WARREN — A new court ruling will delay the Jordanville Wind project and is raising questions whether the developer might drop the project in southern Herkimer County.
State Supreme Court Justice Donald Greenwood of Onondaga County ruled that the Warren Town Board failed to look closely enough at the project’s potential impact. The town was the lead agency for a state-required environmental review.
The town’s process and decision to approve the review was “arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion,” Greenwood’s decision states.
The judge also ruled that the Warren and Stark town boards acted in violation of the state’s Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law, and he awarded attorney’s fees to the environmental group that brought the lawsuit against the wind-turbine project.
The decision renders an already completed environmental review null and void. That means the developer would have to start the lengthy process over.
The fallout
Plaintiffs pleased: Residents group Otsego 2000 and other neighbors of the project area are hoping the ruling stops the project, which many oppose on account of the possible impact of tall turbines on the rural landscape.
Leon Zgirski of Warren, one of the people suing, said he worked his whole life to be able to live in the country.
“I don’t want to see the towers messing up the scenery,” Zgirski said.
Towns may lose funds: If the project is cancelled, it will mean millions of dollars in losses for the towns of Warren and Stark, the Owen D. Young Central School District and Herkimer County, said Bernard Melewski, a Saratoga attorney who represents Warren and Stark.
“At best, it’s creating a delay that harms the taxpayers in both towns,” Melewski said. “At worst, the company could decide not to pursue the project.
‘Back to square one’
Project developer Jordanville Wind of Iberdrola Renewable Energy USA could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Fifteen residents of Warren and Stark filed a lawsuit against the proposed wind project, citing what they said was an inadequate environmental review.
Douglas Zamelis, a Manlius attorney who represents the petitioners, said he is pleased with the decision.
“I imagine it’s devastating news for the towns and the developer,” Zamelis said. “It sends the project back to square one.”
Zamelis also assisted Otsego 2000 during state Public Service Commission hearings dealing with the project.
In August, the state commission accepted a scaled-down version of the project – deciding to reduce it from a 68-turbine, 136-megawatt project to a 49-turbine, 98-megawatt project to avoid negative environmental impacts on the Glimmerglass Historic District.
The Herkimer County Legislature voted in October to support the towns in an attempt to seek a new hearing before the commission.
Each delay and each turbine eliminated results in less money for the two small, agricultural towns, for the school district and for a county facing the expenses of possibly building a new county jail.
Town leaders concerned
When asked his reaction to the decision, Warren town Supervisor Richard Jack spent the next several seconds laughing, before saying he is disappointed and looking into the town’s options.
Money from the projects would cover much if not all of the town’s budget, he said.
But Jack said he doesn’t think the project will be cancelled – just possibly built smaller and further into the future. The developer, like the towns, has put too much time and money into it, he said.
“I think they’re committed to the project,” he said.
Melewski said it’s likely the towns will appeal, but a decision hasn’t been made. The decision relies on the developer’s plans, he said.
“It seemed like a nice fit for the towns,” Melewski said. “We were very surprised at the outcome and very disappointed.”
Any appeal would go to the Appellate Division’s Fourth Department, in Rochester.
If this project is scrapped, it would likely hurt the entire county because it would scare other developers from coming to Herkimer County, said Stark resident Shirley Mower, on whose property some of the turbines would go.
“It wasn’t enough that eight landowners were penalized when they took 19 turbines,” she said. “All the landowners up here are totally devastated.”
Mower declined to say what actions she hopes to take next, but said something will be done.
“It’s just not the end of everything,” she said. “We don’t give up easily.”
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Iberdrola Renovables makes poor stock exchange debut in Madrid
Madrid - Iberdrola Renovables, the renewable energy unit of Spain's top energy company Iberdrola, was Thursday floated on the Madrid stock exchange, fetching the unexpectedly low price of 5.2 euros per share.
The stock market entry was Spain's biggest ever in terms of net profits, which amounted to nearly 4.5 billion euros (6.6 billion dollars).
The stock market price remained below the 5.3 euros set at the bottom of the indicative price range. The company was thus valued at around 22 billion euros.
Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Sanchez Galan nevertheless described the decision to float the company as the correct one, saying Iberdrola Renovables had a growth potential of between 30 and 40 per cent.
The subsidiary of Bilbao-based Iberdrola describes itself as the world's largest owner of wind-energy plants and leading producer of energy from clean technologies.
The company had investment plans worth 9 billion euros for the next three years, Sanchez Galan said.
In hedging its bets on clean energy, Iberdrola had 'the right vision given the need to reduce emissions and to satisfy present and future energy needs,' he added.
The stock market entry was Spain's biggest ever in terms of net profits, which amounted to nearly 4.5 billion euros (6.6 billion dollars).
The stock market price remained below the 5.3 euros set at the bottom of the indicative price range. The company was thus valued at around 22 billion euros.
Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Sanchez Galan nevertheless described the decision to float the company as the correct one, saying Iberdrola Renovables had a growth potential of between 30 and 40 per cent.
The subsidiary of Bilbao-based Iberdrola describes itself as the world's largest owner of wind-energy plants and leading producer of energy from clean technologies.
The company had investment plans worth 9 billion euros for the next three years, Sanchez Galan said.
In hedging its bets on clean energy, Iberdrola had 'the right vision given the need to reduce emissions and to satisfy present and future energy needs,' he added.
Gear problems shut down windmills in Lackawanna by Maki Becker
Complicated repairs of turbines expected to take several months
The turbines on the Steel Winds wind farm now lie idle, awaiting new gearboxes.
The giant blades on the turbines in the Steel Winds wind farm in Lackawanna haven’t been turning lately — but not for lack of wind.
ClipperWind, the manufacturer, and UPC Wind and BQ Energy, wind farm developers, reported that a problem is forcing them to replace the gearboxes on all eight windmills.
That will entail removing the rotor and all three blades — each longer than the wing of a Boeing 747.
The windmills — officially called “Liberty 2.5 Megawatt wind turbines” — are the first of their kind to be used commercially. They brought national attention to Lackawanna for its creative reuse of an abandoned industrial site.
The state-of-the-art turbines are so new that ClipperWind had anticipated a need for some tweaking here and there.
But resolving the problem has been more difficult than expected.
“This one’s a pain because you need a big crane,” acknowledged Bob Gates, ClipperWind senior vice president.
The work is expected to take several months, Gates said.
“We happen to have had the bad luck of building [Steel Winds] in the winter, and retrofitting it in high winds and cold weather doesn’t speed up the work,” he said.
The gearbox problem initially was noticed in August when highly sensitive sensors on one turbine activated.
Engineers quickly discovered that a tooth on one of the four gears in the box had broken.
After testing, engineers realized that, because of unclear assembly instructions, the gears’ timing was off, causing them to operate unevenly.
Inspections found the same problem, in varying degrees of severity, on all seven of the other turbines on the site.
