Large wind farms have been proposed in the Parishville-Hopkinton area as well as Hammond. “Are you in favor of wind farms in St. Lawrence County?”
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Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Trend-spotting and a success story in the fight against Big Wind
The little town of Brimfiled Massachusetts (that could) had a fight on their hands. First Wind came to their rural community intent to install 8-10 wind turbines. They didn't know with whom they were messing. Citizens galvanized and on foot traveled through town to tape informational flyers on each and every mailbox. They were determined to defend the character of Brimfield against the industrial blight planned by First Wind.
At Public Hearing, an unprecedented 200 residents rallied and appeared prepared to fight First Wind. One wore a tee-shirt that read, "Mafia Go Home!". Others told First Wind they had picked the wrong town. The Board took notice and so did the developer.
First Wind withdrew their plans for Brimfield citing insufficient wind speed.
A tip of the hat goes to the fiesty folks from Brimfield, Massachusetts.
At Public Hearing, an unprecedented 200 residents rallied and appeared prepared to fight First Wind. One wore a tee-shirt that read, "Mafia Go Home!". Others told First Wind they had picked the wrong town. The Board took notice and so did the developer.
First Wind withdrew their plans for Brimfield citing insufficient wind speed.
A tip of the hat goes to the fiesty folks from Brimfield, Massachusetts.
Town wind panel wants multiyear ban
The town's Wind Committee is recommending a three- to five-year moratorium on industrial wind development in a report issued Monday to the Town Council.
"It would be prudent to allow for adequate and scientifically staffed radar, sonar, and other data collection and analysis to be completed to address questions regarding potential bird, bat, and other wildlife impacts," the committee's report says. "This extended time could also be used to evaluate industrial wind development's consequences for property values of adjacent lands."
A moratorium on wind development approved last year expires in late July.
The 10-member Hammond Wind Advisory Committee was appointed by the Town Council in February 2010 and first met that March. The committee has met 31 times since, its work culminating in proposed changes to the town's wind law.
Read the entire article
"It would be prudent to allow for adequate and scientifically staffed radar, sonar, and other data collection and analysis to be completed to address questions regarding potential bird, bat, and other wildlife impacts," the committee's report says. "This extended time could also be used to evaluate industrial wind development's consequences for property values of adjacent lands."
A moratorium on wind development approved last year expires in late July.
The 10-member Hammond Wind Advisory Committee was appointed by the Town Council in February 2010 and first met that March. The committee has met 31 times since, its work culminating in proposed changes to the town's wind law.
Read the entire article
Monday, March 28, 2011
Bolt Failures Cause Blades to Fly Off Wind Turbine
Bolt failures caused a wind turbine's rotor and blades to fall from a tower in north-central North Dakota, and six other turbines have been shut down while their bolts are replaced, a state regulator said Thursday.
Members of North Dakota's Public Service Commission, which oversaw the development of the 71-turbine wind farm, said Thursday they would seek more detailed information about how widespread the problems may be.
"That's a fair bit of equipment concern that I would have, quite frankly," Commissioner Kevin Cramer said.
The wind project, which was dedicated last October, is located near Rugby in Pierce County. It is capable of generating up to 149 megawatts of electricity.
It is owned by Iberdrola Renewables Inc. of Portland, Ore., which is a unit of Iberdrola Renovables SA of Valencia, Spain. The turbines themselves were manufactured by Suzlon Wind Energy Corp., a unit of Suzlon Energy Ltd., based in India.
Spokeswomen for Iberdrola and Suzlon did not immediately reply to telephone and email requests for comment Thursday. Suzlon has previously described the accident as an isolated incident.
Jerry Lein, a commission utility analyst, said Iberdrola officials told him that bolts that attached the wind turbine's rotor and blades to a power shaft had failed. The shaft transfers the energy generated by the turning blades to an electric generator.
No one was injured when the rotor and blades toppled from the tower March 14 and crashed to the ground.
Lein said the wind farm was shut down and its turbines inspected. The turbines that did not need bolt replacement have been restarted, he said. The damaged material has been sent to a lab for analysis.
"They want to look further into the mechanism there that was failed before," he said. "They said that, specifically, they're replacing the bolts that hold it together."
The bolts are normally checked every six months, Lein said.
Commissioner Brian Kalk said the agency should seek to examine the wind farm's maintenance records. He wants to hear more information from the companies within two weeks, Kalk said.
"I'd like (the companies) to get back in front of us as quickly as possible ... and give us their best estimate of what is going on," Kalk said.
The commission's president, Tony Clark, said the agency should hold an informal hearing on the incident.
"Nobody has a greater incentive to find out what went wrong than the company does," Cramer said. "But, at the same time, the citizens of Pierce County, they're probably a little bit concerned too. ... You might not want to go hiking in the prairie for a while."
Members of North Dakota's Public Service Commission, which oversaw the development of the 71-turbine wind farm, said Thursday they would seek more detailed information about how widespread the problems may be.
"That's a fair bit of equipment concern that I would have, quite frankly," Commissioner Kevin Cramer said.
The wind project, which was dedicated last October, is located near Rugby in Pierce County. It is capable of generating up to 149 megawatts of electricity.
It is owned by Iberdrola Renewables Inc. of Portland, Ore., which is a unit of Iberdrola Renovables SA of Valencia, Spain. The turbines themselves were manufactured by Suzlon Wind Energy Corp., a unit of Suzlon Energy Ltd., based in India.
Spokeswomen for Iberdrola and Suzlon did not immediately reply to telephone and email requests for comment Thursday. Suzlon has previously described the accident as an isolated incident.
Jerry Lein, a commission utility analyst, said Iberdrola officials told him that bolts that attached the wind turbine's rotor and blades to a power shaft had failed. The shaft transfers the energy generated by the turning blades to an electric generator.
No one was injured when the rotor and blades toppled from the tower March 14 and crashed to the ground.
Lein said the wind farm was shut down and its turbines inspected. The turbines that did not need bolt replacement have been restarted, he said. The damaged material has been sent to a lab for analysis.
"They want to look further into the mechanism there that was failed before," he said. "They said that, specifically, they're replacing the bolts that hold it together."
The bolts are normally checked every six months, Lein said.
Commissioner Brian Kalk said the agency should seek to examine the wind farm's maintenance records. He wants to hear more information from the companies within two weeks, Kalk said.
"I'd like (the companies) to get back in front of us as quickly as possible ... and give us their best estimate of what is going on," Kalk said.
The commission's president, Tony Clark, said the agency should hold an informal hearing on the incident.
"Nobody has a greater incentive to find out what went wrong than the company does," Cramer said. "But, at the same time, the citizens of Pierce County, they're probably a little bit concerned too. ... You might not want to go hiking in the prairie for a while."
Hawaii Wind Developer tied to Largest-ever asset seizure by anti-Mafia police
http://cohoctonwindwatch.blogspot.com/2011/03/hawaii-wind-developer-tied-to-largest.html
Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind stood comfortably with Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, Rep Mazie Hirono, and HECO CEO Dick Rosenblum at the grand opening of the Kahuku Wind energy project on Oahu’s North Shore Thursday. As he should.
