Wind energy developments: Enfield, Prattsburgh, FERC

Wind Project in Enfield

The Ithaca Journal reports that the attorney for the Town of Enfield (Tompkins County) has raised questions about a proposed agreement between the Town and the developer of a proposed wind farm, John Rancich. The article states that the Town does not have a wind development law in place as a result of the Town Board repealing an ordinance it had on the books.

FERC electricity cost study

FERC released a study prepared by its Office of Enforcement that examines the causes of and responses to rising electricity costs. The report notes that:

For the next few years, wind will almost certainly account for a large share of generation investment and will account for a growing share of overall generation.

Releasing the report, FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher stated

We must confront three realities: FERC is regulating in a high-cost environment; the United States needs massive investments in new electricity generation, transmission and distribution facilities; and we are beginning to confront the climate change challenge, which puts us in a period of uncertainty regarding policy.

There is tension among these three realities, and they work at cross purposes. The United States cannot simultaneously make the massive investments necessary to assure security of our electricity supply, make additional large investments to confront climate change, and lower electricity prices. Doing so would likely result in failure.

Find here the FERC study on rising electricity costs.

Wind court case in Prattsburgh

WETM-TM reports that the Town Board of Prattsburgh (Steuben County) voted 3-2 to exercise eminent domain, affecting seven land owners, so that First Wind, developing a 36-turbine project, may lay necessary utility cables under a local road.

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