Liberty turbines in Iowa and Minnesota have developed the same problems, which also will require repairs.
This week, a massive crane arrived at the former Bethlehem Steel site to begin removing the blades and rotor from the massive towers.
While the gear boxes are being replaced, Gates said a reinforcing bond will be applied to the fiberglass blades to prevent any major damage from tiny cracks that have developed on some.
Michael Alvarez, executive vice president and chief operating officer of UPC Wind, said the gear box issue has left him disappointed but not disheartened.
“For a couple of months, we were receiving great performance,” Alvarez said of the turbines. Technical problems, he added, are “in the nature of these sorts of projects.”
“ClipperWind is stepping up and replacing the gear boxes. . . . It’s definitely not irreparable.”
Alvarez added that the turbines were under warranty and that ClipperWind is covering the costs of all repairs, as well as some of the revenue UPC Wind will lose while the turbines are not operating.
mbecker@buffnews.com
Naples School Board Dec. 12, 2007 Letter by James Hall
December 12, 2007
Naples School Board
136 North Main Street
Naples, NY 14512
RE: SCIDA PILOT for UPC Cohocton and Prattsburgh Projects
Board Members:
Cohocton Wind Watch seeks to protect the interests of property owners in the Towns of Cohocton and Prattsburgh that reside within the Naples School District. Robert and Chris Brautigam have children in the Naples School District and reside at 11799 Lewis Road. Their property is in the Naples School District.
The Naples School District is an independent taxing authority. Taxing jurisdictions in Ontario County are not subject to decisions made by SCIDA.
SCIDA’s authority is confined to Steuben County. Proposed PILOT exemptions for the UPC Cohocton and the UPC Prattsburgh projects should prohibit the legal authority of your Board to tax at full industrial utility rates on those portions of each project that lie within your School District.
James Sherron, Executive Director of SCIDA consistently misrepresents his authority and fails to effectively administer his duties. Enclosed is a copy of a March 28, 2007 audit of SCIDA by the Office of the State Comptroller. At an improper public hearing on the PILOT for the UPC Cohocton Project, Mr. Sherron denied that SCIDA has been the subject of a blistering audit report. His lack of candor and disingenuous conduct is only surpassed by conflict of interest violations.
The Naples School Board has a legal fiduciary responsibility to tax all properties within your district. This includes any transmission lines and industrial turbines that may be built for either UPC Project, that reside within the Naples School District. SCIDA does not have the authority to share a portion of the proposed PILOTS with the Naples School District. Therefore, it is your statutory obligation to enforce the assessment and collection of full taxes from the UPC developer and property owner of UPC leaseholders.
SCIDA and Mr. Sherron risk civil and possible criminal charges for violations of Federal & State laws and conduct designed to defraud property owners and NYS tax payers. The Naples School District need not become a party to such actions. The School Board should reject any participation or compliance in a fraudulent scheme to discriminate against Naples School District property owners. CWW urges your Board to object in writing and openly oppose the SCIDA PILOTS at the Dec. 18, 2007 10:00 AM public hearing at the Prattsburgh Town Hall.
Cordially,
James Hall for CWW
Naples School Board
136 North Main Street
Naples, NY 14512
RE: SCIDA PILOT for UPC Cohocton and Prattsburgh Projects
Board Members:
Cohocton Wind Watch seeks to protect the interests of property owners in the Towns of Cohocton and Prattsburgh that reside within the Naples School District. Robert and Chris Brautigam have children in the Naples School District and reside at 11799 Lewis Road. Their property is in the Naples School District.
The Naples School District is an independent taxing authority. Taxing jurisdictions in Ontario County are not subject to decisions made by SCIDA.
SCIDA’s authority is confined to Steuben County. Proposed PILOT exemptions for the UPC Cohocton and the UPC Prattsburgh projects should prohibit the legal authority of your Board to tax at full industrial utility rates on those portions of each project that lie within your School District.
James Sherron, Executive Director of SCIDA consistently misrepresents his authority and fails to effectively administer his duties. Enclosed is a copy of a March 28, 2007 audit of SCIDA by the Office of the State Comptroller. At an improper public hearing on the PILOT for the UPC Cohocton Project, Mr. Sherron denied that SCIDA has been the subject of a blistering audit report. His lack of candor and disingenuous conduct is only surpassed by conflict of interest violations.
The Naples School Board has a legal fiduciary responsibility to tax all properties within your district. This includes any transmission lines and industrial turbines that may be built for either UPC Project, that reside within the Naples School District. SCIDA does not have the authority to share a portion of the proposed PILOTS with the Naples School District. Therefore, it is your statutory obligation to enforce the assessment and collection of full taxes from the UPC developer and property owner of UPC leaseholders.
SCIDA and Mr. Sherron risk civil and possible criminal charges for violations of Federal & State laws and conduct designed to defraud property owners and NYS tax payers. The Naples School District need not become a party to such actions. The School Board should reject any participation or compliance in a fraudulent scheme to discriminate against Naples School District property owners. CWW urges your Board to object in writing and openly oppose the SCIDA PILOTS at the Dec. 18, 2007 10:00 AM public hearing at the Prattsburgh Town Hall.
Cordially,
James Hall for CWW
Rob Pforzheimer email message regarding UPC Steel Winds and Clipper Turbines
The article below was on the CWW site just the other day. UPC and Clipper spouting how great everything is when they had to know full well they had major problems. What bastards.
What makes this Clipper debacle all the better is that this is their first and finest project. HA HA
I've put some of my favorite parts in bold.
The next story re this will be "Steelwinds contributing more rust to the rust belt"
Urban wind farm helps revitalise the rust belt
Wind farms are normally associated with mountainous areas and remote regions. But how about one planted in a city on the site of an old steel mill? Drew Robb reports.
Steel Winds Wind Farm takes up a 30-acre portion of the old Bethlehem Steel mill, located along the shores of Lake Erie in Lackawanna, NY, USA. Steel Winds marks many firsts. It is the first urban wind farm in the country, the first to go up on a former industrial site, the first wind farm on the American great lakes and the first commercial deployment of Clipper Windpower’s 2.5 MW Liberty series wind turbines. Eight of these turbines (a total of 20 MW) are now feeding electricity to the grid, enough for over 6000 homes.
“Where Bethlehem Steel once supported an earlier industrial revolution, today the Steel Winds project is bringing new jobs and clean energy technology to the Lake Erie region,” says Paul Gaynor, President and CEO of UPC Wind, co-developer of the project. “We are pleased to be operating at full capacity and introducing this newest generation of wind turbines to the market.” These turbines feature several innovative features. It includes, for example, a compact two-stage helical designed to reduce loads, minimise the likelihood of damage and increase gearbox lifespan. It accomplishes this by using multiple generators and a multiple path, distributed gearbox. These generators split the load by a factor of 16 – four times greater than in commercially available gearboxes. If one generator goes off line, the other three continue. To ease maintenance demands, a single 650 kW generator can be removed and lowered to the ground by an onboard crane. Further, high-speed gear sets can be replaced without removal of the gearbox.
