Sometimes greed and wanting to stake that first claim makes public officials do things they wouldn’t normally consider.  If this winds up being true, it’ll really blow.  From the Buffalo News:

Two wind power companies developing windmill projects in Western New York — including Steel Winds on the old Bethlehem Steel plant site in Lackawanna — are under investigation by State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo for possible improper dealings with local government officials.

Subpoenas were served Tuesday on First Wind, the lead developer of Steel Winds, which is also developing larger, rural “wind farms” in Steuben, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming counties; and Noble Environmental Power, with three working wind farms and five in development in Allegany, Chautauqua, Clinton, Franklin and Wyoming counties.

“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,” Cuomo said in a statement.

“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,” he said.

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