Friday, December 30, 2016


Developer and biologist at odds about material review availability

By MARCUS WOLF
Watertown daily Times
December 30, 2016


Apex Clean Energy and a persistent opponent of its Galloo Island Wind project disagree about whether all of the pre-Article 10 application materials it shared with the state Department of Environmental Conservation should be available to the public. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times


Related letters ~




Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Former biologist demands most recent Galloo Island studies be made available


By MARCUS WOLF
Watertown Daily Times
Tuesday December 27, 2016


A thorn in the side of the Galloo Island Wind project wants its developer to submit the most recent avian mortality studies to all registered parties and the general public, not just the state Department of Environmental Conservation.





Thursday, December 22, 2016

Panel gets update on projects, business park

By STEVE VIRKLER
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
DECEMBER 22, 2016

During a discussion on the county’s potential wind projects, Mrs. Swearingin suggested that it will be worth monitoring President-elect Donald Trump’s stance on renewable energy subsidies.
Mr. Virkler said it is very clear the wind projects won’t happen without incentives like the federal wind tax credit ...

Clayton committee reviews comments about

proposed wind law


By MARCUS WOLF
Watertown Daily Times
DECEMBER 22, 2016  


CLAYTON — The Town Council’s Zoning Ordinance Review Committee evaluated public comments pertaining to the proposed local wind law Monday at its third meeting.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016


The Conservative Case for Nuclear Energy

                                                                                        Commentary by Robert Bryce


Aerial view of Wolfe Island Canada Industrial scale wind project
 
It’s reliable, safe, and, unlike solar and wind, doesn’t eat up huge swathes of land.

As the Trump transition team prepares to take power in Washington, they should be making the conservative case for nuclear energy. Continue reading via this link to the Manhattan Institute

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Avangrid (Iberdrola)  tells the NYS PSC ~   Substantial New Renewable Resources Need to be Developed in Upstate New York and Additional Transmission between Upstate and Downstate is needed as well.

Avangrid (Iberdrola) Proposes a solution to the Upstate to Downstate transmission problem.

The Connect New York Project: AVANGRID’S Proposed High-Voltage Direct Current (“HVDC”) Upstate to Downstate Transmission Link


Friday, December 16, 2016

Wind turbines hinder military readiness, state lawmaker argues


By Asher Price - American-Statesman Staff

Suggesting that wind turbines can hinder military readiness, a Texas lawmaker has proposed barring wind farms near some military installations. Continue reading via this link to My Statesman


Thursday, December 15, 2016


Election deals blow to wind

Opinion / Commentary
Rutland Herald
December 15,2016


Election Day was bleak for the future of ridgeline wind power in Vermont. The outcome of local, state and national voting signaled a vote of no-confidence in the growth of utility-scale wind power in the Green Mountain State. Continue reading via this link to the Rutland Herald

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

  Obama Executes Wind-Turbine Conservation regulation that Allows the Slaughter of Thousands of Eagle’s

Obama’s  legacy
The Legal Slaughter
of Our Country's Symbol of Freedom

This past friday The Obama administration extended the length of permits  allowing  Industrial Wind Facilities to slaughter eagles for a 30 year duration.

Friday, December 9, 2016


Supervisors attempt to unite towns against Article 10

By Marcus Wolfe
Watertown Daily Times
December 9,2016


BATAVIA — The town supervisors from Clayton and Somerset will attempt to form a coalition of town councilmen and challenge the constitutional authority of state Public Service Law Article 10. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times
BP Protest  Cape Vincent NY 2012 

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Former DEC biologist wants Apex Clean Energy to conduct new avian mortality studies



By Marcus Wolfe
Watertown Daily Times

December 8,2016

A persistent opponent of the proposed Galloo Island Wind project has told the Public Service Commission that the developer’s avian mortality studies are outdated and need to be redone.
And he attacked his former agency for altering report results to diminish their importance.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Multibillion energy giant targets private emails, texts in Tuscola County  



Posted by Andrew Dietderich on December 7, 2016 | Tuscola County Advertiser


NextEra Energy Resources L.L.C. has set sights on private emails, texts, and voice mails as part of an effort to find “potentially impermissible communications” among newly elected officials in Almer and Ellington townships.

Jonathan Lauderbach, attorney from the Midland office of Warner, Norcross & Judd L.L.P., sent an email to an attorney representing Almer and Ellington townships just three days after new officials took office in both jurisdictions. Continue reading via this link to the Tuscola County Advertiser

Niagara County Legislature endorses Collins wind bill

By Thomas Prohaska
The Buffalo News
December 6,2016

LOCKPORT — The Niagara County Legislature on Tuesday endorsed Rep. Chris Collins' bill that would in effect block a proposed local wind power project.