While gearboxes in comparable turbines weigh 50 to 70 tons, the Clipper model weighs 36 tons. In addition, designers made several upgrades to variable speed technology. The turbine makes use of advanced feedback controls to optimise the blade pitch to reduce drive train loads and improve energy capture. A two-metric ton service crane installed in the Liberty reduces repair time and the costs normally caused by depending on a third-party crane.
The Clipper 2.5 MW Liberty wind turbine is the first wind turbine to utilise a patented, distributed powertrain and four permanent magnet generators to mitigate loads to components found in many of today's multi-megawatt wind turbine designs. Manufactured in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, it is among the largest land-based wind turbines in the world, and the largest wind turbine manufactured in North America.
“We are delighted that our first production Liberty machines will bring to the local area a meaningful contribution toward the beautification, revitalisation and economic development of this brownfield site,” said James G P Dehlsen, Chairman and CEO of Clipper Windpower. “Steel Winds is an exemplary project, and certainly a tribute to the local communities that recognised the benefits early on and enthusiastically supported the effort. We look forward to our continued role in this milestone project.”
BQ Energy, co-developer of the project, selected the Clipper Liberty turbine after looking at models from many different manufacturers.
“Most turbine manufacturers push their best-selling models, but these are based on technology which is now several years old,” says Paul Curran, managing director of BQ Energy, co-developer of the project. “The Clipper Liberty turbine is based on the latest technology and we really liked the fact that it the company is really focused on operational reliability.”
The green industry has gained so much impetus that it has almost become an
established part of the mainstream. But the Steel Winds project may be evidence that brown has emerged as the new green.
Steel Winds has returned the Bethlehem Steel facility to productive use under the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Brownfield Cleanup Program. The EPA defines brownfields as being property which has problems in expansion, reuse or redevelopment due to the presence of hazardous substance, pollutants or contaminants.
The EPA estimates that there are 450 000 brownfields in the US. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job rowth, utilises existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped open land and improves as well as protects the environment. BQ Energy has embraced this brownfields concept as part of its business model. It was founded by Curran to harness the advantage of recent advances in wind technology and the community goal of redeveloping brownfields and creating jobs. It particularly focuses on oil refinery, steel mills, and similar brownfield sites with heavy industry.
Curran first fell in love with the idea during his time with Texaco in Europe. A 23 MW wind farm was opened inside an oil refinery in Rotterdam. This inspired him to form his own company.
“We have several projects in development at oil refineries and steel mills,” says Curran. “Some are at active sites so they might use the wind turbines to generate their own energy.”
He became interested in the old Bethlehem Steel site during a visit to Buffalo to look at a couple of oil refineries that had been closed down. When he saw the famous steel mill site, however, he realised it was a far superior site with excellent wind resource potential.
At its peak, Bethlehem Steel employed over 20 000 people. But it suffered badly from the availability of cheap steel and shrunk steadily starting in the seventies. It filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and was acquired by a steel company named ArcelorMittal in 2005. Today, ArcelorMittal employs 250 people who are engaged in steel finishing.
This history meant that much of the plants assets were still operational. It has a railroad running through it, a major port on the site capable of docking several ocean going vessels, major transmission lines and buildings available to be used for control rooms and offices. With good roads already present, it was easy to bring large cranes and heavy equipment onsite - wind farms in rural areas typically have to construct their own road networks. Further, the substations was rated fro 80 MW yet was only using 3 MW. With a few minor modifications to bring it up to current code, the substation was ready to export power to the grid.
“By renovating these assets we were able to cut our costs significantly,” says Curran. “Choosing a brownfield site makes a big difference when you need to approach the community for a permit.”
While permitting was perhaps easier at this site than in the typical hilltop location, it was far from a pushover. As the community had no experience with wind farms anywhere in the vicinity, they were initially cautious.
Lots of discussion ensued to allay fears about noise and environmental factors. The developers encouraged the locals to go to another wind farm in upstate New York. Many did. Once they saw that wind farm, they got behind the project.
“It is a beautiful site in sharp contrast to the steel mill backdrop,” says Curran.
Development at Steel Winds was also materially helped by brownfields tax credits issued by the State of New York.
“It can be difficult to attract investors to polluted sites,” says Curran. “The state's program indemnifies you from any pre-existing condition of the site.”
Development Partnership
While Curran paved the way for the project by finding the site, arranging the brownfield grants, negotiating the lease and accelerating the permitting, he turned to UPC as co-developer to harness its wind farm construction expertise.
“Teaming up with UPC was critical as they managed the construction side with a new technology and made the project gel,” says Curran. “With a new kind of turbine to erect, it is vital to partner with a company with lots of experience with other turbines.”
Like BQ Energy, Gaynor of UPC was a fan of the Clipper Liberty turbine. In fact, he plans to use that same turbine in further wind farms the company is developing in Utah and New York. The company has ordered 150 turbines from Clipper.
Gaynor relates that with it being such a tight site, the developers wanted the biggest turbine with the highest yield. To produce 20 MW, it was a lot easier to place eight Clipper 2.5 MW machines rather than 12 Vestas V82’s (1.65 MW) or 13 GE 1.5 MW turbines.
“The ability to get 20 MW in a small site really made Clipper the economic winner,” says Gaynor. “You get an extra MW from the Liberty in comparison to the GE 1.5 for not much incremental real estate. Since we installed the Clipper turbines, they have been performing well and showing high levels of availability.”
Construction, however, was not without its challenges. Being on a former industrial site, it was important to keep foundation placement away from areas of known contamination.
As a result, UPC conducted more pre-siting work than usual to verify the best turbine locations.
Once construction began, rigorous environmental protocols had to be followed with regard to any potential brownfield material. Fortunately, the developers did not have to move any towers. But Gaynor’s team discovered a small amount of material in one foundation area that had to be handled it a specific way to comply with regulations.
The construction period itself stretched out from October through March, mainly due to the high winter winds from Lake Erie. That complicated turbine erection. In addition, UPC learned some valuable lessons specific to the Clipper machines. These turbines have four major parts which are assembled on site - the baseplate, gearing/genset and two parts for the roof assembly. Initially, assembly was attempted at hub height. This required four picks from a crane and involved some fancy footwork eighty meters in the air during windy conditions.
“We realised that Liberty turbine assembly should be done on the ground so that you only need one crane pick to mount it on the tower,” says Gaynor. Going forward, the project will be operated by UPC Wind, with turbine operation and maintenance services provided by Clipper Windpower for the first five years.