First Wind–formerly known as UPC Wind--got its start in wind energy by launching Italy’s IVPC--a company now subject to a record breaking asset seizure by Italian police. The Financial Times September 14, 2010 explains:
Italian anti-mafia police have made their largest seizure of assets as part of an investigation into windfarm contracts in Sicily. Officers confiscated property and accounts valued at €1.5bn belonging to a businessman suspected of having links with the mafia.
Roberto Maroni, interior minister, on Tuesday accused the businessman – identified by police as Vito Nicastri and known as the island’s “lord of the winds” – of being close to a fugitive mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro.
General Antonio Mirone, of the anti-mafia police, said the seized assets included 43 companies – some with foreign participation and mostly in the solar and windpower sector – as well as about 100 plots of land, villas and warehouses, luxury cars and a catamaran. More than 60 bank accounts were frozen.
Until his arrest last November, Mr Nicastri, based in the inland hill town of Alcamo, was Sicily’s largest developer of windfarms, arranging purchases of land, financing and official permits. Some projects were sold through intermediaries to foreign renewable energy companies attracted to Italy by generous subsidy schemes….
The renewable energy sector is under scrutiny across much of southern Italy. Some windfarms, built with official subsidies, have never functioned….
Mr Nicastri sold most of his windfarm projects to IVPC, a company near Naples run by Oreste Vigorito, also president of Italy’s windpower association. Mr Vigorito was also arrested last November on suspicion of fraud and later released. He denied wrongdoing.
Of course the folks who started IVPC know nothing about any of this. Reacting to an earlier round of arrests, First Wind founder Brian Caffyn told the November 15, 2009 Boston Herald: “I read about it in the papers, and I was very surprised.”
Will Hawaii’s windfarms actually work? The “Clipper Liberty” wind turbines installed at Kahuku and on Maui are made by a company founded by a former Director of Enron Wind. Clipper Liberty Vice President of Engineering is also an Enron Wind veteran.
Gaynor and Caffyn were once much more public about their corporate ties to Vigorito’s IVPC. First Wind was originally known as UPC. The UPC Solar website touts “Mr. Caffyn personally oversaw the establishment and construction of the largest wind energy company in Italy — Italian Vento Power Corporation.”
IVPC’s english-language website states: “The Group came to light in 1993 from an idea of Oreste Vigorito who formed the company I.V.P.C. S.r.l. on behalf of UPC, an American company which operates in the wind sector in California.” (Emphasis added.)
The UPC Solar website explains: “UPC’s earliest wind farm developments were built in 1995 in Italy. At the time UPC sold IVPC, its Italian wind business, in 2005, it had built approximately 650MW of capacity representing over 50% of the total installed Italian wind capacity.”
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute News Summer, 2005 reports on the activities of WPI alumnus Gaynor:
"...As president and CEO of UPC Wind Management, located in Newton, Mass., Gaynor was tapped to bring the success of the parent company, UPC Group, to North America. In Europe and North Africa, UPC affiliates—including Italian Vento Power Corporation—have raised over $900 million in financing and installed some 900 utility-scale wind turbine generators (WTGs), with a total capacity of more than 635 megawatts. UPC subsidiary companies, positioned across the United States and in Toronto, are currently pursing some 2,000 megawatts in projects from Maine to Maui..."
In March, Gaynor secured financing for a $70 million project on the island of Maui. [The project is a joint venture with Makani Nui Associates, which owns 49 percent.] The 30-megawatt wind farm at Kaheawa Pastures will be Hawaii’s first utility-scale project to be put into service since the 1980s. Plans call for 20 towers, 180 feet tall, with 1.5-megawatt General Electric turbines. Construction is expected to begin this summer, and the project should be completed by the first quarter of 2006. When operational, the wind farm will supply up to 9 percent of demand to customers of Maui Electric Company.
The Kaheawa Pastures site is situated on state conservation land, between Ma’aleaea and Olowalu, at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 feet.
Makani Nui is also a partner in the Kahuku Wind project.
Business Week reports that Caffyn is a Director or Partner in dozens of Limited Liability Corporations tied to wind energy projects. These include Hawaii’s Kaheawa Wind Power, LLC, Kaheawa Wind Power II, LLC, Hawaii Wind Construction, LLC, and UPC Hawaii Wind O&M.
Caffyn is also listed as a Director or Partner of Italian Vento Power Corporation (IVPC), Srl, IVPC 4, Srl. (Italian Vento Power Corporation), IVPC 6, Srl, IVPC 2000, Srl., IVPC Energy B.V., IVPC Energy 3 B.V., IVPC Energy 4 B.V., IVPC Energy 5, B.V., IVPC Energy 6, B.V., IVPC Energy 7, B.V., IVPC Gestione, Srl, IVPC Management, Srl, IVPC Management 2, Srl and IVPC Marche, Srl. Mr. Caffyn served as Director or Partner of IVPC Marche 2, Srl., IVPC Puglia, Srl, IVPC Service, Srl, IVPC Service 2, Srl, IVPC Service 3, Srl, IVPC Service 4, Srl, IVPC Service 5, Srl, IVPC Service 6, Srl, IVPC Sicilia, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 2, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 3, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 4, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 5, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 6, Srl., IVPC Umbria, Srl., IVPC Wind, Srl.
The UK Independent September 16, 2010 reports:
After decades of drug-running, extortion and prostitution, the Mafia appears to have found a rather more ecological way of laundering their money: green power.
And if the assets of the Italian police's latest target are any indication, the Mafia is embracing the renewable energy business with an enthusiasm that would make Al Gore look like a dilettante. The surprising revelation of organised crime's new green streak came as Italian police said yesterday they had made the largest recorded seizure of mob assets – worth €1.5bn (£1.25bn) ($2.1bn US) – from the Mafia-linked Sicilian businessman Vito Nicastri, who had vast holdings in alternative energy concerns, including wind farms.
Organised crime in Italy has previously been notorious for trading in environmental destruction – principally earning billions of euros by illegally dumping toxic waste. But most of the newly seized assets are in the form of land, property and bank accounts in Sicily, the home of Cosa Nostra, and in the neighbouring region of Calabria, the base of the rival 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate.
So naturally, First Wind is very comfortable with Hawaii politicians and business leaders.
THE FUTURE: Wind Energy's Ghosts
The list First Wind owned companies (some inactive) registered in Hawaii includes the following:
FIRST WIND CONSTRUCTION, LLC
FIRST WIND ENERGY, LLC
FIRST WIND ENERGY MARKETING, LLC
FIRST WIND HAWAII
FIRST WIND O&M BATTERY SERVICES, LLC
FIRST WIND O&M FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, LLC
FIRST WIND O&M FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LLC
FIRST WIND O & M, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, L.L.C.
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER VENTURES, LLC
KAHUKU WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHUKU WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHUKU WIND POWER, LLC
HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC DBA FIRST WIND HAWAII
HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC DBA HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC (NV)
UPC HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC
UPC HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND
UPC HAWAII WIND CONSTRUCTION, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND O & M, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS II, L.L.C.
