Energy

(05/18/12) Hydraulic fracturing involves the high-pressure injection of water and chemicals into the ground to split rock apart and release natural gas or oil. It's being used extensively in the rapidly expanding natural gas industry in Pennsylvania, but has been blamed for a range of environmental and health problems.

Just across the border, the Town of Vestal, near Binghamton, is well-placed for natural gas development. It's in one of three counties in New York considered to be in the sweet spot of Marcellus Shale development. And as the Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports, its location is what makes Vestal a hot spot in the larger debate about hydrofracking. more

(05/17/12) A State senator from Niagara county is pushing back against a plan to pipe more electricity from producers in Canada to consumers in New York City.

Senator George Maziarz says the big electricity transmission line planned to run under the water of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River would edge out power producers here in New York. Martha Foley has details. more

(05/08/12) This week, North Country Public Radio is continuing our look at people in the North Country who do traditional work, reviving industries that have been part of this region's economy for a century or more.

Today, we revisit Brian Mann's conversation with Matt Foley. He began his career as a glass blower, but he wound up refurbishing old hydro dams in the Adirondacks.

Using antique equipment, Foley is generating power that lights homes and businesses from St. Regis Falls to Westport. more

(05/07/12) A new report from Environmental Advocates of New York is questioning the state's regulation of wastewater from oil and gas wells. As the Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports the study is based on about 100 drilling applications filed with the Department of Environmental Conservation. more

(04/13/12) For the first time in a long time, political observers had been eyeing New York's Republican Presidential Primary, wondering if New York voters might actually have an impact on who's running for the White House. But it appears the GOP nominee has all but been decided before a single ballot is cast in the Empire State.

The Innovation Trail's Zack Seward looks at Mitt Romney's positions on a couple of key economic issues.

Marie Cusick, Ryan Delaney, Matt Richmond and Daniel Robison contributed reporting on this story. The Innovation Trail is a collaboration between five upstate public media outlets, reporting on New York's innovation economy. Support comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. more

(04/12/12) A group of Jefferson County legislators has for the second time in two years expressed opposition to offshore wind turbines in Lake Ontario. Almost two years ago, the New York Power Authority proposed an offshore wind turbine project, which Jefferson County rejected. Now the county may move to oppose federal overtures in that direction. Joanna Richards has more. more

(04/05/12) It's been more than a decade since Potsdam started planning a new hydroelectric power plant where the Raquette River winds through the village. The plant is almost ready to start generating electricity.

Construction ramped up recently after the last of the needed parts for the generating station were finally delivered. Meanwhile, village officials are set to sue a supplier they say delayed progress for years. more

(04/05/12) At one time, there were four mills located at the Croghan Dam, on each side of the Beaver River. John Martin is owner and operator of the last remaining, the Croghan Island Mill.

He specializes in custom windows and doors...things you can't get at Lowe's or Home Depot.
Up until the stop logs were removed from the dam, Martin's machinery was powered by water, which drove pulleys and belts in the historic mill. He's had to rely on electricty since then, but he's had to cut back.

Martin's glad the dam has been reclassified as a lower risk. "Hopefully we can go back to water power," he said, and "business will pick back up and I can get back to normal life again."
Martin gave David Sommerstein a tour of the mill a year ago.

Martin says his father bought the mill from Lehman & Zehr, the original owners, in 1969.

(04/05/12) People working to save the small, historic dam in Croghan from demolition recently got something of a reprieve. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has reclassified the old concrete dam. The two-part structure on the Beaver River was previously listed as "high risk", that could cause death and serious damage if it breached. After the assessment, however, the dam is now considered a low risk structure. more

(04/03/12) New York is one of five states joining the Obama Administration in an agreement designed to spur offshore wind development in the Great lakes. But as the Innovation Trail's Zack Seward reports, the issue of offshore wind farms is still a divisive one. more