Podcasts about Columbia County

Allen, Joel, and Yolanda discuss Siemens Energy’s decision to keep their wind business despite pressure from hedge funds, with the CEO projecting profitability by 2026. They cover the company’s 21 megawatt offshore turbine now in testing and why it could be a game changer. Plus, Danish startup Quali Drone demonstrates thermal imaging of spinning blades at an offshore wind farm, and Alliant Energy moves forward with a 270 MW wind project in Wisconsin using next-generation Nordex turbines. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast brought to you by Strike Tape, protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit strike tape.com. And now your hosts, Alan Hall, Rosemary Barnes, Joel Saxon, and Yolanda Padron. Welcome to the  Allen Hall: Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. I’m your host, Alan Hall. I’m here with Yolanda Padron and Joel Saxon. Rosemary Burns is climbing the Himalayas this week, and our top story is Semen’s Energy is rejecting the sail of their wind business, which is a very interesting take because obviously Siemens CESA has struggled. Recently due to some quality issues a couple of years ago, and, and back in 2024 to 25, that fiscal year, they lost a little over 1 billion euros. But the CEO of Siemens energy says they’re gonna stick with the business and that they’re getting a lot of pressure, obviously, from hedge funds to do something with that business to, to raise the [00:01:00] valuations of Siemens energy. But, uh, the CEO is saying, uh, that. They’re not gonna spin it off and that would not solve any of the problems. And they’re, they’re going to, uh, remain with the technology, uh, for the time being. And they think right now that Siemens Gomesa will be profitable in 2026. That’s an interesting take, uh, Joel, because we haven’t seen a lot of sales onshore or offshore from Siemens lately.  Joel Saxum: I think they’re crazy to lose. I don’t wanna put this in US dollars ’cause it resonates with my mind more, but 1.36 billion euros is probably what, 1.8 million or 1.8. Billion dollars.  Allen Hall: Yeah. It’s, it’s about that. Yeah.  Joel Saxum: Yeah. So, so it’s compounding issues. We see this with a lot of the OEMs and blade manufacturers and stuff, right? They, they didn’t do any sales of their four x five x platform for like a year while they’re trying to reset the issues they had there. And now we know that they’re in the midst of some blade issues where they’re swapping blades at certain wind farms and those kind of things.[00:02:00] But when they went to basically say, Hey, we’re back in the market, restarting, uh, sales. Yolanda, have you heard from any of your blade network of people buying those turbines?  Yolanda Padron: No, and I think, I mean, we’ve seen with other OEMs when they try to go back into getting more sales, they focus a lot on making their current customers happy, and I’m not sure that I’ve seen that with the, this group. So it’s, it’s just a little bit of lose lose on both sides.  Joel Saxum: Yeah. And if you’re, if you’re trying to, if you’re having to go back and basically patch up relationships to make them happy. Uh, that four x five x was quite the flop, uh, I would say, uh, with the issues that it had. So, um, there’s, that’d be a lot of, a lot of, a lot of nice dinners and a lot of hand kissing and, and all kinds of stuff to make those relationships back to what they were. Allen Hall: But at the time, Joel, that turbine fit a specific set of the marketplace, they had basically complete control of that when the four x five [00:03:00] x. Was an option and and early on it did seem to have pretty wide adoption. They were making good progress and then the quality issues popped up. What have we seen since and more recently in terms of. The way that, uh, Siemens Ga Mesa has restructured their business. What have we heard?  Joel Saxum: Well, they, they leaned more and pointed more towards offshore, right? They wanted to be healthy in, they had offshore realm and make sales there. Um, and that portion, because it was a completely different turbine model, that portion went, went along well, but in the meantime, right, they fit that four x five x and when I say four x five x, of course, I mean four megawatt, five megawatt slot, right? And if you look at, uh, the models that are out there for the onshore side of things. That, that’s kind of how they all fit. There was like, you know, GE was in that two x and, and, uh, uh, you know, mid two X range investors had the two point ohs, and there’s more turbine models coming into that space. And in the US when you go above basically 500 foot [00:04:00] above ground level, right? So if your elevation is a thousand, once you hit 1500 for tip height on a turbine, you get into the next category of FAA, uh, airplane problems. So if you’re going to put in a. If you were gonna put in a four x or five x machine and you’re gonna have to deal with those problems anyways, why not put a five and a half, a six, a 6.8, which we’ve been seeing, right? So the GE Cypress at 6.8, um, we’re hearing of um, not necessarily the United States, but envision putting in some seven, uh, plus megawatt machines out there on shore. So I think that people are making the leap past. Two x three x, and they’re saying like, oh, we could do a four x or five x, but if we’re gonna do that, why don’t we just put a six x in? Allen Hall: Well, Siemens has set itself apart now with a 21 megawatt, uh, offshore turbine, which is in trials at the moment. That could be a real game changer, particularly because the amount of offshore wind that’ll happen around Europe. Does that then if you’re looking at the [00:05:00] order book for Siemens, when you saw a 21 Mega Hut turbine, that’s a lot of euros per turbine. Somebody’s projecting within Siemens, uh, that they’re gonna break even in 2026. I think the way that they do that, it has to be some really nice offshore sales. Isn’t that the pathway?  Joel Saxum: Yeah. You look at the megawatt class and what happened there, right? So what was it two years ago? Vestas? Chief said, we are not building anything past the 15 megawatt right now. So they have their, their V 2 36 15 megawatt dark drive model that they’re selling into the market, that they’re kind of like, this is the cap, like we’re working on this one now we’re gonna get this right. Which to be honest with you, that’s an approach that I like. Um, and then you have the ge So in this market, right, the, the big megawatt offshore ones for the Western OEMs, you have the GE 15 megawatt, Hayley IX, and GE. ISS not selling more of those right now. So you have Vestas sitting at 15, GE at 15, but not doing anymore. [00:06:00] And GE was looking at developing an 18, but they have recently said we are not doing the 18 anymore. So now from western OEMs, the only big dog offshore turbine there is, is a 21. And again, if you were now that now this is working out opposite inverse in their favor, if you were going to put a 15 in, it’s not that much of a stretch engineering wise to put a 21 in right When it comes to. The geotechnical investigations and how we need to make the foundations and the shipping and the this and the, that, 15 to 21, not that big of a deal, but 21 makes you that much, uh, more attractive, uh, offshore.  Allen Hall: Sure if fewer cables, fewer mono piles, everything gets a little bit simpler. Maybe that’s where Siemens sees the future. That would, to me, is the only slot where Siemens can really gain ground quickly. Onshore is still gonna be a battle. It always is. Offshore is a little more, uh, difficult space, obviously, just because it’s really [00:07:00] Chinese turbines offshore, big Chinese turbines, 25 plus megawatt is what we’re talking about coming outta China or something. European, 21 megawatt from Siemens.  Joel Saxum: Do the math right? That, uh, if, if you have, if you have won an offshore auction and you need to backfill into a megawatts or gigawatts of. Of demand for every three turbines that you would build at 15 or every four turbines you build at 15, you only need three at 21. Right? And you’re still a little bit above capacity. So the big, one of the big cost drivers we know offshore is cables. You hit it on the head when you’re like, cables, cables, cables, inter array cables are freaking expensive. They’re not only expensive to build and lay, they’re expensive to ensure, they’re expensive to maintain. There’s a lot of things here, so. When you talk about saving costs offshore, if you look at any of those cool models in the startup companies that are optimizing layouts and all these great things, a lot of [00:08:00] them are focusing on reducing cables because that’s a big, huge cost saver. Um, I, I think that’s, I mean, if I was building one and, and had the option right now, that’s where I would stare at offshore. Allen Hall: Does anybody know when that Siemens 21 megawatt machine, which is being evaluated at a test site right now, when that will wrap up testing, is it gonna be in the next couple of months?  Joel Saxum: I think it’s at Estro.  Allen Hall: Yeah, it is, but I don’t remember when it was started. It was sometime during the fall of last year, so it’s probably been operational three, four months at this point. Something like that.  Joel Saxum: If you trust Google, it says full commercial availability towards the end, uh, of 28.  Allen Hall: 28. Do you think that the, uh, that Siemens internally is trying to push that to the left on the schedule, bringing from 2028 back into maybe early 27? Remember, AR seven, uh, for the uk the auction round?[00:09:00] Just happened, and that’s 8.4 gigawatts of offshore wind. You think Siemens is gonna make a big push to get into that, uh, into the water there for, for that auction, which is mostly RWE.  Joel Saxum: Yeah, so the prototype’s been installed for, since April 2nd, 2025. So it’s only been in there in the, and it’s only been flying for eight months. Um, but yeah, I mean, RWE being a big German company, Siemens, ESA being a big German company. Uh, of course you would think they would want to go to the hometown and and get it out there, but will it be ready? I don’t know. I don’t know. I, I personally don’t know. And there’s probably people that are listening right now that do have this information. If this turbine model has been specked in any of the pre-feed documentation or preferred turbine suppliers, I, I don’t know. Um, of course we, I’m sure someone does. It’s listening. Uh, reach out, shoot us at LinkedIn or something like that. Let us know, but. Uh, yeah, I mean, uh, [00:10:00] Yolanda, so, so from a Blades perspective, of course you’re our local, one of our local blade experts here. It’s difficult to work, it’s gonna be difficult to work on these blades. It’s a 276 meter rotor, right? So it’s 135 meter blade. Is it worth it to go to that and install less of them than work on something a little bit smaller?  Yolanda Padron: I think it’s a, it’s a personal preference. I like the idea of having something that’s been done. So if it’s something that I know or something that I, I know someone who’s worked with them, so there’s at least a colleague or something that I, I know that if there’s something off happening with the blade, I can talk to someone about it. Right? We can validate data with each other because love the OEMs, but they’re very, it’s very typical that they’ll say that anything is, you know. Anything is, is not a serial defect and anything is force majeure and wow, this is the first time I’m seeing this in your [00:11:00] blade. Uh, so if it’s a new technology versus old technology, I’d rather have the old one just so I, I at least know what I’m dealing with. Uh, so I guess that answers the question as far as like these new experimental lights, right? As far as. Whether I would rather have less blades to deal with. Yes, I’d rather have less bilities to, to deal with it. They were all, you know, known technologies and one was just larger than the other one.  Joel Saxum: Maybe it boils down to a CapEx question, right? So dollar per megawatt. What’s gonna be the cost of these things be? Because we know right now could, yeah, kudos to Siemens CESA for actually putting this turbine out at atrial, or, I can’t remember if it’s Australia or if it’s Keyside somewhere. We know that the test blades are serial number 0 0 0 1 and zero two. Right. And we also know that when there’s a prototype blade being built, all of the, well, not all, but you know, the majority of the engineers that [00:12:00] have designed it are more than likely gonna be at the factory. Like there’s gonna be heavy control on QA, QEC, like that. Those blades are gonna be built probably the best that you can build them to the design spec, right? They’re not big time serial production, yada, yada, yada. When this thing sits and cooks for a year, two years, and depending on what kind of blade issues we may see out of it, that comes with a caveat, right? And that caveat being that that is basically prototype blade production and it has a lot of QC QA QC methodologies to it. And when we get to the point where now we’re taking that and going to serial blade production. That brings in some difficulties, or not difficulties, but like different qa, qc methodologies, um, and control over the end product. So I like to see that they’re get letting this thing cook. I know GE did that with their, their new quote unquote workhorse, 6.8 cypress or whatever it is. That’s fantastic. Um, but knowing that these are prototype [00:13:00] machines, when we get into serial production. It kind of rears its head, right? You don’t know what issues might pop up. Speaker 5: Australia’s wind farms are growing fast, but are your operations keeping up? Join us February 17th and 18th at Melbourne’s Pullman on the park for Wind energy ONM Australia 2026, where you’ll connect with the experts solving real problems in maintenance asset management and OEM relations. Walk away with practical strategies to cut costs and boost uptime that you can use the moment you’re back on site. Register now at WM a 2020 six.com. Wind Energy o and m Australia is created by wind professionals for wind professionals because this industry needs solutions, not speeches.  Allen Hall: While conventional blade inspections requires shutting down the turbine. And that costs money. Danish Startup, Qualy Drone has demonstrated a different approach [00:14:00] at the. Ruan to Wind Farm in Danish waters. Working with RDBE, stack Craft Total Energies and DTU. The company flew a drone equipped with thermal cameras and artificial intelligence to inspect blades while they were still spinning. Uh, this is a pretty revolutionary concept being put into action right now ’cause I think everybody has talked about. