Jun 04, 2007 — An influential congressman from West Virginia could play a role in the North Country's growing wind industry. The Democrat who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee says the government should tighten regulations to protect birds, bats and other wildlife killed by the giant turbines. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Apr 23, 2007 — New wind farms in Clinton and Franklin counties will get state funding for generating renewable power for New York. Noble Environmental Power's wind turbines in the towns of Clinton, Ellenburg, Altona, and Chateaugay are among 21 renewable energy projects that will share $295 million under Governor Spitzer's energy policy. Spitzer unveiled the plan in a speech last week. He said it would also reduce state electricity usage by 15% by 2015. And it would also fast-track new power plants that emit low or no emissions, create jobs to retrofit buildings for energy conservation, and lower utility bills. Environmental and business groups, including National Grid, applauded the announcement. We turn to Ben Wiles for a closer look. He's a senior attorney with the Public Utility Law Project, which represents low income and rural residents on New York's energy issues. He told David Sommerstein Spitzer's proposal is a departure from the former Pataki Administration.  Go to full article

Nov 17, 2006 — More than 100 people with questions about wind power attended a forum in Clayton last night. Three different developers have proposed industrial-scale wind farm projects in northern Jefferson County. All are in preliminary stages. The forum was one of several held statewide by the Citizens Campaign for the Environment. The group supports wind power that includes a complete environmental review. Jefferson County's Agricultural Development Authority co-sponsored the event. Citizen Campaign's Derreth Glance moderated the forum. She told David Sommerstein people wanted to know about access roads for turbines, payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreements, and turbine bird mortality. She says they were especially interested in the words of two Lewis County supervisors on the forum panel, who live by the Maple Ridge wind farm on the Tug Hill Plateau.  Go to full article

Nov 13, 2006 — A developer submitted an application for a wind farm in Cape Vincent last week. According to the Watertown Daily Times, AES Acciona Wind Power NY wants to erect 65 wind turbines south of the village along Route 12E. The company will set up an escrow account to pay expenses as the town conducts an environmental review. Cape Vincent planning board chairman Richard Edsall told the Times, "we have the right to outside professional expertise, and we intend to use it." Two wind farm proposals in Cape Vincent have sparked controversy over how far turbines should be allow to be built from homes, roads, and the St. Lawrence River.

A boom in the wind power industry nationwide is helping the St. Lawrence Seaway. Freighters are carrying loads of turbine blades and tower pieces from Denmark and other countries in Europe to ports in the Great Lakes. In fact, wind energy developers are ordering so many windmills, they're running into a supply problem. Now there are plans to build factories to produce windmills in the U.S. It's all happening in spite of inconsistent federal support. The Environment Report's Stephanie Hemphill reports.  Go to full article

Sep 22, 2006 — A town in Franklin County is the latest to pass a moratorium on industrial wind turbines. Clayton, Cape Vincent, Beekmantown, and Plattsburgh also have suspended wind issues. Meanwhile, a new wind farm is close to breaking ground in three towns in Clinton County. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Aug 11, 2006 — A plan to build a wind farm near the Gore Mt. ski area cleared a major hurdle yesterday. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Jul 31, 2006 — Wind energy is one of the fastest growing sources of new electricity in the United States. For some environmentalists, that's good news. Wind turbines don't spew smoke into the air. There's no nuclear by-product. But there is an environmental risk. To see it, you have to view the wind turbines through the eyes of a bird. The GLRC's Dustin Dwyer has more.  Go to full article

Jun 08, 2006 — A wind farm developer in Clinton County Wednesday paid a man $20,000 to remove a blockade of his driveway. Noble Environmental Power has leased the property to store wind turbine blades and parts. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

May 22, 2006 — Many wind farm projects are on hold right now. The federal government is concerned about possible interference with military radar installations. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Chuck Quirmbach reports.  Go to full article

May 11, 2006 — A big crowd is expected in Ray Brook this morning, where the Adirondack Park Agency will take up a controversial plan to build a network of giant wind towers in Johnsburg. The project has strong local support, but has divided the environmental community. As Brian Mann reports, the decision is seen as a test case for the wind industry inside the Adirondack Park.

Other Key Agenda Items: The Park Agency has a busy schedule this week. They'll also consider two new subdivisions in North Elba, the town that includes Lake Placid. The projects would develop more than 650 acres with high-end luxury homes. Also, the APA is expected to cast a final vote on a new management plan for the St. Regis Canoe area, one of the most popular paddling destinations in the park. Tomorrow, the agency will discuss two controversial issues in the Park -- the height of new buildings and the state's policy for managing roads inside the forest preserve.  Go to full article