Learn from Canadian Wind Public Policy

Gov. Joe Manchin III
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, E.,
Charleston, WV 25305

Dear Governor Manchin,

Citizens of Ontario are closely watching the wind debate south of the border. Air pollution kills Americans and Ontarians alike. Coal produces 50% of America’s electricity and 15% of Ontario’s. Ontario’s coal plants alone caused 3850 premature deaths and health and environmental damages totaling $12.5 billion between 2000 and 2006. Had the Ontario government installed $1.8 billion in up-to-date emission controls on its coal units, the emission controls would have paid for themselves in NINE MONTHS. Instead the Ontario government has procured 400 MWs of wind generation costing $2.5 billion. Ontario’s long term plan is to build 5000 MWs wind generation for $10 billion and have consumers pay premium power rates.

Because wind is not reliable, the Germans, with about 15% of their installed generation being wind, give wind a 6% capacity value. A generous 10% capacity value, would allow wind to permanently retire about 500 MWs coal for $10 billion. That’s $20 million per MW or 10 times the cost of new high efficient coal or 8 times the cost of new nuclear-both being 85% plus efficient vs. wind’s 25%! Wind needs to be backed up for 75% of wind's rated energy because wind fluctuates. Building more wind only reduces the capacity value and it becomes a wasteful exercise. So really wind can’t replace coal without building new sources to back up wind. And if you are going to build new gas plants, why build wind in the first place. The dollars would be better spent on reducing the fossil fuels we burn for transportation, industry, commerce and residential use which account for most of the fossil fuel use anyway!? While gas is cleaner than coal, the gas fuel cycle still emits 50% of GHGs of coal. And if you are going to keep burning coal, install emission controls because wind can not significantly reduce conventional power generation with wind as the Germans are finding. The Germans are building new high efficiency coal plants. The French obtain 80% of their electricity from nuclear.

On August 1, 2006, Ontario set a new record for power consumption, smashing the previous year’s record by almost 1,000 megawatts. Our dollars would be better spent on conserving and reducing the amount of energy we use vs. inefficient wind farms, polluting gas plants and trading pollution credits as we kill people and destroy the planet.

Sincerely,
Ron Mattmer
Owen Sound
Ontario, Canada

NYRI routes not OK, Schumer says by Tom Grace

A spokesman for New York Regional Interconnect Inc. said Thursday that company officials had ``very productive’’ discussions Wednesday in Washington with staff members from the offices of New York’s U.S. senators, Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton.

Representing the company, which has proposed building a $1.6 billion power line, were project manager William May and NYRI attorney Leonard Singer, according to David Kalson, a spokesman for the firm.

Clinton’s media staff could not be reached and did not return two telephone calls Thursday.

However, Schumer’s office sent an e-mail to The Daily Star, which reads: ``NYRI’s proposed routes are inappropriate; they would cut a jagged edge through too many communities and priceless, pristine areas.

(click to read entire article)

Head Of School To Testify Against UPC Wind Project bY JEANNE MILES

Karen Fitzhugh, head of the King George School in Sutton, will testify against a proposed wind farm in neighboring Sheffield.

However, she will not be testifying on behalf of the private school but on behalf of the town of Sutton.

"I thought her testimony was important to the town of Sutton," Daniel Hershenson, a lawyer hired by the town to fight the project, said Wednesday. The school had indicated Fitzhugh would testify, if subpoenaed, he said. One was issued Feb. 12, he said.

(click to read entire article)

Finger Lakes Windfarm Update - Alice Sokolow

Submit your concerns to the DEC, FWC and especially the PSC and DOT where applicable. Copy to the lead agent and Towns.

1. Ecogen

Ecogen has changed its name!! It is now Ecogen Wind, LLC.

Hearing March 12 7 PM Be there and be prepared!!
Italy Town Hall

Ecogen Substation- Town is allowing GEIS from project instead of SEQR specific to substation. Asking for variances!!

Note: Offices open on Tues and Thursday; hours limited. Call ahead.

Substation application and EAF along with Exhibits A through V submitted on Jan 9, 2007.
QNA plus Addendum WXY submitted on Feb 22, 2007.

Available to the public for viewing.
Inclusive in QNA is request for future turbine development.

It is believed that they are considering public utility status.