As well as the power Steel Winds will bring to over 6000 western New York homes, the new wind farm has brought jobs to the area. But more importantly, it has helped to revitalise a region that has suffered many decades of decay since heavy industry moved out in the seventies and eighties.
Like his father before him, Lackawanna mayor Norman Polanski once worked at Bethlehem Steel - as a pipe fitter. He never thought the time would come when he would lose that job, but that eventually happened to him along with work for most of the town. The situation grew steadily worse and quite recently Lackawanna’s biggest tax paying business left the area.
That's all changed now as the sleepy town is now basking in the media spotlight. The story of the area's transformation has been covered widely on TV and print, both at home and overseas. That's led to renewed interest in the region and Polanski reports that a dozen new businesses have opened, as well as the first new hotel in over a century.
“Lackawanna was a leader in the industries of the 20th century and now claims a leadership position in this key energy technology of the 21st century,” says Lackawanna mayor Norman Polanski. “We are proud to welcome Steel Winds as a new majestic landmark for our Lake Erie shoreline.”
Drew Robb is with Clipper Windpower Inc, Carpinteria, CA, USA.
www.clipperwind.com
What makes this Clipper debacle all the better is that this is their first and finest project. HA HA
I've put some of my favorite parts in bold.
The next story re this will be "Steelwinds contributing more rust to the rust belt"
Urban wind farm helps revitalise the rust belt
Wind farms are normally associated with mountainous areas and remote regions. But how about one planted in a city on the site of an old steel mill? Drew Robb reports.
Steel Winds Wind Farm takes up a 30-acre portion of the old Bethlehem Steel mill, located along the shores of Lake Erie in Lackawanna, NY, USA. Steel Winds marks many firsts. It is the first urban wind farm in the country, the first to go up on a former industrial site, the first wind farm on the American great lakes and the first commercial deployment of Clipper Windpower’s 2.5 MW Liberty series wind turbines. Eight of these turbines (a total of 20 MW) are now feeding electricity to the grid, enough for over 6000 homes.
“Where Bethlehem Steel once supported an earlier industrial revolution, today the Steel Winds project is bringing new jobs and clean energy technology to the Lake Erie region,” says Paul Gaynor, President and CEO of UPC Wind, co-developer of the project. “We are pleased to be operating at full capacity and introducing this newest generation of wind turbines to the market.” These turbines feature several innovative features. It includes, for example, a compact two-stage helical designed to reduce loads, minimise the likelihood of damage and increase gearbox lifespan. It accomplishes this by using multiple generators and a multiple path, distributed gearbox. These generators split the load by a factor of 16 – four times greater than in commercially available gearboxes. If one generator goes off line, the other three continue. To ease maintenance demands, a single 650 kW generator can be removed and lowered to the ground by an onboard crane. Further, high-speed gear sets can be replaced without removal of the gearbox.
While gearboxes in comparable turbines weigh 50 to 70 tons, the Clipper model weighs 36 tons. In addition, designers made several upgrades to variable speed technology. The turbine makes use of advanced feedback controls to optimise the blade pitch to reduce drive train loads and improve energy capture. A two-metric ton service crane installed in the Liberty reduces repair time and the costs normally caused by depending on a third-party crane.
The Clipper 2.5 MW Liberty wind turbine is the first wind turbine to utilise a patented, distributed powertrain and four permanent magnet generators to mitigate loads to components found in many of today's multi-megawatt wind turbine designs. Manufactured in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, it is among the largest land-based wind turbines in the world, and the largest wind turbine manufactured in North America.
“We are delighted that our first production Liberty machines will bring to the local area a meaningful contribution toward the beautification, revitalisation and economic development of this brownfield site,” said James G P Dehlsen, Chairman and CEO of Clipper Windpower. “Steel Winds is an exemplary project, and certainly a tribute to the local communities that recognised the benefits early on and enthusiastically supported the effort. We look forward to our continued role in this milestone project.”
BQ Energy, co-developer of the project, selected the Clipper Liberty turbine after looking at models from many different manufacturers.
“Most turbine manufacturers push their best-selling models, but these are based on technology which is now several years old,” says Paul Curran, managing director of BQ Energy, co-developer of the project. “The Clipper Liberty turbine is based on the latest technology and we really liked the fact that it the company is really focused on operational reliability.”
The green industry has gained so much impetus that it has almost become an
established part of the mainstream. But the Steel Winds project may be evidence that brown has emerged as the new green.
Steel Winds has returned the Bethlehem Steel facility to productive use under the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Brownfield Cleanup Program. The EPA defines brownfields as being property which has problems in expansion, reuse or redevelopment due to the presence of hazardous substance, pollutants or contaminants.
The EPA estimates that there are 450 000 brownfields in the US. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job rowth, utilises existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped open land and improves as well as protects the environment. BQ Energy has embraced this brownfields concept as part of its business model. It was founded by Curran to harness the advantage of recent advances in wind technology and the community goal of redeveloping brownfields and creating jobs. It particularly focuses on oil refinery, steel mills, and similar brownfield sites with heavy industry.
Curran first fell in love with the idea during his time with Texaco in Europe. A 23 MW wind farm was opened inside an oil refinery in Rotterdam. This inspired him to form his own company.
“We have several projects in development at oil refineries and steel mills,” says Curran. “Some are at active sites so they might use the wind turbines to generate their own energy.”
He became interested in the old Bethlehem Steel site during a visit to Buffalo to look at a couple of oil refineries that had been closed down. When he saw the famous steel mill site, however, he realised it was a far superior site with excellent wind resource potential.
At its peak, Bethlehem Steel employed over 20 000 people. But it suffered badly from the availability of cheap steel and shrunk steadily starting in the seventies. It filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and was acquired by a steel company named ArcelorMittal in 2005. Today, ArcelorMittal employs 250 people who are engaged in steel finishing.
This history meant that much of the plants assets were still operational. It has a railroad running through it, a major port on the site capable of docking several ocean going vessels, major transmission lines and buildings available to be used for control rooms and offices. With good roads already present, it was easy to bring large cranes and heavy equipment onsite - wind farms in rural areas typically have to construct their own road networks. Further, the substations was rated fro 80 MW yet was only using 3 MW. With a few minor modifications to bring it up to current code, the substation was ready to export power to the grid.
“By renovating these assets we were able to cut our costs significantly,” says Curran. “Choosing a brownfield site makes a big difference when you need to approach the community for a permit.”
While permitting was perhaps easier at this site than in the typical hilltop location, it was far from a pushover. As the community had no experience with wind farms anywhere in the vicinity, they were initially cautious.
Lots of discussion ensued to allay fears about noise and environmental factors. The developers encouraged the locals to go to another wind farm in upstate New York. Many did. Once they saw that wind farm, they got behind the project.
“It is a beautiful site in sharp contrast to the steel mill backdrop,” says Curran.
Development at Steel Winds was also materially helped by brownfields tax credits issued by the State of New York.