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could keep the turbines running and, and get blade inspections done? Well, it looks like quality drone has done it. Uh, the system identifies surface defects and potential internal damage in real time and without any fiscal contact, of course, and without interrupting power generations. So as the technology is described, the drone just sits there. Steady as the blades rotate around. Uh, the technology comes from the Aquatic GO Project, uh, funded by Denmark’s, EUDP program. RDBE has [00:15:00] confirmed plans to expand use of the technology and quality. Drone says it has commercial solutions ready for the market. Now we have all have questions about this. I think Joel, the first time I heard about this was probably a year and a half ago, two years ago in Amsterdam at one of the Blade conferences. And I said at the time, no way, but they, they do have a, a lot of data that’s available online. I, I’ve downloaded it and it’s being the engineer and looked at some of the videos and images they have produced. They from what is available and what I saw, there’s a couple of turbines at DTU, some smaller turbines. Have you ever been to Rust, Gilda and been to DTU? They have a couple of turbines on site, so what it looked like they were using one of these smaller turbines, megawatt or maybe smaller turbine. Uh, to do this, uh, trial on, but they had thermal movie images and standard, you know, video images from a drone. They were using [00:16:00] DGI and Maverick drones. Uh, pretty standard stuff, but I think the key comes in and the artificial intelligence bit. As you sit there and watch these blades go around, you gotta figure out where you are and what blades you’re looking at and try to splice these images together that I guess, conceptually would work. But there’s a lot of. Hurdles here still, right?  Joel Saxum: Yeah. You have to go, go back from data analysis and data capture and all this stuff just to the basics of the sensor technology. You immediately will run into some sensor problems. Sensor problems being, if you’re trying to capture an image or video with RGB as a turbine is moving. There’s just like you, you want to have bright light, a huge sensor to be able to capture things with super fast shutter speed. And you need a global shutter versus a rolling shutter to avoid some more of that motion blur. So there’s like, you start stepping up big time in the cost of the sensors and you have to have a really good RGB camera. And then you go to thermal. So now thermal to have to capture good [00:17:00]quality thermal images of a wind turbine blade, you need backwards conditions than that. You need cloudy day. You don’t want to have shine sheen bright sunlight because you’re changing the heat signature of the blade. You are getting, uh, reflectance, reflectance messes with thermal imagery, imaging sensors. So the ideal conditions are if you can get out there first thing in the morning when the sun is just coming up, but the sun’s kind of covered by clouds, um, that’s where you want to be. But then you say you take a pic or image and you do this of the front side of the blade, and then you go down to the backside. Now you have different conditions because there’s, it’s been. Shaded there, but the reason that you need to have the turbine in motion to have thermal data make sense is you need the friction, right? So you need a crack to sit there and kind of vibrate amongst itself and create a localized heat signature. Otherwise, the thermal [00:18:00] imagery doesn’t. Give you what you want unless you’re under the perfect conditions. Or you might be able to see, you know, like balsa core versus foam core versus a different resin layup and those kind of things that absorb heat at different rates. So you, you, you really need some specialist specialist knowledge to be able to assess this data as well. Allen Hall: Well, Yolanda, from the asset management side, how much money would you generate by keeping the turbines running versus turning them off for a standard? Drone inspection. What does that cost look like for a, an American wind farm, a hundred turbines, something like that. What is that costing in terms of power? Yolanda Padron: I mean, these turbines are small, right? So it’s not a lot to just turn it off for a second and, and be able to inspect it, right? Especially if you’re getting high quality images. I think my issues, a lot of this, this sounds like a really great project. It’s just. A lot of the current drone [00:19:00] inspections, you have them go through an AI filter, but you still, to be able to get a good quality analysis, you have to get a person to go through it. Right. And I think there’s a lot more people in the industry, and correct me if I’m wrong, that have been trained and can look through an external drone inspection and just look at the images and say, okay, this is what this is Then. People who are trained to look at the thermal imaging pictures and say, okay, this is a crack, or this is, you know, you have lightning damage or this broke right there. Uh, so you’d have to get a lot more specialized people to be able to do that. You can’t just, I mean, I wouldn’t trust AI right now to to be the sole. Thing going through that data. So you also have to get some sort of drone inspection, external drone inspection to be able to, [00:20:00] to quantify what exactly is real and what’s not. And then, you know, Joel, you alluded to it earlier, but you don’t have high quality images right now. Right? Because you have to do the thermal sensing. So if you’re. If you’re, if you don’t have the high quality images that you need to be able to go back, if, if, if you have an issue to send a team or to talk to your OE em or something, you, you’re missing out on a lot of information, so, so I think maybe it would be a good, right now as it stands, it would be a good, it, it’d be complimentary to doing the external drone inspections. I don’t think that they could fully replace them. Now.  Joel Saxum: Yeah, I think like going to your AI comment like that makes absolute sense because I mean, we’ve been doing external drone inspections for what, since 2016 and Yeah. And, and implementing AI and think about the data sets that, that [00:21:00] AI is trained on and it still makes mistakes regularly and it doesn’t matter, you know, like what provider you use. All of those things need a human in the loop. So think about the, the what exists for the data set of thermal imagery of blades. There isn’t one. And then you still have to have the therm, the human in the loop. And when we talk to like our, our buddy Jeremy Hanks over at C-I-C-N-D-T, when you start getting into NDT specialists, because that’s what this is, is a form of NDT thermal is when you start getting into specialist, specialist, specialist, specialist, they become more expensive, more specialized. It’s harder to do. Like, I just don’t think, and if you do the math on this, it’s like. They did this project for two years and spent 2 million US dollars per year for like 4 million US dollars total. I don’t think that’s the best use of $4 million right now. Wind,  Allen Hall: it’s a drop in the bucket. I think in terms of what the spend is over in Europe to make technologies better. Offshore wind is the first thought because it is expensive to turn off a 15 or 20 megawatt turbine. You don’t want to do that [00:22:00] and be, because there’s fewer turbines when you turn one off, it does matter all of a sudden in, in terms of the grid, uh, stability, you would think so you, you just a loss of revenue too. You don’t want to shut that thing down. But I go, I go back. To what I remember from a year and a half ago, two years ago, about the thermal imaging and, and seeing some things early on. Yeah, it can kind of see inside the blade, which is interesting to me. The one thing I thought was really more valuable was you could actually see turbulence on the blade. You can get a sense of how the blade is performing because you can in certain, uh, aspect angles and certain temp, certain temperature ranges. You can see where friction builds up via turbulence, and you can see where you have problems on the blade. But I, I, I think as we were learning about. Blade problems, aerodynamic problems, your losses are going to be in the realm of a percent, maybe 2%. So do you even care at that point? It, it must just come down then to being able to [00:23:00] keep a 15 megawatt turbine running. Okay, great. Uh, but I still think they’re gonna have some issues with the technology. But back to your point, Joel, the camera has to be either super, uh, sensitive. With high shutter speeds and the, and the right kind of light, because the tiff speeds are so high on a tiff speed on an offshore turbine, what a V 2 36 is like 103 meters per second. That’s about two hundred and twenty two hundred thirty miles per hour. You’re talking about a race car and trying to capture that requires a lot of camera power. I’m interested about what Quality Drone is doing. I went to that website. There’s not a lot of information there yet. Hopefully there will be a lot more because if the technology proves out, if they can actually pull this off where the turbines are running. Uh, I don’t know if to stop ’em. I think they have a lot of customers [00:24:00]offshore immediately, but also onshore. Yeah, onshore. I think it’s, it’s doable  Joel Saxum: just because you can. I’m gonna play devil’s advocate on this one because on the commercial side, because it took forever for us to even get. Like it took 3, 4, 5, 6 years for us to get to the point where you’re having a hundred percent coverage of autonomous drones. And that was only because they only need to shut a turbine down for 20 minutes now. Right. The speed’s up way up. Yeah. And, and now we’re, we’re trying to get internals and a lot of people won’t even do internals. I’ve been to turbines where the hatches haven’t been open on the blades since installation, and they’re 13 years, 14 years old. Right. So trying to get people just to do freaking internals is difficult. And then if they do, they’re like, ah, 10% of the fleet. You know, you have very rare, or you know, a or an identified serial of defect where people actually do internal inspections regularly. Um, and then, so, and, and if you talk about advanced inspection techniques, advanced inspection techniques are great for specific problems. That’s the only thing they’re being [00:25:00] accepted for right now. Like NDT on route bushing pullouts, right? They, that’s the only way that you can really get into those and understand them. So specific specialty inspection techniques are being used in certain ways, but it’s very, very, very limited. Um, and talk to anybody that does NDT around the wind industry and they’ll tell you that. So this to me, being a, another kind of niche inspection technology that I don’t know if it’s has the quality that it is need to. To dismount the incumbent, I guess is what I’m trying to say. Allen Hall: Delamination and bond line failures and blades are difficult problems to detect early. These hidden issues can cost you millions in repairs and lost energy production. C-I-C-N-D-T are specialists to detect these critical flaws before they become a. Expensive burdens. Their non-destructive test technology penetrates deep to blade materials to find voids and cracks. Traditional inspections [00:26:00] completely. Miss C-I-C-N-D-T Maps. Every critical defect delivers actionable reports and provides support to get your blades back in service. So visit cic ndt.com because catching blade problems early will save you millions. After five years of development, Alliant Energy is ready to build one of Wisconsin’s largest wind farms. The Columbia Wind Project in Columbia County would put more than 40 turbines across rural farmland generating about 270 megawatts of power for about 100,000 homes. The price tag is roughly $730 million for the project. The more than 300 landowners have signed lease agreements already, and the company says these are next generation turbines. We’re not sure which ones yet, we’re gonna talk about that, that are taller and larger than older models. Uh, they’ll have to be, [00:27:00] uh, Alliant estimates the project will save customers about $450 million over the 35 years by avoiding volatile fuel costs and. We’ll generate more than $100 million in local tax revenue. Now, Joel, I think everybody in Europe, when I talk to them ask me the the same thing. Is there anything happening onshore in the US for wind? And the answer is yes all the time. Onshore wind may not be as prolific as it was a a year or two ago, but there’s still a lot of new projects, big projects going to happen here. Joel Saxum: Yeah. If you’ve been following the news here with Alliant Energy, and Alliant operates in that kind of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, that upper. Part of the Midwest, if you have watched a or listened to Alliant in the news lately, they recently signed a letter of intent for one gigawatt worth of turbines from Nordex.[00:28:00] And, uh, before the episode here, we’re doing a little digging to try to figure out what they’re gonna do with this wind farm. And if you start doing some math, you see 277 megawatts, only 40 turbines. Well, that means that they’ve gotta be big, right? We’re looking at six plus megawatt turbines here, and I did a little bit deeper digging, um, in the Wisconsin Public Service Commission’s paperwork. Uh, the docket for this wind farm explicitly says they will be nordex turbines. So to me, that speaks to an N 1 63 possibly going up. Um, and that goes along too. Earlier in the episode we talked about should you use larger turbines and less of them. I think that that’s a way to appease local landowners. That’s my opinion. I don’t know if that’s the, you know, landman style sales tactic they used publicly, but to only put 40 wind turbines out. Whereas in the past, a 280 megawatt wind farm would’ve been a hundred hundred, [00:29:00]20, 140 turbine farm. I think that’s a lot easier to swallow as a, as a, as a local public. Right. But to what you said, Alan. Yeah, absolutely. When farms are going forward, this one’s gonna be in central Wisconsin, not too far from Wisconsin Dells, if you know where that is and, uh, you know, the, the math works out. Alliant is, uh, a hell of a developer. They’ve been doing a lot of big things for a lot of long, long time, and, uh, they’re moving into Wisconsin here on this one. Allen Hall: What are gonna be some of the challenges, Yolanda being up in Wisconsin because it does get really cold and others. Icing systems that need to be a applied to these blades because of the cold and the snow. As Joel mentioned, there’s always like 4, 5, 6 meters of snow in Wisconsin during January, February. That’s not an easy environment for a blade or or turbine to operate in.  Yolanda Padron: I think they definitely will. Um, I’m. Not as well versed as Rosie as [00:30:00] in the Canadian and colder region icing practices. But I mean, something that’s great for, for people in Wisconsin is, is Canada who has a lot of wind resources and they, I mean, a lot of the things have been tried, tested, and true, right? So it’s not like it’s a, it’s a novel technology in a novel place necessarily because. On the cold side, you have things that have been a lot worse, really close, and you have on the warm side, I mean just in Texas, everything’s a lot warmer than there. Um, I think something that’s really exciting for the landowners and the just in general there. I know sometimes there’s agreements that have, you know, you get a percentage of the earnings depending on like how many. Megawatts are generated on your land or something. So that will be so great for that community to be able [00:31:00] to, I mean, you have bigger turbines on your land, so you have probably a lot more money coming into the community than just to, to alliance. So that’s, that’s a really exciting thing to hear.  Allen Hall: That wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you found value in today’s discussion, please leave us a review. It really helps other wind energy professionals discover the show For Rosie, Yolanda and Joel, I’m Allen Hall and we’ll see you next time on the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

