Thursday, February 28, 2013

In their PIP program, British Petroleum said they were working locally with Trieste Associates and Voters for Wind.


 A letter from a concerned Cape Vincent citizen to the Public Service Commission


Re: Case12-F-0410 Cape Vincent Wind Power

Dear Acting Secretary Cohen:

Recently, the Cape Vincent Town Board told you:

¿Specifically, we would recommend that BP make available to the Siting Board and its staff and the public a list of their leaseholders and individuals with good neighbor agreements, so that we can all better understand the special influence that BP has on those voices that support their efforts.¿

And in the next paragraph said this:

¿Please understand the Town is not suggesting BP's paid supporters should not be heard in the Article 10 process. They should, of course, be heard. However, to better gauge the relative public support for the Cape Vincent project, it is incumbent on the Siting Board and staff to know what proportion of BP's project support is linked to their financial agreements.¿


If you go to the website of the Lyme-Cape Vincent Voters for Wind you will read the following rules for becoming a member:

http://www.votersforwind.com/about_us.html

"We welcome new members. To become a member you must meet the following qualifications for membership: an existing member of Voters For Wind that is in good standing must sponsor prospective members. Each member must complete and sign an application providing contact information. This will be submitted with the application fee at the time of application. Additionally, qualifications for membership include a signed statement committing to publicly support the efforts and the mission of Voters for Wind. Applications for membership will be approved by a majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting of Voters for Wind. Individual membership applications may be rejected if the prospective member has publicly denounced a renewable energy project supported by Voters for Wind as a whole. Upon notification a prospective members acceptance into membership, attendance at the next regular meeting is encouraged."

In their PIP program, British Petroleum said they were working locally with Trieste Associate¿s and Voters for Wind. Voters for Wind was organized with the help of and is under strong advisement by Marion Trieste of Trieste Associates. Voters for Wind membership appears to be mostly BP leaseholders with a few non leaseholders who may possibly be rewarded for their support they give and the work they do for BP's project.


When Voters for Wind comment to the PSC it is possible that they are doing so as a matter of direct financial interest rather than a sincere effort to make you believe that the entire communities of the Lyme and Cape Vincent are supportive of the BP proposal.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Commissioner Aubertine ~ Another scandal at the state fair begs the question: Who will clean it up?

Enough with the cronyism, no-bid contracts and mismanagement of the New York State Fair. It’s time Gov. Andrew Cuomo cleaned house. He could start at the top with Commissioner of Agriculture & Markets Darrel Aubertine, on whose watch the latest scandal happened.[Syracuse.com]


Senator Maziarz at Senate Energy Press Conference

Former Senator Darrel Aubertine stands in the background.
  

State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine announced Friday that for the first time, state residents may help select the 2013 State Fair theme. Ideas may be submitted via email by March 15 to statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov. The fair will run from Aug. 22 to Sept. 2.

A Letter from John Droz to the Public Service Commission


Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling:

Re Matter: 12-02056; Case 12-F-0410

New York State is currently listed as one of the top three worst states to live and do business, in large part to our very high electricity rates.

We need to waste money on allowing wind power in prime tourist areas like the Thousand Islands, like we need a hole in the head. For more job and economic growth, we need affordable, reliable energy, not unreliables like wind energy.

Assuming that global warming is partly attributable to man-made causes, there is zero scientific proof that wind energy has any more than a minuscule effects on CO2 levels. Part of the reason is that there is no such thing as wind energy by itself, as it always requires full-time auxiliary power to be available, which usually gas.

Building gas-fired stations near New York City (where the electricity is needed most), would provide reliable, dispatchable, baseload capacity, that would be cost-effective for all New York State taxpayers and ratepayers. It would actually reduce CO2 emissions (over coal) and prevent the needless environmental degradation, bird & bat carnage, and human health impacts caused by the massive towers associated with antiquated industrial wind facilities.

By spending money and time focusing on trying to make unreliables like wind power a reality, we are wasting limited resources that we could be directing towards a real clean energy future powered by reliable, dispatchable energy sources - like natural gas, mini-nuclear and hydro - that will provide ALL New York citizens with reliable, affordable power, and which will draw jobs to NYS.  

Please read this 2/20/13 letter [http://tinyurl.com/b5ksn4x ... attached] from Senator Maziarz (Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee) applies directly to this case at hand. There is no proven NET technical, economic or environmental benefit from locating industrial wind energy in any part of the Thousand Islands region.

I urge you to educate yourself (e.g. EnergyPresentation.Info) about reliable, economic and dispatchable energy sources of the future, and to stop wasting money on the scam of industrial wind power, which makes New York State an inhospitable place to live and do business.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

John Droz, jr.
physicist
Brantingham Lake, NY

Sen. Grassley [R-IA] promises to continue supporting Wind Welfare Tax ~ Production Tax Credit

North American Wind Power posted an exclusive  story about  Senator Grassley's [R-IA]    continued support of Wind Welfare  through the  Production Tax Credit.

