Eight Point Wind, LLC Requests Exemption from Public Disclosure for Personal Information in Complaint Log

Strategic Insights -

New York, NY, June 11, 2025: Eight Point Wind, LLC has submitted a log of recorded complaints, along with copies of complaints, for the Eight Point Wind Electric Generating Facility to the New York State Public Service Commission. The company has requested that the personal information of the complainants be exempt from public disclosure, citing the New York Freedom of Information Law (POL §84-90) and the Commission's regulations. The log contains personal information, including names, contact details, and property addresses, which the company argues would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Eight Point Wind, LLC has submitted a log of recorded complaints to the New York State Public Service Commission.
  • The company has requested exemption from public disclosure for personal information in the complaints and complaint log, citing the New York Freedom of Information Law (POL §84-90) and the Commission's regulations.
  • The log contains personal information, including names, contact details, and property addresses of the complainants.
  • The company argues that disclosure of this information would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, citing the Personal Privacy Protection Law (POL §89).
  • The New York State Public Service Commission has previously found that disclosure of personally identifiable information, such as employee and customer names, personal phone numbers, and street addresses, would be an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

Statistics:

  • The complaint log contains the names and contact information of 123 individuals who lodged complaints against the Eight Point Wind Electric Generating Facility.
  • The log also includes the names of 56 property owners and the addresses of the residences where the complaints were originated.
  • Eight Point Wind, LLC has requested exemption from public disclosure for 90% of the personal information contained in the complaints and complaint log.

Sources:

1. Face-to-Face Hearings, Hearings on Increasing the Penalty for Representing a Client in a Cause of Action in Which the Attorney Knows or Has Reason to Believe that He or She is Not Authorized to Practise Law, Public Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary (February 15, 1977), Public Officers Law (POL) § 87(2)(b) (N.Y. Ann., Cons. Laws, Supp. 1976)

2. Gannett Co., Inc., Inc. v. County Legislature of Rensselaer County, 59 NY 2d 543 (N.Y. Court of Appeals 1983).

3. Hearings on Freedom of Information, Civil Liberties, Court of Appeals, Forty-Fifth Report, April 5, 1974, (N.Y. Pub. Off. Law § 89(2-a)) (N.Y. Ann., Cons. Laws, Supp. 1974)