This weekend's 1 in 31 guest is Tracy Schober. Tracy is the Executive Director at Autism Society Greater Hudson Region (ASGHR). She leads the organization in five core service areas including Education, Advocacy, Support, Community, and Information & Referral, covering 21 counties in Eastern New York. Tracy joins us to discuss upcoming some of ASGHR's programs, and upcoming events. ASGHR hosts a Mom's Night Out Social Connection Club. This is a great way to meet other caregivers, exchange ideas, share strategies and resources, make friends, and find a sense of community. ASGHR recently started their BRIGHT (Brave Resilient Inspiring Girls Happening Together) initiative. BRAVE is a social and empowerment program for autistic and neurodiverse pre-teen and teen girls designed to build confidence, friendships, and self-awareness. You can follow ASGHR on Facebook for information on upcoming events, fundraisers, and other advocacy efforts!   Learn more about how you can support ASGHR: https://asghr.org/ | Email: communications@asghr.org    Tracy's Bio: Tracy is the Executive Director at Autism Society Greater Hudson Region (ASGHR). She leads the organization in five core service areas including Education, Advocacy, Support, Community, and Information & Referral, covering 21 counties in Eastern New York. Previously Tracy had a thirteen-year tenure as an ACA team member, she served as an Admissions Administrator, Supervisor of Medicaid Service Coordination, Senior Admissions Administrator, Director of New Program Development, and ECHO Autism Lead. As Executive Director of ASGHR Tracy continues to develop and implement trainings at local and national levels. Tracy is a doctoral candidate, pursuing her Doctor of Public Administration degree at Capella University. She holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from Marist College, a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from SUNY College at Brockport, and an Associate's degree in Recreation Leadership from Erie Community College. Tracy earned a certificate as A Social Change Ambassador from the American Association of University Women (member). Tracy is an approved Housing Navigator (NYHRC) and an approved Trainer for Autism Society of America's Safety on the Spectrum™ - First Responders training. Tracy is also a member of the American Society for Public Administration and the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society. Tracy previously served as Program Manager of Adult Residential Services at COARC, a non-profit disabilities service provider, in Columbia County, NY, where she oversaw multiple Individual Residential Alternatives and apartments. Tracy's doctoral focus is on housing. She is a proud mom of an adult on the spectrum.   Where to listen:  The Beacon, WGHQ 92.5FM/920AM Kingston, NY, hvbeacon.com, Sundays, 8:30AM EST WBPM 92.9FM/96.5FM and 1260AM/1420AM Beacon, NY, 929wbpm.com, Sundays, 6:00AM EST WHUD 100.7FM Beacon, NY, WHUD.com, Sundays, 6:00AMEST Oldies, WGNY 98.9/105.3FM and 1220AM New Windsor, NY, WGNYFM.com, Sundays, 7:30AM EST   1 in 31 can be streamed from the following apps: Search ‘1 in 31' or ‘Anderson Center for Autism' Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Boomplay iHeart Podbean Podchaser Spotify YouTube   Learn more http://andersoncenterforautism.org/1in31  https://www.facebook.com/ASDpodcast   