Grassley was quoted as saying. 

"I've always said the incentive should exist only until the industry can stand on its own and compete effectively against traditional sources," Grassley says. "That time is coming, and I believe Congress will consider options to responsibly phase out the credit, as the wind industry itself has suggested and proposed."

  Additionally,Grassley  pointed out that there are other issues in the mix, one being the need for more transmission infrastructure ,which may potentially spark an even more controversial debate on transmission siting.








[North American Wind Power]


Judge recommends dismissal of Galloo Island wind farm connection request


Tuesday, February 26, 2013

NYSDEC ~ the operation of this wind power project, as proposed, may result in a

“Take” of one or more endangered or threatened wildlife species


The letter below is from  Region 6 ~ New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to Supervisor T. Reinbeck ,concerning St. Lawrence Wind’s State Environmental Quality Review and  the impact of their proposed project on threatened and endangered species.

Planning Board Chair , and wind lease holder Richard Edsall  had this to say about the letter from  Region 6 ~  of the N Y S D E C
   “These people are like the school janitor, telling the teachers what curriculum to teach.”
~~~~~~~~~~ 


January 27, 2009
Town of Cape Vincent
Attn: Thomas K. Reinbeck Supervisor
PO box 915
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
RE:        State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR)
              Proposed Wind Power Project
              St. Lawrence wind power, LLC
              Endangered/Threatened Species

Dear Supervisor Reinbeck and clerk Ingerson:
           This letter is intended to follow up on comments that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) provided in their letters dated March 9 and  June 15,
2007 with regard to their review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) prepared
for the above – reference to project. In that letter DEC pointed out that additional data would be
needed before potential impacts to birds and bats could be meaningfully critiqued. Further
 review of the proposed project with regard to wildlife impacts has led the DEC to conclude that
 the operation of this wind power project, as proposed, may result in a “Take” of one or more endangered or threatened wildlife species, or their habitat as defined by the Environmental
Conservation Law (ECL). “Take” of a fish or wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened
is prohibited without a permit from the NYSDEC issued pursuant to article 11 section 0535 of the
ECL.

             Therefore you and the project sponsor, Acciona , are advised to include the potential
requirement for and Endangered and Threatened Species Incidental Take Permit in future
planning, review and permitting efforts. Take or Taking means the pursuing, shooting, hunting,
killing, capturing, trapping, soon snaring and netting of any species listed as endangered or
threatened, and all lesser acts such as disturbing, harrying or worrying. Lesser acts also include
harassing, harming, maiming, wounding or collecting any species listed as endangered or
threatened, any act which is likely to cause the death of or injury to any individual member(s) of a
species listed as endangered or threatened, any adverse modification, degradation or
destruction of occupied habitat of any species listed as endangered or threatened, and any
interference with or impairment of essential behaviors of a listed species. In the event that it is
not possible to avoid such impacts, and incidental take permit, as noted above may be required.

Page 2.

         Specific to this project, the occurrence of the Short – eared Owls and (Asio Flammeus) and
Northern Harriers (Circus cyaneus)on or adjacent to proposed project locations has been
documented. The Short - eared owl is listed as an endangered species and the Northern Harrier
is listed as threatened in New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Part 182. The Department is
concerned that take of these species may occur from the loss and fragmentation of habitat
utilized by listed species due to the clearing, grading and construction activities.  There is also a
potential for take to occur for the operation of the facility through the collision of listed species
with wind towers and blades and displacement of listed species due to disturbance caused by
the operation and maintenance of the turbines.

           In addition, the take of other listed bird species whose occurrences have not necessarily
been documented within or adjacent to proposed project locations, may result from this project
by virtue of the projects location within the St. Lawrence Plain Grassland Focus Area. This
focus area supports key habitat for grassland bird species Henslow’s sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) (NYSDEC Threatened), Sedge Wren  (Cistothous platensis)
(NYSDEC Threatened) and Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia Longicauda) (NYSDEC Threatened).
Their respective presence/absence relative to the project eared should be evaluated by
comprehensive pre – construction field study and the results of such study used to guide future
project related planning, review and permitting efforts for these species.

                  Finally, to non-bird listed wildlife species have also been associated with the project
area – Blandings turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) (NYDEC Threatened) and Indiana bat ( Myotis
sodalist) (Federal and NYSDEC Endangered). Their presence/absence within the project area
should also be thoroughly assessed by pre – construction field study, to provide a basis to guide
future project related planning, reviewing permitting efforts for these species.

                   If you have questions or need further information regarding Endangered and Threatened Species Incidental Take Permit requirements, please contact our office.

Sincerely,

William H a Gordon
Region 6 – Watertown







Video below of planning Board Chair Edsall's critique of DEC region 6



 

Judge Deals Blow To Galloo Island Wind Farm Project

 Feb 26, 2013 at 3:36 PM EST 
It's another setback for a proposed wind farm on Galloo Island.

Administrative Law Judge Kevin Casutto says there's no public need for a transmission line between the wind farm project and the mainland.[7 fox News]

Link here to read the ruling

Monday, February 25, 2013

The 1000 islands Seaway Valley

is a Natural Wonder of New York State

Comments to the New York Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment

Industrial Turbines in the Viewshed of the 1000 Islands-Seaway Valley.
Feb 25 2013

Honorable Jeffrey Cohen

Regarding: 12-F-041 0 Cape Vincent Wind Power


Dear Acting Secretary Cohen:

Darrel Aubertine's posture on wind is not just a local issue

Last night I did a post concerning a letter that  then - Senator Darrel Aubertine wrote to NYPA President Richard Kessel telling him that he supports the decision made by any New York County or Municipality to oppose wind development. [link to original post ] 

Apparently Darrel Aubertine's posture on wind is not just a local issue .

Wind Power and energy resources has picked up the story linking back to my blog.
[link to the site]

Sunday, February 24, 2013

2010 Darrel Aubertine's Posture on Wind Power


March 10, 2010  
Then - Senator Darrel Aubertine wrote a letter to NYPA President Richard Kessel telling him that he supports the decision made by any New York County or Municipality to oppose wind development.   

Will Mr. Aubertine be sending a letter stating as much to the NY Public Service Commission?

