That loss of support apparently led to Noble's decision to lay off workers and cease further construction and development at the wind parks it is building in eastern Franklin County in the towns of Bellmont and Chateaugay.
Noble Environmental Power lost $7.8 million in 2005, $20.7 million in 2006 and $42.5 million in 2007, according to information supplied to the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial public offering application.
Noble's operation in the Town of Altona doesn't appear to be impacted by the Franklin County layoffs.
Town Supervisor Larry Ross said he just received an update on the progress at Altona's wind farm on Monday, and nothing was mentioned to him about shutdowns or layoffs.
"I'm sure they're going to be working because they just finished up the first circuit, and they're starting up our windmills now.
"I haven't heard a thing like that, but maybe it's because we're farther along and ready to start," Ross said.
He said some parts and equipment have been brought in from other operations to help Altona get online faster "because we're so close to being done."
The Noble Altona Windpark is to be a 97.5-megawatt operation; the combined 85 turbines at the Noble Bellmont Windpark and Noble Chateaugay Windpark are to produce 127.5 megawatts of power a year; and the Noble Clinton and Noble Ellenburg projects are expected to generate 100.5 megawatts and 81 megawatts, respectively.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
NOBLE CLINTON PRODUCTION STATISTICS
At the end of September 2008 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ( FERC ) released the first quarterly production figures for the Noble Clinton wind project which went on line April 8, 2008. This project includes 67 GE 1.5 MW model SLE turbines that are capacity rated at 31 mph. A statistical analysis of the hourly production of the Clinton project shows the following:
APRIL 8 TO APRIL 30 - 14.5% of its capacity rating with 88 hrs. of zero production and over 70 hrs. with the entire project producing less than 1% of capacity.
MAY 1 TO MAY 31 - 14% of capacity rating with 168 hrs. of zero production and over 50 hrs. with the entire project producing less than 1% of capacity.
In addition there were chargebacks for over $100,000 in the month of May.
JUNE 1 TO JUNE 30 - 17% of capacity rating with 83 hrs.of zero production and 50 hrs. with the entire project producing less than 1% of capacity.
On average we can expect 4 hrs. of "blackout" daily .
Given these low wind conditions it would require 6 or 7 turbines to equal the advertised output of ONE.
Although the figures for July – September are not yet available preliminary wind data would indicte even lower production.
APRIL 8 TO APRIL 30 - 14.5% of its capacity rating with 88 hrs. of zero production and over 70 hrs. with the entire project producing less than 1% of capacity.
MAY 1 TO MAY 31 - 14% of capacity rating with 168 hrs. of zero production and over 50 hrs. with the entire project producing less than 1% of capacity.
In addition there were chargebacks for over $100,000 in the month of May.
JUNE 1 TO JUNE 30 - 17% of capacity rating with 83 hrs.of zero production and 50 hrs. with the entire project producing less than 1% of capacity.
On average we can expect 4 hrs. of "blackout" daily .
Given these low wind conditions it would require 6 or 7 turbines to equal the advertised output of ONE.
Although the figures for July – September are not yet available preliminary wind data would indicte even lower production.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Residents at Odds Over Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are not graceful, majestic, inspiring. While they may have a place where people/livestock/LIVELIHOODS are not impacted, it is most certainly not in populated areas. I dare anyone who thinks they would be a great thing to live around to call a real estate agent and buy one of the many properties that are for sale in Cohocton where these INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS have been forced upon those whose neighbors see only dollar signs. The beautiful hills are destroyed, the roads are a mess in Cohocton. Additionally, the infrastructure needed to get these damn things to earn their keep is invasive to say the least. Green energy, my a**. Green as in MONEY. Our town in southern Ontario County has a very tough law that yes, would allow turbines in certain areas of the town. The guidelines ensure that no one will have a turbine planted 500 feet from their home, as some folks in Cohocton must deal with.
Credit woes pose threat for green energy sector
Renewable energy projects, which can cost hundreds of millions of dollars to construct, are singularly dependent on a small cadre of institutional investors to put up money in return for tax credits and early electricity generation revenue.
And many of the biggest backers of renewable projects are on shaky ground or have disappeared altogether, saddled by bad bets in the housing and consumer credit markets. Among them: bankrupt Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers Holdings.
GE Energy Financial Services, whose parent company could see its financial footing hampered by a deteriorating credit market, alone invested $2 billion in renewable projects last year. One of those deals, a $300 million investment in wind farms in Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois and Texas, included a coinvestment with a subsidiary of troubled Wachovia Corp.
“I think we’ve seen a changing market in the last several months. Anyone who is dealing with an investor that’s been in the news lately is rethinking things,” said Jim Duffy, a partner in the syndication group at Boston’s Nixon Peabody LLP. “There is a definite concern that there is a narrow pool of investors and three or four may not be around” gong forward, based on the recent wave of consolidation in that industry.
The credit crunch has caught the attention of wind developers nationally. Earlier this week, the American Wind Energy Association hosted a workshop on investment and financing of wind projects. The agenda included discussions about credit markets and wind developer IPOs.
Boston renewable energy developer BlueWave Strategies LLC said some of the third-party financiers it has worked with in the past are in rough times, but it has yet to be directly affected.
“It’s a tough marketplace, but not an impossible marketplace,” said partner John DeVillars, although the company has yet to close on a financing deal post-meltdown. BlueWave has received capital commitments from GE for some of its projects.