The Legislature is concerned that the presence of wind turbines proposed for sites in the towns of Somerset and Yates, some 25 miles from the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, would interfere with operations there and tempt the Pentagon to place the base on a closure list the next time Congress directs military cutbacks. Continue reading via this link to the Buffalo News

Monday, December 5, 2016

Galloo Island Wind ~ Letter to Public Service Commission Outlines Concerns ovrer Corrupted Findings Statement



Link here to read attached letter

link here to make a comment to the Public Service Commission

JCIDA approves UTEP, loan and the new JCLDC vice chairman



By MARCUS WOLF
Watertown Daily Times
DECEMBER 5, 2016  

WATERTOWN — The Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors on Thursday approved the final draft of its revised uniform tax exemption policy and a loan for Current Applications Inc. and appointed Donald D. DiMonda as vice chairman of the Jefferson County Local Development Corp. Continue reading via this link to the watertown Times

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Small town officials say Cuomo's ethics rule is misplaced






  2010~ Protesting Cuomo's lack of ethics
Italian American Club Watertown Ny 
By Joe Mahoney / CNHI State Reporter 
Dec 2, 2016

ALBANY -- An ethics rule advanced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo requiring all elected officials to disclose their personal incomes is meeting resistance outside the capital where critics question why small town leaders must pay for the sins of state officials.

The Democratic governor has provided no details of the initiative other than to…


Friday, December 2, 2016


Where the Bully Winds Blow

New York governor Andrew Cuomo's renewable-energy plan will require forcing small towns to build turbines against their will.


Robert Bryce
December 01,2016

On the surface, the fight over renewable-energy siting in western New York looks hopelessly mismatched. Governor Andrew Cuomo—the scion of a Democratic political dynasty and the leader of a state with nearly 20 million residents—is pushing a scheme that will require the state’s utilities to derive 50 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2030. Cuomo’s highest-profile opponent is Dan Engert, the Republican supervisor in the Niagara County town of Somerset—population 2,700. Last year, Engert won a third term by garnering about 400 votes. So, yes, Cuomo versus Engert looks like a mismatch. But here’s a tip: don’t bet against Engert and his allies.  Continue reading via this link to CJ, City Journal

Thursday, December 1, 2016


Merry Christmas Andy!

‘The Sheriff of Wall Street’, Preet Bharara to stay on as US attorney under Trump. Link here to Read more via this link to the New York Post


Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Bill would limit turbines near bases



By JIM KRENCIK
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016
Batavia news.com


YATES — Citing concerns that a planned 201-megawatt wind turbine installation in northwestern Orleans County and northeastern Niagara County would imperil operations at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence said new legislation would seek to curb wind projects near military installations. Continue reading via this link to the Daily News

Wednesday, November 23, 2016


Cuomo limits donations from companies seeking state business

By Patrick Lohmann  
November 16, 2016  

Syracuse.com

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced that his campaign and the state Democratic Party will no longer accept donations from companies that bid on state projects. Continue reading via this link to Syracuse.com

D&C investigation: Big solar coming to NYS, some are wary



Steve Orr ,
November 23, 2016
Democrat & Chronicle

Driven by the Cuomo administration’s expanded emphasis on renewable energy


Large commercial solar farms, covering dozens of acres with tens of thousands of electricity-generating panels, are certain to arrive in New York state in a big way. Continue reading via this link to the Democrat & Chronicle

Monday, November 21, 2016

With a Meeting, Trump Renewed a British Wind Farm Fight



Credit: DANNY HAKIM & ERIC LIPTON
 NOV. 21, 2016
New York Times Business Day 

LONDON — When President-elect Donald J. Trump met with the British politician Nigel Farage in recent days, he encouraged Mr. Farage and his entourage to oppose the kind of offshore wind farms that Mr. Trump believes will mar the pristine view from one of his two Scottish golf courses, according to one person present. Continue reading via this link to the New York Times


SunEdison files for bankruptcy  

Credit: Jeffery Smith

The Steuben Courier Advocate

COHOCTON - SunEdison, a global renewable energy development company, that operates and maintains over 100 turbine windmills in Cohocton recently filed bankruptcy.Cohocton Wind and Dutch Hill Wind is owned by Terraforma, an investment agency, according to Jamie Johnson, executive director of the Steuben County IDA.“The company that services and maintains (the windmills), SunEdison just filed for bankruptcy,” said Cohocton Supervisor Tom Johnson. Continue reading via this link to the Steuben Courier Advocate


NYISO cites costs, capacity in Cuomo clean energy plan

Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Albany Times Union

The New York Independent System Operator, which also runs the state's wholesale electric markets, told state regulators in a filing last Friday that adding the amount of solar panels and wind turbines to the grid needed to achieve the goal, known as the Clean Energy Standard, would overload the transmission system. It also would require the state to dramatically increase the amount of reserve capacity it sets aside.

