In a journalistic "oh, $hit", Bob Clark of the Hornell Evening Tribune erroneously reported on the infamous Cohocton wind farm in the article "Power Grid Operator: No Power So Far to State Grid From Cohocton" (2/23/09). The article claimed that despite the fact that the turbines were spinning away, the energy collected would not be harvested until December of 2010. Commenters on the newspaper's website displayed both rage and vindication, blaming the Town of Cohocton, Albany, Congress and FirstWind, the builders of the turbines.
In a "one-eighty" in today's edition, Mr. Clark reversed the story, explaining that the power grid operator mistakenly reported information for a different wind farm. The Cohocton turbines were and have been supplying energy to the power grid. Even Eric Massa wants to get to the bottom of things, stating in a news conference, "What you’re saying is it’s hard to get a straight answer out of anybody,” Massa said. “There is a lot of misinformation out there."
To top it off, today the Tribune reports landowner outrage over the noise being generated from the turbines. Regulations state that the turbines cannot generate greater than 50db of sound at the closest non-participating property line. Unfortunately, the most vocal resident at the Town Board meeting was a landowner who sold a lease to his own property. “They’re making so much noise, I can’t sleep at night...The noise is so great that my windows are vibrating.” Perhaps he can stuff his ears with the $100 bills he received in royalties from FirstWind.
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Why blame Clark, when the grid operator itself made the statement the project was not connected? Clark was reporting what other people say, instead — such as folks like yourself — trying to steer the news to reflect personal opinions.
ReplyDeleteLeave Clark alone. He did his job the first time, and then again when reporting that the grid operator didn't even know what it was commenting on.
I understand what you're saying, but from what I've always understood, all information from a source should be verified with at least a second source. Obviously Mr. Clark didn't do that.
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