 There are 27 different species of reptiles and amphibians in Columbia County, Oregon, according to the first ever herpetological-assemblage report of the region. The report is the work of Jon Hakim, who grew up in Columbia County and has been obsessed with reptiles and amphibians his whole life. It took over 15 months and many volunteer hours to visit every possible habitat type in the county and log all the different species, including 6 never seen before in the county. We talk to Hakim about his work and what he’s learned.

The Dark is a new annual festival from PS21: Center for Contemporary Performance that celebrates and elevates the depths of winter. Taking place February 16–22, 2026, the festival will unfold at PS21 and in theatres, restaurants, libraries, saunas, and outdoor public spaces across Columbia County.

"We always were having conversations about, if we can't solve it, what then? What is this about? Why isn't it solved? And what is our job? Is the job of a journalist to solve crimes? No, it's to document. So what are we documenting? We're documenting what had to happen for there to be no answer in a situation where there should be an answer," says Leah Sottile, reporter, writer, Hush."Sometimes making yourself uncomfortable is the way to find new creativity, or to challenge yourself to find a smart idea within that," says Ryan Haas, reporter, producer.Today we've got a fun one with CNF Pod regular Leah Sottile, investigative journalist, podcaster, author of Blazing Eye Sees All and When the Moon Turns to Blood.And we also have her long-time collaborative partner Ryan Haas. They are primarily here to talk about season 2 of Hush, an incredible series put out by Oregon Public Broadcasting that chronicles how a small town has, to date, failed to bring closure on the death of 18-year-old Sarah Zuber in 2019. The red herring of it all is that it starts like a classic true crime show, but it quickly becomes an interrogation of the true crime genre. One of Leah's great lines is that this isn't true crime so much as it is bureaucratic horror in the rural town of Rainier, Oregon.I love getting a chance to chat with Leah, and this was special to hear from Ryan Haas, too, who up until recently spent more than a dozen years at OPB. She and Leah worked on the epic Bundyville Podcast together and two seasons of Hush. I'm gonna miss Hush because I would run five miles listening to primarily Leah, though Ryan pops in every now and again, narrate this incredible story about what happens when journalism folds up shop in a small town, when the greek choir of Facebook is the primary news source, when power-hungry people leverage a tragedy for personal gain, when law enforcement becomes lax.In this episode, they talk about: The Grid of Doom The evolution of their partnership How they push each other Interrogating the true crime genre White board conversations Being open to where the reporting goes Being open to complication Finding the cliff hangers And breaking news! The future of Leah and Ryan's workOrder The Front RunnerNewsletter: Rage Against the AlgorithmWelcome to Pitch ClubShow notes: brendanomeara.com

When the body of 18-year-old Sarah Zuber was found outside her home in 2019, the evidence suggested a variety of competing theories. Was it a murder, a hit and run, or Sarah's own intoxicated misadventure?  Her parents believed authorities bungled the case and are hiding information. Community members organized on Facebook pages and in action groups, spouting their own theories and suspects. The Zuber case also spawned a political movement targeting a mayor and the sheriff. But as answers to what actually happened still elude us, questions remain whether the attention has benefitted the case - or benefitted the people demanding results.Season two of the podcast from Oregon Public Broadcasting “Hush: Love Thy Neighbor” focuses on the Sarah Zuber case and why the available evidence supports the contrary conclusions of those throughout Columbia County. Host Leah Sottile and producer Ryan Haas examine how true crime culture and changes in media have altered how a case like this is consumed. They also leave listeners to wonder if the motives of Sarah's greatest champions are completely altruistic.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HUSH: LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Veterans encounter physical, mental health, and substance use challenges at a greater rate than the general population. Rebekka Cary discusses helping them access the benefits and assistance they are rightfully due. Rebekka is a County Veterans Service Officer for Columbia County in Portage, Wisconsin. She was a First Sergeant in the Illinois Air National Guard and is a member of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. The Wisconsin Association of County and Tribal Veterans Service Officers website can be found at County and Tribal Veterans Service Officers (CVSO/TVSO) - Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. The NACVSO (National Association of County Veterans Service Officers) can be reached at Organization - National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. The State of Wisconsin's Dose of Reality campaign is at Dose of Reality: Opioids in Wisconsin. More information about the federal response to the ongoing opiate crisis can be found at One Pill Can Kill. The views and opinions of the guests on this podcast are theirs and theirs alone and do not necessarily represent those of the host or Westwords Consulting. We're always interested in hearing from individuals or organizations who are working in substance use disorder treatment or prevention, mental health care and other spaces that lift up communities. This includes people living those experiences. If you or someone you know has a story to share or an interesting approach to care, contact us today! Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Subscribe to Our Email List to get new episodes in your inbox every week!

