Sunday, July 30, 2017


Apex Galloo Project in the Path of Ft. Drum Aviation Training Route

Apex Clean Energy’s proposed Galloo Island Wind Farm is directly in the path of a Ft. Drum military aviation training corridor. Currently the project is under FAA review for an obstruction hazard and potential conflicts with aviation operations. In a July 28, 2017 public notice the FAA made a preliminary determination that the project would “have no effect on any airspace and routes used by the military.” However, no mention was made to a 10-mile wide Ft. Drum military aviation training route that encompasses all of Galloo Island.
Wikepedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_training_route) provided the following information on Military Training Routes:


“Military training routes (MTRs) are aerial corridors (such as IR801 for Jefferson County) across the United States in which military aircraft can operate below 10,000 feet faster than the maximum safe speed of 250 knots that all other aircraft are restricted to while operating below 10,000 feet. The routes are the result of a joint venture between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense to provide for high-speed, low-altitude military activities. Military Training Routes are divided into Instrument Routes (IR), and Visual Routes (VR). Each route is identified by either of these two letters, followed by either four digits for routes below 1,500 feet above ground level, or three digits for routes extending for at least one leg above 1,500 ft AGL. (Note - over Galloo aircraft could be just above the 600 foot  turbine height). The difference between the IR and VR routes is that IR routes are flown under Air Traffic Control, while VR routes are not.”


IR801 Military Route.jpg
IR801 is a circular military training route with a 10-mile wide corridor that encompasses all of Galloo, Little Galloo and Stony Islands.


“Each route is defined by a number of geographical coordinates and their respective navaid fixes. From this line the corridor is extended a specific number of miles, in the vast majority of cases this is five miles, making the corridor 10 miles wide. The Routes are individually operated through one of the local military air bases (Ft. Drum), which schedule and 'own' the route.”

The FAA notice leaves a number of unanswered questions. Why no mention of IR801, the Ft. Drum military training route? The training route is designed for low altitude, higher speed flight, the type of operation with obvious potential hazards and conflicts.  Why has there been no acknowledgement of the potential conflict between Apex’s  turbines and Ft. Drum training flights? If there has been some negotiation, mitigation or change to IR801, then why no acknowledgement or documentation? The FAA’s website has a provision for requesting all documentation associated with each case, but the only documentation currently available is the public notice itself.

Link here to the   FAA website

APEX’s GALLOO PROJECT HAZARDOUS to FORT DRUM AIR OPERATIONS ?

The Galloo Island Wind Farm is currently under FAA review for aviation conflicts. It’s current status is ‘circularized’, which entails a potential hazard to aircraft operation and is open for comments from the public. For many mariners on Lake Ontario, military aircraft flights over Galloo have been a frequent sight for years. Now we can understand why the FAA has been slow to make a final determination on Apex’s application and why Apex may be waiting for FAA’s final decision on the Galloo project’s impact on Ft. Drum flight operations.
Wikepedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_training_route) provided the following information on Military Training Routes for military aircraft:

“Military training routes are aerial corridors (such as IR801 for Jefferson County) across the United States in which military aircraft can operate below 10,000 feet faster than the maximum safe speed of 250 knots that all other aircraft are restricted to while operating below 10,000 feet. The routes are the result of a joint venture between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense to provide for high-speed, low-altitude military activities. Military Training Routes are divided into Instrument Routes (IR), and Visual Routes (VR). Each route is identified by either of these two letters, followed by either four digits for routes below 1,500 feet above ground level, or three digits for routes extending for at least one leg above 1,500 ft AGL. (Note - over Galloo aircraft could be just above the 600 foot  turbine height). The difference between the IR and VR routes is that IR routes are flown under Air Traffic Control, while VR routes are not.”

IR801 Military Route.jpg
                        Grey line (IR801) encompassing Galloo Island 
                        delineates Fort Drum Military Training Route 


“Each route is defined by a number of geographical coordinates and their respective navaid fixes. From this line the corridor is extended a specific number of miles, in the vast majority of cases this is five miles, making the corridor 10 miles wide. The Routes are individually operated through one of the local military air bases (Ft. Drum), which schedule and 'own' the route.”