 ~~~~~~~~~
Re: New York power authority Great Lakes wind power initiative.

Dear President Kessel:

 I want to thank you for taking the time to address Jefferson County legislature.
concerning the New York Power Authority's Great Lakes Wind Power Initiative.

As you are no doubt aware, many residents who live along the Eastern and Southern
shore of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, through many local advocacy organizations and their elected representatives, have voiced opposition to this initiative. In addition they have expressed concern that the power authority will move forward with the award of contracts for the construction of wind turbines in spite of these concerns and over the objections of the impacted communities.

These concerns have led to significant anxiety and agitation in advance of the power authority receiving responses to the request for proposals issued under the initiative. It is for this reason I write to express my appreciation of your willingness to address this issue and assure the potentially impacted communities that wind turbines will not be cited in their vicinity without their consent.

Local officials, as the stewards of their communities natural resources and being in the best position to balance the potential positive and negative economic, social, environmental, and other benefits clearly have difficult decisions to make. The fact that they are doing so prior to any projects being announced pursuant to the initiative is an indication of the significant amount of opposition to these potential projects

My position remains as it has been ; if after careful consideration of the potential economic benefits and costs of any wind projects proposed, Jefferson, Oswego or, for that matter, any New York County or municipality opposes the development of wind and ancillary projects, that I support that decision.

Again, I thank you for addressing the concerns of these officials and for making the power authority's position clear that no wind facilities will be cited where they are not wanted.
I look forward to continuing to work with you as we strive in our respective capacities to reduce the cost of providing New Yorkers clean, reliable and abundant power supplies as one way to improve lives and livelihoods in this region and across the state.

