Wind Turbines Wolfe Island Canada

Seasonal resident again in middle of Cape Vincent zoning dispute

CAPE VINCENT — Mary C. Grogan just wants to enjoy weekends at her seasonal residence on County Route 7 near the St. Lawrence River.

But for the second time in five years, she finds herself unwittingly embroiled in a zoning dispute involving neighboring property owned by Roger D. Alexander, operator of Lazy Acres Mobile Home Park. Continue....[Watertown Times]

Shutdown of nuclear plant a wake-up call

William A. Barclay

Pulaski

The writer is the assemblyman for the 120th District.

Entergy Corporation recently announced that it is planning to shut down Yankee nuclear power plant — the only nuclear power plant in Vermont.

This announcement should be of great concern to the central New York community in light of the fact that Oswego County is home to three nuclear plants, one of which, the James A. Fitzpatrick plant, is owned by Entergy.

Continue...[Watertown Times]

Ogdensburg port gets seventh Seaway award

The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority-owned maritime facility on Paterson Street has received its seventh Pacesetter Award for excellence in operations from the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. Associate Director Salvatore L. Pisani, a former OBPA deputy executive director, presented the award at Wednesday’s authority board meeting.

Mr. Pisani noted the port’s mammoth wind turbine shipping project in 2012. The $340 million endeavor saw the St. Lawrence River port used to move 90 turbines, creating 70 jobs and utilizing 11 ships, 210 rail cars and 1,000 trucks,Continue...[Watertown Times]

Rochester firm touts municipal energy independence at Lowville forum

LOWVILLE — A Rochester engineering firm on Tuesday evening brought a sunny message of energy independence to local municipal officials.

“You have the control,” S. Ram Shrivastava, president of Larsen Engineers, told a group of 10 representatives of Lewis County, the town and village of Lowville and the town of Watson gathered at the Lowville fire hall. “You can seize the power.” Continue...[Watertown Times]

Cashing in his chips

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

As with any dirty but necessary work, somebody’s got to do it.

~~~

And when it comes to extracting energy from an unpleasant material like cow manure, John R. Greenwood has stepped forward — no doubt watching his footing. His herd of about 1,300 mature cows and 1,200 young stock provides him ample opportunity to fine-tune the project he has undertaken.

Mr. Greenwood and his wife, Linda R., run Greenwood Dairy Farm on Route 310 in St. Lawrence County. The Canton farm also hosts an anaerobic digester, which removes methane gas from cow manure.

Continue...[Watertown Times]

Clayton to PSC: BP’s Cape Vincent wind project could negatively affect the river’s scenic vista

CLAYTON — In a recent letter to the state Public Service Commission, the Town Council expressed its concerns “as a stakeholder” in BP’s Cape Vincent wind project.

Officials said in their letter that the proposed project might have “a potential negative impact on the scenic vista from the St. Lawrence River” and asked the PSC to respect municipal home rule. 

Continue...[Watertown Times]

Clarkson opens blade test facility

POTSDAM — When heavy winds and sudden storms hit hard, engineers and customers want to be sure their energy-producing wind turbines can take the hit. That’s where the new Blade Test Facility at Clarkson University comes in.

On Thursday Clarkson unveiled the facility, a partnership between the school, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Center for Evaluation of Clean Energy Technology.

Continue...[Watertown Times]

Energy, forestry experts express optimism touring biomass plant on Fort Drum

FORT DRUM — During a tour of ReEnergy Holdings LLC’s Black River biomass facility on post Thursday, several industry observers were optimistic about how sites like the plant could benefit local economies across the state.

“There’s a big potential to grow capacity,” said Alice Brumbach, the executive administrator of the New York Biomass Energy Alliance. She said one major benefit was that local job and supply chains are created in areas around biomass facilities. 

Continue...[Watertown Times]

Digester will turn methane into electricity

POTSDAM — St. Lawrence County dairy farmer Jon R. Greenwood is ready to turn on the switch on an anaerobic digester that will take the methane produced by manure from his cows and turn it into electricity..
Continue...[Watertown Times]

SUNY Canton turbine plans power ahead

CANTON - The government-mandated studies have been completed and plans are nearing completion for a wind-powered future at SUNY Canton.

The college has hoped to build an on-campus wind turbine since a feasibility study was completed in 2005, and is on track to break ground next spring.

Continue...[ Watertown 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. 

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