tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32136314501672360872024-03-12T16:50:04.331-07:00Beware NY WindThe Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-56648250313917210572015-05-05T17:34:00.001-07:002015-05-05T17:34:40.633-07:00Fighting Apex Clean Energy LLC & Lighthouse Wind in NY<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16.0pt;">What should the people of
Somerset, NY and Yates, NY do?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">nominate and elect 3 anti-wind
town board members from both Yates and Somerset this fall - <span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>2015 is a local
election year</b></i></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If you are a seasonal
resident - modify your Voter Registration to vote in Somerset or Yates next
time, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>to be able to elect local
anti-wind officials, to protect your property</u></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">read the Public Involvement
Plan (PIP) on the internet</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">review the Lighthouse
Wind project on Apex website</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">send a letter to your
town supervisor advising him of your opposition to the Lighthouse Wind project</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">send letters against the
Lighthouse Wind project to your state senator and assemblyman</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">see the movie Windfall -
about rural Delaware County, NY and how wind split their community and what the
people did to prevent wind turbines</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Encourage elected
officials to enact a moratorium on wind turbines and NOT to agree to a PILOT
with Apex</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If turbines infect your
community - sue Apex, town of Somerset and by all means sue the land owner.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Support the SOS group in
the fight against </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">Lighthouse Wind</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Place anti-wind signs on
your front lawn</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">Send comments opposing
the Lighthouse Wind project to the NYSDPS.</span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Register your comments against the Lighthouse
Wind project with NYS at:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>http://www.dps.ny.gov/SitingBoard/<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your must then search by case number which
is 14-F-0485 - then pick "Post Comments" and type in your opinion but
be specific why you're opposed to the Lighthouse Wind project. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If you are opposed to Lighthouse Wind and live in either Somerset, NY or Yates, NY - you can be considered to be an Ad Hoc member of the siting board and have a vote in the final decision to allow deny this project. Ad Hoc members are paid a small stipend for their services. First read the NYSDPS/Article 10 rules regarding this position and then send a request to the proper town supervisor indicating your interest that you would like to be considered for the temporary position.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16.0pt;">What should the town
boards of Somerset, NY and Yates, NY do?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">There
are many things the towns can do right now to help themselves later on.</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">read the Apex Lighthouse
Wind PIP (Public Involvement Program) on the internet (note - the PIP was 150
days long and ended March 31, 2015) </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">review the </span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Lighthouse Wind</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;"> project on Apex website</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">hire a competent,
experienced anti-wind attorney </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">send comments opposing
the </span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Lighthouse
Wind</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;"> project
to the NYSDPS</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">see the movie Windfall -
about rural Delaware County, NY and how wind split their community</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">both towns should officially
reject this Apex wind factory and then pressure the county legislatures to do
likewise and also pressure new state Senator Ortt and Assemblywoman Corwin and Assemblyman Steve Hawley to
say NO to this project.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">pass a moratorium on wind energy
until the town updates their wind zoning laws and </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on energy facilities until REV's (</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reforming the Energy Vision)</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">impact and
regional sustainability are clarified. The town wind ordinances are horribly
out of date and very weak - especially noise and setbacks. They should have
been given attention the moment Apex began sniffing around this area.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Require all energy is bundled with REC's (renewable
energy certificate)and the REC's go to the community to fulfill potential requirement
under new REV</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">refuse to sign a PILOT
agreement of any kind</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">have the town planning
boards get to work updating their wind zoning laws and pay</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;"> particular attention to
noise/health issues; property values and decommissioning. The PB should greatly
strengthen noise parameters and define a maximum noise limit in decibel that
can be measured with instruments. Review noise laws now on file in the towns of
Castile, NY and Hammond, NY</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">setbacks should be 1/2
mile minimum from 3Mw turbines to either the lot line or nearest
non-participating residence and add 1500 feet more for setback for each 1Mw
greater than 3Mw for turbine output</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">require Apex to leave $1M
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>CASH</u></i></b>
in the hands of each town for decommissioning <u>for each turbine installed</u>
and site cleanup. This requirement would also apply in the event of bankruptcy
of the developer</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">do not allow wind turbines to
operate during darkness</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">conflicted TB and PB
members should recuse themselves from discussing the Lighthouse Wind project as
well as voting on any part of this matter</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">zoning should specify
that litigation with the town over wind problems will totally be paid for by the
wind developer</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">the zoning officer should
be allowed to turn off turbines that are a health or safety threat and they
will not be allowed to be returned to service unless all the problems are
corrected</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">Public Disclosure of
Energy Production from Wind Turbines</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">require that the output
of each turbine in the project be made available to the public on the internet
for every hour, day, week, month and year and this information should be
updated hourly</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">when energy production
from a turbine fails to meet a minimum level the turbine should be declared inoperative,
decommissioned and torn down using the money the town received when the turbine
was erected</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">Public Filing of Lease
Documents and Public Disclosure of Terms</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">Limiting Land Agreement
and Option Time Periods</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">Non-severability of Wind
Rights from the Land</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">The developer must
indemnify the landowner against liabilities for injuries or claims caused by
the developer’s exercise of rights granted in the lease or easement</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 13.0pt;">if the NY state siting board
grants a <u>certificate of environmental compatibility and public need</u>
allowing Apex to build this Lighthouse Wind project - the affected towns should pursue this matter
through the NYS court system vigorously. We believe there's a good chance the
Power NY Act of 2011 could be declared unconstitutional because our constitutional right to home rule has
been stolen from us.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Work
to get the Somerset 675Mw </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">AES Generating Station converted from coal to natural gas </span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Demand that Apex sign the NYS Attorney General's wind ethics code </span></span></li>
</ul>
<i><br /></i>
<i> <span style="font-size: large;"> Submitted by Great Lakes Wind Truth</span></i>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-56317529836221215822015-05-03T17:44:00.000-07:002015-05-03T17:44:52.410-07:00Lighthouse Wind/Apex Clean Energy LLC lease is OUTRAGEOUS! <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The following
comments are from Suzanne Albright of the Great Lakes Wind Truth organization.