“It can be difficult to attract investors to polluted sites,” says Curran. “The state's program indemnifies you from any pre-existing condition of the site.”
Development Partnership
While Curran paved the way for the project by finding the site, arranging the brownfield grants, negotiating the lease and accelerating the permitting, he turned to UPC as co-developer to harness its wind farm construction expertise.
“Teaming up with UPC was critical as they managed the construction side with a new technology and made the project gel,” says Curran. “With a new kind of turbine to erect, it is vital to partner with a company with lots of experience with other turbines.”
Like BQ Energy, Gaynor of UPC was a fan of the Clipper Liberty turbine. In fact, he plans to use that same turbine in further wind farms the company is developing in Utah and New York. The company has ordered 150 turbines from Clipper.
Gaynor relates that with it being such a tight site, the developers wanted the biggest turbine with the highest yield. To produce 20 MW, it was a lot easier to place eight Clipper 2.5 MW machines rather than 12 Vestas V82’s (1.65 MW) or 13 GE 1.5 MW turbines.
“The ability to get 20 MW in a small site really made Clipper the economic winner,” says Gaynor. “You get an extra MW from the Liberty in comparison to the GE 1.5 for not much incremental real estate. Since we installed the Clipper turbines, they have been performing well and showing high levels of availability.”
Construction, however, was not without its challenges. Being on a former industrial site, it was important to keep foundation placement away from areas of known contamination.
As a result, UPC conducted more pre-siting work than usual to verify the best turbine locations.
Once construction began, rigorous environmental protocols had to be followed with regard to any potential brownfield material. Fortunately, the developers did not have to move any towers. But Gaynor’s team discovered a small amount of material in one foundation area that had to be handled it a specific way to comply with regulations.
The construction period itself stretched out from October through March, mainly due to the high winter winds from Lake Erie. That complicated turbine erection. In addition, UPC learned some valuable lessons specific to the Clipper machines. These turbines have four major parts which are assembled on site - the baseplate, gearing/genset and two parts for the roof assembly. Initially, assembly was attempted at hub height. This required four picks from a crane and involved some fancy footwork eighty meters in the air during windy conditions.
“We realised that Liberty turbine assembly should be done on the ground so that you only need one crane pick to mount it on the tower,” says Gaynor. Going forward, the project will be operated by UPC Wind, with turbine operation and maintenance services provided by Clipper Windpower for the first five years.
As well as the power Steel Winds will bring to over 6000 western New York homes, the new wind farm has brought jobs to the area. But more importantly, it has helped to revitalise a region that has suffered many decades of decay since heavy industry moved out in the seventies and eighties.
Like his father before him, Lackawanna mayor Norman Polanski once worked at Bethlehem Steel - as a pipe fitter. He never thought the time would come when he would lose that job, but that eventually happened to him along with work for most of the town. The situation grew steadily worse and quite recently Lackawanna’s biggest tax paying business left the area.
That's all changed now as the sleepy town is now basking in the media spotlight. The story of the area's transformation has been covered widely on TV and print, both at home and overseas. That's led to renewed interest in the region and Polanski reports that a dozen new businesses have opened, as well as the first new hotel in over a century.
“Lackawanna was a leader in the industries of the 20th century and now claims a leadership position in this key energy technology of the 21st century,” says Lackawanna mayor Norman Polanski. “We are proud to welcome Steel Winds as a new majestic landmark for our Lake Erie shoreline.”
Drew Robb is with Clipper Windpower Inc, Carpinteria, CA, USA.
www.clipperwind.com
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Article 78 - Matter of Brander v Town of Warren Town Board
Article%2078%20Decision.doc
ORDERED, that the actions of the respondents Town of Warren Town Board and Town of Stark Town Board pursuant to SEQRA and its regulations, in their adoption of the FEIS and issuance of the subject special use permits, are annulled and vacated as is fully set forth above, and it is further
ORDERED, that the SEQRA review is remanded to the respondent Town of Warren Town Board for compliance with the SEQRA process consistent with this Decision and Order, and it is further
ORDERED, that the determinations made by the respondents Town of Warren Town Board and Town of Stark Town Board made after the improperly closed executive sessions held in violations of the Open Meeting Law are annulled and vacated as is set forth above, and it is further
ORDERED, that plaintiffs are entitled to attorneys fees solely on this issue of the violation of Open Meetings Law. Counsel for petitioners is directed to submit an affidavit regarding services rendered therefor, and it is further
ORDERED, that the remaining contentions set forth in the petition are denied as without merit, and it is further
ORDERED, that the respondent's cross-motion pursuant to CPLR §3024(b) is granted.
ORDERED, that the actions of the respondents Town of Warren Town Board and Town of Stark Town Board pursuant to SEQRA and its regulations, in their adoption of the FEIS and issuance of the subject special use permits, are annulled and vacated as is fully set forth above, and it is further
ORDERED, that the SEQRA review is remanded to the respondent Town of Warren Town Board for compliance with the SEQRA process consistent with this Decision and Order, and it is further
ORDERED, that the determinations made by the respondents Town of Warren Town Board and Town of Stark Town Board made after the improperly closed executive sessions held in violations of the Open Meeting Law are annulled and vacated as is set forth above, and it is further
ORDERED, that plaintiffs are entitled to attorneys fees solely on this issue of the violation of Open Meetings Law. Counsel for petitioners is directed to submit an affidavit regarding services rendered therefor, and it is further
ORDERED, that the remaining contentions set forth in the petition are denied as without merit, and it is further
ORDERED, that the respondent's cross-motion pursuant to CPLR §3024(b) is granted.
PennWell announces 2007 Projects of the Year winners
Who deserves to be believed? Must be that PennWell didn't hear about the Clipper gear box malfunctions! The Steel Winds cover-up continues with the utter lies and propaganda that is the only wind being produced by these non generating industrial turbines.
(Read this link for details on Steel Wind)
11 December 2007 -- PennWell Corp's Power Engineering magazine announced the 2007 Projects of the Year Award winners at an awards gala held December 10, 2007 at the New Orleans Sheraton Hotel. Each year, the magazine recognizes some of the world's best power projects from four major categories: gas-fired projects, coal-fired projects, nuclear projects and renewables projects. Winners and honorable mention recipients in each category are selected by the Power Engineering editorial committee.
The 2007 Best Renewables Project of the Year Award Winner was the Steel Winds Wind Farm, co-owned by BQ energy and UPC Wind. The wind farm, a 20 MW facility consisting of eight Clipper WindPower 2.5 MW liberty series wind turbines, is located on the site of the old Bethlehem Steel Mill, located along the shores of Lake Erie in Lackawanna, N.Y. It is the first commercial deployment of Clipper WindPower's Liberty turbines.