Other developers say their projects are not immediately at risk as they wait to secure final permits before seeking financing.
Cape Wind hired Lehman to advise the company on securing project financing. The Lehman group working with Cape Wind was led by managing partner and longtime environmentalist Theodore Roosevelt IV.
Cape Wind expects to secure final project approval some time next year.
“We’ve always had a ‘permitting first’ strategy which has worked out so far. It’s probably better that we’re not looking for financing right now,” said Cape Wind spokesman Mark Rodgers. “By the time we complete the permitting process we hope that the markets will be stabilized.”
Newton-based First Wind Holdings LLC is a prime example of how renewable energy developers rely on institutional investors to fund critical capital investments.
First Wind estimates that about 50 percent to 60 percent of final project costs are funded through tax equity investments provided by large financial institutions, according to the company’s prospectus. The investments retire construction and turbine loans as well as equity investments in exchange for equity interests in subsidiaries that own the projects.
Those investments enable investors to receive sales revenue, tax credits and accelerating depreciation benefits for fixed periods, depending on the agreement.
First Wind closed on two tax equity financing transactions totalling $146.3 million last year. The deals with several banks, including JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo & Co., have funded the development of projects in Hawaii and Maine. The banks, in turn, stand to collect the vast majority of the projects’ revenue and tax credits until they receive their targeted returns.
In January, First Wind completed an agreement with Lehman Brothers for $208 million in tax equity financing for several projects in New York. The company expects to spend $1.4 billion in capital expenditures through 2009, but did not say who would provide the financing.
“To date, our projects’ tax equity investors have been large financial institutions with significant taxable income,” First Wind’s prospectus notes.
First Wind officials declined comment, citing the company’s pending public offering, in which the company expects to raise up to $450 million.
Jackie Noblett can be reached at jnoblett@bizjournals.com.
And many of the biggest backers of renewable projects are on shaky ground or have disappeared altogether, saddled by bad bets in the housing and consumer credit markets. Among them: bankrupt Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers Holdings.
GE Energy Financial Services, whose parent company could see its financial footing hampered by a deteriorating credit market, alone invested $2 billion in renewable projects last year. One of those deals, a $300 million investment in wind farms in Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois and Texas, included a coinvestment with a subsidiary of troubled Wachovia Corp.
“I think we’ve seen a changing market in the last several months. Anyone who is dealing with an investor that’s been in the news lately is rethinking things,” said Jim Duffy, a partner in the syndication group at Boston’s Nixon Peabody LLP. “There is a definite concern that there is a narrow pool of investors and three or four may not be around” gong forward, based on the recent wave of consolidation in that industry.
The credit crunch has caught the attention of wind developers nationally. Earlier this week, the American Wind Energy Association hosted a workshop on investment and financing of wind projects. The agenda included discussions about credit markets and wind developer IPOs.
Boston renewable energy developer BlueWave Strategies LLC said some of the third-party financiers it has worked with in the past are in rough times, but it has yet to be directly affected.
“It’s a tough marketplace, but not an impossible marketplace,” said partner John DeVillars, although the company has yet to close on a financing deal post-meltdown. BlueWave has received capital commitments from GE for some of its projects.
Other developers say their projects are not immediately at risk as they wait to secure final permits before seeking financing.
Cape Wind hired Lehman to advise the company on securing project financing. The Lehman group working with Cape Wind was led by managing partner and longtime environmentalist Theodore Roosevelt IV.
Cape Wind expects to secure final project approval some time next year.
“We’ve always had a ‘permitting first’ strategy which has worked out so far. It’s probably better that we’re not looking for financing right now,” said Cape Wind spokesman Mark Rodgers. “By the time we complete the permitting process we hope that the markets will be stabilized.”
Newton-based First Wind Holdings LLC is a prime example of how renewable energy developers rely on institutional investors to fund critical capital investments.
First Wind estimates that about 50 percent to 60 percent of final project costs are funded through tax equity investments provided by large financial institutions, according to the company’s prospectus. The investments retire construction and turbine loans as well as equity investments in exchange for equity interests in subsidiaries that own the projects.
Those investments enable investors to receive sales revenue, tax credits and accelerating depreciation benefits for fixed periods, depending on the agreement.
First Wind closed on two tax equity financing transactions totalling $146.3 million last year. The deals with several banks, including JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo & Co., have funded the development of projects in Hawaii and Maine. The banks, in turn, stand to collect the vast majority of the projects’ revenue and tax credits until they receive their targeted returns.
In January, First Wind completed an agreement with Lehman Brothers for $208 million in tax equity financing for several projects in New York. The company expects to spend $1.4 billion in capital expenditures through 2009, but did not say who would provide the financing.
“To date, our projects’ tax equity investors have been large financial institutions with significant taxable income,” First Wind’s prospectus notes.
First Wind officials declined comment, citing the company’s pending public offering, in which the company expects to raise up to $450 million.
Jackie Noblett can be reached at jnoblett@bizjournals.com.
Town of Barton: Windmill farm may be in town’s future
Barton, N.Y.
A windmill farm may be on its way to the Town of Barton, but as to when it will happen is still years away.
The windmill farm is being sought by Gamesa Energy USA, which is the United State’s branch of Gamesa Corp. The company, which is based in Spain, specializes in sustainable energy technologies, mainly wind power.
The company was represented at Monday’s town council meeting by Timothy Vought, who is the director of development for Gamesa’s Atlantic region.
