State Government Awards $191 Million To Wind Projects
June 02, 2011 05:18:00

Howard Wind Project Recieves Some Of This Money

June 2, 2011



Albany, NY - Governor Andrew Cuomo says the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) have awarded $191 million to 17 power projects across the state.



Wind projects selected include:

· Howard Wind Farm, Steuben County
· Stony Creek Wind Farm, Wyoming, Wyoming County
· Allegany Wind Farm, Great Valley, Cattaraugus County
· Marble River Wind Farm, Churubusco, Clinton County



According to the governor's office, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) was created in 2004, and promotes the development of new renewable energy resources, and the RPS is funded by a surcharge collected from ratepayers served by utility companies.



Local critics of wind energy say the RPS is a scam in which credits are sold from one wind company to another, whether wind is generated or not, and that it was not until the RPS system came along that industrial wind projects started up in the southern tier.



"They're trying for these credits and that's the end of the story" said Howard resident Gerry Hedman. Hedman, a wind protester who lives near property where a wind turbine will be soon constructed, unsuccessfully sued the Howard Town Board over the wind project.