Group asks for criminal probe of Steuben wind projects

Steuben County’s district attorney refused to comment Wednesday on a demand from an environmental group for a criminal investigation of wind farm development in the county.

Cohocton Wind Watch, a group opposed to wind farms already under construction, has called for a grand jury investigation of suspected criminal conduct by both wind developers and public officials.

In a May 5 letter to Steuben County District Attorney John C. Tunney, the group says “several residents and property owners of Steuben County have information of suspected criminal conduct.”

Tunney refused to comment Wednesday.

The list of alleged criminal activities includes:
• Making false claims and filing false statements.
• Bribery of public officials.
• Larceny.
• Fraud.

The only public officials named in the document are James P. Sherron, executive director of the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, and J. Harold McConnell, supervisor of the Town of Prattsburgh. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

No response was immediately available from First Wind of Newton, Mass., developer of the Prattsburgh Wind and Cohocton Wind projects.