Vought did confirm at that session that Gamesa is looking at developing windmill farms within the Tioga County area, and one such site may be within the town.
“We have talked to landowners,” he said. “We have offered lease agreements. We are very early in our planning stages, so I don’t have a lot of details about what we’re proposing for this area.”
Gamesa USA has been based within the United States since 2002 and its Atlantic region covers Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, said Vought.
“We are looking at doing windfarms anywhere from 20 to 100 wind turbines per project,” he said.
Gamesa has installed a test tower within the Tioga County region to test wind speed in the area, said Vought.
“We think that this area can sustain a utility-scale wind farm,” he said. “We are also looking at the intervection grid and we think that there is a favorable transmission network to inject power into.”
The components for these windfarms are created by the company’s manufacturing wing, which has four such facilities in Pennsylvania, said Vought.
“We are an experienced company and we have operations in 13 countries around the world,” he said.
The company is looking at the New York area as “one of the big places for growth,” Vought noted.
“We are very early in the process and we are expecting it to take at least three years — most likely four — until we have something ready to go (into operation),” he said.
However, it will be at least a year before the company appears before the town formally to begin the local permitting process, Vought added.
The next meeting of the Barton Town Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the town hall on state Route 17C. The public is invited to attend.
A windmill farm may be on its way to the Town of Barton, but as to when it will happen is still years away.
The windmill farm is being sought by Gamesa Energy USA, which is the United State’s branch of Gamesa Corp. The company, which is based in Spain, specializes in sustainable energy technologies, mainly wind power.
The company was represented at Monday’s town council meeting by Timothy Vought, who is the director of development for Gamesa’s Atlantic region.
Vought did confirm at that session that Gamesa is looking at developing windmill farms within the Tioga County area, and one such site may be within the town.
“We have talked to landowners,” he said. “We have offered lease agreements. We are very early in our planning stages, so I don’t have a lot of details about what we’re proposing for this area.”
Gamesa USA has been based within the United States since 2002 and its Atlantic region covers Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, said Vought.
“We are looking at doing windfarms anywhere from 20 to 100 wind turbines per project,” he said.
Gamesa has installed a test tower within the Tioga County region to test wind speed in the area, said Vought.
“We think that this area can sustain a utility-scale wind farm,” he said. “We are also looking at the intervection grid and we think that there is a favorable transmission network to inject power into.”
The components for these windfarms are created by the company’s manufacturing wing, which has four such facilities in Pennsylvania, said Vought.
“We are an experienced company and we have operations in 13 countries around the world,” he said.
The company is looking at the New York area as “one of the big places for growth,” Vought noted.
“We are very early in the process and we are expecting it to take at least three years — most likely four — until we have something ready to go (into operation),” he said.
However, it will be at least a year before the company appears before the town formally to begin the local permitting process, Vought added.
The next meeting of the Barton Town Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the town hall on state Route 17C. The public is invited to attend.
Norton disagrees with OBSERVER project story
ARKWRIGHT - Taking exception to a front page story in the OBSERVER's Monday edition about Arkwright's proposed Horizon Wind Farm project, Supervisor Fred Norton issued a lengthy statement on its contents.
The story's headline read "No more town taxes? Wind farms could mean big bucks for Arkwright" referring to a plan Horizon had submitted to Arkwright.
"Horizon has submitted no such plan (and) it has never stated that the income from the wind farm in Arkwright would or could allow us to abolish town taxes," Norton said at Monday's town board meeting.
He went on to say the revenues generated by the wind farm would be based on two documents, a host agreement and a pilot agreement.
"Horizon has not begun to negotiate any host agreement and it has not applied to the Chautauqua County IDA for a pilot agreement," he said.
If Arkwright applies the wind tower revenue it may receive to abolish taxes, the first $322,000 of this revenue would have to be applied to the current town operations, Norton explained.
"To accomplish what needs to be done for our roads, we would need another $322,000 - the difference between the $400,000 cost and the $168,000 we currently spend," he said.
Calling the current town hall "a slum," Norton said the building's roof leaks and the storage area looks like Fibber Magee's closet.
"There is space for only 30 people for a town meeting and in the winter months we may have people looking in through the windows at a town board meeting. This may seem quaint, but it's cold for those on the outside and it's cold for us in the room," he said. "In short, we have needs which must be met before we ever (could consider) abolishing taxes.
"I hate these taxes as much as anyone, but first, we have to spend (tax) revenue to improve the town."
Summing up his remarks, Norton said, "I recognize the need to sell newspapers. Unfortunately, the absence of accuracy in the reporting of news makes governing much more difficult and subject to suspicion when the reported events did not occur."
When asked about quotes attributed to Neighbors Informed about Clean Energy co-chairman Larry Wilcox at the meeting covered by the news report, Horizon project manager Tom Stebbins said, "He does not speak for Horizon, nor, I believe, does he speak for the town board."
The story's headline read "No more town taxes? Wind farms could mean big bucks for Arkwright" referring to a plan Horizon had submitted to Arkwright.
"Horizon has submitted no such plan (and) it has never stated that the income from the wind farm in Arkwright would or could allow us to abolish town taxes," Norton said at Monday's town board meeting.
He went on to say the revenues generated by the wind farm would be based on two documents, a host agreement and a pilot agreement.
"Horizon has not begun to negotiate any host agreement and it has not applied to the Chautauqua County IDA for a pilot agreement," he said.
If Arkwright applies the wind tower revenue it may receive to abolish taxes, the first $322,000 of this revenue would have to be applied to the current town operations, Norton explained.
