WHEN ARE ACCIONA & BP DOING CAPE VINCENT ICE STUDIES??

I have a comment about Acciona’s DEIS pertaining to ice throw it is as follows, Acciona selectively quotes from a report on ice risk assessment (Morgan, Bossanyi & Seifert) in its DEIS that there has never been a reported injury from ice shed by wind turbines.

What they fail to mention is that when this report was written relatively few towers had been installed in climates where icing was a serious problem.

The report that the above quote is taken from states, “That situation is rapidly changing as extensive development of the wind resource in many Northern European countries has now commenced.

Indeed, the potential risk has recently attracted significant publicity in Germany, where a number of significant incidents have been reported in the past year, indicating an urgent need for suitable safety guidelines.”

The report goes on to explain the etiology of rotor blade icing making it worthy of research. It also proposes that risk assessment should be undertaken in three stages:

“I. Occurrence of icing conditions
An estimate should be made of the time (number of days per year) during which icing
Conditions occur at the turbine site:

. “Heavy icing”- more than 5 days, less than 25 days icing per year.

“Moderate icing”-more than 1 day, less than 5 days icing per year.

“Light icing”-less than 1 day icing per year.

“No icing”-no appropriate icing conditions occur

Northern New York does experience icing conditions and our weather is colder than
Germany.

Since St Lawrence Wind introduced the (Morgan, Bossanyi & Seifert) report in its own DEIS this would lead one to conclude that they would stand by all its recommendations and do the proposed assessment of risk as described in the report cited in the DEIS.

This example of selective quoting from outside reporting agencies leads one to wonder how many other parts of the DEIS have been selectively
Quoted to reflect favorably on the project.

These foreign wind companies are interested in one thing and only one thing money they are not interested in our health and well-being.

When are ACCIONA & BP going to do the appropriate ICE STUDIES?

Foreign Wind Developer asks JCIDA to rush uniform wind PILOTs

BP alternative energy a foreign wind developer has asked for speed from the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency on creating a uniform tax-exempt policy.

BP project manager James H. Madden urged the board to complete the policy in the next three to six months.

Mr. Madden stated BP has decided to scale back on wind energy development around the world and it will continue to focus on the development of approximately 100 US projects they are currently involved in nationwide, with three in New York.

Well why not since our government has sold us out.

The U.S. has created an environment that makes it advantageous for foreign companies to come to our country and reap the rewards of renewable energy tax credits. Because of this BP has backed out of its plans to build wind farms and other renewable projects in Britain, India, China and Turkey

The US government incentives for clean energy projects provide convenient tax shelter for oil and gas revenues, something BP is looking for with an estimated 8$ billion earmarked for the initiative. Lower economies of scale made the UK, Chinese, Indian and Turkish wind sectors far less attractive than the US.

However, Mr. Madden warned the board of significant challenges in building the project in Jefferson County.

Mr.Madden mentions the problem of grid capacity.

This statement is followed by a list of items, a zoning ordinance for wind power development, four or five studies including, noise analysis.

"We've put our studies on hold until at least they complete that process," he said.

"It's the setbacks and other requirements that we'll have to abide by.
You stated that these things have all slowed and or have held up the project and that you have put studies on hold.

What is ominous here is the statement
Mr. Madden warned the board of significant challenges.

That sounds like a threat.

Are you warning the board that the Citizens of Cape Vincent’s desire for proper setbacks may sour the project for Jefferson County?
are you saying that the setbacks in Cape Vincent should be calculated based on

PROFIT AND NOT SAFETY?

Is that what you are saying Mr. Madden?

K.Muschell

Cuomo investigates here and there but not Everywhere

ENERGY: Hamlin wind regs to get scrutiny
By Jeremy Moule on November 25, 2008


During a forum in Irondequoit last week, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo told a group of Hamlin residents that he'd send an environmental attorney to look into their complaints about the town's wind-tower regulations.


"We are very excited to the fact that they acknowledged we have issues that need to be taken care of and that they're going to follow through with it," says Linda DeRue, a member of the Hamlin Preservation Group.

I find this all very interesting because...

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo came to Jefferson County in June for a community forum, at this time Mr. Cuomo's task force was given documentation concerning corruption, involving the proposed wind projects for the community of Cape Vincent,

Including a letter written by Senator Darrel Aubertine,
At that time Mr. Aubertine was, State assemblyman for that same district.

This letter, written to the town supervisor encouraged the town board members with conflicts of interests to vote on wind issues.

Cape Vincent is ripe with corruption.

Where is Mr. Cuomo?

Has Cape Vincent become a victim of political corruption?

Will these issues be ignored because a democratic senate seat is more important than our rights?

Wind panel sets noise-level protocol

Watertown Daily Times | Wind panel sets noise-level protocol

By NANCY MADSEN

TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2008



low-frequency noise would also be measured at structures — a change made at the urging of engineer Gregory C. Tocci.



Beth A. White, president of Voters for Wind, asked if landowners participating in a wind farm could have an easement for low-frequency noise like they would for overall noise levels.



"The participating landowners should have some sort of leeway there," she said



More from the WDT

SENATOR AUBERTINE AND HIS ~ CULTURE OF CORRUPTION ~ OR A TALE OF TWO LETTERS

Revised

This letter was written by Darrel Aubertine, in response to questions about his stance on Industrial Wind development in Cape Vincent.