Legendary author Frances Fuller Victor fell on hard times in the late 1870s. She never quit, but after she took a job writing for Hubert Howe Bancroft, he took credit for the books she wrote. (St. Helens, Columbia County; 1880s, 1890s, 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1504a.frances-fuller-victor-part2.333.html)

This episode covers the second part of our interview with the four authors of the field guide “From the Hudson to the Taconics”, which is an ecological and cultural field guide to the habitats of Columbia County. The authors of this in-depth study of thirty two habitats are Conrad Vispo, Claudia Knab-Vispo, Anna Duhon and Gretchen Stevens. Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty both remark on the quality of the preface of the book, saying it reads like a novel because it incorporates the culture and ecology missions so clearly. Each author has deep personal connections to the county, developed over decades of studying its flora and fauna, and want to share their appreciation for the habitats. Conrad calls it “hallowed ground” made so by personal connections to a site. When pressed, each author described their own favorite among the habitats listed in the guide, with the caveat that favorite status may change from day to day. They mentioned the “Ancient Forest”, a concept different from the more familiar phrase “Old Forest”. The ancient forest is an area that has somehow escaped being entirely decimated, retaining an uninterrupted native community. Swamp Forest. Bog Lakes and Exposed Rock Outcrops are also favorites among the writers. The description of Rock Outcrop habitat inspired a side trip to marvel at the behaviors of butterflies and the practice of some varieties to congregate in “hill topping.” The conversation then returned to various habitats, especially the “bonus” habitat of the Hudson River. It is a counterpoint to the terrestrial habitats, and unique even among rivers in its freshwater/saltwater habitats. This section is a reminder that everything we do on land affects and is affected by the river that flanks one entire side of the county. Most of the county, in fact, is a watershed into the Hudson, which has had a huge impact on the county historically as a commercial highway. There are other “bonus” habitats in the volume. “Ghost Habitats” take a keen eye. One is the remnant of the chestnut forest that once dominated the landscape, and another is traces of sand barrens, similar to the more familiar Pine Bush of Albany County. These ghost habitats can be thought provoking as we consider what we have now that might become ghost habitats and how we might need to react to threats. The conversation swings back to the larger picture of the goal of the guide. The goal of reaching the maximum number of users is facilitated by having multiple “entry points” for various audiences, hopefully becoming a tool for those using and stewarding the land, with a deeper sense of connection. Availability is widespread. Most libraries through the Hudson Valley already carry copies, and it can be easily purchased through the publisher, Black Dome Press, as well as Barnes & Noble and any Independent booksellers. The episode concludes with our traditional “Hope” question, and the responses are all upbeat, culminating with the observation that there seems to be an increased interest among the younger generations. Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guests: Anna Duhon, Gretchen Stevens, Claudia Knab-Vispo, and Conrad Vispo Photo by: Teresa Golden Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas Resources

Frances Fuller Victor became the founding mother of all Oregon history, and one of its most important writers of all time. By the time she arrived in the Beaver State, she was already a well-known writer. (St. Helens, Columbia County; 1860s, 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1503e.frances-fuller-victor-part1.332.html)

In this episode, Master Gardeners Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas sit down with all four authors of the most comprehensive field guide available of a single county in New York State: From the Hudson to the Taconics”An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County by Anna Duhon, Gretchen Stevens, Claudia Knab-Vispo, and Conrad Vispo for the HAWTHORNE VALLEY FARMSCAPE. This conversation is in two parts because of, not only the number of participants in the interview, but the size of the topic. The interview begins with an introduction to the organizations responsible for making such an effort possible. The Hawthorne Valley Association is the overriding organization, and supports the Farmscape Ecology Program. Hudsonia is the other organization participating in the production of the guide. Hudsonia is a non-advocacy group focusing on data collection and guidance to local governments and advocates in land use decisions. The authors are:  Conrad Vispo, wildlife ecologist with 21 years of experience at Hawthorne Valley with the goal of exploring and sharing research results;  Claudia Knab-Vispo, Botanist studying plants/animals/people interactions for the last twenty years, especially wild plants and how they grow and interact;  Anna Duhon, since 2009 specializing in cultural research and outreach, weaving ecology and culture; and  Gretchen Stevens, Emerita from Hudsonia, thirty five years in the Hudson Valley, specializing in biodiversity assessment in the Hudson Valley.  The guide is informed by decades of original research and enables readers to get to know 36 distinct habitats including:  Information on how to identify and distinguish each habitat in the landscape  Maps of public areas where habitats can be experience  What to look for, including lists of associated wild plants and animals  Stewardship ideas and considerations  Habitat history in the context of human history  Perspective from people interacting with the habitats Interactive suggestions for engaging with different habitats  When asked why and how they were able to assemble such vast amounts of data, Conrad explained that it was the way they found to communicate informed compassion for the natural world. They devised the concept of habitat descriptions to best express the sense of place, describing the specific geography clearly while remaining aesthetically pleasing. Interestingly, the scope included agricultural habitats and suburban ecology as well as “wild” places. The volume of historic data collection in Columbia County is staggering, dating back as far as the early 1800s, and continuing to the present. The researchers talked to hunters and farmers, foragers and conservationists, and even children in their quest to reference all types of people using the land. Their idea was that the more users were consulted, the wider the audience for the field guide. People with different perspectives who used the land differently could all use the guidebook successfully. The goal was to raise awareness of differing habitats and connect with each. The layout of the book is divided into thirty two habitats, each describing the plant and animal life, interrelations between the organisms, then bringing in the history of its land uses and discussion of possible future use. There is often a perspective from the people who actually make use of the habitat, and each section closes with an interactive suggestion to invite reader participation. Tim was curious about the value of the guide in other New York counties and whether it was transferable. The immediate answer is that while features of some habitats are universal, it's better to take the information as a suggestion in another region. While many things are the same, the type of habitat can often be blended in another site. The idea of the guide is to be able to study as deeply or casually as one chooses. It is meant to be a tool used as the user wishes. Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas  Guests: Anna Duhon, Gretchen Stevens, Claudia Knab-Vispo, and Conrad Vispo  Photo by: Teresa Golden. Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas  Resources

Elizabeth Deore faces felony charges for a domestic incident involving her husband at their home in Columbia County, Wyoming last month. Sheriff's deputies got a call that Deore was drunk on tequila and chased her husband around their house with a filet knife and later a butcher knife. Witnesses told deputies that Deore screamed that she was going to kill the man. Now, the husband has written a letter to the judge saying the incident was his fault. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes over the allegations and the letter in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you're ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can submit a claim in 8 clicks or less without having to leave your couch. To start your claim, visit: https://www.forthepeople.com/CrimeFixHost:Angenette Levy https://twitter.com/Angenette5Guest:Dr. Daniel Bober https://www.instagram.com/drdanielbober/Producer:Jordan ChaconCRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

rWotD Episode 3104: Florida's 10th House of Representatives district Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Sunday, 2 November 2025, is Florida's 10th House of Representatives district.Florida's 10th House district elects one member of the Florida House of Representatives. The district is represented by Chuck Brannan. This district is located in North Central Florida, and encompasses part of the inland First Coast, as well as small parts of the Gainesville metropolitan area and the Jacksonville metropolitan area. The district covers all of Baker County, Columbia County, Hamilton County, Suwannee County, and part of northern Alachua County. The largest city in the district is Lake City. As of the 2010 census, the district's population is 156,423.This district contains Florida Gateway College, located in Lake City. The district also contains a small military presence at Lake City Gateway Airport.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:02 UTC on Sunday, 2 November 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Florida's 10th House of Representatives district on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Ruth.

Eighteen-year-old Sarah Zuber was found dead in 2019 just 400 feet from her home in Rainier. The second season of OPB’s investigative podcast "Hush" focuses on her story and the ways that citizen sleuthing, declining local media, and a police department that can’t find answers led to serious rifts in rural Columbia County. We’ll listen to the first episode of the new season.