"To accomplish what needs to be done for our roads, we would need another $322,000 - the difference between the $400,000 cost and the $168,000 we currently spend," he said.
Calling the current town hall "a slum," Norton said the building's roof leaks and the storage area looks like Fibber Magee's closet.
"There is space for only 30 people for a town meeting and in the winter months we may have people looking in through the windows at a town board meeting. This may seem quaint, but it's cold for those on the outside and it's cold for us in the room," he said. "In short, we have needs which must be met before we ever (could consider) abolishing taxes.
"I hate these taxes as much as anyone, but first, we have to spend (tax) revenue to improve the town."
Summing up his remarks, Norton said, "I recognize the need to sell newspapers. Unfortunately, the absence of accuracy in the reporting of news makes governing much more difficult and subject to suspicion when the reported events did not occur."
When asked about quotes attributed to Neighbors Informed about Clean Energy co-chairman Larry Wilcox at the meeting covered by the news report, Horizon project manager Tom Stebbins said, "He does not speak for Horizon, nor, I believe, does he speak for the town board."
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Noble Wind Shuts Down Projects
The instability of the financial markets had caused Noble Environmental Power to "scale back its development plans for 2009" and "(cut) back its workforce."
Immediately, construction of a 14-turbine windpark planned for the town of Bellmont will be suspended until July or August of 2009, Bellmont Town Supervisor Bruce Russell said Friday.
He also said that a "significant" number of local Noble employees have been laid off, both due to the company's current financial situation and because the construction of Noble's local windparks - one in Chateaugay and another in Altona in Clinton County - is winding down. Construction requires the largest workforce.
Russell said Noble's senior management has officially communicated to the Town of Bellmont that construction will be suspended, and said he believes the company will make good on its word to return next year.
To date, the company has laid foundations for the town's 14 turbines and installed wiring, he said.
"You don't put that much money in the ground and then walk away," he said.
"They were caught in the middle of this (financial) crunch," which he stressed is common with the current state of the economy, and reflects no malfeasance on the part of Noble.
Questions posed to officials at the Noble office in Churubusco about a rumored mass lay off and suspensions of the Bellmont project were directed to the company's legal counsel, and then passed to the company's CEO, Walter Howard, who released a statement late Friday.
"We deeply regret this unfortunate situation," Howard said. "We believe that we have assembled an exceptional group of people at Noble, and these decisions have been extremely difficult for me, our company founders, and others in management. We value all of our employees, and we appreciate their hard work and dedication to Noble."
Russell said that in meeting with Noble's management, he was given more details about the direct cause of the company's financial troubles.
He said that Noble has been in the process of going public by issuing a Initial Public Offering (IPO), during which, generally speaking, a major investment bank puts a value on a company. The company then determines its amount of shares and what percentage of those shares it wants to put in public hands. A price per share is then determined based on the market.
Russell, who spent 30 years in the finance industry both as a stock broker and certified financial planner, said Noble utilized the recently bankrupt Lehman Brothers as its key underwriter, with Goldman Sachs as their secondary. Shares are divided according to this pecking order.
Lehman Brothers never got Noble's IPO off the ground, he said.
At the same time, the New York State Attorney General launched an investigation into Noble and a second wind company for alleged improper dealings with public officials and anti-competitive practices.
"One thing that venture capital and money stays away from are attorney general investigations," he said, stating his own opinion and not information relayed to him by Noble officials.
The perception of wrong doing is enough to drive financing away, and Russell stressed that in his dealings with Noble he has never seen any misdeeds committed by Noble officials and doesn't suspect any have been committed.
"Those kinds of stories get the scent of deceit and deceptive practices, the smell starts to permeate the air, and everyone backs away," he said.
All of the 71 turbines in the Chateaugay windpark have reportedly been raised and the company is finishing the wiring.
Russell said Noble is proceeding with improvement to the Cooper Road, which runs between Bellmont and Chateaugay. The work, which will cost $100,000, was included in the town's Road Use Agreements with Noble.
He stressed that the company has followed through with all of its promises to the Town of Belmont.
However, as a result of its financial troubles, Russell said Noble - like many companies right now - basically has no financing to move forward with the Bellmont project.
"It isn't something to be ashamed of," he said. "When credit stops, the world comes awfully close to a screeching halt."
Malone%20Tel%20%20re%20%20Noble%20paralysis%2010-11-08.pdf
Immediately, construction of a 14-turbine windpark planned for the town of Bellmont will be suspended until July or August of 2009, Bellmont Town Supervisor Bruce Russell said Friday.
He also said that a "significant" number of local Noble employees have been laid off, both due to the company's current financial situation and because the construction of Noble's local windparks - one in Chateaugay and another in Altona in Clinton County - is winding down. Construction requires the largest workforce.
Russell said Noble's senior management has officially communicated to the Town of Bellmont that construction will be suspended, and said he believes the company will make good on its word to return next year.
To date, the company has laid foundations for the town's 14 turbines and installed wiring, he said.
"You don't put that much money in the ground and then walk away," he said.
"They were caught in the middle of this (financial) crunch," which he stressed is common with the current state of the economy, and reflects no malfeasance on the part of Noble.
Questions posed to officials at the Noble office in Churubusco about a rumored mass lay off and suspensions of the Bellmont project were directed to the company's legal counsel, and then passed to the company's CEO, Walter Howard, who released a statement late Friday.