This letter only serves to further increase the questions and concerns about public officials in Cape Vincent and the culture of corruption that has been borne of the proposed industrial wind development.

In this first letter Mr. Aubertine is telling the community that, hey folks I’m a nice guy aw shucks, I just want what’s good for America. And I care about you, what you want is important. I will honor and support your decision.

What he doesn’t tell the public is that he has been working behind the scenes making sure the community doesn’t have a choice. This is clearly stated by Darrel in the second letter. ("Governing by referendum is unwise").


The next letter from Darrel is to the Cape Vincent Town Board RE: Conflicted voting.

This letter is telling the town board that it is their duty to vote on the siting of wind turbines, even though they have wind contracts, because as elected representatives, it is their responsibility, to make decisions for their constituents and the community.
Mr. Aubertine also adds that "governing by referendum is unwise".
So the community has no choice. A conflicted politician advises a conflicted board, to vote, because he feels" that it is ethically proper.
In this letter to the town board, not only is Darrel Aubertine telling the board that he believes that it is their responsibility to vote but if you look closely at the language of this letter, he is also telling them how to vote. This is an outrage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This WDT article addresses the specific issue of setbacks mentioned in Mr.Aubertines letter.

Establishing 2,600-foot setback could cost Cape farmers money.
Source: Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, NY)
Publication Date: 24-JUN-06 kelly vadney

COPYRIGHT 2006 Water town Daily Times
Byline: Kelly Vadney

Jun. 24--CAPE VINCENT -- The opportunity to generate income from wind turbines could be a lost cause for some farmers if zoning for the structures begins 2,600 feet from the center of Route 12E.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Ethics have always been a grey area for Senator Aubertine~When asked by a reporter about the ‘Attorney Generals Wind Code of Ethics’, Senator Aubertine was quoted as saying "I have always been "transparent". I support the attorney general in this effort."

Senator Aubertine has a working relationship with the community and Acciona energy (as a contract holder). I wonder if he has in any way attempted to facilitate adoption of the Attorney General’s Code of Conduct, by the two wind companies that are proposing projects in his community?

Or perhaps he is waiting for the Attorney General to adopt a code of "feelings”?

“US” VERSUS… “THEM”

The election is very soon and we are being told to vote for Darrel Aubertine because "He's one of us." Let's examine that statement.
The statement implies that his opponent is not to be trusted he is one of "them." This seems to be a great campaign strategy however the problem is that this is a divisive attitude and an insidious problem that eats away at the core ideals that this country was founded upon. This is a downright un-American Campaign Strategy. I am not surprised that Darrel is using the one of “us” campaign because that is the underlying problem with Darrel's home town, Cape Vincent. Cape is an “us” and “them” town. A favorite expression of some of the “us” people living in Cape is, "if your diapers didn’t hang on the line to dry in the Cape you don’t really “belong”. In other words, you are a “them.” You are an outsider, an interloper, a non citizen without any rights. When meeting people for the first time the usual question asked of you is “are you one of the summer people?” Whenever you question an issue that affects where you live you are generally ignored or told that you don’t understand what is right for the town because you are an outsider.
When you are asked vote for Darrel Aubertine because he's one of “us” what Darrel is really saying is I am one of you but I want to be one of “them”. This is a big problem because he actually sees his constituency as inferior to what he aspires to be. Someday his constituency may become the evil inferior “them” because Darrel and the down state Democrats will now become the elite, the “us”..
How can someone who has such a divisive platform be effective once elected into office? Frankly I find this “one of us” campaign crap offensive and insulting. Divisive attitudes like this divide communities and nations. We live in ONE NATION. Cape Vincent is a community divided; the wind companies came to town and exploited this division.
When people allow themselves to be exploited by this type of polarization they become vulnerable, just who will be the next “them”? Will it be hunters? Perhaps it will be gun owners, or just anyone who doesn't agree with our senator's agenda? Remember the words “WE THE PEOPLE.” It’s time to elect someone who does not divide his constituency into “us” and “them.” This nation fought a terrible war over the “us” and “them” issue and it cost us dearly. We need to work toward what is right for all the people not just those who fall into the “us” category. It is time to elect Dave Renzi as OUR SENATOR.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ESTABLISHES CODE OF CONDUCT FOR WIND ENERGY COMPANIES OPERATING IN NEW YORK

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ESTABLISHES CODE OF CONDUCT FOR WIND ENERGY COMPANIES OPERATING IN NEW YORK

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 30, 2008) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new Wind Industry Ethics Code that establishes guidelines to facilitate the development of alternative energy in New York while assuring the public the wind power industry is acting properly and within the law. The Code calls for new oversight through a multi-agency Task Force, and establishes unprecedented transparency that will deter any improper relationships between wind development companies and local government officials.

www.windaction.org | Cape rethinks turbine areas

The members of the committee formed to produce a zoning amendment to deal with wind farms changed their minds about boundaries for the area in which turbines would be allowed. About three weeks ago, the committee tentatively agreed to set Route 6 as the western boundary for a wind overlay district. But Wednesday afternoon, the committee decided that the entire agricultural-residential district should allow turbines. That once again adds some land west of Route 6 and south of Bates Road. That land had five turbines planned for BP Alternative Energy's Cape Vincent Wind Farm.