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS II, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS II, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS, L.L.C.
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS, LLC
UPC KAHUKU WIND POWER, LLC
UPC KAUAI WIND POWER, LLC
UPC WIND MANAGEMENT, LLC
by Andrew Walden
Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind stood comfortably with Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, Rep Mazie Hirono, and HECO CEO Dick Rosenblum at the grand opening of the Kahuku Wind energy project on Oahu’s North Shore Thursday. As he should.
First Wind–formerly known as UPC Wind--got its start in wind energy by launching Italy’s IVPC--a company now subject to a record breaking asset seizure by Italian police. The Financial Times September 14, 2010 explains:
Italian anti-mafia police have made their largest seizure of assets as part of an investigation into windfarm contracts in Sicily. Officers confiscated property and accounts valued at €1.5bn belonging to a businessman suspected of having links with the mafia.
Roberto Maroni, interior minister, on Tuesday accused the businessman – identified by police as Vito Nicastri and known as the island’s “lord of the winds” – of being close to a fugitive mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro.
General Antonio Mirone, of the anti-mafia police, said the seized assets included 43 companies – some with foreign participation and mostly in the solar and windpower sector – as well as about 100 plots of land, villas and warehouses, luxury cars and a catamaran. More than 60 bank accounts were frozen.
Until his arrest last November, Mr Nicastri, based in the inland hill town of Alcamo, was Sicily’s largest developer of windfarms, arranging purchases of land, financing and official permits. Some projects were sold through intermediaries to foreign renewable energy companies attracted to Italy by generous subsidy schemes….
The renewable energy sector is under scrutiny across much of southern Italy. Some windfarms, built with official subsidies, have never functioned….
Mr Nicastri sold most of his windfarm projects to IVPC, a company near Naples run by Oreste Vigorito, also president of Italy’s windpower association. Mr Vigorito was also arrested last November on suspicion of fraud and later released. He denied wrongdoing.
Of course the folks who started IVPC know nothing about any of this. Reacting to an earlier round of arrests, First Wind founder Brian Caffyn told the November 15, 2009 Boston Herald: “I read about it in the papers, and I was very surprised.”
Will Hawaii’s windfarms actually work? The “Clipper Liberty” wind turbines installed at Kahuku and on Maui are made by a company founded by a former Director of Enron Wind. Clipper Liberty Vice President of Engineering is also an Enron Wind veteran.
Gaynor and Caffyn were once much more public about their corporate ties to Vigorito’s IVPC. First Wind was originally known as UPC. The UPC Solar website touts “Mr. Caffyn personally oversaw the establishment and construction of the largest wind energy company in Italy — Italian Vento Power Corporation.”
IVPC’s english-language website states: “The Group came to light in 1993 from an idea of Oreste Vigorito who formed the company I.V.P.C. S.r.l. on behalf of UPC, an American company which operates in the wind sector in California.” (Emphasis added.)
The UPC Solar website explains: “UPC’s earliest wind farm developments were built in 1995 in Italy. At the time UPC sold IVPC, its Italian wind business, in 2005, it had built approximately 650MW of capacity representing over 50% of the total installed Italian wind capacity.”
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute News Summer, 2005 reports on the activities of WPI alumnus Gaynor:
"...As president and CEO of UPC Wind Management, located in Newton, Mass., Gaynor was tapped to bring the success of the parent company, UPC Group, to North America. In Europe and North Africa, UPC affiliates—including Italian Vento Power Corporation—have raised over $900 million in financing and installed some 900 utility-scale wind turbine generators (WTGs), with a total capacity of more than 635 megawatts. UPC subsidiary companies, positioned across the United States and in Toronto, are currently pursing some 2,000 megawatts in projects from Maine to Maui..."
In March, Gaynor secured financing for a $70 million project on the island of Maui. [The project is a joint venture with Makani Nui Associates, which owns 49 percent.] The 30-megawatt wind farm at Kaheawa Pastures will be Hawaii’s first utility-scale project to be put into service since the 1980s. Plans call for 20 towers, 180 feet tall, with 1.5-megawatt General Electric turbines. Construction is expected to begin this summer, and the project should be completed by the first quarter of 2006. When operational, the wind farm will supply up to 9 percent of demand to customers of Maui Electric Company.
The Kaheawa Pastures site is situated on state conservation land, between Ma’aleaea and Olowalu, at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 feet.
Makani Nui is also a partner in the Kahuku Wind project.
Business Week reports that Caffyn is a Director or Partner in dozens of Limited Liability Corporations tied to wind energy projects. These include Hawaii’s Kaheawa Wind Power, LLC, Kaheawa Wind Power II, LLC, Hawaii Wind Construction, LLC, and UPC Hawaii Wind O&M.
Caffyn is also listed as a Director or Partner of Italian Vento Power Corporation (IVPC), Srl, IVPC 4, Srl. (Italian Vento Power Corporation), IVPC 6, Srl, IVPC 2000, Srl., IVPC Energy B.V., IVPC Energy 3 B.V., IVPC Energy 4 B.V., IVPC Energy 5, B.V., IVPC Energy 6, B.V., IVPC Energy 7, B.V., IVPC Gestione, Srl, IVPC Management, Srl, IVPC Management 2, Srl and IVPC Marche, Srl. Mr. Caffyn served as Director or Partner of IVPC Marche 2, Srl., IVPC Puglia, Srl, IVPC Service, Srl, IVPC Service 2, Srl, IVPC Service 3, Srl, IVPC Service 4, Srl, IVPC Service 5, Srl, IVPC Service 6, Srl, IVPC Sicilia, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 2, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 3, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 4, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 5, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 6, Srl., IVPC Umbria, Srl., IVPC Wind, Srl.
The UK Independent September 16, 2010 reports:
After decades of drug-running, extortion and prostitution, the Mafia appears to have found a rather more ecological way of laundering their money: green power.
And if the assets of the Italian police's latest target are any indication, the Mafia is embracing the renewable energy business with an enthusiasm that would make Al Gore look like a dilettante. The surprising revelation of organised crime's new green streak came as Italian police said yesterday they had made the largest recorded seizure of mob assets – worth €1.5bn (£1.25bn) ($2.1bn US) – from the Mafia-linked Sicilian businessman Vito Nicastri, who had vast holdings in alternative energy concerns, including wind farms.
Organised crime in Italy has previously been notorious for trading in environmental destruction – principally earning billions of euros by illegally dumping toxic waste. But most of the newly seized assets are in the form of land, property and bank accounts in Sicily, the home of Cosa Nostra, and in the neighbouring region of Calabria, the base of the rival 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate.
So naturally, First Wind is very comfortable with Hawaii politicians and business leaders.
THE FUTURE: Wind Energy's Ghosts
The list First Wind owned companies (some inactive) registered in Hawaii includes the following:
FIRST WIND CONSTRUCTION, LLC
FIRST WIND ENERGY, LLC
FIRST WIND ENERGY MARKETING, LLC
FIRST WIND HAWAII
FIRST WIND O&M BATTERY SERVICES, LLC
FIRST WIND O&M FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, LLC
FIRST WIND O&M FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LLC
FIRST WIND O & M, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, L.L.C.
