Clayton, NY, Oct 12, 2012 — A company that wants to erect 48 wind turbines in the town of Clayton recently announced it would seek permitting through the state's Article X, not the town council. Another company did the same thing in nearby Cape Vincent earlier this year.

Article X is a law passed last year. It gives a state board the authority to green light new power plants, including wind farms, possibly over local objections.  Go to full article

Cape Vincent, NY, Jan 20, 2012 — A judge has sentenced former Cape Vincent Town Clerk Jeri Mason to five years probation. Mason pled guilty last October, to Defrauding the Government (a class E felony) and Official Misconduct. She's said to have stolen nearly $30,000 from the town.  Go to full article

Cape Vincent, NY, Jan 11, 2012 — The prospect of wind energy development has divided north country communities from Cape Vincent to Clinton County. New York's new Article X law gives developers the option to seek state review of where to put their wind farms. But prior to Article X, accepting and siting the big turbines was up to each town. And companies can still choose local rather than state review.

More than once, the conflict over wind has spilled over into local politics. That has been the case in both Cape Vincent, on Lake Ontario, and Hammond, on a windy ridge overlooking the St. Lawrence River. In both towns, last fall's elections pitted incumbent supervisors who favor regulation of wind power against challengers who had already signed leases with energy companies to place wind turbines on their land. Joanna Richards reports on the likely impact of those elections.  Go to full article

Syracuse, NY, Sep 29, 2011 — The New York Power Act signed this summer includes an item called Article X. Article X creates a state-run process for siting large power plants.

The Innovation Trails's Emma Jacobs reports how the law meant to streamline new power generation has some local people upset.  Go to full article

Cape Vincent, NY, Aug 31, 2011 — A group called the New York Wind Education Collaborative will hold a public forum on wind energy development Wednesday in Cape Vincent. Two companies have proposed wind farms in the town, and residents there have been divided for years over the issue. Reporter Joanna Richards spoke with a representative of the group about who's involved, why they're coming to Cape Vincent and what they hope to accomplish with the forum.  Go to full article

Cape Vincent, NY, Sep 10, 2010 — 16 pianists from around the world are in Cape Vincent this weekend for the 8th annual Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People. It's sponsored by the Cape Vincent Arts Council and the Chopin Society of the Thousand Islands. Co-chair Liz Brennan told Todd Moe that the competition will be held under a tent on the historic grounds of the Maple Grove estate.  Go to full article

Feb 17, 2010 — This week, Iberdrola Renewables revealed plans to build 75 wind turbines in the St. Lawrence County town of Hammond. The windmills would be 66 feet taller than those on the Tug Hill Plateau. Many would be visible from the St. Lawrence River.

From Hammond upriver to Clayton, Cape Vincent, and around the shoreline of eastern Lake Ontario, developers want to build hundreds of windmills. One plan for a wind farm on Galloo Island already has approval of the Jefferson County legislature.

The New York Power Authority is in on the "wind rush," too. NYPA wants to install at least 120 megawatts of wind power in the waters of Lakes Ontario and Erie. Local residents refer to the eastern Lake Ontario region as "The Golden Crescent." Critics of the wind farm plans say windmills will scare away the tourists and anglers who drive the local economy. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Dec 09, 2008 — North Country Senator Darrel Aubertine has been tapped to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee. His position was the first to be announced at today's press conference with incoming Senate majority leader Malcolm Smith. Agriculture is one of the biggest sectors of New York's economy. Aubertine is the only active farmer in the state legislature. He owns a dairy farm in Cape Vincent in Jefferson County. Aubertine told David Sommerstein the post was his first choice for a leadership position. He said it allows him to help set the agenda for one of the biggest sectors of the state economy.  Go to full article

Oct 31, 2008 — Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has developed a code of ethics for wind power projects in New York. The guidelines announced yesterday cover conflicts of interest between wind developers and local officials. They set fines of up to $100,000. Noble Environmental Power, which operates three wind farms in Clinton county, is one of two companies to sign on to the ethics code. But the agreement doesn't end probes into potential wrongdoing. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Nov 23, 2007 — Jefferson County is taking steps to get the most from corporations that want to build wind farms there. The county is hiring a consultant who specializes in payment-in-lieu-of-taxes negotiations. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article