 Sincerely,
 Darrel J Aubertine
State Senator
~~~~~~~~
Original letter
 .

What price do you put on friendship?

 “For four years, a handful of farmers in the district hid a secret that not even a weekly drinks session or years of friendship could drag out. They had covertly opened up their farm gate to wind farm developers, lured by the cash offer of $15,000 for every wind turbine dug into their property — unbeknownst to the mate across the barbed wire fence whose hand they shook most days.”


FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS IN THIS TINY NSW COMMUNITY HAVE GONE TO WAR AFTER DISCOVERING THAT EVEN GREEN POWER CORRUPTS, WRITES ANDREW CARSWELL.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Before and After

Before Turbines
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 After Turbines

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

You get sick of being kicked around ~ misinterpreted.

Harold Wiley ~ Privilege of the floor

Town of Cape Vincent Town Board meeting 2/21/13 


Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you  tonight.
 As you all know I haven't spoken in months, and you can thank the bloggers for that.  You get sick of being kicked around, misinterpreted.
Having things said that you don't agree with, and make it sound different than it was. Even people begin to believe that. So, I thought  maybe they'd pick on somebody else, but they haven't. It's quieted down a little. So I thought I would at least express my opinion here tonight.

 For you that don't know me, my name is Harold Wiley. I've lived here all my life. Raised my family here, four of my five children live in Cape Vincent. They love Cape Vincent, they love the people in Cape Vincent.

 I'm sorry to see,  to hear,  to know that there's a controversy here in Cape Vincent. Relatives aren't speaking to relatives,  friends aren't speaking to friends, neighbors aren't speaking to neighbors.  I'd like to think I have many friends in Cape Vincent, and have had over the years. It's gonna take more than controversy to negate, and not be friendly with old friends. Everybody's got a right to their own opinion, and their own thoughts.

 I actually blame the town board for this controversy. They're not representing the total people in Cape Vincent. You have a plan. 1a. defeat windmills -- and that's perfectly all right fight them all you can, if you get rid of  them life will go on, and we’ll live here. But my feeling is that at this point in time you have forced BP to go to Article 10.
If you'd a cooperated with them in the beginning – – I think they're gonna come, again that's my feeling.  They're gonna get here,  they're gonna be here. You should have cooperated with them in the beginning. We could of had  em where we want em.
Wind Mill’s would probably be going by now. So you have held them off now for,  two or three I don't how many years.

And you stop and think-- and I think back to the last election. I think the program or the plot was I'm against windmills. I'm running for office in Cape Vincent. That again, got the absentee ballots out, and got the person elected. People didn't know her from, Adam but they knew what they wanted ,and they knew they were gonna to get it, by putting her office.

So again, I blame the town board for the controversy, and I think you can correct it. I think the town board should be the lead agency in talking to BP. They are gonna come. I think you should face that, and realize it.

Fight them right to the end, that’s ok with me .Fight them to the end, but also be looking out for all of the people of Cape Vincent. And find out, and be the lead agency ,and get the most amount out of BP  that we can possibly get.
 There's  gonna be money floating around out there. Reduce our taxes too, help our school system to help the whole community and to bring the community back together at least consider to be thinking about it let people know that you're going to consider, looking into in talking to BP and find out what the advantages and disadvantages are. There's going to be advantages, and the disadvantages are, we don’t want to look at em.
Fight them right to the end, that's fine, but be ready when they come to get all that you can for the people of Cape Vincent.

Now, I could of written all this down and handed it to you, you would  of said thank you, and I wouldn’t of heard from you again. That’s happened many times in the past. I'm glad to hear you speak and say I am gonna get you an answer Jim, we’ll work with you.   
That's great. That's the way it should be for every issue that comes to the town. 
They should have answers and they should tell people what they're thinking, what they're  gonna do, and get things settled ,and work with the people of Cape Vincent not just have one thought in mind. Get rid of windmills. I would ask-- again-- I could have handed out – and you would of said thank you, but I would like to ask if you have any comments about plan B—and willing to negotiate when the time comes? 
 Should be started now. We should have our County legislator Mike Docteur representing all of the people and talking to BP.

 Get the advantages of this, the advantages of what they will do for us. And I think there will be some advantages. I think they are gonna come. I think-- I’d like to hear some comments. (Inaudible).

Clif Schneider: I would Harold, if the time comes, if the state says in effect that they are going to cast aside our laws. We spent a lot of time and effort developing a comprehensive plan, revising that and doing the law,and of course what we’ve said time and time again is that, that law wasn’t put in place just to keep somebody out. That law was put in place to protect people. 

Now, I know for a lot of folks that have leases and are very anxious to have this program here. Of course they have interests but, there are entirely different interests for those people that are non-participants, as well as other individuals. So that law was put in to effect to protect safety, health and also concerns over property values, a whole host of things.

 Now, if BP and the rest of you come in and abide by that, then we've said all along that you abide by those rules that's fine and dandy, but if you do not there's no way that we can as a responsible group cast aside all of the concerns and interests this community should have,  and we should have, for non- participants and other folks that are involved to protect their rights – so I mean if they want to do that when the time comes if the state says in effect we will cast aside – – you can bet your bottom dollar all of us will fight like crazy to get the most of the deal once we've been told they're gonna come here otherwise were going to stand firm in protecting that law.

Harold Wiley: let me ask you what drove BP to go to Article 10 – – – the zoning law. Zoned them right out of the district so to speak. It's too restrictive. They should – – and you wonder why they…

Urban Hirschey: Harold this is not going to be an all-night discussion okay. After the meeting…

Harold Wiley: inaudible --I want to settle this.

Urban Hirschey: after the meeting, if you want to talk...

Harold Wiley: I’ve got a sick daughter in law I got to attend to

Urban Hirschey: I’ve got an office you know where it is

Harold Wiley: yeah okay,

Urban Hirschey: thank you

Wind turbines are affecting people

"It's more expert vs. expert. We're missing the human element,"


By Chris FellMeaford Express
Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hazel Lynn has reviewed the available literature and concluded that industrial wind turbines are affecting people.
Dr. Lynn presented her long-anticipated review of available literature about wind turbines and how they affect people at the Board of Health's regular meeting in Owen Sound on Friday (February 22) morning.[Simco County]

Tell Washington to REJECT Weakening Protections for Eagles!


Tell Secretary Ken Salazar to Not Weaken Protections for Bald and Golden Eagles on His Way Out the Door

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed a rule change that will result in more eagles being killed at wind energy projects. They have proposed providing wind companies permits that would legally allow wind turbines to kill majestic Bald and Golden Eagles throughout the United States for up to 30 years. This irresponsible proposal comes just three years after FWS had concluded long permits could jeopardize the survival of eagles.

ABC is concerned that current Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar, is pushing for this controversial rule to be made before he leaves his position in just a few short weeks.

Please join ABC in telling Secretary Salazar to give the President Obama’s new Secretary of Interior time to reject this terrible proposal.


Can't click the link? Copy and paste this URL: http://bit.ly/I0zkZ3

Friday, February 22, 2013

Cape officials say water district expansion will benefit everybody


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Village of Cape Vincent Writes to the Public Service Commission

 Honorable Jeffrey Cohen


Secretary, NYS Board of Electric Generation Siting and the Environment 3 Empire State Plaza
Albany. New York 12223-1350

Regarding: 12-F-041 0 Cape Vincent Wind Power

Dear Acting Secretary Cohen:

As a designated stakeholder in the proposed BP Wind Turbine project in the Town of Cape Vincent, the Cape Vincent Village Board feels it is our right and civic obligation to share our thoughts on the mechanism (Article X) which BP has chosen to use to facilitate the approval of its project. In 2003. the Town and Village of Cape Vincent passed a Joint Comprehensive Plan which endorsed a vision for both the Town and Village.

In accordance with the periodic review mandated by the 2003 Joint Plan, our Town Board appointed a committee composed of village and town residents to review and update that plan. It should be noted that Village trustee, Pamela Youngs served on that committee. On August 1, 2012. after two public hearings, the Town Board passed the updated Joint Comprehensive Plan, It should be noted that the 2012 Plan has, as its basis, many of the tenets of the original plan. The vision statement of the 2012 Joint Plan. quoted below is based on the original 2003 vision statement.

Cape Vincent is a small-town, rural community with unique scenic, historical and natural resources. We are committed to preserving these essential qualities that make it a desirable place to live, while seeking to improve the local economy by promoting compatible residential and small business growth.

Using the 2012 Joint plan as a guide, the Town then tackled the issue of Zoning in the hopes of revising the Zoning regulations in order to be consistent with the objectives and philosophy of the new Joint Comprehensive Plan. Again, after much hard work and public input and review. the Town passed new Zoning ordinances. At our meeting of August 14, 2012 we the Village Board, unanimously endorsed the 2012 Joint Town and Village Comprehensive Plan.


Based on our support of the 2012 Joint Comprehensive Plan. we feel we need to let the PSC know our feelings vis a vis the Article X process. Although we as individuals may not agree with all parts of the Joint Plan and the Zoning regulations. we acknowledge that these two items were arrived at and approved in a well thought out and democratic manner. We abhor the idea that the state would feel that they would have more insight into what is best fit for the Town and Village of Cape Vincent than do its residents and duly elected officials. These people spent many hours studying the impact of wind turbines. Their goal was not to ban all wind turbines but rather to first and foremost protect the citizens of Cape Vincent and the beauty, character and heritage of our community. While we know we cannot stop the Article X process. we implore you to respect the decisions our elected officials have made concerning our Town and its future.

We, the undersigned, as duly elected Village of Cape Vincent Board members  entreat you to respect our vision for our community and refrain from overriding our carefully researched and well thought out laws that were designed to protect our residents and community.
~~~