The comments were made at the April 29, 2015 program opposing the Apex Clean
Energy LLC (Lighthouse Wind project) program held at the Barker, NY fire hall and
attended by about 230 people.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I’m here to talk about the “Wind Energy Lease” that Apex
Clean Energy is offering </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
to you and your neighbors for the purpose of constructing a
wind power plant on </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
your farms and properties .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I have been an anti-wind activist since 2009 when the New
York Power Authority </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
proposed a wind factory in the waters of Lake Ontario with
the commitment: they </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“would not build this project where it wasn’t wanted” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-They were convinced it would be welcomed for the multiple
benefits they were </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
promising. Project has since been scrapped, in part because
it became </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
exceedingly clear- IT WAS NOT WANTED any place where
practical offshore of </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
counties bordering Lake Ontario WHEN property owners -
taxpayers learned what </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a sham wind energy really is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I posed that question to Dan Fitzgerald of Apex on 2/4/15,
and he responded </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
they would “NOT BREAK LOCAL, STATE, FED. LAWS &
STAKEHOLDER INPUT </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
INCORPORATED. – I’m convinced: when you become familiar with
how Apex is </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
proposing to violate your rights, everyone of you will take
a stand in opposing this </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
travesty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-What<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apex calls a
lease=<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a 35 page EASEMENT that Apex has
generated with NO </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
INPUT from the property owner, the landlord, a document that
basically permits </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apex, and whatever unknown company ultimately buys the lease
from them, to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
turn your property into an industrial power plant for 49
years. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-In fact, the lease is not directly between you and Apex. It
is between you and one </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of several Apex LLCs, separate limited liability companies
formed by Apex to own </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this project. So, there is already the potential for several
different tenants…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-So, let’s look- at a few highlights of this document in
simply stated terminology - </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
then you decide whether this is something you are interested
in, something you </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
could live near, whether you believe Apex is a company you
want to do business </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
with, & whether you believe that the terms of this
proposal fits into the culture </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
of your towns. And let’s not forget- Does it violate any
ordinances or laws?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I call this document “The Surrendering and desecration of
Your Property”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<u>
</u><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>THE SURRENDERING AND DESECRATION OF YOUR PROPERTY</b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Highlights of a Wind Energy Lease Offered to Somerset and
Yates Landowners</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1.4: The Development Period of the Lease begins on the
date the lease is signed and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
could last up to seven years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this initial term of the Lease, the
rent paid is $750 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
annually, or $10 per acre if the Lease covers more than 75
acres (see 1.8).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">YOUR PROPERTY COULD BE TIED UP FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THE ONLY
INCOME YOU WILL RECEIVE IS $750 PER YEAR IN RENT</span></span>.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4.1.2: They can construct, replace, relocate and operate
any and all equipment </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WITHOUT LIMITATION (inc. turbine generators, towers, but
also above and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
underground electrical lines, substations, interconnection
facilities, operations and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
maintenance buildings, transformers, roads, fences, Met
Towers, “machinery”, office </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and guest facilities, staging areas, power generation
facilities, and more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">SO MUCH FOR LIVING IN AN AGRICULTURALLY OR RESIDENTIALLY
ZONED DISTRICT!</span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">POWER SUBSTATIONS? - ATTACHMENT #1.-POWER SUBSTATION! THAT
MIGHT BE RIGHT NEXT TO A MAINTENANCE BUILDING, A STAGING AREA, OR ANY OTHER OF
THESE ITEMS!</span>)
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4.1.4: Generate audio, visual and electrical effects, as
well as shadow flicker, radio </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
interference, and “other effects”. Rotors of wind turbines
on adjacent properties can </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
overhang onto YOUR property.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">BUT DON’T WORRY, ACCORDING TO THEM, NONE OF THIS WILL HARM
OR EVEN BOTHER YOU, YOUR LIVESTOCK, OR YOUR NEIGHBORS, WELL, EXCEPT MAYBE THE
“OTHER AFFECTS”, TV?? </span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">And, IF YOUR NEIGHBOR ALSO SIGNS ON, THEY DON’T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT SETBACKS FROM YOUR PROPERTY LINE!</span>) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4.3: They will have the right of access “over and across
ALL portions” of your property. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">THAT’S PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. BE CAREFUL- FAMILY PICNICS
OR EVENTS SUCH AS A GRADUATION PARTY. THEY MIGHT NEED TO ACCESS YOUR BACK YARD
THAT DAY WITH BULLDOZERS OR CEMENT TRUCKS.</span>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5.10: You have the right to audit the computations of
their Operating Rent to you EVERY </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TWO YEARS only, by an accountant you choose, ONLY at their
site (could be anywhere in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the country), and ALL AT YOUR EXPENSE. No copy can be made
of the records and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
documents reviewed in the audit and a confidentiality
agreement must be signed, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
presumably so you cannot share the results of the audit with
your neighbors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">THIS IS A BIG ONE, IN MY OPINION. THEY ARE CONTRACTED TO
PAY YOU AN OPERATING RENT, AND THERE IS A LENGTHY CALCULATION OF THIS IN THE
CONTRACT, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TALK, I WANT TO REVIEW THE AUDIT PROCESS.