2. UPC

UPC Wind, LLC and all its affiliates!!
Windfarm Prattsburgh
Canandaigua Power Partners - CPP I - Cohocton Windpower
Canandaigua Power Partners - CPP II - Dutch Hill
Phase 3 and 4 coming to your neighborhood!!!

Cohocton will have site plan review on or around March 22 and April 5.
Watch for postings!! Very confusing when a "Canandaigua" company name has a project in Cohocton and advertizes in the Hornell Tribune.

And all with no answers to comments on the Draft EIS or Supplemental EIS!!!!!!! SEQR is not complete!!

Where are the promised site reviews for each turbine separately after SEQR??
Where are the responses to the concerns of the DEC, SHPO, DOT and especially the PSC let alone the public!!!

CPP I submitted to PSC for a Certification of Publci Need and Benefit!!! Before the SEQR was complete!! Again!!! CWW and the AFP submitted in time. Write your concerns to:

Secretary Brillings
Case #
Cohocton Wind Energy- CPP I

UPC is multi tasking and multi projecting?? Why? Maybe Vermont or Mars Hill may be very telling of who UPC Wind is and how they handle their projects!!

3. SCIDA

Still lease/ lease backing wind projects left and right!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$ GREEN??????
Check out Howard!!!

Paragon Wind Energy Generating Project - www.clipperwind.com/paragon/
Windfarm Prattsburgh Project - www.WindfarmPrattsburgh.com
Ecogen Prattsburgh-Italy Wind Farm - www.ecogeneis.com
Howard Wind LLC – www.howardwind.com
Look at their current activity!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!

Current Activities

Smart Systems - proposed new construction
Bell Independent Power Corp. - feasibility study
Clipper WindPower Development Company, Inc. - working on SEQR
Ecogen, LLC - working on SEQR
WindFarm Prattsburgh, LLC - working on SEQR
Airtricity, Inc. - working on SEQR
Howard Wind LLC - working on SEQR
Conifer Realty, LLC - Apartment renovation
Automated Cell & Equipment, Inc. - Expansion
T & K Realty, LLC - Renovation
Wyckoff Gas Storage Company, L.L.C. - SEQR completed awaiting developer to go forward
Canandaigua Power Partners, LLC - in negotiations with Payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreement
New Avoca Gas Storage, LLC - project still looking at feasibility

2006-07 SCIDA Budget - (pdf)

4. Election Time- Seats up!!

Italy-

Prattsburgh-

Cohocton-

Wind does not help fight global warming

Rowe, Mass., March 1, 2007 — Wind power will not help in the fight against global warming, says National Wind Watch, a coalition of individuals and grass-roots groups from around the country. Although many environmentalists look favorably towards large-scale wind power, it has proven to be ineffective and counterproductive.

Wind generated only 0.36 percent of the total electricity produced in the U.S. in 2005, according to the 2007 “Annual Energy Outlook” from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.1 They project that wind’s share will be only 0.89 percent in 2030. A determined push could increase that number, but with many undesirable consequences for the environment, wildlife, and human health — as documented on the National Wind Watch web site: www.wind-watch.org.

(click to read the entire article)

A new wind is blowing by Travis Morse

Lawsuit by 10 plaintiffs could block wind farm in Stephenson County

FREEPORT - Ten Stephenson County property owners objecting to the proposed Lancaster Wind Farm near Dakota filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to invalidate the farm's special-use permit and prevent the project from moving forward.

The plaintiffs include David and Kris Parrish, Don and Rita Koch, Rick and Joyce Giles, Carl and Sharon Wise, and Jerry and Marcia Maize, all of whom are adjacent property owners to the proposed wind farm. Listed as defendants in the suit are the Stephenson County Board, County Board Chairman John Blum, the county Zoning Board of Appeals, Zoning Board Chairman Jim Yeoman, Lancaster Wind Farm LLC, Navitas Energy Inc., and Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica, S.A.

(click to read the entire article)

Noise Radiation From Wind Turbines Installed Near Homes

Wind turbines are large industrial structures that create obtrusive environmental noise pollution when built too close to dwellings. This annotated review of evidence and research by experts considers the impact of industrial-scale wind turbines suffered by those living nearby. First, the paper includes the comments by some of the families affected by wind turbines, as well as coverage in news media internationally. The experiences described put a human face to the science of acoustics.