This is an equal opportunity program , Discrimination is prohibited by federal law 
to file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA,  Director office of civil rights , 1400 Independance Avenue , S.W., Washington DC 20250- 9410, or call (800) 795 3272 (voice) or (202) 720- 6382 (TDD).


Windmills’ legacy in Cape Vincent

Initially  the letter below was circulated around town .
 The writer then presented it to the Town of Cape Vincent Town Board . 
Today it has been published by the Watertown Times in their letters from the people.  

  
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2013


I have been living in Cape Vincent for almost 18 years now. I moved here because I thought the Cape was beautiful, the fishing was great and, most of all, the people. It seemed as though I was stepping back in time. I had been living in the city for 18 years and forgotten what it was like living in a small town. The day I moved in, the neighbor came over with a salad just to be nice. I remember asking her what she wanted, being used to living in the city. I thought then what better place to call home.
Now after going through many different issues including the village park, we come to the windmills. They have put neighbor against neighbor and removed our town government. Now, what we are left with are people, both pro and anti, who hate each other because of them. I at first thought the windmills were the problem, but I think I’m wrong. The problem is not the windmills, but the people.[Watertown Times]

Cape officials: wind contract holders’ comments should be separated


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Mayor of Wolfe Island Canada writes to the NYS Public Service Commission

