Oswego Legislators blow off wind project proposal

[Legacy]

Legislators blow off wind project proposal

http://www.palltimes.com/articles/2010/ ... 225315.txt

By AARON CURTIS

[email protected]

Published:

Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:04 PM EST

The Oswego County Legislature passed a resolution Thursday that opposed the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) proposal to seek contractors to develop a Lake Ontario-based wind farm to be located near the shores of Oswego County.

The resolution passed after numerous residents from Oswego County and surrounding communities spent nearly two hours addressing the Legislature, voicing their concerns with the project and, in other cases, their support of the wind farm.

Representatives of the NYPA have stated that the project, known as the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project (GLOW), would lead to the development of 120-500 megawatts of wind generation in the New York state waters of either Lake Ontario or Lake Erie. Each turbine placed within the body of water would result in the production of 3 megawatts of power, thus necessitating between approximately 40 to 170 turbines to comprise the wind farm.

The project would place turbines in water levels approximately 150 feet or less, which are specifications consistent with Mexico Bay.

During public comments, those in opposition of the project noted that a wind turbine farm in Lake Ontario would be a detriment to tourism, scenery and wildlife. Speakers also expressed concerns that the turbines would be made outside of Oswego County, thus providing little benefit to the local economy. Furthermore, some argued that the turbines would turn out energy that would end up downstate.

“The project has not been thought through,†said Karl Williams, president of Henderson Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce.

“The owner and the leader of the project is a state authority,†he continued. “They will pay no taxes, yet they are going to unleash 15 to 30 developers on your communities. They are going to make promises they can’t keep and they are going to divide you.â€

Some speakers noted that not enough information regarding the project has been released, and asked members of the Legislature to hold off on Thursday’s resolution.

“We, in science, like to have all of the facts laid out before we come to a decision, and I don’t think we have done that,†said Dr. Timothy Braun, an assistant professor in the biology department at SUNY Oswego. “I think we should table this or kick this over to the environmental management committee to consider this a little more before we hang up a sign in Oswego that says, ‘wind energy need not apply.’â€

Prior to passing the resolution, Legislator Jake Mulcahey, D-Oswego, echoed Braun’s point and said that by passing Thursday’s resolution the legislative body would be performing an “injustice†to the community.

“I don’t feel comfortable opposing a project that we don’t know exactly what it entails,†the legislator said.

Legislator Michael Kunzwiler, D-Oswego, added that the county should seek host benefits for the project from NYPA, and pleaded with members of the Legislature to table the resolution.

“This body should be encouraging and looking at ways to develop,†he said.

Kunzwiler added that the project could proceed despite county officials’ desires, as Lake Ontario is considered state property.

“We could vote this down today, and guess what? It could happen anyway,†he said. “So why don’t we become proactive … and set the standard and make the parameters of how we want this molded in Oswego County.â€

Officials of the NYPA have stated that they are looking to select a developer by the end of 2010, and as legislators opposing the project noted, tabling the resolution would not be an option.

“We are in the eleventh hour of a fast-track project,†said Legislator Jack Proud, R-Mexico. “The timetables are already upon us, and decisions will be made by people that we have no control over very soon.â€

Proud noted that the only control that the NYPA has offered Oswego County is stating that the community does not support the initial stage of the product.

“We didn’t bring about the fact that all of the information of the project has not been out,†he said. “There hasn’t been enough time to deliberate … the only thing we can do is exercise our local control and say ‘no.’â€

An attempt to table the resolution proposed by Kunzwiler and seconded by Doug Malone, D-Oswego Town, failed and the resolution passed with a vote of 20-4. Kunzwiler, Malone, Mulcahey, and Amy Tressider, D-Oswego, voted against the resolution.

No members of the NYPA attended Thursday’s meeting.

[L&M]

Another view from Syracuse.com:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/ ... hears.html

Oswego, NY -- It appears no wind turbines will be built in Lake Ontario off Oswego and Jefferson counties. New York Power Authority President Richard M. Kessel said Thursday if Oswego and Jefferson counties don’t want the project, it won’t be built there.

And they don’t. Lawmakers — and residents — from both counties have noted their opposition to such a project. “We don’t want to go where the project isn’t wanted,†Kessel said. “Whether their reasons are legitimate or not, we respect them, but we are not going to go there. We’ll focus on other areas.â€

The power authority proposed putting wind turbines off shore in Lake Ontario or Lake Erie. It was considering an area between Richland and Cape Vincent on Lake Ontario. Residents have expressed concern placing the turbines in the water would hurt tourism and the economies of both counties by cutting off boats and fishermen from the area where the turbines are located.

Kessel said Oswego and Jefferson counties have “lost an opportunity for jobs†from the wind project. “They are going to be turning thousands of jobs away,†he said. “This project was going to make Upstate a center for the manufacture of wind components for the project. There are enough communities and counties who want the project so we shouldn’t waste our time here.â€

The Jefferson County Legislature passed a measure at its Tuesday meeting opposing the wind turbine project. The Oswego County Legislature passed a resolution at its Thursday meeting opposing the wind project.

Kessel said the authority now will focus on Erie County and western New York. He said representatives in Niagara and Erie counties have voiced support for the project.

[Tim Bromund]

Kessel said the authority now will focus on Erie County and western New York. He said representatives in Niagara and Erie counties have voiced support for the project.

Well then I guess we need to start kicking the a$$es of the misguided Erie and Niagara County Legislators that are in favor of this stupidity.

Tim

[Sharky]

Here's just a thought, If they are so bent on haveing a wind farm. Perhaps they should build the wind mills on and around Galoo islands. The only thing it would disturb is the comerants maybe even kill a few.

Glenn

[LongLine]

Sharky - They're slated to begin constuction there very shortly. Watch the Bass fishing go "someplace in a handbasket" when they start laying the transmission lines.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[skipper19]

We already have green energy in Erie/Niagara and it does not benefit western NY it is all channeled to NYC. I know of no one who is in favor of wind mills offshore on the Niagara bar. The proximity of the ship lanes from Welland are too close and would be in such shifting bottom structure and ice flow that it would be only in an idiots mind too even think of it there. Kessel is wasting his time. Might as well save his breath for wind in some other place (LI sound).

Mark