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC
KAHEAWA WIND POWER VENTURES, LLC
KAHUKU WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHUKU WIND POWER II, LLC
KAHUKU WIND POWER, LLC
HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC DBA FIRST WIND HAWAII
HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC DBA HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC (NV)
UPC HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC
UPC HAWAII HOLDINGS, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND
UPC HAWAII WIND CONSTRUCTION, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND O & M, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS II, L.L.C.
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS II, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS II, LLC
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS, L.L.C.
UPC HAWAII WIND PARTNERS, LLC
UPC KAHUKU WIND POWER, LLC
UPC KAUAI WIND POWER, LLC
UPC WIND MANAGEMENT, LLC
by Andrew Walden
Hawaii Wind Developer tied to Largest-ever asset seizure by anti-Mafia police
Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind stood comfortably with Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, Rep Mazie Hirono, and HECO CEO Dick Rosenblum at the grand opening of the Kahuku Wind energy project on Oahu’s North Shore Thursday. As he should.
First Wind–formerly known as UPC Wind--got its start in wind energy by launching Italy’s IVPC--a company now subject to a record breaking asset seizure by Italian police. The Financial Times September 14, 2010 explains:
Italian anti-mafia police have made their largest seizure of assets as part of an investigation into windfarm contracts in Sicily. Officers confiscated property and accounts valued at €1.5bn belonging to a businessman suspected of having links with the mafia.
Roberto Maroni, interior minister, on Tuesday accused the businessman – identified by police as Vito Nicastri and known as the island’s “lord of the winds” – of being close to a fugitive mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro.
General Antonio Mirone, of the anti-mafia police, said the seized assets included 43 companies – some with foreign participation and mostly in the solar and windpower sector – as well as about 100 plots of land, villas and warehouses, luxury cars and a catamaran. More than 60 bank accounts were frozen.
Until his arrest last November, Mr Nicastri, based in the inland hill town of Alcamo, was Sicily’s largest developer of windfarms, arranging purchases of land, financing and official permits. Some projects were sold through intermediaries to foreign renewable energy companies attracted to Italy by generous subsidy schemes….
The renewable energy sector is under scrutiny across much of southern Italy. Some windfarms, built with official subsidies, have never functioned….
Mr Nicastri sold most of his windfarm projects to IVPC, a company near Naples run by Oreste Vigorito, also president of Italy’s windpower association. Mr Vigorito was also arrested last November on suspicion of fraud and later released. He denied wrongdoing.
Of course the folks who started IVPC know nothing about any of this. Reacting to an earlier round of arrests, First Wind founder Brian Caffyn told the November 15, 2009 Boston Herald: “I read about it in the papers, and I was very surprised.”
Will Hawaii’s windfarms actually work? The “Clipper Liberty” wind turbines installed at Kahuku and on Maui are made by a company founded by a former Director of Enron Wind. Clipper Liberty Vice President of Engineering is also an Enron Wind veteran.
Gaynor and Caffyn were once much more public about their corporate ties to Vigorito’s IVPC. First Wind was originally known as UPC. The UPC Solar website touts “Mr. Caffyn personally oversaw the establishment and construction of the largest wind energy company in Italy — Italian Vento Power Corporation.”
IVPC’s english-language website states: “The Group came to light in 1993 from an idea of Oreste Vigorito who formed the company I.V.P.C. S.r.l. on behalf of UPC, an American company which operates in the wind sector in California.” (Emphasis added.)
The UPC Solar website explains: “UPC’s earliest wind farm developments were built in 1995 in Italy. At the time UPC sold IVPC, its Italian wind business, in 2005, it had built approximately 650MW of capacity representing over 50% of the total installed Italian wind capacity.”
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute News Summer, 2005 reports on the activities of WPI alumnus Gaynor:
"...As president and CEO of UPC Wind Management, located in Newton, Mass., Gaynor was tapped to bring the success of the parent company, UPC Group, to North America. In Europe and North Africa, UPC affiliates—including Italian Vento Power Corporation—have raised over $900 million in financing and installed some 900 utility-scale wind turbine generators (WTGs), with a total capacity of more than 635 megawatts. UPC subsidiary companies, positioned across the United States and in Toronto, are currently pursing some 2,000 megawatts in projects from Maine to Maui..."
In March, Gaynor secured financing for a $70 million project on the island of Maui. [The project is a joint venture with Makani Nui Associates, which owns 49 percent.] The 30-megawatt wind farm at Kaheawa Pastures will be Hawaii’s first utility-scale project to be put into service since the 1980s. Plans call for 20 towers, 180 feet tall, with 1.5-megawatt General Electric turbines. Construction is expected to begin this summer, and the project should be completed by the first quarter of 2006. When operational, the wind farm will supply up to 9 percent of demand to customers of Maui Electric Company.
The Kaheawa Pastures site is situated on state conservation land, between Ma’aleaea and Olowalu, at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 feet.
Makani Nui is also a partner in the Kahuku Wind project.
Business Week reports that Caffyn is a Director or Partner in dozens of Limited Liability Corporations tied to wind energy projects. These include Hawaii’s Kaheawa Wind Power, LLC, Kaheawa Wind Power II, LLC, Hawaii Wind Construction, LLC, and UPC Hawaii Wind O&M.
Caffyn is also listed as a Director or Partner of Italian Vento Power Corporation (IVPC), Srl, IVPC 4, Srl. (Italian Vento Power Corporation), IVPC 6, Srl, IVPC 2000, Srl., IVPC Energy B.V., IVPC Energy 3 B.V., IVPC Energy 4 B.V., IVPC Energy 5, B.V., IVPC Energy 6, B.V., IVPC Energy 7, B.V., IVPC Gestione, Srl, IVPC Management, Srl, IVPC Management 2, Srl and IVPC Marche, Srl. Mr. Caffyn served as Director or Partner of IVPC Marche 2, Srl., IVPC Puglia, Srl, IVPC Service, Srl, IVPC Service 2, Srl, IVPC Service 3, Srl, IVPC Service 4, Srl, IVPC Service 5, Srl, IVPC Service 6, Srl, IVPC Sicilia, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 2, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 3, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 4, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 5, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 6, Srl., IVPC Umbria, Srl., IVPC Wind, Srl.
The UK Independent September 16, 2010 reports:
After decades of drug-running, extortion and prostitution, the Mafia appears to have found a rather more ecological way of laundering their money: green power.
And if the assets of the Italian police's latest target are any indication, the Mafia is embracing the renewable energy business with an enthusiasm that would make Al Gore look like a dilettante. The surprising revelation of organised crime's new green streak came as Italian police said yesterday they had made the largest recorded seizure of mob assets – worth €1.5bn (£1.25bn) ($2.1bn US) – from the Mafia-linked Sicilian businessman Vito Nicastri, who had vast holdings in alternative energy concerns, including wind farms.