Ms. Katrina Landis                                                                                                                    
Chief Executive Officer
BP Alternative Energy
501 Westlake Park Blvd.
Houston, TX 77079

Re: Case 12-F-0410   Cape Vincent Wind Power

Dear Ms. Landis;
The Township of Frontenac Islands is immediately north of the proposed area that British Petroleum (BP) is, as I understand, talking about a large scale wind development. Our geography is on the North side of the St. Lawrence River stretching from west of the Town of Cape Vincent and  just to the east of the Town of Clayton NY approximately one mile across the water. While we have many Islands in the municipality, the largest Island of Wolfe has an 86 tower wind plant that was commissioned three years ago. Through this process we have learned much about the use of Wind Towers to generate electrical energy and would like to share our experience with you. While there are benefits from such developments, such as tax revenue to the municipality and money to the property owners, there are some issues that can be avoided through good planning, and discussion with the stakeholders.

Some of the concerns we have heard are: the flashing aviation marker lights; the effects on migrating birds and the need to adhere to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918; the effect on the tourist industry in our beautiful Thousand Island Region which crosses the USA Canadian border; the negative risk to property values,and etc.
We had understood that as part of the process BP would be contacting us for input but have not yet heard from you. Our Township Council, and residents on the north side of the border (a number of which are USA citizens) who have beautiful summer homes throughout the Islands, have been asking questions and expressed their desire to find out more about this proposed development. Would you please assist us in engaging the appropriate people in this discussion?

Yours truly,
Denis Doyle
Mayor, Frontenac Islands

Copy:
Honorable Jeffrey Cohen:
Richard Chandler:
Urban Hirschey:

Mr. John Graham
President
BP Alternative Energy
501 Westlake Park Blvd.
Houston, TX 77079


Sunday, February 17, 2013

Nevada Supreme Court declares wind turbine a nuisance

 February 15, 2013
Las Vegas Sun

Friday, February 15, 2013

Sound Judgement...

 Yesterday I posted a story about the Wisconsin Public Service Commission rejecting a wind project based on a noise study conducted at the Shirley wind farm.
Four consultants participated in the Shirley study.  Hessler Associates, Dr.Paul Schomer, Bruce Walker and Rob Rand. Two of these consultants have a history in Cape Vincent ,Hessler Associates and Paul Schomer.  
  
Paul D. Schomer of Schomer & Associates Inc., Dr. Schomer is chairman of the International Organization for Standardization working group on environmental noise and chairman of the American National Standards committee on noise, among other leadership roles in noise measurement. A group of Cape Vincent  residents commissioned Dr. Schomer; NY to evaluate the pre-construction noise studies conducted by Hessler and Associates. His findings contradict the studies done by Hessler Associates Inc.
The executive summary of his report is reproduced on this page.
 His full report can be accessed by clicking the link at the end of this post.

Background sound measurements and analysis in the vicinity of Cape Vincent, NY
May 11, 2009 by Paul Schomer, Ph.D., P.E.

Summary:
The acoustic consulting engineering firm Hessler Associates, Inc., Haymarket, Virginia produced two sound level assessment reports for two wind projects proposed for Cape Vincent, New York: the first report in 2007 for BP and the second report in 2009 for AES-Acciona.

Because there were concerns early on among local citizens that the BP report was misleading, the Wind Power Ethics Group (WPEG) contracted with Schomer and Associates, Champaign, Illinois to conduct an independent background sound survey of Cape Vincent. Hessler's BP study for the Cape Vincent Wind Power Facility appears to have selected the noisiest sites, the noisiest time of year, and the noisiest positions at each measurement site. Collectively, these choices resulted in a substantial overestimate of the a-weighted ambient sound level, 45-50 dB according to Hessler.

This study was designed to address a number of flaws noted in Hessler's BP study. First, a summer survey was planned so it would not coincide with the emergence of vocal adult insects (e.g., fall crickets and cicadas on August 1). Two monitoring sites were selected within the Town of Cape Vincent. One site was a rural residence and the other a small dairy farm. At each of these sites, two sound level meters and a single small weather station were run for one week of continuous data collection. At each site one meter was set up close to the house or farm building and a road. This site was called the "Hessler" position, because it was typical of sites selected by Hessler for his studies in Cape Vincent. The other position was called the
Community position and it was located back away from the noise influences of roads, houses and farm operations. The Community position also reflected guidelines adopted by the Cape Vincent Planning Board whereby sound levels were to be measured at the property lines, not residences.

The analysis of the spectral (frequency) content of the sound showed that much of the difference in sound levels between Hessler's study and this study was attributable to insect noise, sounds near 5000 Hz. Hessler failed to remove insect sound from his data and recalculate A-weighted sound levels, even though he previously (2006) recommended this procedure to other scientists and engineers in a professional journal publication. Had he followed his own advice, ambient sound levels would have been more comparable to the results in this study.

