No windfall

The Galloo Island wind turbine project has languished. The island remains undeveloped, the route of a power line from the project to the mainland is unresolved, the route once on shore is unknown and a customer for the electricity has not been announced.

What is known is that the financial model for wind projects is becalmed by the expiration of the federal tax breaks afforded to wind developers. The subsidy by America’s taxpayers has not been extended by the Congress, leaving developers without access to financial markets. Without the taxpayers’ promise of a 2.2-cent-per-kilowatt hour subsidy at a cost of $12 billion per year, Wall Street investors just aren’t interested. That credit expires Monday night.

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Lyme has been “ignored,” “marginalized” by state and BP Wind Energy, officials say

“Now BP and our own state are ignoring the town of Lyme, our comprehensive plan and our zoning law. This is not new, as Lyme has been marginalized in the entire process,” Lyme officials said in a Dec.

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

CHAUMONT — Lyme officials said the town has been “ignored” and “marginalized” by both BP Wind Energy, developer of the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm, and the state.

Although there will be no wind turbines in the town under the developer’s latest proposal, BP still would need to run a transmission line connecting the wind farm to a substation in Lyme.

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By MARY ESCH,
 Associated Press Updated 11:39 am, Sunday, December 23, 2012

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Energy from willows is moving out of the experimental stage and into commercial production in New York.

Farms are growing willow shrubs and selling them to a utility, a nursery sells them commercially and plans are being made for refineries.

"The industry has a lot of potential," said Robert McDonagh, owner of Celtic Energy Farm in Cape Vincent on Lake Ontario, which was formed by a group of investors a few years ago to grow shrub willow in northern New York as a renewable energy source.

Read more:  via this link

Cape officials request ‘assurance’ commissioner will not influence wind project

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — Town officials want “assurance” from the state Public Service Commission that Maureen F. Harris, a PSC commissioner who is married to an attorney representing BP Wind Energy, will not influence the Article X siting deliberations for the wind project.

Mrs. Harris is married to John S. Harris, an attorney working for BP. The wind developer and PSC said last week Mrs. Harris does not have a say in the outcome of state siting reviews. [Watertown Times]

Lyme resident likely to lose $10K in incentives for personal solar project

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012

A Three Mile Point resident who planned to install solar panels on his barn is about to lose more than $10,000 in either state grants or tax credits because of a moratorium on alternative energy projects in Lyme.

The town had considered lifting the ban on solar power for David D. Widrick’s 7.2-kilowatt project but ultimately decided it would be unfair to town residents who have been denied permits to install residential wind turbines under the same moratorium.

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BP hears more push back on Cape Vincent wind farm

BP Energy was in Cape Vincent in the state's north country last night to give a presentation on New York State's Article X process for siting power generation projects. 

It was another contentious encounter between local anti-wind power activists and BP representatives over the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm. More details after the jump.

 Link to complete story

BP holds wind workshop in Cape Vincent

By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012

CAPE VINCENT — BP Wind Energy was again criticized by town representatives at a public workshop Thursday night for being evasive and not providing enough information concerning its proposed $300 million Cape Vincent Wind Farm project.

Like the wind farm’s project manager at a previous meeting, John S. Harris — an attorney who represented BP at Thursday’s workshop at the Cape Vincent Recreation Park — was unable to answer several questions posed by local officials. Continue reading via this link

ReEnergy officials tout Lyonsdale plant to local leaders

By STEVE VIRKLER
TIMES STAFF WRITER

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012

LYONS FALLS — Representatives of a Lyonsdale wood-chip-burning cogeneration plant met Thursday with local officials to discuss improvements and potential of the facility.

“We like to be good corporate citizens in communities where we own businesses,” Stephen G. Hall, director of industry and government affairs at ReEnergy Holdings LLC, Latham, said after hosting several area leaders at the facility. 

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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