Organised crime in Italy has previously been notorious for trading in environmental destruction – principally earning billions of euros by illegally dumping toxic waste. But most of the newly seized assets are in the form of land, property and bank accounts in Sicily, the home of Cosa Nostra, and in the neighbouring region of Calabria, the base of the rival 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate.
So naturally, First Wind is very comfortable with Hawaii politicians and business leaders.
by Andrew Walden
First Wind–formerly known as UPC Wind--got its start in wind energy by launching Italy’s IVPC--a company now subject to a record breaking asset seizure by Italian police. The Financial Times September 14, 2010 explains:
Italian anti-mafia police have made their largest seizure of assets as part of an investigation into windfarm contracts in Sicily. Officers confiscated property and accounts valued at €1.5bn belonging to a businessman suspected of having links with the mafia.
Roberto Maroni, interior minister, on Tuesday accused the businessman – identified by police as Vito Nicastri and known as the island’s “lord of the winds” – of being close to a fugitive mafia boss, Matteo Messina Denaro.
General Antonio Mirone, of the anti-mafia police, said the seized assets included 43 companies – some with foreign participation and mostly in the solar and windpower sector – as well as about 100 plots of land, villas and warehouses, luxury cars and a catamaran. More than 60 bank accounts were frozen.
Until his arrest last November, Mr Nicastri, based in the inland hill town of Alcamo, was Sicily’s largest developer of windfarms, arranging purchases of land, financing and official permits. Some projects were sold through intermediaries to foreign renewable energy companies attracted to Italy by generous subsidy schemes….
The renewable energy sector is under scrutiny across much of southern Italy. Some windfarms, built with official subsidies, have never functioned….
Mr Nicastri sold most of his windfarm projects to IVPC, a company near Naples run by Oreste Vigorito, also president of Italy’s windpower association. Mr Vigorito was also arrested last November on suspicion of fraud and later released. He denied wrongdoing.
Of course the folks who started IVPC know nothing about any of this. Reacting to an earlier round of arrests, First Wind founder Brian Caffyn told the November 15, 2009 Boston Herald: “I read about it in the papers, and I was very surprised.”
Will Hawaii’s windfarms actually work? The “Clipper Liberty” wind turbines installed at Kahuku and on Maui are made by a company founded by a former Director of Enron Wind. Clipper Liberty Vice President of Engineering is also an Enron Wind veteran.
Gaynor and Caffyn were once much more public about their corporate ties to Vigorito’s IVPC. First Wind was originally known as UPC. The UPC Solar website touts “Mr. Caffyn personally oversaw the establishment and construction of the largest wind energy company in Italy — Italian Vento Power Corporation.”
IVPC’s english-language website states: “The Group came to light in 1993 from an idea of Oreste Vigorito who formed the company I.V.P.C. S.r.l. on behalf of UPC, an American company which operates in the wind sector in California.” (Emphasis added.)
The UPC Solar website explains: “UPC’s earliest wind farm developments were built in 1995 in Italy. At the time UPC sold IVPC, its Italian wind business, in 2005, it had built approximately 650MW of capacity representing over 50% of the total installed Italian wind capacity.”
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute News Summer, 2005 reports on the activities of WPI alumnus Gaynor:
"...As president and CEO of UPC Wind Management, located in Newton, Mass., Gaynor was tapped to bring the success of the parent company, UPC Group, to North America. In Europe and North Africa, UPC affiliates—including Italian Vento Power Corporation—have raised over $900 million in financing and installed some 900 utility-scale wind turbine generators (WTGs), with a total capacity of more than 635 megawatts. UPC subsidiary companies, positioned across the United States and in Toronto, are currently pursing some 2,000 megawatts in projects from Maine to Maui..."
In March, Gaynor secured financing for a $70 million project on the island of Maui. [The project is a joint venture with Makani Nui Associates, which owns 49 percent.] The 30-megawatt wind farm at Kaheawa Pastures will be Hawaii’s first utility-scale project to be put into service since the 1980s. Plans call for 20 towers, 180 feet tall, with 1.5-megawatt General Electric turbines. Construction is expected to begin this summer, and the project should be completed by the first quarter of 2006. When operational, the wind farm will supply up to 9 percent of demand to customers of Maui Electric Company.
The Kaheawa Pastures site is situated on state conservation land, between Ma’aleaea and Olowalu, at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 feet.
Makani Nui is also a partner in the Kahuku Wind project.
Business Week reports that Caffyn is a Director or Partner in dozens of Limited Liability Corporations tied to wind energy projects. These include Hawaii’s Kaheawa Wind Power, LLC, Kaheawa Wind Power II, LLC, Hawaii Wind Construction, LLC, and UPC Hawaii Wind O&M.
Caffyn is also listed as a Director or Partner of Italian Vento Power Corporation (IVPC), Srl, IVPC 4, Srl. (Italian Vento Power Corporation), IVPC 6, Srl, IVPC 2000, Srl., IVPC Energy B.V., IVPC Energy 3 B.V., IVPC Energy 4 B.V., IVPC Energy 5, B.V., IVPC Energy 6, B.V., IVPC Energy 7, B.V., IVPC Gestione, Srl, IVPC Management, Srl, IVPC Management 2, Srl and IVPC Marche, Srl. Mr. Caffyn served as Director or Partner of IVPC Marche 2, Srl., IVPC Puglia, Srl, IVPC Service, Srl, IVPC Service 2, Srl, IVPC Service 3, Srl, IVPC Service 4, Srl, IVPC Service 5, Srl, IVPC Service 6, Srl, IVPC Sicilia, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 2, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 3, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 4, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 5, Srl., IVPC Sicilia 6, Srl., IVPC Umbria, Srl., IVPC Wind, Srl.
The UK Independent September 16, 2010 reports:
After decades of drug-running, extortion and prostitution, the Mafia appears to have found a rather more ecological way of laundering their money: green power.
And if the assets of the Italian police's latest target are any indication, the Mafia is embracing the renewable energy business with an enthusiasm that would make Al Gore look like a dilettante. The surprising revelation of organised crime's new green streak came as Italian police said yesterday they had made the largest recorded seizure of mob assets – worth €1.5bn (£1.25bn) ($2.1bn US) – from the Mafia-linked Sicilian businessman Vito Nicastri, who had vast holdings in alternative energy concerns, including wind farms.
Organised crime in Italy has previously been notorious for trading in environmental destruction – principally earning billions of euros by illegally dumping toxic waste. But most of the newly seized assets are in the form of land, property and bank accounts in Sicily, the home of Cosa Nostra, and in the neighbouring region of Calabria, the base of the rival 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate.
So naturally, First Wind is very comfortable with Hawaii politicians and business leaders.
by Andrew Walden
Sunday, March 27, 2011
EVENT DRAWS WIND FARM FOES
More than 100 people attended an open house Saturday, blasting Iberdrola Renewables' proposed North Ridge Wind Farm.
