Public invited to study details of wind farm

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013

We thank the Watertown Daily Times for its front-page article on July 17 concerning the positive impact for Jefferson County landowners of the proposed Copenhagen Wind Farm transmission line.

On July 9, in cooperation with the town of Denmark Planning Board, the project developer, OwnEnergy, presented for public review and comment the NYS Draft Environmental Impact Statement. It details the entire project, which engages both Lewis and Jefferson counties. 

Continue...[Wtaertown Times]

Public invited to study details of wind farm

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013

We thank the Watertown Daily Times for its front-page article on July 17 concerning the positive impact for Jefferson County landowners of the proposed Copenhagen Wind Farm transmission line.

On July 9, in cooperation with the town of Denmark Planning Board, the project developer, OwnEnergy, presented for public review and comment the NYS Draft Environmental Impact Statement. It details the entire project, which engages both Lewis and Jefferson counties.[Watertown Times]

River Agency reviews draft proposal for monetizing 20 megwatts

By AMANDA PURCELL

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

LOUISVILLE - Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, presented Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s draft proposal allowing for the sale of proceeds of 20 megawatts of hydropower to the St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency Tuesday.

The six-page draft bill includes details on how the proceeds of the sale of 20 megawatts of power could be spent by a special board appointed by the governor for economic development in the north country. Continue... [Watertown Times]

Wind developer to pay farmers in Rutland, Champion to install power line through land

By TED BOOKER
TIMES STAFF WRITER

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2013

Thirteen farmers who own land north of Route 12 in the towns of Rutland and Champion have signed contracts with a Brooklyn wind developer, allowing it to build a 10-mile overhead power transmission line through their fields that is needed for the Copenhagen Wind Farm project.

Farmers who signed contracts with the company this year were given $1,000 bonus checks on the spot for signing the easement for the 115-volt power line, which will run west from a substation to be built near the Jefferson-Lewis county line in the village of Copenhagen and connect to a National Grid substation near Burrville. Along with that bonus, the company agreed to pay $8,000 per acre of easement property in areas at which the line passes through tillable farmland. That payoff equates to about $2,000 for every 100 feet of farmland the line spans.

Continue...[Watertown Times]

Boots on the ground

MONDAY, JULY 15, 2013

National Grid’s recent meeting with housing developers in Jefferson County has been proclaimed a success by the power company, which has promised to become involved at an early stage in proposed developments. That could be good news if National Grid devotes enough staff to expediting work with developers who are obligated to provide safe work sites a nd well-engineered plans before National Grid can begin its work.

National Grid provides all developers standard, detailed check lists to ease the way to completion of a project. What National Grid has not been able to do adequately in Jefferson County is to keep up with the demand for new service, especially at some of the larger projects. Continue...[Watertown Times]

Biomass facility at Fort Drum to hold grand opening event on Friday

By GORDON BLOCK
TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013

FORT DRUM — A new biomass facility on post will have its grand opening this morning, drawing several regional business and government leaders.

The 60-megawatt generating plant, which will be operated by ReEnergy Holdings LLC, Albany, has been touted as a project that will provide the area surrounding the post with renewable power and lead to more jobs.

[Watertown Times]

NYPA spending millions to improve Energy Highway in Northern New York

MASSENA - The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has announced that the NYPA Board of Trustees has authorized $31 million in funding to help upgrade NYPA’s transmission system in Central and Northern New York.

The May 21 trustees’ action stems from the recommendation in Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s New York Energy Highway Blueprint for accelerating construction and repair of the state’s aging transmission infrastructure. The funding includes $19.6 million and $11.7 million for refurbishment of transmission system equipment at NYPA’s Frederick R. Clark Energy Center in Marcy and Massena Substation in Massena, respectively.[Watertown Times]

Lowville officials considering minor changes to digester, solar laws

LOWVILLE — Lowville town councilmen plan to digest a few comments before adopting laws regulating manure digesters and solar energy systems.[Watertown Times]

Congressman ~ Bill Owens Writes to the PSC expressing his opposition to BP Wind Energy's initiation of an A10 Process

May 7 2013

New York State Public Service Commission

Empire state Plaza

Agency Building 3

Albany, NY 12223

Dear Mr. Brown,

I am writing to express opposition to BP wind energy's initiation of an article 10 process for their Cape Vincent wind project, and to urge the New York State Public service commission (NYSPSC) to respect the  local communities decision-making process concerning future energy development and infrastructure.

As you know the initiation of the article 10 process in the town of Cape Vincent has caused great concern among many of my constituents. Not only does it allow the state to supersede local community zoning regulations when it comes to the siting of wind power projects, but it also tramples the right of citizens to make their own determination on the best interest of the community.

