New York Tightening Wind Farm Regulation

BOTTOM LINE WEATHER POINTS
– New York sets strict code of conduct to regulate wind industry.
– Code violators will be charged $50,000 for first offense, $100,000 the next.
– NY attorney general's office investigating claims of bribery and intimidation.

To crackdown on possible industry corruption, New York officials are trying to devise an airtight code of conduct for its wind energy developers. The guidelines are in response to recent allegations of bribery and intimidation tactics used to secure new wind projects in the state.

Noble Environment Power and First Wind, two of New York's largest wind developers, agreed to the code of conduct on Thursday. The companies were under investigation by the state attorney general's office on charges of manipulating municipal officials, according to the New York Times.

“Wind power is an exciting industry for the state that will be a cornerstone of our energy future,” said New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo. “But it is important to make sure that this alternative-energy sector develops in a way that maintains the public’s confidence, and that is what this new code of conduct does.”

By agreeing to the code of conduct, the companies agreed not to hire or give gifts to town officials responsible for approving wind power projects. The companies also agreed not to compensate the relatives of officials involved in deciding the fate of wind power installations.

In July, the attorney general’s office began investigating a growing number of complaints from community groups, residents and law enforcement officials in upstate towns where wind farms were either built or being developed. No one has been prosecuted as a result of the investigation.

Attorney General Cuomo expects that the Wind Industry Ethics Code will curtail abuses and threats in communities where wind power companies are keen on installing new turbines. The attorney general's office expects other wind power companies to agree to follow the code as well.

Companies caught violating the code of conduct can be fined up to $50,000 for a first offense and up to $100,000 for a second offense. Dozens of companies either have wind farms upstate or are trying to develop them.

Nine large wind farms comprising 451 towers, each with a turbine, are operating in New York, with at least 840 more towers planned for construction. The towers are one of the few economic bright spots in some slumping upstate counties.

But Carol E. Murphy, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, a trade group of environmental advocates and wind power producers, said opponents simply do not want the windmills in their backyards.

While Murphy said the code of conduct was sensible, she is worried that the new task force will become an additional way for opponents of wind power projects to try to block construction.