(Read this link for details on Steel Wind)
11 December 2007 -- PennWell Corp's Power Engineering magazine announced the 2007 Projects of the Year Award winners at an awards gala held December 10, 2007 at the New Orleans Sheraton Hotel. Each year, the magazine recognizes some of the world's best power projects from four major categories: gas-fired projects, coal-fired projects, nuclear projects and renewables projects. Winners and honorable mention recipients in each category are selected by the Power Engineering editorial committee.
The 2007 Best Renewables Project of the Year Award Winner was the Steel Winds Wind Farm, co-owned by BQ energy and UPC Wind. The wind farm, a 20 MW facility consisting of eight Clipper WindPower 2.5 MW liberty series wind turbines, is located on the site of the old Bethlehem Steel Mill, located along the shores of Lake Erie in Lackawanna, N.Y. It is the first commercial deployment of Clipper WindPower's Liberty turbines.
The Pope condemns the climate change prophets by SIMON CALDWELL
Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.
The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.
The German-born Pontiff said that while some concerns may be valid it was vital that the international community based its policies on science rather than the dogma of the environmentalist movement.
His remarks will be made in his annual message for World Peace Day on January 1, but they were released as delegates from all over the world convened on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali for UN climate change talks.
The 80-year-old Pope said the world needed to care for the environment but not to the point where the welfare of animals and plants was given a greater priority than that of mankind.
Adrift: Polar bears on melting iceberg
"Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow," he said in the message entitled "The Human Family, A Community of Peace".
"It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances.
"If the protection of the environment involves costs, they should be justly distributed, taking due account of the different levels of development of various countries and the need for solidarity with future generations.
"Prudence does not mean failing to accept responsibilities and postponing decisions; it means being committed to making joint decisions after pondering responsibly the road to be taken."
Efforts to protect the environment should seek "agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances", the Pope said.
He added that to further the cause of world peace it was sensible for nations to "choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions" in how to cooperate responsibly on conserving the planet.
The Pope's message is traditionally sent to heads of government and international organisations.
His remarks reveal that while the Pope acknowledges that problems may be associated with unbridled development and climate change, he believes the case against global warming to be over-hyped.
A broad consensus is developing among the world's scientific community over the evils of climate change.
But there is also an intransigent body of scientific opinion which continues to insist that industrial emissions are not to blame for the phenomenon.
Such scientists point out that fluctuations in the earth's temperature are normal and can often be caused by waves of heat generated by the sun. Other critics of environmentalism have compared the movement to a burgeoning industry in its own right.
In the spring, the Vatican hosted a conference on climate change that was welcomed by environmentalists.
But senior cardinals close to the Vatican have since expressed doubts about a movement which has been likened by critics to be just as dogmatic in its assumptions as any religion.
In October, the Australian Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, caused an outcry when he noted that the atmospheric temperature of Mars had risen by 0.5 degrees celsius.
"The industrial-military complex up on Mars can't be blamed for that," he said in a criticism of Australian scientists who had claimed that carbon emissions would force temperatures on earth to rise by almost five degrees by 2070 unless drastic solutions were enforced.
The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.
The German-born Pontiff said that while some concerns may be valid it was vital that the international community based its policies on science rather than the dogma of the environmentalist movement.
His remarks will be made in his annual message for World Peace Day on January 1, but they were released as delegates from all over the world convened on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali for UN climate change talks.
The 80-year-old Pope said the world needed to care for the environment but not to the point where the welfare of animals and plants was given a greater priority than that of mankind.
Adrift: Polar bears on melting iceberg
"Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow," he said in the message entitled "The Human Family, A Community of Peace".
"It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances.
"If the protection of the environment involves costs, they should be justly distributed, taking due account of the different levels of development of various countries and the need for solidarity with future generations.
"Prudence does not mean failing to accept responsibilities and postponing decisions; it means being committed to making joint decisions after pondering responsibly the road to be taken."
Efforts to protect the environment should seek "agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances", the Pope said.
He added that to further the cause of world peace it was sensible for nations to "choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions" in how to cooperate responsibly on conserving the planet.
The Pope's message is traditionally sent to heads of government and international organisations.
His remarks reveal that while the Pope acknowledges that problems may be associated with unbridled development and climate change, he believes the case against global warming to be over-hyped.
A broad consensus is developing among the world's scientific community over the evils of climate change.
But there is also an intransigent body of scientific opinion which continues to insist that industrial emissions are not to blame for the phenomenon.
Such scientists point out that fluctuations in the earth's temperature are normal and can often be caused by waves of heat generated by the sun. Other critics of environmentalism have compared the movement to a burgeoning industry in its own right.
In the spring, the Vatican hosted a conference on climate change that was welcomed by environmentalists.
But senior cardinals close to the Vatican have since expressed doubts about a movement which has been likened by critics to be just as dogmatic in its assumptions as any religion.
In October, the Australian Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, caused an outcry when he noted that the atmospheric temperature of Mars had risen by 0.5 degrees celsius.
"The industrial-military complex up on Mars can't be blamed for that," he said in a criticism of Australian scientists who had claimed that carbon emissions would force temperatures on earth to rise by almost five degrees by 2070 unless drastic solutions were enforced.
Why Lackawanna Windmills Being Taken Apart?
(Lackawanna, NY, December 11, 2007) - - They've been up for less than a year. So, why are the Lackawanna windmills being taken apart so soon? News 4's George Richert is Asking 4 You.
For a couple months now, most of the windmills on the old Bethlehem Steel property haven't been turning at all.
Norman Polanski, Lackawanna Mayor, "They're not turning plain and simple that's what everybody keeps callling me about, the windmills aren't turning."
They all started turning for the first time in June, this Steelwinds Project was the first to use the newest clipper wind turbines touted as the new standard for reliable performance, but by late summer, engineers discovered damage inside one of the gear boxes, and then shut down 5 others, because the timing was off in those gear boxes too.
A Clipper Vice President tells me the plan now is for a crane to arrive next week to take all of the gear boxes down send them back to the factory in Iowa, and then replace them one by one throughout the winter. The towers will still stand but the blades will have to come off of all eight wind mills. It could be March or April before the job is finished.
Norman Polanski, Lackawanna Mayor, "I know if I owned a company and I wasn't making any money, I wouldn't be a very happy fellow, so I can't believe they're satisfied with the status they have right now."
But Mayor Norm Polanski says whether they're turning or not, it will not stop the 100-thousand dollar annual payments the city receives from BQ Energy.
Norman Polanski, Lackawanna Mayor, "From the sense of us receiving our revenues, no. From the sense of people wanna see them people love to see, people wanna see 'em turn."
For a couple months now, most of the windmills on the old Bethlehem Steel property haven't been turning at all.
Norman Polanski, Lackawanna Mayor, "They're not turning plain and simple that's what everybody keeps callling me about, the windmills aren't turning."