While article 10 of the power New York act attempts to streamline New York's decision-making process with respect to the construction and operation of new, modified, and re-power generating facilities, it fails to properly do so in coordination with local leaders and communities. This lack of consideration is evidenced in BP's preliminary scoping statement, as it failed to meet several state requirements, use the half-century old map ports turbine site plan, and responded to many of the local comments and questions by simply stating they would be addressed in the permit application.

I believe New York has tremendous potential to attract new jobs and businesses with clean, low-cost power, and I gladly support such efforts, however reference in the siting process should be given to the local community. As we move forward, I urge the NYSPSC to allow the citizens who hold an intimate stake in the region to have a significant role in deciding which future energy source best serves the interest of their community.

Very truly yours,

Bill Owens

Member of Congress

Voters for Wind accused of receiving money from BP

CAPE VINCENT — Voters for Wind has been accused of receiving financial assistance from BP Wind Energy by an attorney representing Cape Vincent’s town government. Continue...

Seaway gives city port award for increased cargo in 2012

By BRIAN KIDWELL

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

Business was good at the Port of Ogdensburg in 2012; just ask the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

Steel, iron ore, salt, wind energy components, grain, aluminum and other commodities passed through the Seaway ports last year in greater numbers than in 2011.

Wind energy components were at the center of the Ogdensburg port’s busy year.[Watertown Times]

Indian River may build new elementary school, solar field

By REENA SINGH
TIMES STAFF WRITER

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2013

PHILADELPHIA — Indian River Central School District may have several years’ worth of projects ahead.

At the Board of Education meeting Thursday, Business Manager James R. Koch said that in addition to the solar and wind projects being considered, the district may have to build another primary school or add up to 12 classrooms to an existing school to prepare for a possible surge in enrollment in the next two years.

[Watertown Times]

SUNY Canton shows turbine plans to public

By JACOB TIERNEY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013

CANTON — Construction on a wind turbine at SUNY Canton may be underway by this time next year.
The college held its first public informational meeting about the project Tuesday, to provide updates on the project that has been discussed since 2005 and is now close to becoming a reality.

[Watertown Times]

Going Green: free state-funded audits reap farmers savings on cutting-edge equipment

By TED BOOKER
TIMES STAFF WRITER

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013

Because they’re busy with daily chores, farmers often can’t find time to research the latest energy-efficient technology on the market.

Now, they have access to someone who has done that work for them. Community energy auditor Gerald K. Loch visits farms in the north country to slash energy costs. The expert from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County has started conducting free energy audits at farms this spring, thanks to $6.2 million in state funding awarded this year to the Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Along with providing farms free audits, the program funds up to 75 percent of energy-efficient equipment for which farmers qualify. Up to $250,000 can be awarded per farm.[Watertown Times]

Ogdensburg’s yard waste will become renewable energy

By BRIAN KIDWELL
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013

OGDENSBURG — The city’s broken tree limbs and branches and shrubbery no longer will be piled up and buried in the former municipal landfill on outer Champlain Street.

Instead, an Albany-area renewable energy company will haul the public works-collected yard waste at no charge to its newly acquired cogeneration plant, where it will be converted to wood chips.[Watertown Times]

Wind energy pits neighbor against neighbor

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013
What is happening to our country? Is it the whole country, or just in this area? When I was growing up here, people had respect for their neighbors and other people. They helped their neighbors in whatever way they could. Nowadays, people are squealing on their neighbors and hoping to get them in trouble by splashing it all over the Internet and in the newspapers. This is mean and vindictive. People seem to be thinking only of themselves and how they can get someone in trouble.[Watertown Times]

SUNY Canton sets wind turbine discussion

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013

CANTON — SUNY Canton will host the first of three public information sessions on a proposed wind turbine on campus at 6 p.m. April 16 in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center’s intramural gym.

The college, in consultation with the New York Power Authority and Sustainable Energy Developments, is considering construction of a wind turbine that would provide electricity on campus along with support for academic programming, including alternative and renewable energy systems and electrical engineering technology.[Watertown Times]

JCC wants to be “carbon neutral”

By REENA SINGH
TIMES STAFF WRITER

SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013

Jefferson Community College is making a long-term commitment to the environment: becoming carbon neutral within 86 years.

Director of Facilities Bruce Alexander has measured five years’ worth of JCC’s carbon emissions to try to comply with the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which was signed several years ago.[Watertown Times]

Deception in Clayton on Iberdola project

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2013

Many of us have closely followed the nearly decade-long history of proposed wind development in the Thousand Islands region and hated what we have seen.

People on the lakeshore with views of the Galloos and residents of Lyme, Cape Vincent and Hammond have been put through hell trying to beat back ill-conceived wind projects in their towns.[Watertown Times]

Electric-vehicle charging station planned at Tops in Seaway Plaza

By TED BOOKER TIMES STAFF WRITER THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013 The Tops grocery store in the Seaway Plaza off Route 11 will offer an electric-vehicle charging station in a project with National Grid that received approval Wednesday by the Pamelia Planning Board.[Watertown Times]