Albany, NY, Oct 19, 2010 — A recent report from the agency that monitors New York's electric grid says the state can quintuple the amount of wind power pulsing through the system by 2018. But wind developers say the chances of hitting that mark are slim.

Wind farms are having trouble making profits for their owners. As the Innovation Trail's Zack Seward reports, more incentives may be needed if the state wants to meet its renewable energy goals.  Go to full article

May 03, 2010 — Last week, President Obama turned his attention to rural America. He visited an ethanol refinery in Missouri, a small CSA farmer in Iowa, and wind turbine blades manufacturer in Iowa. The message was that while farming is important to rural communities, most rural people get their paychecks off the farm. New industries like renewable energies will be key to reviving small towns.

On Air Force One, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said that rural America is facing "a silent crisis." David Sommerstein got a chance to interview Vilsack to ask what he meant. Vilsack says the recession hit rural America decades ago. He says 90% of counties with persistent poverty are in rural areas.  Go to full article

Apr 06, 2010 — A decade-long fight over a proposed wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts could be over soon. It's called Cape Wind. U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he will make a decision by the end of April. What would be the nation's first offshore wind farm is bigger than a simple "not in my backyard" issue. Like wind development proposals in this region, it has divided communities and even neighbors. Reporter Curt Nickisch met two people who've come down on opposite sides - both for environmental reasons.  Go to full article

Feb 02, 2010 — 2009 was a bumper year for new windmills. But as Mark Brush reports, if it weren't for government money, it might have been a bad year.  Go to full article

Golden, CO, Jan 26, 2010 — A new study says wind power could meet 20% of the energy needs of the eastern United States. But to get there, the nation needs to invest in a lot of infrastructure. Samara Freemark reports.  Go to full article

Jan 21, 2009 — Last week in Watertown, Governor Paterson was asked for his opinion about the wind power projects near the St. Lawrence River in Cape Vincent, Clayton, and Hammond. He said wind power developers need to be "more careful about siting" in the region, given the St. Lawrence River's "cultural and historic value". That sounded extremely cautionary for a Governor who's just proposed ambitious growth plans for wind and solar energy in New York. So David Sommerstein called Paul DeSotis, deputy energy secretary for Governor Paterson, to interpret the Governor's remarks. Speaking while on a layover at National airport, DeSotis said Paterson was referring to wind power's intermittency - wind turbines only make electricity when the wind's blowing. And he was talking about bottlenecks in the state's power grid that make it hard to send electricity from northern New York - where the wind is - downstate to where the most demand is.  Go to full article

Oct 31, 2008 — Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has developed a code of ethics for wind power projects in New York. The guidelines announced yesterday cover conflicts of interest between wind developers and local officials. They set fines of up to $100,000. Noble Environmental Power, which operates three wind farms in Clinton county, is one of two companies to sign on to the ethics code. But the agreement doesn't end probes into potential wrongdoing. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

May 23, 2008 — Large wind turbines are popping up all over the United States. But some homeowners are beginning to put up their own backyard wind turbines. Lester Graham reports.  Go to full article

May 08, 2008 — A state Supreme Court judge has thrown out a lawsuit aimed at challenging a grand jury's investigation into wind farms in northern Franklin County. Franklin County's district attorney is probing alleged conflicts-of-interest between town officials and wind companies. Jacob Resneck reports.  Go to full article

Apr 02, 2008 — Lost in the debate over wind power and other alternative energies, says commentator Tom Gerstenberger, is a bigger question. Why aren't we talking more about using less?  Go to full article