YOU, NOT THEM, CAN AUDIT THE BOOKS EVERY 2 YEARS - AND YOU CHOOSE THE
ACCOUNTANT, BECAUSE YOU PAY FOR IT- NOT THEM! </span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">FURTHER, BY YEAR 2, WHO KNOWS WHO WILL OWN THIS “LEASE”, OR
WHERE THEY KEEP THEIR RECORDS. CAN YOU AFFORD TO HIRE AN ACCOUNTANT, SEND HIM
OR HER TO OREGON, PAY ALL EXPENSES? AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT PREVENTS
A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS FROM SHARING THE COSTS OF ONE AUDIT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A REPUTABLE BUSINESS WOULD AUDIT THEIR OWN BOOKS
ANNUALLY AT THEIR EXPENSE AND PROVIDE A COPY OF THE AUDIT TO YOU, UNLESS THEY
WANT TO MAKE AN AUDIT UNFEASIBLE</span>.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6.1-6.2: They state they will pay their bills and not
permit any liens against the property. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
HOWEVER, if they fail to comply and a lien is then enforced
against your property, you </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
have the right to pay the lien(s) yourself and bill them for
your expenses. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">IN OTHER WORDS, THEY MIGHT NOT PAY THEIR BILLS, AND IN
FACT, APEX HAS ALREADY PUT LANDOWNERS IN THE POSITION OF HAVING LIENS FILED
AGAINST THEIR PROPERTIES, AND IF NOT SETTLED, THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO OBTAIN A
CLEAR TITLE TO THEIR LAND AND HAVE THEIR CREDIT DESTROYED. FURTHER, THE LIEN
HOLDER CAN FILE A LAWSUIT TO FORECLOSE THE LIEN, AND THE LANDOWNER WILL BE
LIABLE!</span>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6.7: They will reimburse you ONE TIME for ALL damage to
your land, crops and livestock </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
over the life of this lease. Further, they are NOT
responsible for soil compaction, and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
therefore the inability to grow crops or raise livestock in
the future.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">THEY CAN COMPACT YOUR SOIL, BUT THEIR ROADS ON YOUR
PROPERTY WILL BE POSTED, AND IF YOU CROSS THEIR ROADS AND CAUSE ANY DAMAGE, YOU
WILL REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE COST OF ANY REPAIRS.</span>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7.6.3: You cannot hold them responsible for the
“generation, manufacture, production, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
use, storage, release, discharge, disposal, transportation
or presence of any substance” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that is NOW or in the future classified as hazardous or
toxic, on or under your land, even </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
if such substances are now safely buried or encapsulated and
they disturb it during their </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
construction work! In fact, in such case, YOU WILL HAVE TO
HAVE THE SUBSTANCES </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
REMOVED AT YOUR EXPENSE.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">IS THAT UNBELIEVABLE?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>IF GENERATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS SUCH AS FUELS, PESTICIDES,
SOLVENTS, HERBICIDES, FUNGICIDES OR VETERINARY CHEMICALS ARE FOUND IN THE SOIL,
YOU WILL HAVE IT REMOVED AT YOUR EXPENSE? I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR THE ALBRIGHT
FARM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT 2-3 GENERATIONS AGO, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL </span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;">OF THOSE SUBSTANCES WAS NOT STRICTLY CARRIED OUT OR
MONITORED</span>.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7.7: If you still have a mortgage on your property, you
will be required to obtain a “non </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
disturbance and subordination agreement” from your lender as
requested by Apex in its </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
sole discretion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such
agreements basically state that your lender will not interfere with </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the terms of this lease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lease does not indicate who has to pay the costs for </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
obtaining these agreements, which means that the property
owner will have to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the very least, this could be expensive. Second, if this
project violates the terms of your </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
mortgage, you could be in default and your lender could
foreclose your mortgage! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">THIS CLAUSE IS PRETTY COMPLICATED, BUT BASICALLY MEANS THAT
IF YOU ARE FORCED INTO FORECLOSURE BY YOUR LENDER, THEIR RIGHTS, THE WIND
LEASE, WILL BE PRESERVED, (EVEN WHEN THERE IS A NEW OWNER.</span>) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9.1- 9.2 and 9.6: At any time, without your consent, they
can sell this lease to ANYONE, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and to multiple other entities. They could sell each turbine
to someone different, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
leaving you with multiple tenants! Apex will then be
released from ALL obligations and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
liabilities! They are now gone, and you are left with
multiple unknown tenants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">APEX HAS A HISTORY OF SELLING THESE PROJECTS, EVEN BEFORE
THEY ARE FULLY BUILT. YOU HAVE NO SAY IN WHO IT IS SOLD TO, EVEN IF IT’S A
SHELL CORPORATION WITH NO OTHER ASSETS. THEY CAN SUBDIVIDE YOUR PROPERTY TO AS
MANY NEW OWNERS AS THERE ARE TURBINES.</span>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10.1- 10.6: The tenant has the right to borrow money to
complete the project and to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
give their lender a mortgage as security for that loan
without your consent. If there are </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
multiple tenants as described previously, there could be
multiple new mortgages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
encumbering your property. If the new tenant(s) defaults,
there could be a foreclosure </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
sale and ANYONE can bid in and take over the lease. You have
no ability to terminate </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the lease even if a tenant files for bankruptcy if the rent
is paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there could </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
be other defaults by the tenant that “shall be deemed to
have been waived by </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
landlord.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">SO, YOU COULD HAVE MULTIPLE TENANTS, AND MULTIPLE NEW
MORTGAGES ON YOUR PROPERTY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THESE
ADDITIONAL ENCUMBRANCES WILL LIKELY HURT YOUR ABILITY TO SELL YOUR PROPERTY OR
EVEN PLACE A NEW MORTGAGE ON YOUR PROPERTY AT ANY TIME OVER THE ENTIRE LEASE
TERM, 49 YEARS!</span>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13.6: This Waiver of Subrogation clause states that if
your insurance carrier pays a claim </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and there would be recourse against the tenant and, therefore,
its insurance company </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
because the tenant caused the event that resulted in the
claim, your carrier will not be </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
permitted to seek reimbursement from them or their
carrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, your insurer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
will possibly drop you! And if they don’t, be sure that your
premium will go up. Why is </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
this clause not subject to you being able to obtain
affordable insurance?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">BECAUSE THE ODDS OF GETTING A NEW POLICY ARE NOT GOOD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOOK ON THE MANY ANTI-WIND WEBSITES. THERE
ARE MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF INSURANCE COMPANIES DROPPING LANDOWNERS WHEN THEY
CONTRACT WITH WIND COMPANIES- ATTACHMENT #2- ONE OF THOSE CANCELLATION LETTERS.
