New York state briefs

Greece's Barnard Fire District to get grant

GREECE - Barnard Fire District will get $421,700 to help hire more staff.

The federal funds will be presented to the district by Congressman Tom Reynolds, R-Clarence, tomorrow afternoon. The funding will help the district respond to emergenices better, Reynolds said.

Barnard, on Dewey Avenue, serves 25,000 residents. Staff respond to about 3,000 request a year, with the majority being emergency medical services. The rest, about 20 percent, deal with fires, rescue, assistance and hazardous conditions, according to its web site.

Corning Inc. seeks buyer for Steuben

CORNING - Corning Inc. officials announced Wednesday plans to sell Steuben Glass, a business associated with the company since 1918.

Officials have only begun to explore the possible sale of the esteemed glass manufacturer and could not say if the business will relocate elsewhere.

Also uncertain is the future of Steuben's 150 employees including those at the Steuben Flagship Store in New York City.

"This was a difficult decisionfor the company to make," said James B. Flaws, vice chairman and chief financial officer. "There is a history and pride in association with the business."

Officials hope to have the business sold within a year and hired Lincoln InteRnational Bank to market the factory, he said.

Steuben glass is pure lead crystal, free of impurities and made by hand in a factory connected to the Corning Museum of Glass.

Despite efforts by Corning - including Internet sales, improved packaging, new designers, and efficient manufacturing - Steuben has lost money over the last 10 years, Flaws said. Last year the business lost $6 million and $30 million over the last five years.

Corning has yet to speak with potential buyers but intends to urge a new owner to maintain operations in locally. However, there are no guarantees and the business could be moved or, if not sold, eventually closed.

Wind power debated at HCCC

HERKIMER - At the Herkimer County Community College executive breakfast this morning, more important choices than coffee or orange juice were debated during a panel discussion about the pros and cons of wind power.

Herkimer County officials are negotiating payment-in-lieu of taxes agreements for two wind projects in the county. One would be in the towns of Warren and Stark, and the other would be in Fairfield and Norway.

Bill Moore, director of development for PPM Energy, talked about the advantages of a project such as the company's proposed 44-turbine endeavor planned for Fairfield and Norway.

The project could produce $18 million to $20 million in taxes over 15 to 20 years, pay $500,000 to local landowners each year, create five to seven full-time jobs and produce 150 jobs during construction, Moore said.

Lyme resident and energy consultant Frank Congel laid out some of the concerns involved with wind projects in general.

Congel argued that wind projects have low output and are unpredictable and expensive - with little if any reduction of greenhouse gases and without paying a fair share of taxes.

Herkimer County Administrator James Wallace said it's a difficult discussion that he's heard before.

"You have strong points on both sides," Wallace said.