But in a sharply worded rebuttal, Richard L. Kauffman, who chairs the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, called the NYISO filing "misleading, incomplete and grossly inaccurate," saying that technology and "simply smarter markets and operations allow the system to easily accommodate renewable resources."  Continue reading via this link to the Times Union



  • Richard L. Kaufman is also a member of the Public Service Commission's siting board



NYSERDA to measure wind speed and ocean waves in pre-development of offshore wind

November 21, 2016 Michelle Froese :
Windpower Engineering & Development

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) took another step to advance offshore wind development off the coast of Long Island by seeking comments on a draft plan to measure wind speed and ocean waves at the federal ocean site. NYSDERDA plans to bid on the site on December 15, 2016. Continue reading via this link to Windpower Engineering & Development




Saturday, November 19, 2016


Cuomo’s ~ Gangland Government in the News  

Emboldened Cuomo Attempts To Consolidate Power Under Guise of Ethics Reform

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016 AT 11:20 A.M.
BY MAX RIVLIN-NADLER

Governor Andrew Cuomo came into office over six years ago pledging to clean up state government. Since then, Albany has seen levels of corruption that exceed even its own lofty standards for wrongdoing. Cuomo’s own ethics commission was scuttled by the governor himself before being taken over by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who went on to successfully prosecute the leaders of both state houses. Now, as Cuomo's closest friend and former top advisor, Joseph Percoco, is about to be indicted for rigging bids on state contracts, the governor proposed a raft of ethics reforms on Wednesday that stand little chance of ever getting made into law. Continue reading via this link to the Village voice





In trying to bribe voters, a mighty wind firm (IBERDROLA) blew it

Sentinel Editorial
Friday, November 18, 2016 12:00 pm

It certainly wasn’t the biggest story to come out of last Tuesday’s election, but it was an important one nonetheless.
Voters in the small Vermont towns of Grafton (population about 670) and Windham (roughly 328) resoundingly said no to an offer some might have thought they couldn’t refuse. The two towns rejected a bid to site a large wind farm across their common border, and, in doing so, said: We will not be bought.
Spanish energy giant Iberdrola Renewables, which has in recent years been targeting northern New England for large-scale wind facilities — it’s behind the 12-turbine wind project in Lempster — sought to put two dozen 500-foot-tall wind turbines along a ridge in the Stiles Brook Forest.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Experts debate feasibility of governor’s new clean energy standard

Watertown Daily Times
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2016
By MARCUS WOLF
ALBANY — Three energy experts sharply debated Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s clean-energy standard Monday morning in a forum at the Albany Hilton.
 
Robert Bryce, a senior fellow of the Manhattan Institute, Ken Girardin, a policy analyst for the Empire Center for Public Policy, and Jerry Kremer, the chairman of the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance, took questions from moderator Barbara Lombardo and audience members about the standard’s impact on the consumers and the private market, nuclear power, public response and the role of the state Legislature throughout its development and implementation. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times


 Cuomo Signs Article 10 into law with Carol Murphy
Executive Director of ACENY by his side.
ACENY is a Wind Power lobbying org that directs NYS 
 energy Policy.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

TUG HILL COMMISSION DOCUMENTS RELATED to ARTICLE 10 WORKSHOP

 Materials from November 14, Article 10 Workshop given by Paul Agresta, general counsel of the New York State Public Service Commission



Big Wind Blown Away in Vermont

Big Wind had a rough Election Day in the Green Mountain State.

 NATIONAL REVIEW
 by Robert Bryce
 November 15, 2016

Big Wind lost big last Tuesday. While it’s not clear what Donald Trump’s election means for federal energy policy, it’s abundantly obvious that the wind-energy sector’s agenda was crushed in Vermont. Indeed, thanks to the resounding — and somewhat improbable — election of a new Republican governor, Phil Scott, it is possible that Vermont could ban construction of new wind projects. And in the towns of Grafton and Windham, voters rejected the proposed Stiles Brook wind project by big margins. Continue reading via this link to NATIONAL REVIEW





Monday, November 14, 2016


Perquimans denies permit for $300M APEX wind power project

Commissioners were not convinced that Apex’s project would not  “substantially” injure adjoining property owners.

By Peter Williams
The Perquimans Weekly
Monday,Nov.14,2016

HERTFORD — Perquimans County commissioners have rejected a proposed $300 million wind farm, voting 3-2 Monday night to deny the project a conditional use permit.
A majority of the board’s five members favored the project, but individually three had problems with at least some aspect of Apex Clean Energy’s Timbermill Wind proposal.


Sunday, November 13, 2016


Senator worries wind turbines may put military pilots at risk

By Chris Ramirez | The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Tribune News Service) | Published: October 14, 2016

KINGSVILLE, Texas — U.S. Texas Sen. John Cornyn wants to end tax incentives for new wind energy projects that would be located within 30 miles of a military airfield, saying the technology may pose a threat to pilots. Continue reading via this link to Stars and Stripes

Saturday, November 12, 2016


Town board claims developer’s project area expands outside of overlay district

The bucloclic splendor of Maple ridge
 Wind farm

ORLEANS — Orleans town councilmen claimed that Atlantic Wind LLC’s project area for its proposed Horse Creek Wind farm expands outside the town’s wind energy facility overlay district, adding to the town board’s list of concerns about the project and its developer. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times




Note: Atlantic Wind LLC is a wholly -owned subsidiary of the Spanish company  Iberdrola renewables LLC.