WOULD YOUR LENDER ALLOW YOU TO GO WITHOUT LIABILITY INSURANCE? WOULD YOU GO
WITHOUT IT EVEN IF YOU COULD?</span>) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13.7- 13.8: You must waive your constitutional right to a
jury trial in regard to ANY </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
litigation based on this lease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if the tenant is found liable in any such
lawsuit, you </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
must accept an “actual” damage award. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are waiving your right to collect any </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE
WHATSOEVER.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">WHATSOEVER? YES, THAT’S A QUOTE. THE BIG WEALTHY WIND
COMPANY WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY PUNITIVE DAMAGES. WHY WOULD ANYONE AGREE TO THIS?</span>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15.3: When the lease terminates for any reason, the tenant
has up to 18 months to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“restore” your property (“to the extent it is commercially
reasonable”). The lease has </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
terminated, so they don’t have to pay you rent for those 18
months! Further, if they DO </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
NOT restore your property, or decommission the project, YOU
can pay to have it done </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
yourself (which could be a $1 million/turbine expense) and
try to find them to seek </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
reimbursement, “LESS THE SALVAGE VALUE OF THE OF THE WIND
FACILITIES”. Isn’t it all </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
salvage at that point?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">THEY ADMIT THAT THEY MIGHT WALK AWAY WITHOUT REMOVING THE
WIND FACTORY AND RESTORING YOUR PROPERTY. THIS MAKES SENSE, AS THEY PLAN ON
SELLING IT TO WHOEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE A PROFIT, AND IT GIVES THE UNKNOWN NEW
OWNER AN “OUT” WHEN THEY CAN NO LONGER MAKE A PROFIT OR SELL IT TO SOMEONE
ELSE- WHEN THE TURBINES FAIL OR AGE OUT. THERE IS NO INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO
RESTORE YOUR PROPERTY AND THERE IS NO RISK OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES IF THEY FAIL TO
DO SO</span>.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
16.1: This is the confidentiality clause, which will
“survive the expiration of this lease”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<span style="color: blue;">SO, IF YOU EXPOSE THE NEW OWNERS FOR THE CARPETBAGGERS THEY
ARE, THEY CAN SUE YOU FOR DIVULGING THE TERMS OF THIS LEASE, WHICH THEY HAVE
VIOLATED, WHICH ARE FOREVER CONFIDENTIAL</span>.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a small sample of what they call a “WIND ENERGY
LEASE”. In reality, this is a contract </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that amounts to the end of your property as you know it for
the next 49 years, or forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
have barely touched on the many terms and conditions of this
document tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is even </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
more complicated, and you need to be aware of all the
possible ramifications of signing it, not </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
just how much rent you might receive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We could only hope that your attorney would discourage you
from signing this contract.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if you have an existing mortgage on your property, you
should also consult with your </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
lender to determine whether entering into such a lease would
be a default under your </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
mortgage and therefore could result in a foreclosure against
you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ultimately, if you do sign such a lease, your neighbors who
don’t will likely hate you. The </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
wind company will eventually be one or multiple unknown
absentee tenants who you might </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
never meet, and who do not care about you or your property.
If you live until the end of the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“lease”, you will very likely be left with a filthy,
industrial junkyard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have here, an Apex lease that has been sent to me by an
opposition leader to the Kent County </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maryland project Apex is proposing there. My husband was
kind enough to compare the 2 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
leases, and that document is here for you to review. If you
don’t already detest Apex, I think </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
you will when you see the striking differences between these
two lease offerings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
COMPARISON OF TWO CURRENT APEX LEASES: APRIL, 2015</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Niagara County, NY vs. Kent County, Maryland</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have been able to obtain a copy of the lease that Apex is
using for their proposed wind </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
project in Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That lease is significantly better for the property owner than their </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
proposed lease for the Niagara County project, in several
ways.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rent differences (could add up to a lot of money over the
lease term):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pre-installation
rent:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Minimum operating rent:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Installation fee:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Percentage rent lease rate (multiplied times gross
revenues to calculate rent):</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maryland – minimum $1,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New York – minimum $750</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maryland – minimum $5,000 per MW of nameplate capacity of
wind turbines</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New York – minimum $4,000 per MW of nameplate capacity of
wind turbines</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maryland – minimum $2,500 per MW of nameplate capacity of
wind turbines</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New York – minimum $2,000 per MW of nameplate capacity of
wind turbines</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maryland – 3% during 1st 10 years, 4% 2nd 10 years, 5% 3rd
10 years</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New York – 2.5% during 1st 10 years, 3% 2nd 10 years, 3.5%
3rd 10 years+</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Permission required for certain installations: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Maryland, the owner’s consent is required prior to the developer
installing transmission </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
substations or operations and maintenance facilities on your
property (11.14 C).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No such </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
consent is required for your property.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Overhang of turbines on adjacent properties:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Maryland, rotors of wind turbines located on adjacent
properties cannot overhang the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
owner’s property (11.14 A).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rotors are permitted to overhang your property.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glare / shadow flicker problems:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Maryland, if the property owner experiences problems with
glare or shadow flicker from the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
wind turbines, the developer is required to mitigate those
problems (4.6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no such </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
requirement in your proposed lease.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Assignment requirements:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Maryland, if the developer wishes to transfer ownership
of its lease to another party, the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
assignee must demonstrate its ability to perform all the
terms of the lease before the developer </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
is relieved of its obligations under the lease (7.2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no such requirement under your </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
proposed lease.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Audit differences:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Maryland, the property owner has the right to merely
request copies of the information that </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
would verify the percentage rent amount paid by the
developer, up to once every two years .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In your proposed lease, you must hire and pay a CPA firm to
visit the tenant’s office to conduct </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
an audit of their books and records, up to once every two
years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Restoration timeframe:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Maryland, the developer must restore the owner’s property
to its original condition within 8 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
months of lease termination (10.3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In your proposed lease, the tenant has up to
18 months to </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
restore the property.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Restoration security:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Maryland, the developer must either maintain an escrow
account or a performance bond in </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
an amount equivalent to the estimated costs to restore the
owner’s property once the lease </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
terminates, as determined by an independent engineer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In your proposed lease, the only </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
restoration security is whatever may be “required by any
applicable permits or government </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
rules or regulations”, which could be nothing! Yes, in
Niagara and Orleans Counties, you will be </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
relying on your government!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(CLOSING): IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOWN OF SOMERSET WEBSITE
HOMEPAGE, THE </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /> LAST 2 SENTENCES READ, "AS YOU TRAVEL THROUGH OUR TOWN, YOU WILL<br /><br />MEET OUR FRIENDLY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS FOLKS. YOU WILL LOVE THE <br /><br />HOMETOWN FEEL OUR SMALL COMMUNITY OFFERS, A COMMUNITY WHERE WE <br /><br />CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
IF THIS PROJECT COMES TO FRUITION, THE TOWN MIGHT NEED TO
REWRITE </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
THOSE LAST 2 SENTENCES TO READ, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AS YOU TRAVEL THROUGH OUR TOWN,
YOU WILL MEET OUR ANGRY, HOSTILE RESIDENTS. YOU WILL BE INTIMIDATED, </i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">POSSIBLY EVEN FRIGHTENED, BY THE ANIMOSITY FOLKS EXHIBIT TOWARD ONE ANOTHER,
A COMMUNITY FOREVER DIVIDED</i></b>."</div>
The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-56238138785685396812015-05-01T18:37:00.002-07:002015-05-01T18:37:39.546-07:00Lighthouse Wind finances to consider<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Lighthouse Wind project (up to 70 turbines 570' tall) in Niagara and Orleans counties New York (brought by Apex Clean Energy LLC) is a fraud. Some Lighthouse Wind finances
to consider.</span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">THIS WHOLE MATTER OF LIGHTHOUSE WIND IS
ALL ABOUT MONEY AND NOTHING ELSE!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Assessments will be impacted by the LW project</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Owners of homes and property
located near turbines will demand a lower assessment because of the noise,
health and other major problems brought about by the presence of Lighthouse Wind turbines.