"We deeply regret this unfortunate situation," Howard said. "We believe that we have assembled an exceptional group of people at Noble, and these decisions have been extremely difficult for me, our company founders, and others in management. We value all of our employees, and we appreciate their hard work and dedication to Noble."
Russell said that in meeting with Noble's management, he was given more details about the direct cause of the company's financial troubles.
He said that Noble has been in the process of going public by issuing a Initial Public Offering (IPO), during which, generally speaking, a major investment bank puts a value on a company. The company then determines its amount of shares and what percentage of those shares it wants to put in public hands. A price per share is then determined based on the market.
Russell, who spent 30 years in the finance industry both as a stock broker and certified financial planner, said Noble utilized the recently bankrupt Lehman Brothers as its key underwriter, with Goldman Sachs as their secondary. Shares are divided according to this pecking order.
Lehman Brothers never got Noble's IPO off the ground, he said.
At the same time, the New York State Attorney General launched an investigation into Noble and a second wind company for alleged improper dealings with public officials and anti-competitive practices.
"One thing that venture capital and money stays away from are attorney general investigations," he said, stating his own opinion and not information relayed to him by Noble officials.
The perception of wrong doing is enough to drive financing away, and Russell stressed that in his dealings with Noble he has never seen any misdeeds committed by Noble officials and doesn't suspect any have been committed.
"Those kinds of stories get the scent of deceit and deceptive practices, the smell starts to permeate the air, and everyone backs away," he said.
All of the 71 turbines in the Chateaugay windpark have reportedly been raised and the company is finishing the wiring.
Russell said Noble is proceeding with improvement to the Cooper Road, which runs between Bellmont and Chateaugay. The work, which will cost $100,000, was included in the town's Road Use Agreements with Noble.
He stressed that the company has followed through with all of its promises to the Town of Belmont.
However, as a result of its financial troubles, Russell said Noble - like many companies right now - basically has no financing to move forward with the Bellmont project.
"It isn't something to be ashamed of," he said. "When credit stops, the world comes awfully close to a screeching halt."
Malone%20Tel%20%20re%20%20Noble%20paralysis%2010-11-08.pdf
Clayton wind farm noise study to be aired
The long-awaited full report on the Horse Creek Wind Farm noise study will go public in a week, the town announced Wednesday. But the availability of the report was not enough to satisfy upset residents who stormed into the council meeting demanding that the town start formulating a local law to limit noise levels of wind turbines and establish setbacks.
“We need to start clearing the air,” said Patricia Booras-Miller, vice president of Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization of Jefferson County.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Ms. Booras-Miller criticized the town, claiming its reason for not releasing the full Cavanaugh Tocci Associates’ noise study report was bogus to begin with.
Last week, Roland A. Baril Jr., chairman of the town Planning Board, said the town’s engineer, Bernier, Carr & Associates, Watertown, told the town not use the full report and to send it back. The initial report was completed in January.
“We’ve received a letter from Bernier and Carr stating that they did not say that,” Mrs. Booras-Miller said.
Initially, the town asked Bernier, Carr to review the full study and the Town Council and Planning Board concluded the document was too technical for the boards and the public to understand. At the town’s request, Cavanaugh Tocci Associates sent a two-page executive summary to the town Aug. 28. The executive summary was made available Friday.
Supervisor Justin A. Taylor said the town is not trying to deceive its residents nor is it making any decisions behind closed doors.
“There is no intention on my part or the board’s to hold back information,” Mr. Taylor said.
He said that the report was indeed too technical for the town representatives and that the initial report was not submitted to the Planning Board or the Town Council.
Diana Peters, Chaumont, who lives near the test wind turbines, said she is concerned about the negative effects of the turbines.
“There are seven turbines across from me and five on the back,” Mrs. Peters said. “We’re semi-retired and we enjoy our peace and quietness. We don’t like the noise.”
Thomas M. Brennan, Depauville, said the town should start revising the wind turbine setbacks.
“I was some shocked at how close they were,” Mr. Brennan said.
Mr. Taylor said the town is not taking any action regarding the wind project because Iberdrola has suspended its application.
The full noise study report will be available for public review Wednesday. The public must submit a Freedom of Information request to the town to view the document.
“We need to start clearing the air,” said Patricia Booras-Miller, vice president of Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization of Jefferson County.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Ms. Booras-Miller criticized the town, claiming its reason for not releasing the full Cavanaugh Tocci Associates’ noise study report was bogus to begin with.
Last week, Roland A. Baril Jr., chairman of the town Planning Board, said the town’s engineer, Bernier, Carr & Associates, Watertown, told the town not use the full report and to send it back. The initial report was completed in January.
“We’ve received a letter from Bernier and Carr stating that they did not say that,” Mrs. Booras-Miller said.
Initially, the town asked Bernier, Carr to review the full study and the Town Council and Planning Board concluded the document was too technical for the boards and the public to understand. At the town’s request, Cavanaugh Tocci Associates sent a two-page executive summary to the town Aug. 28. The executive summary was made available Friday.
Supervisor Justin A. Taylor said the town is not trying to deceive its residents nor is it making any decisions behind closed doors.
“There is no intention on my part or the board’s to hold back information,” Mr. Taylor said.
He said that the report was indeed too technical for the town representatives and that the initial report was not submitted to the Planning Board or the Town Council.
Diana Peters, Chaumont, who lives near the test wind turbines, said she is concerned about the negative effects of the turbines.