They all started turning for the first time in June, this Steelwinds Project was the first to use the newest clipper wind turbines touted as the new standard for reliable performance, but by late summer, engineers discovered damage inside one of the gear boxes, and then shut down 5 others, because the timing was off in those gear boxes too.
A Clipper Vice President tells me the plan now is for a crane to arrive next week to take all of the gear boxes down send them back to the factory in Iowa, and then replace them one by one throughout the winter. The towers will still stand but the blades will have to come off of all eight wind mills. It could be March or April before the job is finished.
Norman Polanski, Lackawanna Mayor, "I know if I owned a company and I wasn't making any money, I wouldn't be a very happy fellow, so I can't believe they're satisfied with the status they have right now."
But Mayor Norm Polanski says whether they're turning or not, it will not stop the 100-thousand dollar annual payments the city receives from BQ Energy.
Norman Polanski, Lackawanna Mayor, "From the sense of us receiving our revenues, no. From the sense of people wanna see them people love to see, people wanna see 'em turn."
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
NYRI Petitions the New York State Public Service Commission for Clarification on the Transportations Corporations Law
ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Regional Interconnect Inc. (NYRI) today announced it has petitioned the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) for a declaratory ruling to clarify the applicability of state legislation on the authority of the PSC to site transmission line projects.
Today's petition is a continuation of a series of regulatory, legal and legislative actions that began in May 2006 when NYRI filed a proposal with the PSC under Article VII to construct a 190-mile-long high voltage direct current electric transmission line that would help relieve existing transmission constraints and allow additional power to move from upstate New York where energy is abundant to areas downstate with high-energy demand.
On June 23, 2006, New York State passed section 11(7) of the Transportations Corporations Law ("2006 TCL Law"). The law appeared to take away the use of eminent domain from certain transmission power line projects even if those projects are certified by the PSC under its Article VII process -- New York State's traditional regulatory process for siting power lines.
On February 1, 2007, NYRI filed an action in Federal District Court seeking a declaration that the 2006 TCL Law was unconstitutional. On October 26, 2007, NYRI's action was dismissed by the Federal District Court on the grounds that the defendants were immune from suit in Federal Court. Because the Federal Court's decision was based on procedural grounds and did not address the merits of the case, its decision does not preclude review and clarification by other bodies of the substantive issues regarding NYRI's claim.
The petition by NYRI today asks the PSC to clarify whether the Commission continues to hold siting authority for NYRI's project and to determine whether the granting of a certificate by the PSC would allow NYRI to use eminent domain in those few instances where such use may be necessary.
NYRI's petition makes the case that the PSC should rule either that the 2006 TCL Law does not apply to NYRI and its project, or the law is in violation of multiple clauses of the United States Constitution.
"NYRI believes in New York State's regulatory process and only asks that its project be judged by the PSC on its merits," said Len Singer, NYRI legal counsel, from the Albany law firm, Couch White, LLC. "However, we are seeking to determine if the 2006 TCL law has effectively taken away the PSC's authority to site this transmission line."
Supplemental Filing
In response to its original filing with the PSC in 2006, the PSC requested additional information from NYRI, and NYRI agreed to provide even more information than the PSC requested. NYRI anticipates submitting its Supplemental Filing on the proposed project to the PSC in the coming weeks.
NYRI's Supplemental Filing will address a number of issues, including:
-- Studies of alternative routing options, including selective undergrounding, taking into consideration local routing concerns.
-- Environmental and economic impacts of the proposed transmission line.
-- Projections of improved reliability of the state transmission system, contribution to the development of renewable energy sources and reduced carbon emissions in the state.
-- Impact on reducing wholesale electricity rates throughout the state.
About NYRI
New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) (http://www.nyri.us/) is a group of investors, engineers, legal advisors, economists and environmental scientists proposing to build a transmission line that would bring electrical power from areas with abundant supply to areas with high demand. NYRI is working with state leaders and communities to enhance public understanding of energy issues, support conservation and promote responsible energy production, transmission and use.
NYRI is owned by a consortium of investors with broad experience in managing energy and other infrastructure assets and investments. The consortium includes Borealis Infrastructure Management (http://www.borealisinfrastructure.com/), a subsidiary of one of Canada's largest pension plans, and American Consumer Industries (ACI, http://www.aciinc.net/), an investment holding company that specializes in environmentally sensitive power generation technologies and applications.
Media Contact:
David Kalson
RF|Binder Partners
(518) 935-1040
(212) 994-7513
david.kalson@rfbinder.com
New York Regional Interconnect, Inc.
Today's petition is a continuation of a series of regulatory, legal and legislative actions that began in May 2006 when NYRI filed a proposal with the PSC under Article VII to construct a 190-mile-long high voltage direct current electric transmission line that would help relieve existing transmission constraints and allow additional power to move from upstate New York where energy is abundant to areas downstate with high-energy demand.
On June 23, 2006, New York State passed section 11(7) of the Transportations Corporations Law ("2006 TCL Law"). The law appeared to take away the use of eminent domain from certain transmission power line projects even if those projects are certified by the PSC under its Article VII process -- New York State's traditional regulatory process for siting power lines.
On February 1, 2007, NYRI filed an action in Federal District Court seeking a declaration that the 2006 TCL Law was unconstitutional. On October 26, 2007, NYRI's action was dismissed by the Federal District Court on the grounds that the defendants were immune from suit in Federal Court. Because the Federal Court's decision was based on procedural grounds and did not address the merits of the case, its decision does not preclude review and clarification by other bodies of the substantive issues regarding NYRI's claim.
The petition by NYRI today asks the PSC to clarify whether the Commission continues to hold siting authority for NYRI's project and to determine whether the granting of a certificate by the PSC would allow NYRI to use eminent domain in those few instances where such use may be necessary.
NYRI's petition makes the case that the PSC should rule either that the 2006 TCL Law does not apply to NYRI and its project, or the law is in violation of multiple clauses of the United States Constitution.
"NYRI believes in New York State's regulatory process and only asks that its project be judged by the PSC on its merits," said Len Singer, NYRI legal counsel, from the Albany law firm, Couch White, LLC. "However, we are seeking to determine if the 2006 TCL law has effectively taken away the PSC's authority to site this transmission line."
Supplemental Filing
In response to its original filing with the PSC in 2006, the PSC requested additional information from NYRI, and NYRI agreed to provide even more information than the PSC requested. NYRI anticipates submitting its Supplemental Filing on the proposed project to the PSC in the coming weeks.
NYRI's Supplemental Filing will address a number of issues, including:
-- Studies of alternative routing options, including selective undergrounding, taking into consideration local routing concerns.
-- Environmental and economic impacts of the proposed transmission line.
-- Projections of improved reliability of the state transmission system, contribution to the development of renewable energy sources and reduced carbon emissions in the state.
-- Impact on reducing wholesale electricity rates throughout the state.