Second, the paper reviews research articles within the field of acoustics concerning the acoustic properties of wind turbines and noise. The acoustic characteristics of wind turbines are complex and in combination produce acoustic radiation. Next, the paper reviews the health effects that may result from the acoustic radiation caused by wind turbines, as well as the health effects from noise, because the symptoms parallel one another. Primarily, the consequent health response includes sleep deprivation and the problems that ensue as a result. In addition, this paper reviews articles that report research about the body's response not only to the audible noise, but also to the inaudible components of noise that can adversely affect the body's physiology. Research points to a causal link between unwanted sound and sleep deprivation and stress, i.e., whole body physiologic responses.

These injuries are considered in the context of Human Rights, where it is contended that the environmental noise pollution destroys a person's effective enjoyment of right to respect for home and private life, a violation of Article 8 of the European Court of Human fights Act. Furthermore, the paper considers the consequent devaluation of a dwelling as a measure of part of the damage that arises when wind turbines are sited too close to a dwelling, causing acoustic radiation and consequent adverse health responses.

The review concludes that a safe buffer zone of at least 2km should exist between family dwellings and industrial wind turbines of up to 2MW installed capacity, with greater separation for a wind turbine greater than 2MW installed capacity

New York Regional Interconnection

New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) is a group of investors, engineers, legal advisors, economists and environmental scientists proposing to build a transmission line that would bring energy from areas with abundant supply to areas with demand. NYRI is working with state leaders and communities to enhance public understanding of energy issues, support conservation and promote responsible energy production. NYRI is led by Richard Muddiman, President and CEO; William May, Project Manager; and Leonard Singer, General Counsel.

NYRI is owned by a consortium of investors led by American Consumer Industries (ACI), an investment holding company that specializes in environmentally sensitive power generation technologies and applications.

400 MW of Wind Capacity Produces O MW of Power

At noon today I checked how much power was being produced by the wind farms in Ontario. The govt. has this idea that if they spread the wind farms around the province wind farms will produce power. Their logic is that it has to be windy somewhere. Port Burwell = O MW Kingsbridge l = O MW Amaranth = O MW and last but not least Princefarm = O MW. Lets add that up now. 400 plus MW of wind capacity producing O MW of power at noon today.

Mr. Dwight Duncan our esteemed Energy Minster wants more wind power. Maybe it’s time Duncan and McGuinty had a brain scan. I think most of the wind in Ontario is blowing around between their ears.

Time to wake up people.

Time to raise a little hell………….or you can do nothing, but please don’t bitch and complain when your hydro bills go through the roof. This province doesn’t belong to McGuinty, Duncan or the wind industry, it belongs to you. Please act accordingly.

Remember when Bush said he knew what he was doing in Iraq. McGuinty and Duncan have ignored all the advice from the experts to follow their green dream and if it’s not stopped it is going to cost you and your children dearly.

Send an e-mail, write a letter or make a phone call.
If you own a plane a little sky writing might be a nice touch.
Get active!
There’s nothing on TV anyway
I am your Energy minister and I want more wind

Use domain name url for Reform Cohocton

New domain name url http://reformcohocton.org/ redirect to Reform Cohocton.

This address point to http://reformcohocton.blogspot.com/

This is My Land...I can do what I want

That seems to be a common quote I hear from landowners that want wind turbines on their land. Well, gee, I have 9.5 acres of land. I think I'll set up a go-cart track. Run lights around the property, bright ones, so they can run all night. I love live music, so I will put a stage in the center of it all, with bands playing until 2am. Cap it all off every night with a fireworks display. Of course we'll sell beer and other drinks. I can do that....right? No? Why not?

Oh, yeah, there's this thing called "zoning ordinances." I forgot about those. What the heck are they for? They're keeping me from building that cool track with all that neat stuff, and of course the money I make turns into tax revenues, boosts traffic in the area, great for tourism, what's the problem? Oh, these "zoning ordinances" are set up for the "general welfare?" Do you mean it's not just about me and my wants, that I have to consider my neighbors? Well, there's a concept.

(click to read entire article)

Low Frequency Noise and Infrasound

This literary report [which was submitted to the U.K. Dept. of Trade and Industry] has combined a variety of study findings and concludes there is a case to answer when land based animals and freshwater creatures are exposed to noise at low Hz levels. [Appendix B is a table of creatures, from alligators to whales, and the documented effects of noise exposure.]