On Tuesday Executive Director of Development Authority of Columbia County Chaney Eldridge joined Austin for some clarity on the continuing concerns of residents of Columbia County about the proposed data center.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Columbia County School Board Trustee Philip Kent joined us, with great news on huge potential tax savings for homestead residential property tax payers in the county! He believes the majority of the 5 member school board would vote to eliminate property taxes if the windfall promised by the construction of the proposed Appling Data Center goes through as planned...Philip and Austin discussed that, and other topical (and tragic) BOE business Wednesday afternoon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I veckans avsnitt berättar Ida om staden Centralia i Columbia County, Pennsylvania, USA. Under 1800-talet började man bryta antracitkol, då staden och området runtomkring var rik på det. I maj 1962 startade dock en brand som spred sig ner underjorden i de övergivna kolgruvorna. En brand som än idag brinner. Har ni tips på ämnen eller olika fall ni vill att vi tar upp får ni mer än gärna kontakta oss på patospodd@gmail.com eller på Instagram via Patospodd eller via lucasternestal och utt3rclou. Glöm inte att prenumerera på podden så ni får notiser om när nya avsnitt läggs ut och ge oss gärna betyg! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Thursday, October 16, the Break the Bonds NYS campaign held a rally in Albany, marching from the Capitol to NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office. The "Break the Bonds" campaign wants the New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) to divest from Israel Bonds, which they note support the Israeli government's actions in Palestine. The Campaign says that these investments contribute to human rights violations and are ethically unconscionable. It calls for a shift towards sustainable investments that benefit New Yorkers and align with ethical standards. We hear from Eyad Alkurabi of the Palestinian Rights Committee, Keren Carmeli of Jewish Voice for Peace, Rev. John Paalberg of the NYS Council of Churches; Jim McCabe of Columbia County for Palestine; Julian, the emcee of the rally, Becky from Break the Bonds, Sava from the Albany Muslim Advocacy Coalition; Eyad again; and Naomi Jaffe of Jewish Voice for Peace. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

CHARLIE KIRK DAY – OCTOBER 14THThe US Senate approved a resolution marking October 14, 2025 (Kirk's birthday) as a National Day of Remembrance.For this first-ever observance, the Columbia County community joined together in Kirk's honor, holding a gathering on the courthouse lawn.

FilmColumbia, Columbia County's premier annual cultural event, screens the very best upcoming American and international films for ten days in late October. Now a nationally recognized film event, FilmColumbia is celebrating its 25th anniversary on October 17 – 26, 2025.

It had been an accident, but small-time Portland crook Jimmy Walker had shot Rose City crime boss “Shy Frank” Kodat. Unfortunately for Jimmy, he picked the wrong friend to run to for help. (Portland, Scappoose; Multnomah and Columbia County; 1930s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1310c-jimmy-walker-gangland-murder.html)

Austin and Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT on the MYTH that the proposed data center project in Columbia County could somehow cause a "rate increase" for Georgia consumers...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our Friday conversation with Columbia County commission chairman Doug Duncan...he gives us a status report on the proposed data center project. He also discusses his future hope for Columbia County as he enters his final year of leadership.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Under the theme of Block the Bombs, Break the Bonds, Palestinian Rights groups on Friday September 5, attended the Columbia County Democratic Party picnic to confront Cong. Josh Riley and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli over their support for the genocide in Gaza. They interrupted Riley when he was speaking, prompting DiNapoli to decide not to speak after spending several hours waiting. The protestors then slow walked DiNapoli out of the site, both as he walked surrounded by security to his car and then as he was slowly driven away. Riley recently went to Israel on an AIPAC junket while DiNapoli has continued to invest more than $350 million of the state pension funds in Israeli bonds. Before the many speeches started, we talked with Susan Davies and Jim McCabe of Columbia County for Palestine; and Eyad Alkarubi from the Palestinian Rights Committee. After the Palestinian protests, we talked with Karen Frishkoff of Citizens Climate Lobby. Our coverage concludes with a short interview with Jackie Salvatore, who is seeking to become the first African American woman county sheriff in the state.

It is a complicated process, and it has been complicated for decades.  Attempting to balance capitalism and open government, while honoring legal business confidences. Toss in community and environmental concerns...and it gets even more difficult to easily understand, much less explain to the uninitiated. And that is where we are in the ongoing "DATA CENTER" proposal/project in Columbia County. We are at a point now where retroactive full disclosure won't hurt the plans of the project investor. Most importantly...we are slowly dismantling the erroneous claims assailing this project that have been carelessly tossed about by detractors.  Here is my broadcast conversation with activist/critic Lee Muns, from our 09/03/2025 show.  Lots still to cover...but I think the air is beginning to clear....See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Tim and Jean host Kyle Bradford from the Hawthorne Valley's Farmscape Ecology Program. Kyle gave a presentation to the Master Gardener Volunteers of Columbia and Greene Counties on the subject of ants. It was so well received that several MGVs urged the podcast team to invite Kyle to be a guest on the podcast. Kyle holds a MS in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England and a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Vermont. His career led him to an internship at Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program in Columbia County. From there he spent time on the west coast, and eventually returned to become a part of the staff at Hawthorne Valley. Along the way he developed an interest and expertise in ants, and is a contributor to the field guide to the Columbia County ecology and habitats on the subject of ants. Kyle tells us that the field of ants is enormous, regardless of the small size of the individual members. Ants are on every continent except Antarctica, and thrive in every environment from desert to swamp.The biomass of all the ants on the planet exceeds the sum of the biomass of all the wild animals and birds. Some species are known to be endangered, even though we still don't know all the species of ants that exist. Kyle describes the endangered ants as specialized parasites, dependent on another species that may be at risk. They have an important place in biodiversity, being food for various woodpeckers and flickers, and bears. They serve as seed dispersal agents for many wildflowers, which have a special method of rewarding the ants for carrying the seeds away called elaiosomes. They forage and recycle nutrients from dead plants and animals, as well. They use many other tools for survival, including kidnapping other species of ants and enslaving them. Some species herd aphids and feed on the honeydew they produce. There are some populations appearing in Columbia County that were previously known only in Wisconsin and Michigan, with the means of traveling this far east still unknown. They appear in similar environmental habitats, but how they traveled is a mystery. Kyle suggests that Columbia County has a large variety of climate, soil and terrain diversity, which makes it possible for an unusual diversity of flora and fauna to exist in good health. Kyle has considerable experience in New England studying ants, and recommends the Field Guide to the Ants of New England. He adds that since the guide was published, many “new” species have been discovered. Many may have been relocated by virtue of human activities, but many may have been by “hitchhiking” with other species, becoming “temporary parasites,” using “social perfumes.” The methods are many and varied. Apparently because ants are “eusocial,” it's easier for them to take advantage of one another. Kyle discussed the “Manhatt-ant” and the pavement ant, both imports and very adaptable. The Manhattants are getting lots of attention in New York and have interesting adaptive skills. And these are only some of the types of ants living among us. Kyle has several favorites and tells wonderful stories about them and their lifestyles. Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guest: Kyle Bradford Photo by: Kyle Bradford Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas Resources

Hour 4 of the Bob Rose Show with accusations flying in the bitter breakup of Lindsey Langston and New Smyrna US House Rep. Corey Mills. From possible revenge porn, another woman in DC, a Middle Eastern marriage, foreign trips and interests, and the attorney representing Langston was a former primary opponent of Mills. There's a lot of smoke, but is there fire? Plus all the Wednesday morning breaking news for 8-6-25

THE END OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX IN COLUMBIA COUNTY?!?!?!?! That is the plan Commission Chairman Doug Duncan announced Thursday afternoon on The Austin Rhodes Show... If the tax revenue from Columbia County's new Data Center, currently under development next to the Amazon Center in the CC Industrial Park, comes in as expected...it could very well happen! Here is the interview...HUGE NEWS!!!