“There are seven turbines across from me and five on the back,” Mrs. Peters said. “We’re semi-retired and we enjoy our peace and quietness. We don’t like the noise.”
Thomas M. Brennan, Depauville, said the town should start revising the wind turbine setbacks.
“I was some shocked at how close they were,” Mr. Brennan said.
Mr. Taylor said the town is not taking any action regarding the wind project because Iberdrola has suspended its application.
The full noise study report will be available for public review Wednesday. The public must submit a Freedom of Information request to the town to view the document.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Naples holds its nose, takes the cash
Naples, N.Y.
The town attorney is reworking an agreement between Naples and First Wind to make it clear that by accepting a cash payment, the town is not endorsing the Cohocton wind farms now under construction.
The Town Board has voted to accept $50,000 in what are called “mitigation funds,” to make up for any detrimental effect the appearance of windmills may have on Naples’ historic landmarks.
Developer First Wind, formerly known as UPC Wind, set aside a total of $200,000 in mitigation funds for communities with historic sites within view of the wind farms going up on Dutch Hill and Lent Hill in Cohocton, just south of Naples. Naples was determined to qualify for $50,000 with the rest going to Cohocton.
The Town Board agreed in April to take the cash, which must be used on a designated historic site. For Naples, the money will pay for a feasibility study for renovating Memorial Town Hall on Route 21.
Some wind farm opponents have objected to the payment.
“We’ve been pressured not to take the money,” acknowledged Supervisor Frank Duserick.
But the Town Board took a pragmatic view.
“If we don’t take the money, it goes to Cohocton,” he added.
Some have questioned the lower amount for Naples, but Duserick said, “We don’t have a say in that. That was decided well before the town became involved. Basically, it’s out of our hands.”
Duserick, Naples Historical Society President Priscilla Crawford and Town Attorney Ed Brockman reviewed the legal agreement for the mitigation funds and decided to rephrase it before returning it to the developer. They want to make it clear that the acceptance of the funds comes with a protest.
“This does not mean the town agrees with the siting of the wind towers,” Duserick said.
The town attorney is reworking an agreement between Naples and First Wind to make it clear that by accepting a cash payment, the town is not endorsing the Cohocton wind farms now under construction.
The Town Board has voted to accept $50,000 in what are called “mitigation funds,” to make up for any detrimental effect the appearance of windmills may have on Naples’ historic landmarks.
Developer First Wind, formerly known as UPC Wind, set aside a total of $200,000 in mitigation funds for communities with historic sites within view of the wind farms going up on Dutch Hill and Lent Hill in Cohocton, just south of Naples. Naples was determined to qualify for $50,000 with the rest going to Cohocton.
The Town Board agreed in April to take the cash, which must be used on a designated historic site. For Naples, the money will pay for a feasibility study for renovating Memorial Town Hall on Route 21.
Some wind farm opponents have objected to the payment.
“We’ve been pressured not to take the money,” acknowledged Supervisor Frank Duserick.
But the Town Board took a pragmatic view.
“If we don’t take the money, it goes to Cohocton,” he added.
Some have questioned the lower amount for Naples, but Duserick said, “We don’t have a say in that. That was decided well before the town became involved. Basically, it’s out of our hands.”
Duserick, Naples Historical Society President Priscilla Crawford and Town Attorney Ed Brockman reviewed the legal agreement for the mitigation funds and decided to rephrase it before returning it to the developer. They want to make it clear that the acceptance of the funds comes with a protest.
“This does not mean the town agrees with the siting of the wind towers,” Duserick said.
Public needs to be active in wind energy issue
It appears that we have a bit of a problem in this country. We elect people to represent us, and then they ignore that fact and proceed to do as they like. What is even worse, we re-elect them.
I read somewhere that the definition of stupidity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
A few years ago, our government needed an energy policy. Whom did they go to for the best information? The oil companies and the power companies. How is that working out for you? Maybe we should appoint a Wall Street executive to oversee our banking industry. I guess this did not work so well either. We are repeating the same thing in relation to wind energy here in New York state.
Sen. Schumer lobbied hard for the Spanish-owned wind company Iberdrola to come in and buy out some energy companies here in New York. My guess is he, along with most elected officials, got their best wind information from the AWEA or the American Wind Energy Association. Do you believe the AWEA will give you both sides of the wind issues?
Washington politicians influence our state and local elected officials by their example, with deaf ears and no oversight. There are those who will look at issues and how it will affect all of us and some who will look at issues that will only promote their own agenda. However, when the public takes a stand, elected officials get nervous.
Many of our small towns are being sold a bill of goods from the wind company charlatans that are backed by information from the AWEA, which also supplies the U.S. Department Energy its information. The U.S. taxpayer will pay for this in tax subsidies.
This is why it is important for our citizens to attend informational presentations on wind being held throughout Jefferson, County.
Stephen Rutigliano
Three Mile Bay
I read somewhere that the definition of stupidity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
A few years ago, our government needed an energy policy. Whom did they go to for the best information? The oil companies and the power companies. How is that working out for you? Maybe we should appoint a Wall Street executive to oversee our banking industry. I guess this did not work so well either. We are repeating the same thing in relation to wind energy here in New York state.
Sen. Schumer lobbied hard for the Spanish-owned wind company Iberdrola to come in and buy out some energy companies here in New York. My guess is he, along with most elected officials, got their best wind information from the AWEA or the American Wind Energy Association. Do you believe the AWEA will give you both sides of the wind issues?