October 16, 2008 by Nancy Madsen in Watertown Daily Times

www.windaction.org | Horse Creek wind farm: Noise report cover-up

www.windaction.org | Horse Creek wind farm: Noise report cover-up

PPM Energy's Horse Creek Wind Farm proposal, now suspended while NY State officials evaluate the potential high bat mortality from the turbines, is the center of a sobering debate concerning preconstruction sound study reports. The proposed project consists of sixty-two industrial wind turbines spanning the towns of Clayton and Orleans in upstate New York. Over 1000 residents reside within the project's proposed footprint.

Lack of Ability or Lack of Character?

The special senate election between Will Barclay and Darrel Aubertine brought forth accusations of a conflict of interest for Darrel Aubertine. An article written for the 2/23/08 Valley News online made reference to an article in the May 25, 2003 Watertown Daily Times (WDT) stating that
Cape Vincent- Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine had said a company has approached him about installing wind-powered generators on his property and the properties belonging to three of his neighbors. “They describe the wind as optimal”, Mr.Aubertine said. He also said the company has been monitoring the wind in the town of Cape Vincent for a year and determined it was not so strong as to stress the equipment, but powerful enough to power the generators.
The Valley news story went on to report that less than two weeks after the Watertown Times article was printed, June 4, 2003, Mr.Aubertine voted in favor of legislation that would allow farmers to host wind turbines without having their property-tax assessments increased. Responding to accusations of a conflict of interest in a television interview Aubertine denied voting on any wind power issues “no, not at all, “he said “I never-one way or the other- certainly not for personal gain”.


A Syracuse Post standard article dated 02/22/2008, states that when Sen. Aubertine was asked if he thought it was appropriate to vote on a measure that affected his own property he responded, “if it was me alone, no” but, he said, “it’s not me, it’s the town and dozens of other landowners.”

A spokesperson for the Aubertine campaign denied any conflict of interest. “That vote happened over a year before he sold his wind rights,” Aubertine spokesperson Cort Ruddy said, “those towers, if they are ever built, would be owned by the company and would not impact Darrel’s assessment at all. ”Ruddy added that the only approval process is done locally. “The company is going to set up an arrangement with the town for payment-in-lieu of taxes (pilot payments) and there’s usually no assessment,” Ruddy noted.
Let’s take a closer look at these statements. First Sen. Aubertine says the wind company had been in Cape Vincent for over a year monitoring the wind, that would be about May of 2002. Was there a meteorological tower on your land senator? Not only did you vote for the bill “Wind Energy” in Agricultural Assessments but you were a member of the standing committee on agriculture and the bill in question is listed as one of the committee’s accomplishments in 2003.

As far as not providing any tax benefits the bill, then assemblyman, Aubertine signed eliminated a tax penalty for converting land zoned for agricultural use to non-agricultural use. Previously, when land receiving an agricultural assessment was converted to a non-agricultural use, it was subject to a conversion payment equaling five times the taxes payed in the last year in which it received the assessment, plus interest of 6% per year for each year it received the assessment, up to five years. Now, when a farmer hosts wind turbines on his land this bill eliminates a tax penalty for changing the use of the land from agricultural to non agricultural.
When Sen. Aubertine signed his wind contract is irrelevant. He was instrumental passing the legislation eliminating the tax penalty and he will directly benefit from this act if he hosts wind turbines on his farm land. He was well aware of the wind companies interest in his land and was considering the issue of hosting wind turbines while he was a member of the standing committee on agriculture, a committee that also promoted the bill in question
In a television interview Sen. Aubertine denies voting on any wind issues and then in a newspaper interview when asked if it was appropriate for him to vote on a measure that affected his own property he responded “if it was me alone, no.”but, he said, “it’s not me. It’s the town and dozens of other landowners.”
This vote was in early June of 2003 just after he stated in a WDT article that a wind company had approached him and three of his neighbors, who were these dozens of others you mentioned as your excuse for voting when called on it by the Post standard reporter? Were you signing this bill as an inducement to sign dozens of others up for wind power? Were you a recruiter for wind power? If the wind power does come to fruition in Cape Vincent you will benefit from the elimination of the agricultural assessment. This was a bill you voted for, that came directly from the standing committee on agriculture, a committee that you served on.

So when Sen. Aubertine denied voting on wind issues and stated “certainly not for personal gain” and a statement was made about the bill in question that he wouldn’t benefit any way because of pilot payments, then one can conclude that, Sen. Aubertine is either a liar or he is completely unaware of the content of the legislation he promotes through the committees he sits on. Another possibility is that he is incapable of understanding the content and meaning of the legislation that he signs and the implications and consequences that he may bear as a result of such a blatant conflict of interest!

As a follow up to the point that perhaps he is unaware of what he is doing or perhaps feels that he is above reproach, I would also mention the whole debacle over the hiring his sister. His statement says it all, “earlier today, Senator Aubertine became aware of the situation involving the employment of his sister, Debra A. Wiley, in his senate office. After reviewing appropriate policies, Debra has submitted her resignation and our office has accepted it.” As an assemblyman he signed ethics reform legislation in 2007. Did he even bother to read it?
Sen. Aubertine, are you a liar, incompetent, or both?

by: k.muschell June, 03 2008

Session offers wind pros, cons

By NANCY MADSEN

TIMES STAFF WRITER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2008

CLAYTON — The electric grid, noise and setbacks were the main topics covered at an information session Thursday night at the Thousand Islands High School auditorium.