Furthermore, and more importantly, wind turbine sound spectra are low frequency and mid frequency phenomena; therefore, higher frequency insect noise will not mask wind turbine sounds. So even if insect noise was present year round instead of for a few weeks it should still not be included in the ambient because it provides little or no masking of the wind turbine sound.

Other examples of Hessler's misleading choices include arbitrarily discarding sound data from one of his sites because the levels were too low. Remarkably, the levels at that site were more comparable to this study. Also, Hessler described position 3 in the BP study as "representative of a typical residence along NYS Rte 12E." However, he failed to show that the trailer in the photograph was a field office for a construction company installing a new Town of Cape Vincent water district. Furthermore, at the back of the trailer, out of view, was a marshaling yard for trucks, supplies and heavy equipment. The choice of this site and suggesting it is a typical residence was very misleading.

The accurate measurement of spectrally-relevant ambient sound is important because these levels are used by wind developers to assess wind turbine noise impacts on nearby, nonparticipating residents. Local Cape Vincent Planning Board guidelines suggest these impacts should not exceed 5 dB above the A-weighted ambient at the property lines of non-participating residents. New York State noise assessment policy states any new sound that exceed 6 dB above the A-weighted ambient should undergo a detailed assessment and the developer is required to mitigate any excessive noise. Therefore, using an inaccurate, elevated A-weighted ambient level, such as 47 dB, allows wind developers to place wind turbines much closer to non-participating residents in such a way that the A-weighted wind turbine noise level will be 52 dB (e.g., 5 dB above Hessler's elevated ambient level). A much more accurate and typical ambient level is 30 dB, which is an average of both "Hessler" and Community positions during daytime, evening and nighttime periods from this study. Using 30 dB as a typical A-weighted ambient level would then require wind developers to plan a wind farm where predicted noise at non-participating property lines would not exceed 35 dB, or 5 dB above this study's A-weighted ambient level. In summary, to adequately protect rural residents that are not participants in proposed wind farms it is essential to have accurate, unbiased assessments of ambient sounds.

In conclusion:

1. The Hessler position at a measurement site systematically and significantly yields higher sound levels than does the Community position.

2. The sound levels measured in this study show Cape Vincent to be a quiet rural area, much as depicted by the data for Hessler's position 4.

3. Measurements, such as those conducted at Hessler's position 3, are not indicative of the noise environment of typical residences in the Cape Vincent area.
 For position number 3,  Hessler chose to use a marshaling yard for trucks, supplies and heavy equipment to represent a typical residence  .

4. Failure to remove insect noise in Hessler's study violated his own recommended survey and analytical techniques and substantially misrepresented typical ambient sound levels.

