State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo reported today he has started investigating two companies developing and operating wind farms amid allegations of improper dealings with public officials and anti-competitive practices.
One of the companies served a subpoena is Massachusetts-based First Wind (formerly known as UPC Wind). First Wind began construction last fall of roughly 50 turbines in Cohocton, located in Steuben County just over the Ontario County line. First Wind also has plans for a 36-turbine project in Prattsburgh and Naples.
Wind farms are clusters of large electricity-generating turbines powered by wind and connected to the electric grid.
The investigation seeks to find out whether First Wind and Connecticut-based Noble Environmental Power LLC sought or obtained land-use agreements with citizens and public officials through bribes and submitted false statements for permits and during environmental studies.
The Office of the Attorney General said it is responding to complaints from citizens, groups and officials in eight counties.
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.
The Attorney General's subpoenas seek, among other things:
• All documents concerning any benefits conferred on any individual or entity in connection with wind-farm activity.
• All agreements, easements or contracts with individuals regarding placement of wind turbines.
• Agreements between wind companies that may indicate anti-competitive practices.
• All documents pertaining to any payments or benefits received from local, state or federal agencies.
First Wind has three operational wind farms and 48 others in development across the country, according to its Web site. First Wind developed the Steel Winds wind farm in Erie County and has wind farms in development in Steuben, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming counties.
Noble Environmental Power LLC has three active wind farms and five in development in Allegany, Chautauqua, Clinton, Franklin and Wyoming counties.
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