Sources:
Wikepedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_training_route)
  FAA website

GALLOO ISLAND PUBLIC NOTICE~OBSTRUCTION STANDARD EXCEEDED


GALLOO ISLAND PUBLIC NOTICE~OBSTRUCTION STANDARD EXCEEDED
 

July 28, 2017 the FAA released a public notice announcing that they are conducting an aeronautical study concerning the Galloo Island industrial wind project. Some of the proposed turbines in Apex Clean Energies project exceed obstruction standards, and the FAA will be determining their effect on the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace by aircraft and on the operation of air navigation facilities.



FAA Galloo by pandorasboxofrocks on Scribd

Tuesday, July 25, 2017


River Residents Against Turbines to Host informational meeting on Horse Creek Industrial Scale Wind project

Wednesday, July 26th! RIVER RESIDENTS AGAINST TURBINES (RIVER RATs) will be hosting an informational meeting concerning Avangrid renewables proposed Horse Creek Industrial Scale Wind Development. The session is being held at the Tabernacle in Thousand Island Park at 7:00 pm.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Apex clean Energy

Fish and wildlife officials want updated information for Galloo Island wind project review

By MARCUS WOLF
WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES
FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017


Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service argue that Apex Clean Energy must secure more updated information to assess the Galloo Island wind project’s potential wildlife impacts. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Friday, July 21, 2017


Residents and business form River RATs to oppose horse creek wind farm

By MARCUS WOLF
WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES
JULY 15, 2017

A coalition of residents and business owners from the Thousand Islands region have banded together oppose Avangrid Renewables’ proposed Horse Creek Wind Farm. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

ATTENTION!
Wednesday, July 26th! River RATs will be hosting an informational meeting concerning Horse Creek Industrial Wind Development. The session is being held at the Tabernacle in Thousand Island Park at 7:00 pm.  

Tuesday, July 11, 2017


Cocktail’s with Cuomo



When Governor Cuomo gave his 2017 Regional State of the State address in January he announced the approval of the largest offshore wind farm in the nation. He assured the residents of Eastern Long Island that turbines would not be visible from the beach,they will be 30 miles southeast of Montauk. “Not even Superman standing on Montauk Point could see these wind farms,” he announced.  


Our politically ambitious governor has recently been indulging in big-money fundraising orgies. This Saturday he will be in the Hamptons for his second fundraiser in a week, hosted by another one of his hedge fund managing friends. This most recent event is called “Sunset Cocktails” and costs $50,000 per person to sit at his table..
Cuomo assured his monied supporters in the Hamptons that their views will not be marred by wind turbines, but what about the rest of us who can’t afford $50,000 for cocktails with Cuomo? For the rest of us we have to fight to keep turbines at bay. Cuomo’s renewable energy policies shouldn’t be for sale to the highest bidders, particularly when it is impossible for us in upstate to compete with Cuomo’s monied elite from downstate.

On the other hand, how about a candidate for governor in 2018 who believes public policy shouldn’t be for sale - that would be refreshing.


Sunday, July 9, 2017


JCIDA prepares for potential PILOT application review for wind developer

By Marcus Wolfe
Watertown Daily Times
July 9,2017

WATERTOWN — County economic development officials are preparing for a potential review of Apex Clean Energy’s payment-in-lieu-of-taxes application by the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Two proposed wind farms threatening to pull out of NC if moratorium becomes law


Turbine trouble

EDITORIAL By The WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES
Wednesday July 05, 2017

If you haven’t noticed, there are now seven commercial wind proposals in the north country, stretching from The Mad River project in northern Oswego/southern Jefferson counties to the North Ridge proposal in St. Lawrence County. At least three of them are west of Fort Drum. Three of them are very close to Fort Drum to the south and southwest. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times