Washington politicians influence our state and local elected officials by their example, with deaf ears and no oversight. There are those who will look at issues and how it will affect all of us and some who will look at issues that will only promote their own agenda. However, when the public takes a stand, elected officials get nervous.
Many of our small towns are being sold a bill of goods from the wind company charlatans that are backed by information from the AWEA, which also supplies the U.S. Department Energy its information. The U.S. taxpayer will pay for this in tax subsidies.
This is why it is important for our citizens to attend informational presentations on wind being held throughout Jefferson, County.
Stephen Rutigliano
Three Mile Bay
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Horse Creek wind farm: Noise report cover-up
PPM Energy's Horse Creek Wind Farm proposal, now suspended while NY State officials evaluate the potential high bat mortality from the turbines, is the center of a sobering debate concerning preconstruction sound study reports. The proposed project consists of sixty-two industrial wind turbines spanning the towns of Clayton and Orleans in upstate New York. Over 1000 residents reside within the project's proposed footprint.
In January 2007, shortly after the Town of Clayton adopted its Wind Energy Facilities Ordinance (Local Law 1) governing placement of turbines in the town, PPM released its Noise Analysis report on the project prepared by Global engineering giant CH2M HILL. The report's summary states: "The facilities steady state noise levels are predicted to comply with the Town of Clayton's Wind Energy Facilities Ordinance limit of 50 dBA at offsite residences." It further adds "the facilities noise level may exceed the existing levels by 6 dBA at lower wind speeds but maintains compliance with the Town of Clayton's Wind Energy Facilities Ordinance limit of 50 dBA". New York State guidelines suggest that sound level increases over existing background should not exceed 6 dBA.
Serious and substantial complaints filed by Clayton residents regarding possible excessive and harmful noise impacts from the turbines prompted the Planning Board to hire acoustic engineering firm Cavanaugh Tocci Associates (CTA) of Sudbury MA to evaluate the CH2M HILL report. CTA was specifically requested to "re-evaluate noise impact per NYSDEC guidelines and Town of Clayton Local Law 1 2007 Wind Energy Facilities".
The completed CTA report was received by Clayton officials, Town Supervisor Justin Taylor and Planning Board Chairman Roland Baril, on or around February 15, 2008 but never released to other Planning Board members or the public. Apparently, CTA's report was deemed "too complicated" for review. Three Freedom of Information requests were filed with the town, including one from the local newspaper, and all were denied. Clayton Supervisor Mr. Taylor announced through the Town's engineering consultants Bernier & Carr Associates that CTA's report was sent back with the request that an executive summary be provided to help explain CTA's findings. CTA complied and delivered a 2-page summary on August 25. This summary was again held by Taylor and Baril.
During the Oct 1 regular meeting of the Clayton Planning Board, Planning Board Chairman Baril informed the attending residents as well as the Planning Board that it was the recommendation of Bernier & Carr Associates that CTA's report again be refused as too technical for public review and that CTA's executive summary would be the ONLY document released to other Board members. Taxpayers were welcome to a copy of the summary via a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Clayton Town Clerk.
According to the CTA executive summary, there are serious problems with the methodology employed by CH2M HILL in conducting its noise analysis whereby estimated background sound levels were overestimated. CTA also makes clear that participating property owners, those who've entered into lease agreements with PPM, should update their real estate deeds to reflect noise easements. CTA is clear that noise emanating from the turbines, even if compliant with Clayton's Local Law 1, will affect future property owners who might occupy a dwelling.
The problem of Wind Turbine noise is becoming more pronounced as turbines are built close to where people live. Windaction.org is tracking noise issues in numerous locations including Mars Hill, ME, Lowville, NY, Brownsville, WI, McLean County, IL, and Blair County and Meyersdale, PA, in the UK and Canada. In each of these cases, the question of noise was either never raised prior to the towers being erected or the residents were informed there would be no issue. It's remarkable the lengths PPM and some Clayton officials are going to just to avoid the question. Denying a problem exists in the face of growing evidence is unproductive and will ultimately harm the wind industry and its proponents.
In January 2007, shortly after the Town of Clayton adopted its Wind Energy Facilities Ordinance (Local Law 1) governing placement of turbines in the town, PPM released its Noise Analysis report on the project prepared by Global engineering giant CH2M HILL. The report's summary states: "The facilities steady state noise levels are predicted to comply with the Town of Clayton's Wind Energy Facilities Ordinance limit of 50 dBA at offsite residences." It further adds "the facilities noise level may exceed the existing levels by 6 dBA at lower wind speeds but maintains compliance with the Town of Clayton's Wind Energy Facilities Ordinance limit of 50 dBA". New York State guidelines suggest that sound level increases over existing background should not exceed 6 dBA.
Serious and substantial complaints filed by Clayton residents regarding possible excessive and harmful noise impacts from the turbines prompted the Planning Board to hire acoustic engineering firm Cavanaugh Tocci Associates (CTA) of Sudbury MA to evaluate the CH2M HILL report. CTA was specifically requested to "re-evaluate noise impact per NYSDEC guidelines and Town of Clayton Local Law 1 2007 Wind Energy Facilities".