Company representatives Jenny L. Burke and Daniel C. Murdie said the project, in Parishville and neighboring Hopkinton, is in the preliminary development phase and could take three or more years to complete.
"The size of the project will depend on the availability of interconnection," Ms. Burke said.
Iberdrola is acquiring land leases in both towns, she said, with wind test towers already in place.
Read the entire article
Company representatives Jenny L. Burke and Daniel C. Murdie said the project, in Parishville and neighboring Hopkinton, is in the preliminary development phase and could take three or more years to complete.
"The size of the project will depend on the availability of interconnection," Ms. Burke said.
Iberdrola is acquiring land leases in both towns, she said, with wind test towers already in place.
Read the entire article
Saturday, March 26, 2011
A world of thanks to the Prattsburgh Town Board
The majority of the current town board of Prattsburgh, has kept their promise. When the election results were tallied in November of 2009, a clear message was sent. The town wanted a renewed town board that would not only listen, but use their experience and knowledge to make decisions benefitting the town. Some say the election was only based on wind farms. This is far from the truth. The current town board has been pro-active with every area of improvement for the town. Benefits like seeking grants to improve water systems and bargaining for lowering electric rates for the town have been overshadowed by attacks on the town by Ecogen, the wind farm developer, and lawsuit costs to protect the residents of Prattsburgh. This level of detail and commitment has not occurred in Prattsburgh for many years. There will always be two sides of the story, and different beliefs by individuals. I am proud that the majority of the current town board has kept their promise, stuck to the issues, represented the people that voted them in and kept an open honest government. In this day and age of lack of faith in our public officials, I am proud of this group and the representation they have delivered. Thanks for representing us and what we believe in. “We The People”, merely had to show up and vote you in to office. You are the ones that continue to shoulder the burden. You must balance the facts that surround you and make decisions that represent “Us”, the voters that put you there. Thanks for your continued dedication!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Cancel Kessel
Then-Gov. David Paterson's choice to head the New York Power Authority, Richie Kessel, turns out to have been a big mistake, just as we predicted.
Now, only two questions remain:
* How much has it cost ratepayers?
* Will the mistake ever be fixed?
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman this week had to order Kessel to quit handing NYPA customers' cash to his favorite charities -- a practice he apparently brought over from his days at the Long Island Power Authority.
Never mind that then-AG Andrew Cuomo ruled in 2007 that the two authorities were not legally allowed to do that. (As if a legal ruling should be needed.)
Spurring Schneiderman's slap was a Freedom of Information request from ex-Port Authority boss George Marlin, which revealed numerous dubious NYPA donations, like one for $4,750 to Kessel's hometown Merrick Chamber of Commerce.
An NYPA aide insisted it was all proper and tied to the authority's work.
But that didn't seem to satisfy the AG, who warned Kessel anyway.
No wonder Cuomo, now governor, wants an adult to keep an eye on NYPA: He nominated an ex-NYPA chairman and respected veteran of the Rudy Giuliani and Hugh Carey teams, John Dyson, to the authority's board, presumably to serve as top dog again.
Just one problem: Kessel's past largess may have influenced enough officials, perhaps even Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (a fellow Long Islander), to stymie the Dyson move.
For sure, Kessel and Skelos have many friends in common -- including such powerhouses as former-Sen. Alfonse D'Amato.
On Tuesday, the board will hold its annual meeting, but Skelos has no specific plans, an aide said, for the Senate to OK Cuomo's choice by then.
Which means Dyson may lose out.
And Kessel would continue to have free rein. With ratepayer cash.
Read entire article
Now, only two questions remain:
* How much has it cost ratepayers?
* Will the mistake ever be fixed?
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman this week had to order Kessel to quit handing NYPA customers' cash to his favorite charities -- a practice he apparently brought over from his days at the Long Island Power Authority.
Never mind that then-AG Andrew Cuomo ruled in 2007 that the two authorities were not legally allowed to do that. (As if a legal ruling should be needed.)
Spurring Schneiderman's slap was a Freedom of Information request from ex-Port Authority boss George Marlin, which revealed numerous dubious NYPA donations, like one for $4,750 to Kessel's hometown Merrick Chamber of Commerce.
An NYPA aide insisted it was all proper and tied to the authority's work.
But that didn't seem to satisfy the AG, who warned Kessel anyway.
No wonder Cuomo, now governor, wants an adult to keep an eye on NYPA: He nominated an ex-NYPA chairman and respected veteran of the Rudy Giuliani and Hugh Carey teams, John Dyson, to the authority's board, presumably to serve as top dog again.
Just one problem: Kessel's past largess may have influenced enough officials, perhaps even Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (a fellow Long Islander), to stymie the Dyson move.
For sure, Kessel and Skelos have many friends in common -- including such powerhouses as former-Sen. Alfonse D'Amato.
On Tuesday, the board will hold its annual meeting, but Skelos has no specific plans, an aide said, for the Senate to OK Cuomo's choice by then.
Which means Dyson may lose out.
And Kessel would continue to have free rein. With ratepayer cash.
Read entire article
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Albany, Craftsbury oppose Lowell wind project
Selectboards in the towns of Albany and Craftsbury announced their opposition Monday to a wind project in Lowell -- a development supported by voters in that town and with stated backing from Gov. Peter Shumlin.
The project in question is Kingdom Community Wind, a plan to construct 21 wind turbines that would stand more than 400 feet tall atop Lowell Mountain in the state's Northeast Kingdom. Green Mountain Power has asked the Public Service Board for a certificate of public good to construct the wind turbines.
Albany and Craftsbury selectboards have determined "the proposed benefits from the project do not outweigh the adverse impacts to their communities," the towns stated in a news release Monday issued by Energize Vermont, an organization that says its mission is finding renewable-energy sources "that are in harmony with the irreplaceable character of Vermont."
Selectboard members in Albany, the closest town to the proposed development, voted in a meeting last week to send a letter opposing Kingdom Community Wind, writing that the wind project is "shocking and offensive." Board members cited concerns about negative health effects from the turbines' noise, visual and aesthetic effects, and possible effects on firefighting resources.
In Craftsbury, which Energize Vermont says has "many of the most prominent direct sight lines" to the wind development, Selectboard members based their opposition on aesthetics and the effects on "the local economy and quality of life." Officials also cited effects on wildlife habitat, water flows and "community identity," and also said the project would not provide "stable, low-cost power" or help combat climate change.
The project's developers say it could generate enough electricity to power 20,000 households, and they have promised $400,000 a year in payments to Lowell, which town officials say would result in tax relief for residents. The town voted overwhelmingly last year to approve the project, though it still needs approval from Vermont utility regulators.
Shumlin in February announced his support for the project, which had been opposed by the administration of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Jim Douglas.
The project in question is Kingdom Community Wind, a plan to construct 21 wind turbines that would stand more than 400 feet tall atop Lowell Mountain in the state's Northeast Kingdom. Green Mountain Power has asked the Public Service Board for a certificate of public good to construct the wind turbines.