About NYRI
New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. (NYRI) (http://www.nyri.us/) is a group of investors, engineers, legal advisors, economists and environmental scientists proposing to build a transmission line that would bring electrical power from areas with abundant supply to areas with high demand. NYRI is working with state leaders and communities to enhance public understanding of energy issues, support conservation and promote responsible energy production, transmission and use.
NYRI is owned by a consortium of investors with broad experience in managing energy and other infrastructure assets and investments. The consortium includes Borealis Infrastructure Management (http://www.borealisinfrastructure.com/), a subsidiary of one of Canada's largest pension plans, and American Consumer Industries (ACI, http://www.aciinc.net/), an investment holding company that specializes in environmentally sensitive power generation technologies and applications.
Media Contact:
David Kalson
RF|Binder Partners
(518) 935-1040
(212) 994-7513
david.kalson@rfbinder.com
New York Regional Interconnect, Inc.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wind Turbine Blade Update: When?
It’s one of the most visible sights in Madison County; one of the blades on the Fenner Wind Turbines broke in mid-November, and is still not fixed.
A representative for General Electric, who built the huge turbines, says the weather has been too snowy, too cold, and too windy to get up and fix the blade. As soon as they get a stretch of more-mild weather, they say they'll be up there as soon as possible to make the fix.
They still don't know, what caused the blade to break; they say that this has happened at Fenner before, and hope to find out why once they're able to remove the blade.
A representative for General Electric, who built the huge turbines, says the weather has been too snowy, too cold, and too windy to get up and fix the blade. As soon as they get a stretch of more-mild weather, they say they'll be up there as soon as possible to make the fix.
They still don't know, what caused the blade to break; they say that this has happened at Fenner before, and hope to find out why once they're able to remove the blade.
Friday, December 07, 2007
John Cowley Dec. 7, 2007 Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
I live in Naples NY.
Canadiagua Power Partners has a wind farm project in Cohocton NY. UPC is the Developer in Cohocton and other Townships surrounding Naples. Steuben County Industrial Developement Agency (SCIDA) along with its Executive Director, James P Sherron have guided this Wind Farm Project to our south. A PILOT Program (payment in lieu of taxes) is due to be adopted for the area on December 20th. This PILOT Program will net Cohocton-Wayland School District $37,500.00 per year. This figure is published by the Town of Cohocton.
One need not try to put an accurate figure on the cost of the Wind project(s) in question to realize that the PILOT Program is rediculous when it comes to the tax base for the Towns and School Districts. Who has paid for the project to begin with? YOU! The projects are heavily subsidised by NYS and then we would have us give up Tax revenue to our Schools as well.
In Naples NY on December 12th at 7pm, Naples Central School Board of Education will have its monthly meeting. James P Sherron has been invited to inform the Board of the PILOT Program along with a UPC representitive. They will likely tell us why Tubines #1,#2,and #3 on the point of Pine Hill and in the Naples School District will be beneficial to our community.
Rumour has it that the State will dissolve SCIDA at the end of 2007 and UPC is under the Canadaigua Power Partners an LLC with no Board or elected officers. What is going on here. What has happened? Turbines 1,2 and 3 have an estimated value of $2-3 million apiece. Apparently the location within the School district of these 3 turbines is new to the Board of Education (BOE) and Superindant at Naples Central. This is believable. What isn't believable is that NYS supports a progam that takes tax revenue from its School Districts and puts it the hands of for-profit companies. Why in this world would a State expect its own Schools to roll over in this way.
Just for the record there are 50 Wind Turbines in this single project and Wayland-Cohocton School District is getting $37,500.00 annually. That is $750.00 each. What might be offered to us for just three. HMMMM. We will find out.
1) Canadaigua Power Partners has no Board of Directors that I could find. They are an LLC...Low Liability Corporation and perhaps those in the know understand that they are very 2 dimensional. But of course NYS sanctions these LLC's. What are you going to do?
2) Who is James P. Sherron? and who is UPC..I guess they have the Jobs to develop. They get to manage the money coming into their projects. What about taxation for this project when it comes to Schools. Who has the Job to tell a Taxing Governing Body i.e. a School District in another county that they must accept a PILOT. It is not a Developer and not the horse he rode in on.
3) Does the Board of Education in Naples have to take the Money or get nothing? Not according to New York State real property law. It states that any School District in NYS has the authority to tax within its School District.
I live in Naples NY.
Canadiagua Power Partners has a wind farm project in Cohocton NY. UPC is the Developer in Cohocton and other Townships surrounding Naples. Steuben County Industrial Developement Agency (SCIDA) along with its Executive Director, James P Sherron have guided this Wind Farm Project to our south. A PILOT Program (payment in lieu of taxes) is due to be adopted for the area on December 20th. This PILOT Program will net Cohocton-Wayland School District $37,500.00 per year. This figure is published by the Town of Cohocton.
One need not try to put an accurate figure on the cost of the Wind project(s) in question to realize that the PILOT Program is rediculous when it comes to the tax base for the Towns and School Districts. Who has paid for the project to begin with? YOU! The projects are heavily subsidised by NYS and then we would have us give up Tax revenue to our Schools as well.
In Naples NY on December 12th at 7pm, Naples Central School Board of Education will have its monthly meeting. James P Sherron has been invited to inform the Board of the PILOT Program along with a UPC representitive. They will likely tell us why Tubines #1,#2,and #3 on the point of Pine Hill and in the Naples School District will be beneficial to our community.
Rumour has it that the State will dissolve SCIDA at the end of 2007 and UPC is under the Canadaigua Power Partners an LLC with no Board or elected officers. What is going on here. What has happened? Turbines 1,2 and 3 have an estimated value of $2-3 million apiece. Apparently the location within the School district of these 3 turbines is new to the Board of Education (BOE) and Superindant at Naples Central. This is believable. What isn't believable is that NYS supports a progam that takes tax revenue from its School Districts and puts it the hands of for-profit companies. Why in this world would a State expect its own Schools to roll over in this way.
Just for the record there are 50 Wind Turbines in this single project and Wayland-Cohocton School District is getting $37,500.00 annually. That is $750.00 each. What might be offered to us for just three. HMMMM. We will find out.
1) Canadaigua Power Partners has no Board of Directors that I could find. They are an LLC...Low Liability Corporation and perhaps those in the know understand that they are very 2 dimensional. But of course NYS sanctions these LLC's. What are you going to do?
2) Who is James P. Sherron? and who is UPC..I guess they have the Jobs to develop. They get to manage the money coming into their projects. What about taxation for this project when it comes to Schools. Who has the Job to tell a Taxing Governing Body i.e. a School District in another county that they must accept a PILOT. It is not a Developer and not the horse he rode in on.
3) Does the Board of Education in Naples have to take the Money or get nothing? Not according to New York State real property law. It states that any School District in NYS has the authority to tax within its School District.
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