The speakers were Steven C. Sullivan, managing director of GEOS Global and consultant to BP Alternative Energy; John Droz, scientist and environmental activist from Brantingham Lake, and Paul E. Carr, engineering professor at Cornell University, Ithaca, and a founder of Bernier, Carr & Associates.

Watertown Daily Times | Session offers wind pros, cons

Local law will allow tax on alternative energy systems

By Karthy Kellogg CATTARAUGUS CORRESPONDENT
Updated: 09/24/08 7:04 AM

Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2008


By Karthy Kellogg CATTARAUGUS CORRESPONDENT
Updated: 09/24/08 7:04 AM

LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus County has retained its ability to tax alternative energy systems — including wind farms, solar energy systems and on-farm methane digesters — with a 16-2 vote for passage of a local law Tuesday.

The law applies to facilities within the county, including as many as four potential wind farm projects under consideration, and effectively disarms a state tax code provision exempting these energy sources from taxes.

The Cattaraugus County Legislature’s action, termed an “opt out” measure, follows similar resolutions adopted by almost all the school district boards in the county, and officials say these steps could affect the economic viability of the projects and send wind farm developers to the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency seeking financial assistance and incentives.

The vote came after residents and elected officials from the towns of Freedom, Machias and Farmersville stated their opposition in a 45-minute public hearing. Most said they were told the IDA’s payment-in-lieu-of- taxes (PILOT) agreements will unfairly take a share of the wind farms’ monetary payments.

“The people of these towns are going to see the monetary value of their property and the aesthetic quality of their life eroded. They want something of value in return. The people signed an agreement to give them 80 percent of what these projects are making, and we consider it a fair trade. This is not fair in any way,” said Jim Whitaker of the Freedom Town Planning Board, which has just completed a draft of a host community licensing agreement for Noble Environmental Power that spells out a host benefit package for a wind farm spanning Freedom and Farmersville.

Carmen Vecchiarella, D-Salamanca, told the town representatives that the situation is similar to the state’s negotiations to divide the proceeds of slot machine revenues from the casino. He advised them to use their bargaining power to negotiate a better deal.

Jerry E. Burrell, R-Franklinville, told the group he views the local law as a positive move to protect all the county residents.

“We have many [wind projects], three and possibly four. The IDA is chosen by the developers and the IDA gets one-sixteenth of the [project value], the landowner negotiates their own rights with the developer, and the host monies have nothing to do with the IDA. You as town officials deal with the developer and you squeeze that orange, and that is the lion’s share,” Burrell said.

After the meeting, James L. Boser, D-Allegany, whose town officials are also considering a wind farm proposal from Everpower, said he was satisfied that the matter was thoroughly discussed. Joseph C. McLarney, RPortville, said he agreed the law should be passed because the wind farm projects will create impacts and the need for county services in other locations besides the host towns.

“We say we have to be included at the table,” McClarney said.

Freedom Town Board member Warren Schmidt commented after the meeting that the law may not close the door on Noble Environmental’s project but said his board will be looking at the financial numbers in the coming days.

MOE Grants Water Taking Licence for Wolf Island Wind Cement Plant

EBR Posting
September 09, 2008
Any resident of Ontario may seek leave to appeal this decision, by serving written Notice, by September 19, 2008
Permit To Take Water Number (3316-7FAH7C) was issued to Lafarge Canada Inc. on August 18, 2008.
The approved water taking information is the same as requested: Source name: Lake Ontario Purpose: Construction Maximum rate per minute: 400 litres Maximum number of hours of taking a day: 24 Maximum volume per day: 576,000 litres Maximum number of days of taking in a year: 365 Earliest calendar date of taking (mm/dd/yy): 06/01/08Latest calendar date of taking (mm/dd/yy): 06/01/09 Duration of taking: 1 year

NEW TURBINE MAP CAPE VINCENT

AN IMAGINED DIALOGUE ON A WIND FARM STRATEGY

An imagined dialogue on wind-farm strategy

BY LORNA PUNDT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2008
Nancy Madsen's article "Cape Vincent to air turbine zoning plan" (Aug. 15) informs readers the town has appointed a committee to review a new draft wind law. The article listed conflicts of interest for each town officer related to contracts with the wind developer.

For a board that has a history of trying to ram through these wind projects any way they can, why are they suddenly trying to do things by the law? Perhaps the recent investigation of wind-company corruption slapped them into the realization that their questionable actions could actually jeopardize passing a wind law. So they talked to their wind-law lawyers who advised them to do everything right.

Perhaps their conversation went like this: "File your conflict disclosures, everything up front and legal. Dot your i's and cross your t's."

"OK, but how do we get this wind law through? We can't vote if two-thirds of the board has declared a conflict of interest."

"No problem, boys, appoint a committee. Now this committee must appear unbiased, although we know it's subtly stacked pro-wind. Appoint nonconflicted local officials to serve on the committee, and then throw in one pro-wind, and one anti-wind person for good balance. Don't ask for volunteers on this committee. The key is to appoint members to retain control of the process, but yet give the deceptive appearance that all community voices are represented. Once the committee has come up with a weak wind law, one that allows the wind developer almost unrestricted access to the town, and keeps the wind leaseholders happy, then the town board will vote to adopt the wind law."

