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Attorney General
Andrew Cuomo says he is investigating two wind power companies,
including Noble Environmental Power, which just broke ground on a
new wind park in Franklin County last month.
The allegations,
according to a news release, involve alleged “improper dealings with
public officials and anti-competitive practices.”
“The use of wind
power, like all renewable energy sources, should be encouraged to
help clean our air and end our reliance on fossil fuels,” said
Cuomo. “However, public integrity remains a top priority of my
office and if dirty tricks are used to facilitate even clean-energy
projects, my office will put a stop to it.”
Subpoenas have
reportedly been served on Massachusetts-based First Wind and
Connecticut-based Noble Environmental Power. The Attorney General
says he’s investigating whether the companies improperly sought or
obtained land-use agreements with citizens and public officials;
whether improper benefits were given to public officials to
influence their actions, and whether they entered into
anti-competitive agreements or practices.
In recent months, the
AG’s Office says it has received numerous complaints regarding the
two companies from citizens, groups and public officials in eight
counties alleging improper relations between the companies and local
officials and other improper practices.
Franklin County
District Attorney Derek Champagne told WNBZ in March that his office
was looking into reports of conflict of interest and had asked for
the assistance of state investigators.
A Burke town
councilman, David Vincent, sued the district attorney earlier this
year challenging a subpoena he’d received about the lease he and his
family signed with Noble allowing the company to develop wind
turbines on his property. The suit was later dismissed by a state
Supreme Court judge and Vincent was ordered to turn over all
contracts, leases or other agreements with Noble.
Noble Environmental
Power started work last month on the Noble Bellmont Windpark in
Franklin County, which will include 85 turbines. It also has wind
farms in operation or development in Clinton, Allegany, Chautauqua
and Wyoming Counties.
Noble Environmental
CEO Walt Howard, in a statement, said they’ve received the
subpoena. “The company is in the process of reviewing the subpoena
and will cooperate fully with the Attorney General,” he said. “We
are confident the Attorney General's inquiry will find that Noble's
actions have been legal and proper and we look forward to his
review.”
First Wind has
developed the Steel Winds wind farm in Erie County and has wind
farms in development in Steuben, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming
counties.
-Chris Knight,
7-16-08
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