They will likely bring their assessment issues into court since it's likely the
town assessors will refuse to reduce assessments because an assessment
reduction would snowball within the community. If and when assessments are
reduced because of the turbines - either the town budget would need substantial
reduction or the tax rate would need to go up as a result of lower
assessments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assuming the tax rate would
go up - then all the property owners within the town would automatically need
to pay more in taxes. Lowered assessments mean a higher tax rate. Property
owners living miles from the Lighthouse Wind project would be required to pay more in taxes
due to the lowered assessments of those living close to the turbines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wolfe Island Wind Farm - Look
at what happened on Ontario's Wolfe and Simcoe Island wind project at the east
end of Lake Ontario near Kingston after (86)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2.3 Mw Siemens turbines were commissioned in June 2009. This is the
largest wind project in Canada to date.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
are the addresses of residents (near the wind project) who were granted
assessment <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>reductions</u></i></b> of <u>over $100,000 each</u> in the Township
of Wolfe Island from 2008 until Jan. 2012. Assessments were reduced by
over $3M total.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assessment reductions:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 44.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">82 –
Oak Point
Rd.: <b>-$118,000</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 44.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23 –
Nine Mile Point Rd. <b>-$143,000</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 44.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">429- Nine
Mile Point Rd. <b> -$119,000</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 44.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">433
-Nine Mile Point Rd. <b>-$117,000</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 44.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">496
-Nine Mile Point Rd. <b>-$107,000</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 44.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">136
– Lucas Point Lane <b> -$101,000</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Few or no home
sales on Wolfe Island and a large avian slaughter as well.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Turbines their end of life</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There are approximately
15,000 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>worn out unproductive wind
turbines now visually polluting California, and other places in the USA,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because there is no money to remove them. Some
states have laws and regulations on the state or county level pertaining
specifically to the decommissioning of wind factories but NYS is not one of
them. Although towns are now more cautious about decommissioning wind factories
than they were years ago - there's still the heavy risk that wind projects just
being commissioned right now may face the same problems in the future and
become abandoned or bankrupt. Wind project owners change often over time and
Apex is a company that history shows will not own this project for long before
it changes owners. When the wind turbines eventually wear out it's possible the
(foreign) owner will simply walk away from the project leaving the eyesore for
someone else to deal with. Removal of the worn out turbines then becomes the
responsibility of the land owner and removing these at a cost about $.5M each
in today's money simply won't happen. The land owner trusted that the decisions
he made when leasing the property for the project would resolve this decommissioning
problem when the time came and now the land owner is on the hook. If there is
no cooperation from the turbine owner to remove dead turbines its then the land
owner's problem. The land owner couldn't even pass the farm along to his
offspring with a liability like the presence of a wind turbine. What land owner
would the spend $.5M each to remove dead turbines as their scrap value would
not come nearly close to cover the cost of taking down the eyesore and
disposing of unrecyclable worthless materials, the foundation demolition, cable
removal, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and restoring the landscape to
what it was before the project even began? Scrap value cannot begin to cover
decommissioning costs. Who pays for the restoration of the highways from heavy
construction equipment damaging the town roads again a second time as they did
when the project was built? The community at large pay for the road damages? And
these companies are [limited liability companies], so if they do fold up, there
are no assets to cover the decommissioning costs. The truth is - nobody will
have the money to remove the eyesore dead turbines so they lurk there for
decades until somehow they get removed. And who do you think will be
responsible to pay the property taxes including the taxes for the dead turbine?
Who is liable for injures suffered from the time the turbines are shut down to
the time they are taken down? Would the property owner be smart enough or
capable to buy increased liability insurance coverage to protect himself?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">PILOT</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> - an
acronym for <u>p</u>ayment <u>i</u>n <u>l</u>ieu of <u>t</u>axes - Somerset, NY
has a poor history of being a victim of PILOTS. Twice Somerset has been ripped
off by the 675Mw AES coal power plant and here Somerset will soon to be faced
with another suitor, Apex Clean Energy LLC, telling them how much money Apex
will be bringing into town with a PILOT agreement while the exact opposite is
precisely what will take place. Apex will be asking the Somerset & Yates to
sign up for a PILOT and forgive Apex for maybe 70% of the taxes they would pay
if assessed for 100% of the value of the Lighthouse Wind project. And then
they'll create a photo opportunity when they hand over a check to the towns for
a fraction of what they should have been paying and laugh all the way to the
bank over how much they skimmed the towns for. Does the town make you pay 30%
of the assessed value of your home in taxes? No? Then why should Apex get away
with paying a fraction of their share while polluting the town with an energy
project that won't work 75% of the time that divides and desecrates the
community and impacts your health to boot?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People won't build new homes or locate businesses in a
divided community like Somerset or Yates<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and go elsewhere for good reason. Persons who perceive that their
property values will fall will be less inclined to invest in their properties,
which will inevitably lead to lower property values in the long run and hurt
the community.</span>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THIS IS ALL ABOUT MONEY AND THE PEOPLE OF SOMERSET, NY AND
YATES, NY WILL LOSE BIG TIME IF THE LIGHTHOUSE WIND PROJECT EVER GETS DEVELOPED.</span></i></b></div>
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The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-33707312675143228252015-05-01T18:24:00.000-07:002015-05-01T18:24:38.489-07:00BEWARE LIGHTHOUSE WIND and Apex Clean Energy LLC<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> The comments below were given on April 29, 2015 to the public at the Barker, NY fire hall.</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I'd like to begin by giving
you my personal feelings about wind energy. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I oppose industrial wind turbines
anywhere.</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Apex Clean Energy LLC is now
cultivating your community attempting to set up shop in Somerset and Yates with
a project called Lighthouse Wind consisting of up to 70 turbines 570' tall. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know little more about this project right
now than we did in October. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Somerset and Yates are
identified by Apex Clean Energy as a host community and this is wrong. Instead
of being called a host community both Somerset and Yates are <u>victims</u> of
Apex Clean Energy and NYS</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wind Power Monthly</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> online - 27 November 2014 by Diane Bailey interviewed
Apex Clean Energy’s President Mark Goodwin and reported Goodwin expects that
Apex will continue to look to sell projects as they come into operation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Think about Apex President
Goodwin's goals - “<i>sell projects as they come into operation</i>”. Apex sold
the Canadian Hills wind project in Oklahoma in 2012 to Atlantic Power and the
operation began functioning in late 2012. Apex sold the Hoopston Wind project
in Illinois in 2014 to Sweden’s Ikea and the Hoopston Wind project isn’t even
finished yet. Apex also sold the Cameron Wind project in Texas to Ikea and it’s
also not finished either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And numerous
plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit against Apex Wind Construction to
prevent them from building an Oklahoma wind factory near their homes in
Canadian County. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This month Apex is into a new
dilemma regarding their 49 turbine Mills Branch Wind project slated for Kent
County, Maryland. Kent County Commissioners have voted unanimously against the
project for numerous reasons including </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #00000f; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #00000f; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">including
Apex’s questionable tactics. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #00000f; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Last year the </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Oklahoma Wind Action Association filed lawsuit against Apex over the
Kingfisher wind project involving over 300 turbines citing health and safety
concerns of residents near wind factories, including low-frequency sound and
“shadow flicker” from the blades at certain times of the day and the loss of
use and value of landowners’ property.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Corpus Christi, Texas -
Nueces County Commissioners are attempting to block the Apex Chapman Ranch wind
development. Both the City and County have gone on record in opposition to the
APEX wind farm development.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A year ago Apex had decided
not to pursue the Clear Spring Wind Energy project in LaGrange County, Indiana
due to “a lack of landowner participation - how lucky for LaGrange landowners.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Would you like Apex Clean Energy
LLC doing business in your community with this record?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Apex Clean Energy LLC is not clean.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> What's clean about the slaughter of birds and bats?