"But how can we vote to pass our wind law if we have conflicts?"

"Don't worry, you claim you had nothing to do with the committee's recommendations. You have cleverly distanced yourself from the process. You are simply approving what the committee, who represents the community, told you to do. You have no fingerprints on this law."

"The public won't stand for this. They'll sue!""Let them sue, we think this is a position we can defend. By the time they get enough citizens to lawyer up and challenge us, we'll have the turbines up. At which point, the suit is basically meaningless. Why would they waste any more money on preventing something that has already happened?"

See Cape Vincent's new "wind farce" at: www.townofcapevincent.com/images/060208_Cape_Vincent_Wind_Law_Amending_Supplemental_RegulationsA.pdf.
Lorna Pundt Cape Vincent

INDUSTRIALIZATION OF A TINY TOWN

This Is What British Petroleum and

Acciona Spain

have planned for Cape Vincent's future

191, 450 ft. tall industrial turbines

In Rural New York, Windmills Can Bring Whiff of Corruption

By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
Published: August 17, 2008

BURKE, N.Y. — Everywhere that Janet and Ken Tacy looked, the wind companies had been there first.
Wind Turbines Take Over Landscape

Christinne Muschi for The New York Times
To some upstate towns, wind power promises prosperity. Others fear noise, spoiled views and the corrupting of local officials.

The New York Times
Many in upstate New York have signed wind leases.
Dozens of people in their small town had already signed lease options that would allow wind towers on their properties. Two Burke Town Board members had signed private leases even as they negotiated with the companies to establish a zoning law to permit the towers. A third board member, the Tacys said, bragged about the commissions he would earn by selling concrete to build tower bases. And, the Tacys said, when they showed up at a Town Board meeting to complain, they were told to get lost.

 Continue reading via this link

RESIDENTS SEEK WIND TURBINE REBATE

Hundreds of home-owners in Burton-Upon-Stather have warned they will make a mass claim for council tax discount if a plan to build wind turbines alongside their village is given the go-ahead.
Burton against Turbines (BAT) will base their case on a landmark ruling last week by a woman in Lincolnshire, who was granted a discount because her home was rendered worthless by a turbine nearby.BAT last month organized a 400-strong rally against the seven-turbine plan, set for land owned by the family of Sir Reginald Sheffield.
A spokesman said: “If the wind farm does eventually get built we will certainly be looking for a block council tax reduction.
“This landmark case in a court of law has proven that having a nearby wind farm does devalue property.”
Read the full story in Monday’s Telegraph.
Scunthorpe Telegraph
4 August 2008


In this landmark ruling cited in the above story the noise created by the turbines devaluated the property.

I would like to add:
Based on Bp’s record of putting people first these stories must be a grossly distorted. Bp has repeatedly assured us that turbines aren’t noisy and that placement of large scale industrial wind developments near homes doesn’t affect property values in a negative way.
Recently their excellent safety record has been brought to my attention. In Texas Bp actually spent money lobbying so they wouldn’t have to spend money on safety upgrades in their Texas City refinery, I think 15 people died as a result.In August of 2007, Bp decided to increase the amount of pollution it dumps into Lake Michigan. They had all the permits necessary, everything was a go just like Cape Vincent, but the public became enraged when they became aware of Bp’s plan and demanded it be stopped. BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone said in a statement that the company decided not to increase its discharge of toxic materials into Lake Michigan because opposition to the increased discharge created an “unacceptable level of risk”
There are many more examples of BP’s corporate and moral irresponsibility and the people need to get the facts. The green shirts, or shall I say greed shirts, seem to be pleased with themselves but what they aren’t looking at are the long term health implications associated with low frequency noise (LFN) and living in close proximity to large scale industrial wind developments. Sadly the land owners who are hosting turbines on their property may be the people most affected by (LFN) because no matter how green your pockets are wealth can’t buy health.

IS THIS JUST THE BEGINNING?

The link to this story is no longer available
 
Rochester
Democrat And Chronicle
Joseph Spector. Albany Bureau. July 28, 2008

Corruption allegations swirl around push for wind power
The investigation comes as wind-farm companies are lining up at town halls with deep pockets and the promise of economic development for governments starved for new revenue to fund schools, fix roads and pay for emergency services. Roughly 65 wind projects are being developed in New York, and about eight are already operating, mainly in the Southern Tier, the Finger Lakes and the North Country. The state plans to have about 1,000 megawatts of wind power production.

