Washington, DC, Feb 02, 2010 — 2009 was a bumper year for new windmills. But as Mark Brush reports, if it weren't for government money, it might have been a bad year.  Go to full article

Fort Covington, NY, Jul 06, 2009 — A hundred-year old dam on the Salmon River in Franklin County is coming down. The Fort Covington dam was last used for hydropower in the 1950s. It's been crumbling ever since. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Apr 22, 2009 — NCPR is media sponsor for the 14th annual Sustainable Energy Fair at the SUNY Canton Miller Campus Center this weekend. This year's fair includes more than 100 workshops and exhibitors, green home tours, environmental theater and more. Todd Moe talks with organizer Patricia Greene.  Go to full article

Feb 26, 2009 — The head of the New York Power Authority says he'd be "glad to talk" with a developer who wants to build a steel mill in Massena. Steel Development Company chairman John Correnti says he wants to build a $200-million rebar plant and create 200 jobs. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Jan 15, 2009 — A North Country Assemblywoman is calling for an investigation into National Grid, after the utility company asked 150 upstate municipalities to refund more than $12-million. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Oct 30, 2008 — It could be tonight before power crews restore electricity to the last of the North Country left dark by the season's first snowstorm. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Aug 28, 2008 — The northern chunk of the North Country is deep in the trenches of America's debate over wind power. Global energy firms want to erect several hundred new giant windmills from Cape Vincent in the West to Clinton County in the East. The promise of renewable energy and a whole lot of money has crashed into worries about views, noise, birds, bats, property values - you name it. We've reported extensively on the pros- and cons- of wind power. You can listen to our ongoing coverage on our website, ncpr.org. Today we look at the life on - or maybe under - an industrial-size wind farm. The Maple Ridge wind farm's 195 turbines have been spinning out power on the Tug Hill Plateau for almost three years now. David Sommerstein knocked on doors of the wind farm's human neighbors.  Go to full article

Jun 25, 2008 — 50 years ago, the Moses-Saunders power dam began producing electricity from the St. Lawrence River in Massena. It forever changed the North Country's environment, economy, and culture. The dam also gave birth to a state-owned utility called the New York Power Authority. Today, NYPA owns 18 generating plants and is one of the most politically powerful authorities in New York. It's developed a reputation for secrecy and patronage. There are widespread calls for NYPA's reform. Yesterday, the Power Authority celebrated 50 years of harnessing the waters of the St. Lawrence in a small event on the middle of the dam. As David Sommerstein reports, it was a ceremony full of contradictions.  Go to full article

Jun 24, 2008 — Somewhat muted in the surprise over Senator Bruno's announcement not to seek re-election is a bizarre flap involving Governor David Paterson and North Country Senator Darrel Aubertine. On Saturday, Aubertine said he was offered the chairmanship of the New York Power Authority, and that he declined it. Yesterday, Governor Patterson said the Senator from Jefferson County was never offered the job in the first place. But as David Sommerstein reports, political observers question whether the Governor's telling the truth.  Go to full article

Jun 12, 2008 — Several thousand utility customers in the North Country are still dark this morning, mostly in Franklin, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Oswego counties Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article