Because of the limitations of our hearing it would be easy to suppose that noises beyond our receiving range do not exist and should therefore be of no concern to us. Yet both very high and extremely low inaudible sounds may be harmful to us and other animals with similar but not identical ranges of hearing.

(click to read entire article)

Hamlin wind tower committee faces overflow crowd

Moratorium on tower placement to be considered

Questions, criticism and bewilderment characterized the exchanges made by attendees in the full-to-overflowing meeting room at the Town of Hamlin offices during the February 20 wind tower committee meeting. Several individuals called for the meeting to be canceled and rescheduled at a larger venue so those individuals who were forced to stand in the hall could hear and have their comments heard.

(click to read entire article)

A Brief Cost-Benefit Analysis of Industrial Windpower

Here's a cost-benefit analysis for a relatively small windplant with sixty-six 2.5 MW turbines for a combined rated capacity of 140 MWs. Each turbine will stand about 430 feet tall and will require around 15 acres of cleared land and infrastructure support. Spaced eight to a mile, the array would extend for over seven miles. With a generous capacity factor of 30 percent, this facility might contribute 42 MWs of electricity annually to the PJM grid, .000026 percent of the grid's annual production of 163,000 MWs—an amount that would be engulfed in the first minutes of our increasing demand for electricity (at two percent per year). If this power were generated by coal or nuclear, with capacity factors approaching 90 percent and with a predictable and constant stream of energy, it would service about 30,000 homes. However, because of the intermittent, unpredictable nature of wind, no homes would be powered by the wind industry. Given this limitation and the fact that industrial electricity must be consumed immediately, wind can generate only energy, not capacity, to the electricity grid.

Because of federal and state subsidies to the wind industry, corporate investors should expect:

• 
  $15 million annually from the sale of electricity, given state laws requiring utilities to purchase "green" energy at prices beyond competitive rates. The wind industry will likely charge utilities at least five cents per kW hour—twice the cost of coal. This cost will ultimately be borne by ratepayers.
• 
  Over $200 million leveraged over the ten year life of the wind industry's Congressional production tax credits, currently at 1.9 cents per kW hour. Since production tax credits will result in a deficit to the federal treasury, this loss will have to be made up by taxpayers.
• 
  Equity investors such as AES and Florida Power and Light will have access to wind's double declining capital depreciation schedule, paying off the capital costs totaling about $140 million in little more than five years. Altogether, publicly funded tax avoidance schemes reimburse wind developers as much as two-thirds of the capital costs of each wind turbine.

The wind company might employ three or four maintenance employees at a salary of about $18,500, with no additional benefits and no guarantee they would be county or state residents. Its contracts with property owners offer unsecured promises of a few thousand dollars per year. Its promises about adding millions of dollars annually to the local public treasury often often spurious public relations gestures, since the company can afford to retain accountants with a sophisticated knowledge of energy tax law who will find ways to offset any perceived tax obligation, as has happened with windplants in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Jon Boone Oakland, MD

The Top Ten False and Misleading Claims the Windpower Industry makes for Projects in the Eastern United States

1. Industrial wind developers are interested only in providing a public service. Their primary purpose is to take advantage of extraordinary income sheltering opportunities... More...

2. Windplants do not harm wildlife. Despite industry insistence this won't happen, it already has... More...

3. Windplants will reduce the mining/burning of fossil fuels and lessen dependence on foreign oil. The wind industry in the East will not put much of a dent in our reliance on fossil fuels. More...

4. Windplants are highly efficient and provide power for significantnumbers of homes. Wind technology is relatively feckless. More...

5. Locals who oppose the wind industry are NIMBYS. One of the most persistent hypocrisies from corporate wind... More...

6. Windplants will generate significant local revenue and increaseproperty values. ...two recently constructed windplants... have contributed virtually nothing to the local tax base. More...

7. The wind industry will create many local jobs. This is a cruel untruth, especially in economically depressed areas... More...

8. Wind technology is noiseless and creates few disturbances. Large wind turbines... create profound noise reverberations extending out... More...

9. Wind technology consists of "windmills" on "wind farms." The reality is that they are mammoth industrial factories... More...

10. Those who are concerned about windpower are not true environmentalists. The facts demonstrate otherwise. Notable environmentalists who have studied... More...