July 28, 2008 by Joseph Spector in Democrat and Chronicle
At first there were sporadic complaints last year to the office of Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne.
Then the outcry grew. North Country residents alleged that undue influence was being put on local leaders to approve multimillion-dollar wind farms, with turbines 200 feet or taller, in their rural communities near the Canadian border.
To Champagne's dismay, he thought some of the public officials approving the contracts were also leasing their own land to the wind developers. Champagne found as many as seven town board members in Franklin County who had apparent conflicts of interest.
"These elected officials (who had lease agreements with wind developers) were the same ones who would have to pass the appropriate local legislation to allow them to be constructed," Champagne said last week at his office in Malone. "And they would do it."
As New York seeks to produce 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2013, the push by developers and the state to expand wind farms is creating unintended results: bitterly divided communities, accusations of corruption and complaints of poor state oversight for a new type of energy.
Champagne calls it New York's version of a "gold rush" and said it could be the next Enron scandal in the making. He sent out a memo to every town board in his county, urging them to adopt stronger ethical codes.
Some critics question whether the wind farms will produce adequate electricity or instead are being built to tap into public subsidies and sell wind-energy credits on the open market to offset pollution from other industries.
Michael Lawrence, supervisor of Brandon in Franklin County, said the battle over whether to have a wind farm "has created devastation in the community."
Champagne has turned over his cardboard box of documents on cases across the state to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Last week, Cuomo issued subpoenas to two of New York's major wind-farm developers, saying that "if dirty tricks are used to facilitate even clean-energy projects, my office will put a stop to it."
The investigation comes as wind-farm companies are lining up at town halls with deep pockets and the promise of economic development for governments starved for new revenue to fund schools, fix roads and pay for emergency services.
Roughly 65 wind projects are being developed in New York, and about eight are already operating, mainly in the Southern Tier, the Finger Lakes and the North Country. The state plans to have about 1,000 megawatts of wind power production - enough to power about 800,000 homes - by year's end.
Advocates and land owners under contract with wind companies say the projects come at an opportune time because of skyrocketing fuel costs.
Paul Wolcott, a farmer from Cohocton, Steuben County, said he expects to have 13 wind turbines operated by First Wind of Newton, Mass., on his property later this year. He will get a percentage of the revenue from the energy sold to suppliers.
"What a waste of taxpayers' dollars for the attorney general to be investigating this," Wolcott said. "Here we are talking about getting an alternative source of energy, a renewable source that's local."
First Wind and Noble Environmental Power LLC of Essex, Conn., are being investigated by Cuomo's office. A First Wind spokesman could not be reached for comment last week, and a Noble spokeswoman declined to comment.
Critics of the companies said their concern is not whether wind is a viable alternative energy source. They worry that wind companies are running roughshod over ill-prepared town boards, the final arbiters for the projects, and allege that companies are deliberately entering into contracts with town officials to grease the process.
In Prattsburgh, Steuben County, Supervisor Harold McConnell has come under fire for voting on wind-farm issues and also reportedly having a contract with a wind developer, according to the Naples Record.
In Hamlin, residents have questioned the role of Town Board member Paul Rath, who said he has leased land to a developer but has been abstaining from votes about wind energy. He did, however, vote to start a Wind Advisory Committee.
Opponents say public officials sometimes negotiate agreements with wind companies, and then leave office and go to work for them.
"We need a consistent, thorough, comprehensive regulatory process that oversees the development of all these projects," said James Hall, a founder of Cohocton Wind Watch.
Hall and others contend that the state plays too small a role in the oversight of wind farms. Lawmakers have been trying to devise a more comprehensive system of regulation, but after years of debate the Legislature has been incapable of producing a law to streamline site selection for power plants.
"It puts a lot of pressure on municipalities who have to make tough decisions," said Carol Murphy, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, which represents wind companies and wind-energy supporters.
Murphy said, "we expect our members to uphold the highest, strictest standards of developing projects" and said groups opposing the wind farms often make baseless claims.
She and some state regulatory officials said the state has adequate oversight and provides aid and incentives only to properly vetted projects.
"They can't sell any credits without producing energy," said John Saintcross, senior project manager for the state Energy Research and Development Authority.
Some of the opponents' protests have made their way to court. In Howard, Steuben County, Gerald Hedman is suing to seek the removal of Town Board member William Hatch, who is also the county Republican chairman, for alleged conflicts of interest. The case is to be heard in October in state appellate court in Rochester.
The lawsuit contends that Hatch spent years negotiating with a wind company and has voted on local laws that affect wind development, according to Hedman's attorney, Arthur Giacalone. This year Hatch entered into an agreement with EverPower Renewables that could put turbines on his property, but he said he has since recused himself when the board deals with wind-farm issues.
"They have been suing us for every reason they can, and this appears to be the last one they came up with, I guess," Hatch said of the wind-farm opponents. He said a company has only an option to lease his land and he won't receive any money unless a wind project is built.
If the town gets the 25 wind towers proposed, Hatch said, it could reduce town property taxes 40 percent because of payments made by the company to the local government.
"For the community, it's a great thing," he said.


Mr. Spectors story sounds similar to Cape Vincent.

Recently it was reported


Community Forum Case Middle School June 17, 2008

State attorney general Andrew Cuomo hosted a community forum as part of his Community Partnership Initiative.

He was here to listen to local residents’ concerns about state government.

Some people came with questions specifically about the North Country, like protecting the environment and wind farm development - saying they’d like to see the state help out.

“We’ve had warning flags that have gone up with possible corruption in different arrangements.
It’s like anything else. It could be a good opportunity, but it has to be done right and it has to be done carefully,” said Cuomo.

Cuomo will take what he heard and bring it back to his office.
He has had other meetings like this across the state.

Sometimes he even launches investigations based on what he hears...


This is interesting and perhaps only the beginning.

As A Man of the People
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been actively seeking out and pursuing injustice across this great state.


Will the winds of change be blowing Hurricane Andrew our way?