This week, we're joined by Jared Schutz, aka Wisco Dive Bars, and Discover Wisconsin's own Eric Paulsen to talk all things Wisconsin diners, drive-ins, and dive bars. From iconic breakfast joints to hidden tavern gems, we're highlighting must-visit local restaurants across the state and sharing the stories behind them.The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we're featuring Columbia County; https://www.wicounties.org/counties/columbia-county/The Cabin is also presented to you by:Something Special from Wisconsin; somethingspecialwi.comOak Creek; oakcreekwi.comPraise in the Pines; praiseinthepines.org

On the Wednesday, July 2 edition of Georgia Today: Weather forecasters may soon lose access to some critical data; Dekalb County releases a guide on protesting; Columbia County will create its own library system in part because of book challenges.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to stand next to a wind turbine? You're about to find out. In this epsiode, Amy meets 2nd generation Wisconsin farmer Jerry Cigelske at his Columbia County farm to talk about about why cows, grass and windmills have been the key to keeping his family on the land. Host: Amy Barrilleaux  Guest: Jerry Cigelske, Columbia County farmer Resources for You: Wisconsin-grown clean energy Showing up for Wind in Wisconsin Cows in the Woods: What it takes to create a silvopasture

Did you like this episode? Send us a text message and share your thoughts!In this episode of Cow-Side Conversations, Greg Hemsarth of Hemsarth Dairy in Columbia County, Pennsylvania talks through his family's decision to invest in robotic milking technology in 2018. He shares how that investment shifted his approach to employee management, affected his timeline for transition planning, allowed him to diversify and start a distillery, and impacted both herd health and labor costs. Greg describes some of the unique challenges – and unique solutions – that robot herds face during summer heat waves, his focus on training and retaining employees, and how he and his father have worked to smooth the road of transitioning the business over the last few years.   

FBI Portland and local partners arrested a Columbia County juvenile who plotted a chlorine bomb and mass shooting at Kelso's Three Rivers Mall. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/fbi-local-partners-interrupt-ied-and-mass-shooting-event/ #FBI #ThreeRiversMall #Kelso #IED #MassShooting #ColumbiaCounty #Oregon #PublicSafety #LawEnforcement #Washington

Lumber magnate Simon Benson needed to get logs from the Columbia to his mill in Southern California, so he designed cigar-shaped log rafts a full acre in size. They were a familiar sight until the early 1940s. (Clatskanie, Columbia County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1202c-benson-log-rafts-built-city-of-san-diego.html)

Incumbent Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols needs your vote in the upcoming Republican primary...both he and his challenger, Columbia County resident Lee Muns were in studio in separate interviews last week. Here are both conversations....

In this episode, co-hosts Annie Scibienski and Taly Louria welcome back Troy Weldy, president of the Columbia Land Conservancy, to give an update on a few of the exciting projects the Conservancy has been up to lately. First up, recently launched 'Let's Go CoCo' is a website with a wealth of information dedicated to helping people find places in Columbia County to connect with nature. It includes not only the recreational land tracts under the Conservancy's auspices but also an extensive list of all public lands available for recreation in Columbia County. A directory and print map lists every public site and lets you search and filter available places based on your criteria - where are good places to swim, fish or picnic, which have ADA-accessible trails, where you can bring your dog, and much more. There's also a blog with seasonal tips for getting outside, how to enjoy nature safely and be respectful of the land, and offers ways to volunteer. Another exciting project in the works is the Taghkanic Headwaters Conservation Plan, a major land project designed to protect over 500 acres in the Taghkanic Headwaters. The land that the Conservancy is working to protect is a beautiful, ecologically important piece of forest that supports wildlife, clean water, and even the City of Hudson's drinking supply. But the Taghkanic Headwaters conservation project isn't just about setting land aside, it's also about how communities can come together to shape how public land is used and cared for. One of the most exciting things about this project is the vision behind it: the creation of a community forest.The concept is pretty simple: instead of one organization making all the rules the people who actually walk the trails, fish the pond, or picnic with their kids, help make decisions about how the land is used and cared for. It's a more collaborative, inclusive approach to conservation, and it's something the Conservancy hopes to model for future projects. Troy also shares news about other local efforts: building a trail from downtown Hudson to the Greenport Conservation Area, improving public access to green space, and working with towns across Columbia County to develop a Countywide Conservation Plan that identifies and protects the places that matter most. Whether you're a gardener, hiker, nature lover, or just curious about local conservation efforts, this episode gives a hopeful look at how we can all play a part in caring for the places we love. Hosts: Annie Scibienski and Taly Louria Guest: Troy Weldy Resources

In Episode 117 of Cidiot®, host Mat Zucker sits down with Christy Counts, the president and founder of Neverstill Wines, a New York State-based winery with a tasting room right in Hudson, NY. Christy shares her journey from wine enthusiast to entrepreneur, detailing how she built Neverstill Wines with a focus on sustainability, community, and a deep love for the Hudson Valley.Christy discusses her philosophy behind the Neverstill label, including her commitment to minimal intervention winemaking and supporting local farmers. She also talks about the inspiration behind the name "Neverstill"—a nod to the ever-changing nature of wine, the landscape, and life itself. The episode delves into the distinct character of Hudson as a destination for wine enthusiasts, artists, and urban transplants, and how Neverstill Wines is designed to be a gathering spot for locals and visitors. Christy and Mat discuss the importance of fostering community through wine and the growing New York State wine economy. Terms to know for this episode:Minimal intervention: A winemaking approach that limits additives and manipulation, letting the grapes and terroir shine.Tasting room: A dedicated space where visitors can sample and purchase wines directly from the producer.Flight: Curated selection of wines, usually 3 to 6, often presented for tasting comparison and explorationLinks from the episode:Visit Neverstill Wines, 739 Warren St., Hudson, NY Follow Neverstill on Instagram for updates on new releases and events: @neverstillwinesFeast & Floret 13 South 3rd St., Hudson (Restaurant - dinner or weekend brunch pick)The Quiet Botanist, 426 Warren St., Hudson (Shop)Talbott & Arding, 202 Allen Street, Hudson (Cheese & Provisions Market)Quinnies, 834 Route 66, Hudson (Restaurant - lunch pick)Other Regional Wine & Bev Links:Dutchess County Wine Trail (Dutchess County Tourism)"Hudson Valley Wineries" (recent feature in HV Magazine)"Artisanal Beverage Makers in Columbia County" map (Columbia County Tourism)Shawangunk Wine Trail (13 wineries across the region)Thank you for listening to Cidiot®, the award-winning podcast about living the Hudson Valley. Tune in and raise a glass with us!Special promotion from Neverstill: Drop by Neverstill Tasting Room on Warren Street and mention "Cidiot," and you'll get a complimentary wine tasting. Certain restrictions apply. For a limited time.  Thanks, Christy!©2025 Mat Zucker Communications. Cidiot® is a Registered Trademark.

Two members of a group challenging local efforts to keep library books off limits to "unsupervised" children in the Columbia County Library joined us Thursday...Many points we agree on, many points we do not...but I always appreciate folks who are willing to come in and articulate their differences and concerns!

A new report has found that Pennsylvania kids in foster care graduate high school at a lower rate than their peers, amongst other things. A new tech facility will facilitate jobs in a Columbia County borough. The state's tallest roller coaster will open up soon. Finally, these women are weightlifting in their 60s and 70s (holy moly).

On May 1, International Workers Day, several hundred students, workers and other community activists marched from the SUNY Central Administration buildings in downtown Albany to the State Controller's office and then to the state capitol. The protestors called for the SUNY Administration to support the free speech rights of all students, including those supporting Palestinians and called for SUNY to divest from Israel. They also called for State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli not to renew $50 million in Israeli bonds that just expired. We here from Eyad Alkarubi of the Queer Palestinian Empowerment Network, Jamaica Miles of All of Us, Jim McCabe of Columbia County for Palestine, UAlbany student activist Jess, David Banks of UUP, labor leader Doug Bullock, and Julian Mostachetti of DSA. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