Albany and Craftsbury selectboards have determined "the proposed benefits from the project do not outweigh the adverse impacts to their communities," the towns stated in a news release Monday issued by Energize Vermont, an organization that says its mission is finding renewable-energy sources "that are in harmony with the irreplaceable character of Vermont."
Selectboard members in Albany, the closest town to the proposed development, voted in a meeting last week to send a letter opposing Kingdom Community Wind, writing that the wind project is "shocking and offensive." Board members cited concerns about negative health effects from the turbines' noise, visual and aesthetic effects, and possible effects on firefighting resources.
In Craftsbury, which Energize Vermont says has "many of the most prominent direct sight lines" to the wind development, Selectboard members based their opposition on aesthetics and the effects on "the local economy and quality of life." Officials also cited effects on wildlife habitat, water flows and "community identity," and also said the project would not provide "stable, low-cost power" or help combat climate change.
The project's developers say it could generate enough electricity to power 20,000 households, and they have promised $400,000 a year in payments to Lowell, which town officials say would result in tax relief for residents. The town voted overwhelmingly last year to approve the project, though it still needs approval from Vermont utility regulators.
Shumlin in February announced his support for the project, which had been opposed by the administration of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Jim Douglas.
WIND TURBINE PROMOTION AS A SCAM AND STEALTH TAX
TAXPAYER ORGANIZATION CHARGES WIND TURBINE PROMOTION AS A SCAM AND STEALTH TAX
CHICAGO—"The promotion of wind turbines is a scam and stealth tax," charged the President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Wind turbines are far less efficient than coal-burning plants. Turbines have roughly 30 percent efficiency, while coal plants operate at 90 percent efficiency,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President.
“Wind turbine companies receive massive taxpayer subsidies,” said Tobin. “They receive federal subsidies of 66 percent of construction costs, and also receive more than $23 per megawatt they produce. Convention generation receives about $1 per megawatt.”
“For every million dollars wind turbine companies spend in construction costs, they get a check for $330,000 from the federal government. The rest they must put up, but that is usually paid off in a very short term once they connect to the grid and begin generating tax credits, which are then sold to large companies to ‘offset’ pollution.”
“Wind turbine lobbyists are pushing the EPA and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to promulgate corrupt, anti-taxpayer regulations. Lobbyists have pushed the EPA to declare coal ash hazardous.”
“A good example of this scam is in Illinois, where FERC is proposing to force Illinois electric consumers to pay $1.3 billion to upgrade the national grid to connect wind machines. The Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), passed by Springfield politicians, forces utilities to buy high-cost wind energy and then to charge consumers extra to pay for it. It is a hidden tax on energy that drives up its cost.”
A November 8 article in the Wall Street Journal stated: “Senators Henry Reid of Nevada and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, both of whom have big wind and solar projects in their states, pushed a Senate energy bill this summer that would have socialized … transmission costs. That bill has stalled, so FERC -- supported by the White House and Democratic leaders -- may move on its own.”
“I urge taxpayers to contact federal lawmakers and demand they immediately draft bills to block both EPA and FERC. Additionally, Illinois taxpayers should contact their state legislators and ask them to repeal the state RPS.”
For more information, contact Rich Porter of Energize Illinois: An Energy Policy Group, at (217) 379-9007.
Founded in 1976, TUA is one of the largest taxpayer organizations in MidAmerica.
407 South Dearborn, Suite 1170 Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 427-5128 Fax: (312) 427-5139 Web: NTUI.org Email: ntui@NTUI.org
CHICAGO—"The promotion of wind turbines is a scam and stealth tax," charged the President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Wind turbines are far less efficient than coal-burning plants. Turbines have roughly 30 percent efficiency, while coal plants operate at 90 percent efficiency,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President.
“Wind turbine companies receive massive taxpayer subsidies,” said Tobin. “They receive federal subsidies of 66 percent of construction costs, and also receive more than $23 per megawatt they produce. Convention generation receives about $1 per megawatt.”
“For every million dollars wind turbine companies spend in construction costs, they get a check for $330,000 from the federal government. The rest they must put up, but that is usually paid off in a very short term once they connect to the grid and begin generating tax credits, which are then sold to large companies to ‘offset’ pollution.”
“Wind turbine lobbyists are pushing the EPA and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to promulgate corrupt, anti-taxpayer regulations. Lobbyists have pushed the EPA to declare coal ash hazardous.”
“A good example of this scam is in Illinois, where FERC is proposing to force Illinois electric consumers to pay $1.3 billion to upgrade the national grid to connect wind machines. The Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), passed by Springfield politicians, forces utilities to buy high-cost wind energy and then to charge consumers extra to pay for it. It is a hidden tax on energy that drives up its cost.”
A November 8 article in the Wall Street Journal stated: “Senators Henry Reid of Nevada and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, both of whom have big wind and solar projects in their states, pushed a Senate energy bill this summer that would have socialized … transmission costs. That bill has stalled, so FERC -- supported by the White House and Democratic leaders -- may move on its own.”
“I urge taxpayers to contact federal lawmakers and demand they immediately draft bills to block both EPA and FERC. Additionally, Illinois taxpayers should contact their state legislators and ask them to repeal the state RPS.”
For more information, contact Rich Porter of Energize Illinois: An Energy Policy Group, at (217) 379-9007.
Founded in 1976, TUA is one of the largest taxpayer organizations in MidAmerica.
407 South Dearborn, Suite 1170 Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 427-5128 Fax: (312) 427-5139 Web: NTUI.org Email: ntui@NTUI.org
Monday, March 21, 2011
Iberdrola Halts U.S. Wind Farm After Suzlon Turbine Blades Fall to Ground
Iberdrola SA (IBE), the biggest producer of renewable energy, halted power production at a 150-megawatt wind farm in Rugby, North Dakota, after the blades of a Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SUEL) S88 generator fell from their mount.
The plant was suspended after the March 14 accident while Spain’s Iberdrola and Suzlon of India investigate the causes, according to an Iberdrola spokesman who asked not to be named in line with company policy. No one was hurt and there is no indication of when electricity production may resume.
Suzlon has signed contracts to deliver at least 1,257 megawatts of the 2.1-megawatt turbines to countries including China, Australia, India and Brazil, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The same model suffered cracked blades in 2008, prompting Suzlon to strengthen the components at a cost of $25 million, according to the Composites World industry website.
“In partnership with our customer Iberdrola Renewables, Suzlon is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of this incident,” Suzlon said in an e-mailed response to questions about the plant, owned by the renewable-energy unit of Bilbao-based Iberdrola.
The plant was suspended after the March 14 accident while Spain’s Iberdrola and Suzlon of India investigate the causes, according to an Iberdrola spokesman who asked not to be named in line with company policy. No one was hurt and there is no indication of when electricity production may resume.
Suzlon has signed contracts to deliver at least 1,257 megawatts of the 2.1-megawatt turbines to countries including China, Australia, India and Brazil, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The same model suffered cracked blades in 2008, prompting Suzlon to strengthen the components at a cost of $25 million, according to the Composites World industry website.