* Bp Reveals turbine sites for Cape Vincent

Sites of 95 wind turbines are unveiled

BP Alternative Energy revealed the setting of 95 turbines for the Cape Vincent Wind Farm on Wednesday with a room full of displays, two large maps and a speaker who heartily endorsed wind power.
The evening at Cape Vincent Recreation Park on South James Street drew more than 100 people and lasted just over three hours, with the majority of that time devoted to conversations between residents and BP representatives.

By Rachael HanleyTimes Staff Writer
Watertown Daily Times
31 July 2008

Turbine woe couple in council tax victory

 Story found at  from National Wind Watch
Tax Break for turbine case couple

A couple who say their home has been blighted by noise from a wind farm have won a 20% reduction in council tax because the house’s value has dropped.
Julian and Jane Davis moved into a house on Mr Davis’ farm in 2001 and planned to extend the property.
In 2006, eight 100m (328ft) wind turbines were put up 930m (3,051ft) from the house in Spalding.
A council tax tribunal panel ruled the wind farm had reduced the value of the house and changed it from Band B to A.
“This has completely blighted our lives,” said Mrs Davis. “Most of the time the noise is serious and all the time it is annoying.
“By September 2006 [three months after the turbines were installed], we were forced to sleep on people’s floors just so we could get a night’s sleep. By December we decided to rent another house so we would have somewhere to sleep.”
‘Real not imagined’
Wind Prospect Group Limited, which constructed the turbines, said investigators did not find the noise was a nuisance.
The couple claim they can hear different types of noise at various times of the day and night, including “swishing, ripping/flashing, low frequency humming and mechanical turning, background roar and helicopter noise (aerodynamic modulation)”.
Their council tax was reduced by £200 a year, Mrs Davis said.
Although investigators sent by the Lincolnshire Valuation Tribunal to measure noise levels did not find any problems, the panel conceded the construction of the windfarm “had had a significant detrimental effect on the appellants’ quiet enjoyment of their properties.
“The tribunal therefore found that the nuisance caused by the wind farm was real and not imagined and it would have had some effect upon the potential sale price of the appeal dwellings.”
In a statement, the developer Wind Prospect Group said: “After a review of recordings obtained and their own observations on site, the opinion of the environmental health professionals was that at no time did the noise experienced or recorded amount to a statutory noise nuisance.”
The turbines are now owned and operated by Fenland Windfarms Ltd, a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles.
By Stephen Briggs

Link here to read article

29 July 2008

 Original By Stephen Briggs

Peterborough Evening Telegraph

29 July 2008

*STATEWIDE-Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launches Investigation into Wind Developments

July-18-2008



Cuomo investigating alleged 'dirty tricks' in local windmill projects



STATEWIDE—State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launches an investigation aimed at two out of state companies developing wind farms in Lackawanna and across New York .[1]





"We've had a number of complaints from counties all over the state, from Franklin all the way over to Erie," said John Milgrim, spokesman for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne was among "DAs from eight counties, public officials and citizens" who bombarded Albany with complaints about Noble and Massachusetts-based First Wind, formerly known as UPC Wind, he said. Subpoenas were served on both companies Tuesday, seeking an assortment of documents pertaining to agreements and easements obtained from property owners and public officials.[7] Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the investigation was launched against First Wind, formerly UPC Wind, which developed the Steel Winds turbine, and Noble Environmental Power after complaints made by residents and public officials alike.[8] Back in May, wind-farm opponents pressed the state Attorney General's Office for an investigation into allegations of false claims, filing false instruments, bribery of public officials, larceny and fraud. Those accused by Cohocton Wind Watch of illegal actions are the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, SCIDA Executive Director James Sherron, town and planning board members in several towns including Cohocton and Prattsburgh, and wind developers EcoGen and First Wind. Allegations by citizens' group include: the wind developers knowingly provided and submitted false statements and false instruments for permits and during environmental studies; the developers improperly influenced public officials through cash bribes, lucrative lease terms, bogus real estate transactions, purchase of personal property and contingent real estate purchase offers; developers seeking leases for wind turbine sites or easements for access roads and transmission lines have lied to convince landowners to sign away their rights.[9]



Overview of subpoenas issued



The subpoenas issued Tuesday were for all documents related to benefits conferred to an individual or entity in connection with wind farms; all agreements, easements or contracts regarding placement of wind turbines; agreements between wind companies that could indicate anti-competitive practices; and anything pertaining to payments or benefits received from local, state or federal agencies, according to Cuomo's office.[4] The subpoenas also seek all agreements on the placement of wind turbines, any non-compete clauses, and any payments to or benefits received from local, state or federal agencies.[3]





First Wind has three operational wind farms and 48 others in development across the country, according to its Web site. [9] Wind farm opponents were thrilled by the news that Cuomo's office is looking into the two developers. "We're ecstatic that is finally listening to what New York State taxpayers have been saying: that this is nothing but a total rip-off of the taxpayer," said Judy Hall, a member of Cohocton Wind Watch, which is fighting a First Wind wind farm in its community. Hall complained that communities aren't made aware of proposed wind farms until they're already approved and accused local leaders and developers of striking under-the-table deals to get the projects approved.[4] First Wind, which has several wind power generation projects in upstate, and Noble Environmental Power, which has projects in Western New York, are being looked at by Cuomo for possible anti-competitive practices.[2]



