGDENSBURG — To a casual observer, the Port of Ogdensburg might look empty now that the once-prominent field of wind turbine parts has been trucked to its destination in Churubusco, but appearances certainly can be deceiving.

According to Wade A. Davis, executive director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority, the port remains a hotbed of activity.

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times

Wind energy forum brings hundreds

CAPE VINCENT — It was standing room only in the Recreation Park on Tuesday night — with “BP Go Home” protesters occupying one side and green-shirted Voters for Wind filling the other.

Sandwiched between an audience of 300 people and local lawmakers from Cape Vincent and Lyme was Richard F. Chandler, representing BP Wind Energy, who was grilled by town officials for nearly two hours in a comment-heavy question-and-answer session following a brief presentation on the project.

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times

BP to meet with towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme about wind power project

by Joanna Richards

Cape Vincent, NY, Oct 23, 2012 — With a wind project proposed by BP, the town of Cape Vincent recently passed strict new regulations for commercial wind turbines. Then BP began seeking state review under the Article X law. That process could bypass local laws, if they're deemed "unreasonable." Now the company has called a meeting with town officials, set for tonight.

Town officials say they don't know exactly what to expect from the meeting. BP has had no contact with Cape Vincent officials for months.

Continue reading via this link to North Country Public Radio

USDA Rural Development awards grant money to Henderson wind turbine project

By GORDON BLOCK
TIMES STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012

HENDERSON — The recently approved private wind turbine to be built in the town’s Agriculture District 3 will receive $20,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the department announced Monday.

The funding will come from the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, and is the only wind project in the state listed to receive such funding.

continue reading via this link to the WatertownTimes

State: BP public involvement plan for Cape Vincent wind project is ‘inadequate’

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — The state Public Service Commission has rejected BP Wind Energy’s public involvement program plan for the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm.

In a letter Wednesday, the state agency asked the company to broaden its outreach efforts and submit a revised plan.

 Link here to continue reading

Wind farms test New York's home rule traditio

 

by David Sommerstein

Listen with NCPR Player

Clayton, NY, Oct 12, 2012 — A company that wants to erect 48 wind turbines in the town of Clayton recently announced it would seek permitting through the state's Article X, not the town council. Another company did the same thing in nearby Cape Vincent earlier this year.

Article X is a law passed last year. It gives a state board the authority to green light new power plants, including wind farms, possibly over local objections.


Continue reading via this link to North Country Public Radio

Iberdrola suspends local application for Clayton wind farm, will seek an Article X process instead

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012

CLAYTON — A year later, the developer of Horse Creek Wind Farm is readying itself for another shot at the proposed project in Clayton under Article X.

In a recent letter to Clayton’s Planning Board, Atlantic Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables Inc., said it is suspending its application with the local Planning Board because its “ability to develop the project will be enhanced by proceeding under the state of New York’s new Article X review process before the state Department of Environmental Conservation.”

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Cape Vincent’s meeting with BP Wind Energy will be open to public

By JAEGUN LEE
 WATERTOWN TIMES STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — BP Wind Energy’s meeting with town officials regarding the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm will be open to the public.

Councilman John L. Byrne said the Town Council will have a quorum at the meeting with BP — set for 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Recreation Park on James Street — which would give the public the right to attend under state law.

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times.

State police seek suspect who shot turbines in Lowville

LOWVILLE — State police are looking for the suspect who shot a wind turbine at Maple Ridge Wind Farm.

Adam Renz, a spokesman with EDP Renewables North America LLC, said the turbine had to be shut off early Sunday because of oil leaks caused by “multiple shots” to the structure.

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Copenhagen Wind Farm environmental review under way

By STEVE VIRKLER
TIMES STAFF WRITER

MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012

COPENHAGEN — A Brooklyn company is moving forward with environmental review of its proposed “community wind” project here.

“Copenhagen is a project we are committed to continuing to develop for the foreseeable future,” OwnEnergy Inc. project manager James Damon wrote in an email message.

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