A Georgia deputy is killed and another critically wounded when a man with an illegally modified automatic weapon opens fire during a traffic stop on Interstate 20 in Columbia County. A man in Texas is accused of hiding marijuana-filled Easter eggs around parks and a motel while posting clues online for people to find them. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine withulia's Local is a garden--to-table restaurant serving rustic American cuisine with a Scandinavian twist. Located in Round Top (Greene County), NY. After a multi-year building renovation, the restaurant was opened about four years ago. Three of the key forces behind the restaurant joined Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the restaurant and how they bring fresh produce to their patrons every day. Julia Joern has lived in Round Top since 1999. Her background includes architecture, design, and public relations. She purchased the building that houses the restaurant in 2019, initially for a boutique company that organized public and private programs, and was the host of 'Hudson Valley Work of Mouth', a radio show on WGXC/90.7 FM interviewing creative people throughout the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and Capital Region. She loves working with creative people who know how to make 'something' from basic materials. Chef Henning Nordanger is a native of Bergen, Norway. Escoffier-trained, he gained experience working in large hotel restaurants and mountain resorts throughout Norway. A quarter of a century after arriving in the United States, he worked in New York City in restaurants and as a private chef. He moved to Sullivan County in 2006 and after a stint as a carpenter, opened and ran his first restaurant. Henning's Local (Sullivan County) between 2012-2024. He has developed long-time relationships with many regional, sustainable agricultural businesses throughout the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. 'Tractor Dan' Hartquist, a fruit and vegetable farmer originally from Columbia County, moved to Round Top once he bought a house in Greene County. Purely by chance, he met with Julia and Henning, and the rest is history! There is a wonderful collaboration between Henning and Dan selecting what to grow to enhance the menu in the restaurant. Using organic practices, they continually try new produce yet need to balance the new with some of their standard fare. If there is extra, they package offerings that can be purchased retail. But their produce is always picked the same day so everything is at its peak of flavor.. Learn about the history of this restaurant, the backgrounds of the individuals involved, and how they create a menu from what the garden produces throughout the year Your taste buds will waken hearing about their eggplant parmesan tomato soup, and tomato salads, Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guests: Julia Joern, Henning Nordanger, and Dan Hartquist    Photo by: Julia's Local Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kenelty, Amy Meadon, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Eileen Simpson, Robin Smith Resources

Matt is joined by Darold Gleason to talk about their recent trip to Columbia County, Georgia and Clarks Hill Lake (along with the Masters).  In the second half of the show, the always positive Charlie Hartley jumps on to talk about the Open in Mississippi.  

Founded in 1982 by Joseph Gilbert, The Chatham Berry Farm has been providing Columbia County and the surrounding areas with local, healthy and wholesome food for over 4 decades. Starting as a fruit stand pulled by a tractor, the 25 acre farm now includes a specialty food store, a garden center, a farm kitchen, a full-service meat and seafood department, production greenhouses and even a Cidery. Joe Gilbert, a vegetable and fruit farmer, joins Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the history of the Chatham Berry Farm, lessons learned over time, and what the future may hold. Joe was born in New Jersey, and lived in Connecticut, before moving to Columbia County, NY. Working with a friend, they initially sold their produce in New York City, but eventually started the farm stand in1982. At that time, produce was only sold in bulk but they differentiated themselves by allowing customers to buy their produce by the 'piece'. They worked the land, focusing on creating rich soil and Improved it by composting leaves from neighboring towns on the property, tilling it into the soil every year. That approach paid off as, even today, they don't use any chemicals. They primarily grow blueberries, raspberries, herbs, and vegetables, partnering with other area farms to offer more options, and only selling retail (not wholesale). The Cidery, opened in 2016, is a relatively new addition which became very popular during the pandemic and beyond with its outdoor seating. The Chatham Berry Farm is a family owned and operated farm that faces the same challenges of other farmers in the region. Joe describes how farmers need to be multi-talented, able to handle carpentry, electrical, and plumbing tasks to keep everything working properly in addition to knowing how to run a farm. The hours are long to keep the fields productive and weed free and to keep their prices competitive and affordable. Farmers must adhere to many regulations and face many challenges. The number of farms in Columbia County today is a small fraction of what existed in the past. Farmers learn through trial and error what works and what doesn't, and Joe shares some of the lessons he's learned over the years. While Joe and his family enjoy the farming lifestyle, he understands that the long hours are not for everyone, especially in light of the challenges associated with turning a profit. Unfortunately, most farms today do not provide the only income for farm families. Joe's two sons, Jon and Mike, are integral in the day-to-day management of the farm business. Together, they've invested in their land, in the people they serve. as well as in the future of the entire community. Joe served on the board of Cornell Cooperative Extension for 20 years and continues to have great outreach to the local community with classes and seasonal events. The future of the farm lies in the hands of his children who will need to address the challenges of climate change, finding skilled labor and affordable housing for farm workers, among other things.. Listen to Joe to learn about the joys and challenges of farming in the Hudson Valley. Hosts: Jean Thomas and Taly Hahn Guest: Joe Gilbert Photo by: Taly Hahn Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Taly Hahn, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith, Eileen Simpson Resources

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred broadcasts from the 2024 Florida Rural Economic Development Summit at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. He sits down with David Kraus, County Manager of Columbia County, to discuss the county's unique characteristics and economic potential. David shares his journey from consultant to county manager and highlights Columbia County's strategic location at the crossroads of Interstates 75 and 10, its strong agricultural roots, and its vision for attracting high-quality industries while preserving its rural charm. The conversation explores the critical role of infrastructure development in economic growth, with a focus on key projects like the North Florida Mega Industrial Park and emerging solar facilities. David also emphasizes Columbia County's excellent schools, abundant recreational opportunities, and strong partnerships that make it an ideal location for both businesses and residents. This episode provides valuable insights into how rural communities can leverage their strengths to drive sustainable economic development. This podcast episode was recorded live at the Florida Rural Economic Development Summit hosted at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital. Connect with Our Guest: Learn more about Columbia County

The Philmont Cooperative offers a cooperatively owned market, commercial kitchen, and café. Nestled on the Philmont Main Street, a small village in Columbia County, this cooperative is a meeting hub for community, creation, and resource sharing, focused on supportive local food systems. Sina Basila Hickey stumbled in the space early one morning and spoke with board member Catherine Dodge Smith who was behind the counter. Learn more: https://philmontcooperative.com

Columbia County for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace Albany, Palestinian Rights Committee of Albany and others are hosting a talk next Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Hudson, NY public library on Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns with Riham Barghouti and Rebecca Vilkomerson, at 3:30 pm. One focus is to “Break the Bonds”: to have New York State wind down the $340 million it holds in risky Israel bonds. As with apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, the aim is to increase non-violent pressure to reduce the violence and force democratic change. Jim McCabe of Columbia County for Palestine talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine. (full segment)

How do you hold onto faith when life breaks you? Wes and Kelly Hennings faced unimaginable loss but chose to fight for healing. In this powerful episode, they share how faith, community, and an unexpected journey into adoption helped them rebuild their lives. Their story is one of grief, resilience, and second chances—a must-listen for anyone navigating addiction recovery or faith-based healing. Timestamps: [04:26] Life after loss [10:31] Adoption, faith, and unexpected blessings [17:43] Hope with their growing family [24:22] Gratitude in the face of ongoing challenges What You'll Learn:  • The lifeline of small group support in addiction recovery and grief.  • Why joy and sorrow can coexist—and how to embrace both.  • How their deepest loss led to an adoption journey they never expected.  • Why many marriages don't survive trauma—and how theirs did.  • Holding onto faith when addiction, loss, or hardship shakes your foundation. Resources Mentioned: Saint Jude Research → https://www.stjude.org/ National Adoption Center → https://www.adopt.org/

Columbia County for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace Albany, Palestinian Rights Committee of Albany and others are hosting a talk on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Hudson, NY public library on Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns with Riham Barghouti and Rebecca Vilkomerson, at 3:30 pm. One focus is to “Break the Bonds”: to have New York State wind down the $340 million it holds in risky Israel bonds. As with apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, the aim is to increase non-violent pressure to reduce the violence and force democratic change. Jim McCabe of Columbia County for Palestine talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine. (radio segment)

In this powerful episode of the Recovery Valve Podcast, host Eric Kennedy sits down with Wes and Kelly Hennings to discuss their journey through grief, trauma, and healing after the loss of their son, Graham. Their story is one of resilience, faith, and the strength of commitment in the face of unimaginable loss. Key Takeaways: Recovery extends beyond addiction—it applies to trauma, grief, and emotional healing Strong relationships and personal commitments can anchor you through hardship Community and faith play a vital role in navigating loss Finding ways to celebrate life helps in the healing process Wes and Kelly share heartfelt memories, personal struggles, and how they found strength in their faith and each other. Their journey offers insight and hope for anyone facing grief or trauma. Subscribe to the Recovery Valve Podcast for more inspiring stories of resilience and healing.