Did you know that every turbine has powerful magnets within the nacelle that
are made from rare earth materials mined and processed in China leaving
enormous amounts of toxic waste behind? What's clean about the numerous serious
health issues caused by noise & low frequency noise generated by the
operation of the turbines? What's clean about the visual pollution turbines
bring concerning aesthetics? What's clean about shadowing by the massive rotor
blades, light reflecting from the blades, the loss of darkness </span><span style="font-family: "New York","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">that many people in
rural areas cherish </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">and much more. And
worst of all - the whooshing sounds and the infra sound that causes
sleeplessness,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>headaches<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and any number of health issues that will
affect those living near these industrial giants that desecrate your community.
If this project is built and there are noise problems, TV or cell phone reception
issues - who will mitigate these problems? The town board, NYS siting board -
they have no authority to correct these problems. Sell your home and move??? You
would be lucky to sell your Yates or Somerset home right now.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It is disgusting that both
Yates and Somerset town boards have done nothing to protect their community
from the Lighthouse Wind project. Somerset supervisor Dan Engert said repeatedly
there is no project. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Engert is wrong.
There is a project forthcoming and he knows it. Apex signed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somerset land leases as early as May 2014</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This is an election year for
both towns. Somerset supervisor Dan Engert and Councilmen Randall Wayner and
Jeffrey Dewart are up for election if they decide to run for office again. Yates
supervisor John Belson and Councilmen Steve Freeman and Wes Bradley are up for
election if they decide to run for office in Yates this year. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Do NOT elect these people again</u></b>.
I cannot tell you how important it is to elect anti wind candidates into your
town government. Your weak town boards have failed taxpayers miserably.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">A
few weeks ago I sent 2 questions to all Somerset and Yates TB members asking if
they supported this Lighthouse Wind project or if they would fight it and asked that they
return my question page and I did not get one back. These town boards seem
content to permit Apex to rape this community. What kind of stewardship is
this? Where's the transparency? Why are they hiding in the closet? They seem
willing to make their towns a prostitute for the money. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What fool in their right mind
would buy or build a new home in Somerset or Yates at this point in time
knowing that their new home may take a 50% hit on value because you don't know
if a turbine might be located near your home along with the noise and numerous
other overwhelming problems associated with wind energy? What business would
locate in Somerset <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or Yates knowing
their investment would be sullied by a wind factory that's already divided the
community</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There is a new spectacular
and innovative electric energy project soon to begin construction <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in eastern NYS called the Champlain Hudson
Power Express. This endeavor will bring 1000Mw of electric power directly from
Hydro Quebec 333 miles to NYC via an 5.5" diameter submerged electrical
cable<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>under Lake Champlain and then
submerged <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>under the Hudson River to NYC.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The power express avoids and
overcomes every weak point wind energy brings and more. It didn't take Sup.
Engert long to criticize the new exciting power express energy project unveiled
for eastern NYS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Engert claimed the
power express would threaten the AES Somerset power plant by stealing business
from AES. Former state Sen. George Maziarz, of Niagara Co.,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also bad mouthed the power express yet
Maziarz sponsored the horrible Power NY Act of 2011 and its Art. 10 debacle
betraying New Yorkers in the process. Isn't it a hypocrisy that Engert didn't
waste time criticizing the power express yet he won't take a position opposing
Lighthouse Wind and is content buying time until the siting board approves this
project? Engert is using all the excuses he can muster to avoid taking a
position on Lighthouse Wind - denying for months that there's even a project
while Apex in the meantime is getting large land owners to sign leases and filing
documents on the Lighthouse Wind project, with the NYS Dept. of Public Service,
holding open houses, etc. And the Somerset TB is content to witness Engert's
actions. Ditto the Yates town board.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Yes - I'm a NIMBY. There are
dozens of good reasons for taking this attitude but I'm going to stress the
three main reasons why I feel wind energy should be rejected: (1) noise/health
problems; (2) unavoidable property value decline and (3) decommissioning dead
turbines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Noise/health</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The biggest problem with wind
factories is noise and since Apex has plans to install the tallest turbines
ever erected in NYS - the noise generated from this Lighthouse Wind project will likely be
the loudest of any wind project in NYS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wherever turbines exist -
some people have been forced from their homes because they could no longer
stand the noise from the turbines <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that
impacted their health or their children's health or their pets health or even their
livestock's health. The noise created is both mechanical and aerodynamic. The
noise is both audible and infra sound. And the noise from the Lighthouse Wind project will
impact people's health.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Apex is lying when they say
on their website:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">That wind energy is one of the healthiest forms of
energy generation; </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Measurements show this sound is no louder than a
kitchen refrigerator or air conditioning unit at a distance of 1,000
feet. Low frequency sound will be no different than waves on a beach and
weaker than highway traffic, air conditioners and other daily exposures.