5. In assessing potential noise impacts from wind turbine development, rather than using 45-50 dB A-weighted levels as suggested by Hessler, a more accurate level would be 30 dB, which is the average value for the daytime, evening and nighttime L90 sound levels observed at both the "Hessler" and Community positions for sites A and B in this study. Arguably, the level should be down at 20 to 25 dB, since an A-weighted L90 of 20 dB occurs during the quietest nighttime hours, and the A-weighted L90 for the whole 9-hour night is 25 dB.
 ~~~
April 14, 2010 St. Lawrence Wind power  arranged to have Hessler give a two-hour rebuttal to Dr.Schomers evaluation of his work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
 In response to Hesslers presentation Schomer and Associates sent the following letter to Cape Vincent Town Supervisor .

Transcript of the letter ~

Mr. Urban Hirschey – Supervisor
Town of Cape Vincent
1964 NYS Rte 12E
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
April 23, 2010
Dear Supervisor Hirschey:

This letter is my response to Mr. David Hessler's April 14, 2010 presentation to the Cape Vincent
Planning Board regarding my report, “Background sound measurements and analysis in the vicinity of Cape Vincent, New York.”
Mr. Hessler continues to ignore important facts. Specifically, he:

1. Mixes winter and summer wind speed versus ambient sound level together as if the same
processes governed both seasons,
2. Continues to reject Site 4 data because they are “too quiet.”

Consider winter. Mr. Hessler examines the ambient when the wind at 10 m is thought to be about 7 m/s and shows (Hessler’s BP winter study Figure 2.5.5) that about 80 % of the ambient data are louder than 37 dB with few data that are greatly quieter.1 This indicates that in winter when the winds (at 10 m) are about 7 m/s that the wind turbine can produce up to 43 dB at an affected property and be in compliance with the New York State guideline. But that is all it shows. It cannot necessarily be extrapolated to other wind speeds, and it definitely cannot be extrapolated to summer. Consider Figure 2.5.5 at 4 m/s. Here, about 80 % of the ambient data exceed 20 dB. So in winter, when the wind is 4 m/s, the turbine noise at an affected property must be less than 26 dB in order to comply with NYSDEC policy of 6 dB above background sound levels. Nowhere is this shown to be the case.

In summer, Hessler uses the winter ambient noise versus wind speed relation to predict the summer ambient even though, as Cavanaugh-Tocci has correctly noted, the summer data exhibit virtually no correlation between ambient sound level and wind speed. And, indeed, there is none. The summer data are dominated by insect noise, a high frequency noise that cannot and does not mask the lowfrequency wind-turbine noise. Even more importantly, regularly and frequently, especially at night, the relation between wind speed and altitude cited by Hessler breaks down completely. It is simply wrong.
 This is not some idle theory; it is a well known and well documented fact, and Hessler acknowledges this phenomena in his presentation (see quote below). What actually happens is that the wind is strong at hub height but it is calm near the ground (10 m). So the wind turbine can easily operate and make 1 Rightfully, Mr. Hessler chooses a wind speed and corresponding ambient sound level such that about 80% if the time the ambient is greater than 37 dB and 20% of the time it is quieter. This can be thought of as protecting 80% of the population or protecting 80% of the time, or some combination of these two. The important point is that the protection should be at least at the 80 to 90% level—not at 50%. noise while at the same time there is no masking wind noise at ground level.

How often does this condition occur? At the InterNoise2009 conference last August, the one Hessler mentions in his presentation, I chaired a session in which a paper was presented that contained factual data showing that this condition, strong winds at hub height and zero winds at 10 m, occurs almost every other night during the warmer weather months at Cape Vincent—almost every other night.

How loud is it? As Hessler stated during the recent hearing:

“Now turbine sound level varies with wind and weather conditions and time of day, no question about that. In particular, at night, wind tends to blow up above while calmer near the ground; the curvature of the shear profile is pretty slanted, so the top of the blades are in high wind and the bottom of the blades are in lower wind. That causes them to make a kind of churning noise, most often it happens at night. So, levels are going to vary, some time it's going to be completely naudible and other times temporarily rather loud, it's just the way wind turbines are.”

“Rather loud” means louder than predicted; louder than the “permitted” 43 dB(A). How much louder? The wind turbine manufacturers do not measure it—perhaps 5 to 10 dB.

What is the bottom line? During warm-weather months, almost every other night, the ambient, as we and Hessler both measured, will be about 25 dB(A). At the same time the wind turbine can be producing on the order of 50 dB. Rather than the permitted 6 dB increase, the true increase will be about 25 dB, and this huge increase may occur almost every other night.

People will be very unhappy—and rightfully so.

Paul Schomer, Ph.D., P.E.

Member, Board Certified, Institute of Noise Control Engineering

The original letter can be read at the end of this post
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below is an additional letter from Dr. Paul Schomer to Supervisor Hirschey . This letter highlights  the inconsistencies concerning  the public release of  Hessler's  entire report .

Trannscript of the letter


Mr. Urban Hirschey – Supervisor
Town of Cape Vincent
1964 NYS Rte 12E
Cape Vincent, NY 13618
April 27, 2010

Dear supervisor Hirschey:

 Schomer and Associates, INC. Was called in May 2008 to study the ambient noise in the Cape Vincent area, in part, because BP consultant had produced a draft EIS 2007 that only utilized Hessler's summer measurements (Hessler report dated November 2007) and a "rule – of – thumb" estimate for winter attributed to Hessler (see for example tables on P .121 of the DEIS). The DEIS said there would be a "winter" study by Hessler that winter, only now know that Hessler completed this winter study in March 2008. Unfortunately, the public was never informed of the existence of this winter study for of its contents until shortly after the publication of our study late in 2008.

I have expressed my sympathy to George Hessler that his client withheld his winter study, creating at least in my mind, the impression that Hessler was advocating the use of insect – noise – corrupted data processing the BP project. In fact, if we had  had the Hessler winter study at the start of our study in may 2008, this would have significantly changed some of the focus and conclusions of our study. Insect noise would not have been the primary focus of our measurements. Thus, we would not have needed to place such an emphasis on showing how high the summer levels in the DEIS distorted the picture of the true, year – round ambient.

My sympathy to the withholding of the winter study does not mean I now agree all of the Hessler methods and conclusions. My letter of April 23, 2010 to you detail some of the major areas of disagreement.

Very sincerely,
Paul Schomer
Paul Schomer, PH. D., P. E.

Member, board-certified; Institute of Noise Control Engineering
~~~

  
DR. Schomer's April 23, 2010 letter to Supervisor Hirschey






DR. Schomer's April 23, 2010 letter to Supervisor Hirschey


Link here to read Schomers complete evaluation of Hesslers sound study for in Cape Vincent