Noble Environmental Power has wind farm projects in Allegany, Chatauqua, and Wyoming Counties.[8] Chester, Connecticut-based Noble Environmental is operating three wind farms and five in development in Clinton, Franklin, Allegany, Chautauqua and Wyoming counties.[6]



First Wind has wind farms in development in Steuben, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming counties in New York.[6] First Wind, according to Cuomo, have been developing wind farms in Erie County and has wind farms in development in Steuben, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming counties.[3] First Wind has three operational wind farms and 48 others under development across the United States and in Steuben, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming counties.[7] First Wind built the Steel Winds project along Lake Erie in the city of Lackawanna and has wind farms in development in Steuben, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming (GenWY Wind) counties.[1]



the use of wind power, like all renewable energy sources, "The use of wind power, like all renewable energy sources, should be encouraged to help clean our air and end our reliance on fossil fuels," Cuomo said in a statement. "However, public integrity remains a top priority of my office and if dirty tricks are used to facilitate even clean-energy projects, my office will put a stop to it," he said.[4] In a written statement, Cuomo said the use of wind power is encouraged. He added that if dirty tricks are involved, his office will intervene. [5]







SOURCES



1. Wind farm deals under investigation - Business First of Buffalo:

2. Wind farm developers being investigated by state attorney general: Home: The Buffalo News

3. Cuomo investigates wind companies | PoughkeepsieJournal.com | Poughkeepsie Journal

4. Cuomo investigating alleged 'dirty tricks' in local windmill projects: City & Region: The Buffalo News

5. wbfo Newsroom



6. Wind-energy Companies Face Investigation

7. The Press Republican - Noble wind-energy firm under investigation

8. WBEN 930 : NYS Investigates Steel Winds Developer

9. Wind companies being investigated - Rochester, NY - MPNnow

draft

Lack of Ability or Lack of Character?

The special Senate election between Will Barclay and Darrel Aubertine brought forth accusations of a conflict of interest for Darrel Aubertine.
February 23, 2008 The Valley news on line reported that on June 4, 2003, Assemblyman Aubertine voted in favor of legislation that would allow farmers to host wind turbines without having their property-tax assessments increased.
Responding to accusations of a conflict of interest in a television interview Aubertine denied voting on any wind power issues “no, not at all, “he said “I never-one way or the other- certainly not for personal gain.

February 22, 2008 the Syracuse Post standard wrote that when the Standard’s editorial board asked Aubertine if he thought it was appropriate to vote on a measure that affected his own property he responded, “If it was me alone, no” but, he said, “it’s not me, it’s the town and dozens of other landowners ."

A spokesperson for the Aubertine campaign denied any conflict of interest.

“That vote happened over a year before he sold his wind rights,” Aubertine spokesperson Cort Ruddy said, “those towers, if they are ever built, would be owned by the company and would not impact Darrel’s assessment at all. ”Ruddy added that the only approval process is done locally. “The company is going to set up an arrangement with the town for payment-in-lieu of taxes (pilot payments) and there’s usually no assessment,” Ruddy noted.

~~~
It is true that the June 4, 2003 vote occurred over a year before Aubertine sold his wind rights however, May, 25 2003 the Watertown Times reported that  then Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine said a company had approached him about installing wind-powered generators on his property and the properties belonging to three of his neighbors. Aubertine also said the company had been monitoring the wind in the town of Cape Vincent for a year and determined it was ideal for wind development.
 
New York wind/ Acciona applied for a met tower permit for a parcel on Constance road in May of 2002, over a year before the vote in question. Additionally Aubertines spokesperson deflected the conflict question by responding about assessments and PILOT payments when the bill was about land conversion penalties .

Previously, when land receiving an agricultural assessment was converted to a non-agricultural use, it was subject to a conversion payment equaling five times the taxes paid in the last year in which it received the assessment, plus interest of 6% per year for each year it received the assessment, up to five years.
 
The bill Aubertine signed eliminated this tax penalty for farmers changing the use of their land from agricultural to non-agricultural.
If Aubertine hosts wind turbines on his land he will directly benefit from this bill.
  
Aubertines problems did not end with the election, after being elected ,Aubertine hired his sister to work in his district office, violating the ethics reform legislation he co-sponsored in 2007 He called it "an error in judgment." The ethics reform law he broke called for a 40,000 penalty for this type of “error in judgment.”

Darrel Aubertine had another error in judgment that has plagued him through his political career Darrel Aubertines shameful letter to the Cape Vincent Town Board encouraging board members to vote even though they had conflicts of interest.

 To date this letter is the Single most down loaded and viewed document on my blog.

Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent

Wind energy claims to be clean. Unfortunately, we can't say that about wind company ethics and some local town officials entangled in wind issues. There's a deafening silence from leaders entrusted with the public welfare. Conflicts of interest between wind companies and town boards appear to be a regular occurrence in small communities hypnotized by financial gain.

In Cape Vincent, town officials appear to have conflicts of interest with wind companies, yet the town has no public record of these contracts. There is only hearsay, conveniently enabling town officials to cloud the question while remaining in office. Remember that the Jefferson County Ethics Board recommended that these officials should recuse themselves from voting on wind power issues.

Watertown Daily Times | Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent

BP sign Cape Vincent NY