Scientific evidence confirms this sound is not dangerous and that any
low-frequency waves produced are not harmful to those nearby.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Apex is lying to you by
peddling this information while attempting to get their foot in the door of your
community. Your quality of life and health are at risk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Two other significant winds sins
are property devaluation and decommissioning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Property devaluation</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Apex Clean Energy on their
website flatly denies that property devaluation happens as a result of wind
turbines invading a community. The Lighthouse Wind website says this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In fact, according to rural appraisers, farm acreage
with turbines often increases in value due to the stream of steady,
long-term income the property generates by the harvesting of the wind.</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Increases in property value
does it? Who would possibly believe this lying garbage? If it's true the let
Apex offer property value guarantees as part of their plan to back up their
comments. But you know that will never happen. What about the value of farm
acreage of non-participating adjacent neighbors? Where does that value go? When
a wind factory devalues a person's property its known as an involuntary taking.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Decommissioning liability</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Removing non-functional
turbines that will likely never operate again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">When the time comes for
removal of the turbines I estimate they will cost $1M each to remove. The (3)
11+ ton blades are not worth anything in salvage and not recyclable. It's
likely the project will then be owned by a foreign company that realizes that
removal of the turbines is too costly and simply walk away from the project
leaving the mess to the property owner to deal with. What happens then is
obvious. The property owner can't afford the removal costs so the turbines sit
there for decades rusting, stained with leaking oils and coolants, getting
filthy, and becoming an even worse eyesore. Decades from now, long after were
gone, your children's children will be asking about the Somerset and Yates town
boards of 2015 - what were they thinking that created the wind factory
graveyard! Where will the money come from to rid the community of these
eyesores? Buffalo wind attorney Dan Spitzer reportedly said the land owner will
be liable for damages and removal of the worn out turbines. The offspring of
the lessors wouldn't even accept their parents property as a gift because of
the liability of a wind turbine contaminating the land and the cost of removal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Tourists</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Somerset has a beautiful
historic lighthouse on Lake Ontario and adjacent state park that is a huge
asset to the town and would be envied by many municipalities. This is a lovely
rural agricultural community with nice farms and lucky to be situated along
Lake Ontario's south shore. The character of this community will suddenly be
vandalized by the invasion of wind turbines. When a wind factory is built -
there will be new class of tourists coming to town. The new tourists will be
rolling up and down Somerset's formerly quiet country roads looking at the 570'
monuments to lunacy, the tallest turbines in NYS, stopping to pose their kids
in front of the monstrosities for the mandatory Kodak moment before moving on
to the next roads. These tourists aren't your normal tourists - these are gawker
tourists - the same people that come to witness a crashed plane, train wreck,
burned building or some other disaster - then go home satisfied. Now ask
yourself - is this the kind of tourist you'd like visiting Somerset and Yates?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">We</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;"> have with us NYS wind factory
historical data to support the fact that wind factories<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>don't operate almost 75% of the time</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"> due to the intermittency
of wind</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;">.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Would you be satisfied
if your home electric or automobile worked only 25% of the time? Wind energy is
unacceptable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">What should the people of
Somerset and Yates do?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">nominate and elect 3
anti-wind TB members from each town this fall</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If you are a seasonal
resident - modify your Voter Registration to vote in Somerset or Yates next
time,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>to be able to elect local anti-wind
officials, to protect your property</u></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">review the Lighthouse Wind project on
Apex website</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">send a letter to your
town supervisor advising him of your opposition to the LW project and the
reasons why you're against Lighthouse Wind</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If turbines infect your
community - sue Apex and by all means sue the land owner.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "ArialMT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Support the SOS group in
the fight against LW</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">What should the town
boards of Somerset and Yates do?</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
are many things the towns can do right now to help themselves later on.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">both towns should officially
reject this Apex wind factory and then pressure the county legislatures to do
likewise and also pressure new state Senator Ortt and Assemblywoman Corwin to
say NO to this project.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">pass a moratorium on wind energy
until the town updates their wind zoning laws . </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The town wind ordinances are horribly out of date and very
weak - especially noise and setbacks. </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Setbacks should be <u>1/2 mile minimum</u> . </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They should have been given attention the moment
Apex began sniffing around this area.</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">refuse to sign a PILOT agreement of any kind (Payment in Lieu
of Taxes) </span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Why
would anyone give an huge tax break to a project that desecrates their
community?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">have the town planning
boards get to work updating their wind zoning laws and pay particular attention
to noise/health issues; property values and decommissioning. The PB should
greatly strengthen noise parameters and define a maximum noise limit in decibels
that can be measured with instruments. Review noise laws now on file in the
towns of Castile, NY and Hammond, NY</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">require Apex to leave $1M
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>CASH</u></i></b>
in the hands of each town for decommissioning <u>for each turbine installed</u>
and site cleanup. This requirement would also apply in the event of bankruptcy
of the developer</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">if the state siting board
grants a <u>certificate of environmental compatibility and public need</u>
allowing Apex to build this project - the towns should pursue this matter
through the NYS court system vigorously. Article 10 has stolen home rule from
the people of NYS</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Work to get the Somerset
675Mw AES</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> Generating Station
converted from coal to natural gas.<span style="background: white; color: black;"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Unfortunately outright greed plays an
important part of this scenario and Apex takes advantage of this weakness by
luring greedy large land<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>owners into
signing leases that allow placement of the turbines on their property. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">So
who are the large land owners that have signed leases with Apex? Well
lets name them right now. As of April 1, 2015 these Somerset people have signed
leases with Apex according to the Niagara County clerk (dates after the names are the dates the leases were recorded with the count clerk):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Peter
E. Forrestel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5/21/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Barbara
R. Eggert<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5/21/14 alt Barbara R. Alt;
related to Somerset Councilman Gary Alt?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Keith
R. Rhodes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sharon
L Rhodes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">John
H. Voelpel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jane
M. Voelpel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Floyd
E. Koerner Jr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Marsha
A. Koerner<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stephen
B. Lee<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jenny
A. Lee<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9/11/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Benjamin
J. Atwater<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12/9/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Seth
E. Atwater<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12/9/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Susan
McNulty Atwater<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12/9/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Joseph
C. Czelusta<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12/9/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jacqueline