“In partnership with our customer Iberdrola Renewables, Suzlon is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of this incident,” Suzlon said in an e-mailed response to questions about the plant, owned by the renewable-energy unit of Bilbao-based Iberdrola.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Ann Hornaday reviews ‘Windfall’
Faucets don’t spit fire in “Windfall,” making its local premiere Saturday at the Environmental Film Festival. But incendiary water may be the only side effect not associated with wind power in Laura Israel’s absorbing, sobering documentary about the lures and perils of green technology.
With the Oscar-nominated “Gasland” (and its flame-throwing plumbing) enlightening viewers on the environmental and public health implications of natural gas drilling, and with nuclear power’s reputation in meltdown as a global community turns an anxious gaze toward Japan, some hardy souls may see hope in wind power. After seeing “Windfall,” those optimists will probably emerge with their faith, if not shaken, at least blown strongly off course.
“Windfall” takes place in Meredith, N.Y., a once-thriving dairy-farming community of fewer than 2,000 tucked into a bucolic Catskills valley that is teetering between post-agricultural poverty and hip gentrification. When Irish energy company Airtricity offers leases to build windmills on some residents’ properties, the deals initially seem like a win-win. A little extra money in the pockets of struggling farmers, an environmentally sound technology, those graceful white wings languorously slicing the afternoon sky — what’s not to like?
Plenty, as the concerned residents in “Windfall” find out. Not only do the 400-foot, 600,000-pound turbines look much less benign up close, but research has suggested that their constant low-frequency noise and the flickering shadows they cast affect public health; what’s more, they’ve been known to fall, catch fire and throw off potentially lethal chunks of snow and ice.
Soon Meredith succumbs to drastic divisions between boosters, who see Airtricity’s offers as a godsend for the economically strapped community, and skeptics, who see the leases as little more than green-washed carpetbaggery. “Windfall” chronicles the ensuing, agonizing fight, which largely splits lifelong residents and the relatively new “downstaters,” who’ve moved in from Manhattan and want to keep their views and property values pristine.
Using artful collages of maps and signage, a rootsy soundtrack and crisp digital cinematography, Israel provides a vivid backdrop to “Windfall’s” most gripping story, the emotionally charged human conflict that results in a genuine cliffhanger of a third act. Wisely letting Meredith’s residents speak for themselves, the filmmaker avoids simple good-guy-bad-guy schematics, instead enabling each side to state its case.
Israel, a film editor making her feature debut here, has owned a cabin in Meredith for more than 20 years, a fact never made clear in “Windfall,” which is, nonetheless, filmed with careful, dispassionate distance. In large part, the documentary follows Israel’s process of discovery. Although she wasn’t approached for a lease, she initially supported wind power in the community, she said in an interview. “I wanted a turbine on my property, which motivated me to learn more about it,” she explained. “A lot of the people in the film are illustrating the process I went through, from initial excitement to having it unravel as you find out more about the subject.”
Comparing the situation in Meredith with similar ones in other New York communities, Israel conveys an alarming portrait of small, economically vulnerable towns being cynically targeted by Big Wind — slick, savvy energy companies less interested in the public good than in profits, which are virtually ensured thanks to generous federal and state tax breaks, as well as the deep pockets of investment banks. “It’s not green energy,” notes one observer. “It’s greed.”
Meanwhile, in Meredith, a handful of earnest, common-sense heroes try to separate fact from hype, do the right thing and navigate thorny questions of civic progress by way of small-town democracy. The latter isn’t always pretty, as anyone who has attended a town hall or school board meeting knows. But “Windfall” makes it look exciting, inspiring and, most important, stubbornly enduring. Last year, the Environmental Film Festival helped launch “Gasland’s” grass-roots tour, during which the film pulled the veil from an otherwise opaque subject. With luck, “Windfall” will soon embark on a similar eye-opening journey. Catch it if you can.
With the Oscar-nominated “Gasland” (and its flame-throwing plumbing) enlightening viewers on the environmental and public health implications of natural gas drilling, and with nuclear power’s reputation in meltdown as a global community turns an anxious gaze toward Japan, some hardy souls may see hope in wind power. After seeing “Windfall,” those optimists will probably emerge with their faith, if not shaken, at least blown strongly off course.
“Windfall” takes place in Meredith, N.Y., a once-thriving dairy-farming community of fewer than 2,000 tucked into a bucolic Catskills valley that is teetering between post-agricultural poverty and hip gentrification. When Irish energy company Airtricity offers leases to build windmills on some residents’ properties, the deals initially seem like a win-win. A little extra money in the pockets of struggling farmers, an environmentally sound technology, those graceful white wings languorously slicing the afternoon sky — what’s not to like?
Plenty, as the concerned residents in “Windfall” find out. Not only do the 400-foot, 600,000-pound turbines look much less benign up close, but research has suggested that their constant low-frequency noise and the flickering shadows they cast affect public health; what’s more, they’ve been known to fall, catch fire and throw off potentially lethal chunks of snow and ice.
Soon Meredith succumbs to drastic divisions between boosters, who see Airtricity’s offers as a godsend for the economically strapped community, and skeptics, who see the leases as little more than green-washed carpetbaggery. “Windfall” chronicles the ensuing, agonizing fight, which largely splits lifelong residents and the relatively new “downstaters,” who’ve moved in from Manhattan and want to keep their views and property values pristine.
Using artful collages of maps and signage, a rootsy soundtrack and crisp digital cinematography, Israel provides a vivid backdrop to “Windfall’s” most gripping story, the emotionally charged human conflict that results in a genuine cliffhanger of a third act. Wisely letting Meredith’s residents speak for themselves, the filmmaker avoids simple good-guy-bad-guy schematics, instead enabling each side to state its case.
Israel, a film editor making her feature debut here, has owned a cabin in Meredith for more than 20 years, a fact never made clear in “Windfall,” which is, nonetheless, filmed with careful, dispassionate distance. In large part, the documentary follows Israel’s process of discovery. Although she wasn’t approached for a lease, she initially supported wind power in the community, she said in an interview. “I wanted a turbine on my property, which motivated me to learn more about it,” she explained. “A lot of the people in the film are illustrating the process I went through, from initial excitement to having it unravel as you find out more about the subject.”
Comparing the situation in Meredith with similar ones in other New York communities, Israel conveys an alarming portrait of small, economically vulnerable towns being cynically targeted by Big Wind — slick, savvy energy companies less interested in the public good than in profits, which are virtually ensured thanks to generous federal and state tax breaks, as well as the deep pockets of investment banks. “It’s not green energy,” notes one observer. “It’s greed.”
Meanwhile, in Meredith, a handful of earnest, common-sense heroes try to separate fact from hype, do the right thing and navigate thorny questions of civic progress by way of small-town democracy. The latter isn’t always pretty, as anyone who has attended a town hall or school board meeting knows. But “Windfall” makes it look exciting, inspiring and, most important, stubbornly enduring. Last year, the Environmental Film Festival helped launch “Gasland’s” grass-roots tour, during which the film pulled the veil from an otherwise opaque subject. With luck, “Windfall” will soon embark on a similar eye-opening journey. Catch it if you can.
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