The completed CTA report was received by Clayton officials, Town Supervisor Justin Taylor and Planning Board Chairman Roland Baril, on or around February 15, 2008 but never released to other Planning Board members or the public. Apparently, CTA's report was deemed "too complicated" for review. Three Freedom of Information requests were filed with the town, including one from the local newspaper, and all were denied. Clayton Supervisor Mr. Taylor announced through the Town's engineering consultants Bernier & Carr Associates that CTA's report was sent back with the request that an executive summary be provided to help explain CTA's findings. CTA complied and delivered a 2-page summary on August 25. This summary was again held by Taylor and Baril.
During the Oct 1 regular meeting of the Clayton Planning Board, Planning Board Chairman Baril informed the attending residents as well as the Planning Board that it was the recommendation of Bernier & Carr Associates that CTA's report again be refused as too technical for public review and that CTA's executive summary would be the ONLY document released to other Board members. Taxpayers were welcome to a copy of the summary via a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Clayton Town Clerk.
According to the CTA executive summary, there are serious problems with the methodology employed by CH2M HILL in conducting its noise analysis whereby estimated background sound levels were overestimated. CTA also makes clear that participating property owners, those who've entered into lease agreements with PPM, should update their real estate deeds to reflect noise easements. CTA is clear that noise emanating from the turbines, even if compliant with Clayton's Local Law 1, will affect future property owners who might occupy a dwelling.
The problem of Wind Turbine noise is becoming more pronounced as turbines are built close to where people live. Windaction.org is tracking noise issues in numerous locations including Mars Hill, ME, Lowville, NY, Brownsville, WI, McLean County, IL, and Blair County and Meyersdale, PA, in the UK and Canada. In each of these cases, the question of noise was either never raised prior to the towers being erected or the residents were informed there would be no issue. It's remarkable the lengths PPM and some Clayton officials are going to just to avoid the question. Denying a problem exists in the face of growing evidence is unproductive and will ultimately harm the wind industry and its proponents.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Shell reportedly explores local wind project by LARRY RULISON
BERNE — A subsidiary of Shell Oil is seeking to develop wind farms in Albany County.
The Altamont Enterprise broke the story in its Thursday edition, saying Shell WindEnergy has been contacting landowners in the Hill Towns about installing 50 wind turbines totaling 100 megawatts of capacity — enough to power about 25,000 homes — at sites in Rensselaerville and New Scotland.
"I can only confirm that we are active in the Albany area and elsewhere in the state," Shell spokesman Tim O'Leary told the Times Union on Monday.
O'Leary declined to confirm or deny details in the Enterprise story, which said the project could involve land from the 4,594-acre Partridge Run State Wildlife Management Area in the town of Berne.
Shell WindEnergy has developed projects in West Virginia, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado and elsewhere across the country.
The potential project has not been formally presented to any government entity, but some local resistance is apparent.
"I am absolutely opposed to industrial wind power in the town of Berne," said Supervisor Kevin Crosier. "We are the jewel of Albany County."
He said town residents have been coming to Town Hall to complain about Shell representatives telling them a deal was already in place.
"They're going around lying to people," Crosier said. "This is so typical of large industry."
O'Leary, the Shell spokesman, declined to respond to those allegations.
Crosier said he has heard nothing from the state about the possible use of Partridge Run for wind turbines. Officials with the Department of Environmental Conservation said Monday they knew nothing of such a proposal.
DEC spokeswoman Lori O'Connell said Partridge Run was given to the state by the federal government in the 1960s, and the deed specifically states the land must be used only for public benefit.
"If it were to be used for any other purpose, the federal government would get it back," O'Connell said.
David Weiss, a Medusa resident who is developing community-owned wind projects in Rensselaerville, said the town's comprehensive plan, which he worked on, prohibits corporate-owned wind farms unless they "significantly" benefit the town directly in the form of cash payments.
"Shell didn't do their homework," he said.
The Altamont Enterprise broke the story in its Thursday edition, saying Shell WindEnergy has been contacting landowners in the Hill Towns about installing 50 wind turbines totaling 100 megawatts of capacity — enough to power about 25,000 homes — at sites in Rensselaerville and New Scotland.
"I can only confirm that we are active in the Albany area and elsewhere in the state," Shell spokesman Tim O'Leary told the Times Union on Monday.
O'Leary declined to confirm or deny details in the Enterprise story, which said the project could involve land from the 4,594-acre Partridge Run State Wildlife Management Area in the town of Berne.
Shell WindEnergy has developed projects in West Virginia, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado and elsewhere across the country.
The potential project has not been formally presented to any government entity, but some local resistance is apparent.
"I am absolutely opposed to industrial wind power in the town of Berne," said Supervisor Kevin Crosier. "We are the jewel of Albany County."
He said town residents have been coming to Town Hall to complain about Shell representatives telling them a deal was already in place.
"They're going around lying to people," Crosier said. "This is so typical of large industry."
O'Leary, the Shell spokesman, declined to respond to those allegations.
Crosier said he has heard nothing from the state about the possible use of Partridge Run for wind turbines. Officials with the Department of Environmental Conservation said Monday they knew nothing of such a proposal.
DEC spokeswoman Lori O'Connell said Partridge Run was given to the state by the federal government in the 1960s, and the deed specifically states the land must be used only for public benefit.
"If it were to be used for any other purpose, the federal government would get it back," O'Connell said.
David Weiss, a Medusa resident who is developing community-owned wind projects in Rensselaerville, said the town's comprehensive plan, which he worked on, prohibits corporate-owned wind farms unless they "significantly" benefit the town directly in the form of cash payments.
"Shell didn't do their homework," he said.
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