First Wind swindle has just committed another heist by James Hall

Naples Record September 9, 2009 publication of this Editorial
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At the risk of insulting the Bard of Avon, Mark Anthony is screaming from the grave. “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” For far too many years, the citizens of Western New York remained silent in the face of the most politically protected criminal organized scheme to defraud the taxpayer and electric ratepayer in our history.

In the 9/1/09 Democratic and Chronicle business section, the following article appeared - Southern Tier wind farm gets $74.6 million in grants.

First Wind using two of their deceptive shell LLC, Canandaigua Power Partners I & II, was awarded by the Department of Energy, $74.6 million in federal stimulus grants. That is YOUR money, or better put; it is one further liability that will require more borrowing from foreign lenders to finance an exploding national debt. This offense stinks of a stench that can be masked no longer with slick TV ads and messianic evangelism of a twisted ‘PC Green’ religion.

The Cohocton First Wind project simply DOES NOT WORK !!!

Even naive leaseholders had that reality pressed home when their meager July payment was absent of their 2.5% electric production amount. Simply put, the First Wind project did not generate any significant electricity for sale to the grid. Even the Byzantine NYS ISO records show that the CPP I & CPP II, are not grid ready to supply all those bogus claims of bountiful energy.

All summer long the third major refurbish of failed Clipper turbine components continues. It comes as no surprise when you see the blades stand silent in a windless season.

So why would the Obama administration bestow such a huge gift, which is more than 28% of the disclosed SEC S1 IPO application original cost of the project, to First Wind? The D & C reporter Steve Orr provides part of the answer:

“First Wind has ties to the administration of President Barack Obama. A New York City hedge fund, D.E. Shaw & Co., is a major investor in First Wind, according to statements issued in recent years by First Wind. Lawrence H. Summers, who now heads Obama's National Economic Council, was a compensated managing director at D.E. Shaw before leaving late last year.

The firm's founder, David E. Shaw, is a member of Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.”

At the 9/3/09 Hornell Town Meeting, Congressman Eric Massa expressed his profound outrage with this despicable and unconscionable abuse of public funds. He vowed to initiate a GAO investigation into the issuance of the grant, hoping to block the funds.

If this example of ‘special interest’ cronyism is not enough, prepare yourself for the next application to the DOE. Clipper Windpower has applied for a $300,000,000 federal loan guarantee. Yes, you guessed it – so that they can pay for the repairs to the 50 Cohocton Liberty 2.5 MG turbines!

The favored and protected status of First Wind has been visible at every step in the sordid process of defrauding ordinary Americans. This wicked Caesar is a creature of Goldman Sachs and their Wall Street Cap and Trade proponents. Friends and countrymen, will you finally join the fight? For the Republic to survive, the likes of First Wind need to be buried. “Brutus is an honourable man”, ARE YOU?

James Hall
Cohocton Wind Watch