Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced today the launching of an investigation into two companies developing and operating wind farms across New York state amid allegations of improper dealings with public officials and anti-competitive practices. Subpoenas Served on First Wind/UPC Wind and Noble Environmental Power, LLC
With three Article 78’s still to be heard by Judge Furfure, and the many questionable unreported changes to the project, as well as the unverifiable reliability of the turbine components being used, it would certainly seem that the Planning Board would rescind the Special Use Permits until these issues are resolved.
Cohocton Wind Watch does not oppose alternative energy projects when done correctly. However, when the Enron wind industry model continually misrepresents economic projections, sufficient wind resources and verifiable electric production evidence, the only rational conclusion is that they are perpetrating a massive fraud on New York State and the taxpayers.
On Monday April 21, 2008 the Prattsburgh Town Board voted to approve a resolution that allows for the use of eminent domain proceeding in order to facilitate the Windfarm Prattsburgh Project.Â
Proof that UPC has compromised a Cohocton Planning Board member who voted for the UPC " Special Use" Permits. Now he is employed by the Mortenson general contractor on the UPC Wind Cohocton Project, while remaining a Cohocton Planning Board member.
Proof that UPC has compromised a Cohocton Planning Board member who voted for the UPC " Special Use" Permits. Now he is employed by the Mortenson general contractor on the UPC Wind Cohocton Project, while remaining a Cohocton Planning Board member.
The incident of a clear violation of the road agreement with UPC took place on Saturday April 12, 2008 on Moore Road. A transport flat bed trailer hauling a tower section for the UPC industrial wind project has been parked and abandoned in the low part of the gully on the south side of Moore Road. As you are well aware the portable display signs that state NO CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC have been positioned on Moore Road near the intersection of Pine Hill Road.
UPC Wind marks the one-year anniversary of commercial operations for Mars Hill Wind in Maine.
“I'm going to make you a promise today,†Hall said. “There will be no more Article 78's. The three that we have pending, that's it.
“But, there sure is going to be other litigation,†he added. “And it's not going to be on procedural changes that could have been done differently, we're not asking for a municipality to do something over. We're going to look at fraud. We're going to look at criminal conduct.â€
Based upon overwhelming public outrage opposition, and the written statement of the developer and their willingness to pay $4,400,000 per year, it would be malfeasance to approval a PILOT. SCIDA has not provided transparency of their motive of continuous favoritism of UPC Wind. SCIDA must publically disclose the exact amount of fees and financial compensation that will be derived from their approval of this PILOT. Amounts of $100,000 to $600,000 for SCIDA approval of EACH wind project, has been rumored.
The Cohocton projects do not appear to fit the requirements for financial help from SCIDA. What permanent employment is being created? Why if the amount of power to be sold to the grid is what they portray can they not afford to pay full industrial taxes on the project? Where is the proven need for the additional electric supply in Steuben County and more important Cohocton, your concern was about the cost of that electric not the need for additional production?
The present gear problems in Lackawanna were, I believe, predictable. In my April 4, 2007 field report on Clipper’s Lackawanna installation I wrote: “My bet is that this complex gear train will have maintenance issuesâ€.  And I do not believe the present Clipper gear problems will be fixed by re-manufacturing specific gears or gear teeth or changing gear surface hardness, gear lubrication, etc, etc.