K. Czelusta<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>12/9/14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Lyle
M. Whitford<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1/8/15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Priscilla
P. Whitford<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1/8/15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Orleans County clerk responded to my FOIL request for Apex leases saying she
did have 4 leases with Lighthouse Wind with these names:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Donna
Rae Bane<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4/9/15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Richard
M. Austin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4/9/15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Barbara
J. Austin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4/9/15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Gary
L. Bayne II<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4/9/15<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2 leases</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Faith
A. Bayne<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4/9/15</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">These
are the Somerset & Yates land owners that have thrown their neighbors under
the bus. </span></u></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Folks - you don't know what
you've got till it's gone. Somerset & Yates will become known as
Turbinetown.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My comments from tonight's
program will be found on the blog site - Beware NY Wind - the address is in the
handout that will be passed out later.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Alan Isselhard</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Great Lakes Wind Truth</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wolcott, NY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Town of Huron </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Wolcott, NY </span></div>
The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-8686286634212643772013-09-08T08:32:00.000-07:002013-09-08T08:32:06.377-07:00New York's Ongoing Wind Energy Mistakes<div class="ii gt m140fd76b13ddcf51 adP adO" id=":1hz" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 5px 15px 0px 0px; orphans: auto; padding-bottom: 5px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; z-index: 0;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) provides on its web site</span><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?rlz=1R6GGLA_en___US355#140fd76b13ddcf51__edn1" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ednref1" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[i]</span></span></a><span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">[1]</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>many claims about the great progress and benefits achieved by promoting and subsidizing wind energy in the state – an initiative kicked off by former Governor Pataki and followed slavishly by each succeeding administration and legislature.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, like other promoters of wind energy, the DEC article tells less than half the true story about very high cost, low value electricity from wind energy and ignores completely its adverse environmental, economic, electric system reliability impacts, and its damaging impact on ordinary citizens, taxpayers, and electricity users in New York.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">For example, the DEC article doesn't mention (a) incessant noise from wind turbine, (b) birds and bats killed by the huge machines, (c) the destruction of landscape, natural resources, scenic vistas, and animal habitat during construction and thereafter, or (d) the damage to property values and quality of life of those unfortunate enough to live near “wind farms.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Neither does the DEC mention the high cost and low value of electricity from wind turbines. The low true value of electricity from wind turbines is due to their intermittent, volatile, and unreliable output and their tendency to produce electricity primarily at night in cold and shoulder months when electricity is least needed, rather than on hot summer weekday late afternoons when demand is high.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Looking beyond the misleading DEC article, the fact that political leaders continue to push wind energy is particularly difficult to understand when looking at the following facts:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">New York’s first 15 “wind farms” completed before the end of 2010 have a total rated (or nameplate) capacity of 1,273.9 megawatts (MW).<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ftnref1_8312" style="color: #222222;"></a> During 2012 these 15 “wind farms” produced<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>2,321,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity</i>.<b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ftnref2_8312" style="color: #222222;"></a><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?rlz=1R6GGLA_en___US355#140fd76b13ddcf51__edn2" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ednref2" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[ii]</span></b></span></a><span><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">[2]</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Assuming very conservative capital cost numbers, the capital cost of these 15 “wind farms” in NY was probably around $2 billion.<br /><br />The predominate demand for electricity in New York state is in the New York City (NTC) area. However, NY’s “wind farms” are located in upstate and western New York so the output from these “wind farms” must be transmitted to the NYC area, adding to the cost of the electricity and adding environmental damage when additional transmission capacity must be provided.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Now consider a logical alternative: A single 450 MW gas-fired combined cycle generating unit (or two 225 MW units) located near NYC, operating at only a 60% capacity factor, could have supplied just as much electricity — actually<i>2,365,200 MWh</i></span><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?rlz=1R6GGLA_en___US355#140fd76b13ddcf51__edn3" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ednref3" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[iii]</span></i></b></span></a><span><b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">[3]</span></i></b></span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ftnref3_8312" style="color: #222222;"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> – with about one fourth of the capital cost and with less overall cost to consumers and taxpayers when fuel and O&M costs are added.<br /><br />Furthermore, the gas-fired generating units would be reliable and dispatchable and thus available when needed, including times of peak electricity demand. Electricity is available from wind turbines only when wind speeds are in the “right” range.</span><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?rlz=1R6GGLA_en___US355#140fd76b13ddcf51__edn4" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ednref4" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[iv]</span></span></a><span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">[4]</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They are highly unlikely to produce much electricity during times of peak demand, so they have little or no “capacity value.”<br /><br />Also, there would be no need to add transmission capacity to bring wind-generated electricity to the NYC area from upstate and western NY. Finally, a factor that should be important to political leaders: a gas-fired generating unit would provide many more long lasting jobs than “wind farms.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The apparent low regard that NY political leaders have for the people and organizations dependent on electricity is illustrated by the extremely high electric bills that result from the state’s policies. The average electricity price for residential customers in New York in 2012 was 17.69 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while the nationwide average in 2012 was 11.88 cents per kWh.<span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?rlz=1R6GGLA_en___US355#140fd76b13ddcf51__edn5" name="140fd76b13ddcf51__ednref5" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[v]</span></span></a><span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">[5]</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Therefore, New York’s average residential electricity prices are 53% above the national average. A New York resident using 6,500 kWh of electricity per year will pay about $400 per year more for his or her electricity than if New York’s electricity prices were at the national average. (Only Alaska, with 17.84 cents per kWh and Hawaii with 37.27 cents per kWh had higher prices.) Consider the job and other local economic benefits if New York had allowed its approximately 8,000,000 residential electric customers to spend $400 per year – that would be $3.2 billion -- in their local economies.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the New York States’ Department of Environmental Conservation web site article cited earlier is but one example of the way that government officials and employees now use tax dollars to distribute false and misleading information that protects and promotes bad policies, helps special interest groups such as the wind industry, and/or promotes their personal preferences.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Glenn R. Schleede (former western New Yorker)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-85698391415147105542013-04-11T11:27:00.000-07:002013-04-11T11:27:25.443-07:00New York renewable power plan would cost $382 billion by 2030 <article>
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<i>The text below is from National Wind Watch web site and makes you wonder what university profs have been smoking when they offer bizarre ideas like this. </i></div>
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<i>filed: </i> April 9, 2013 • <a href="https://www.wind-watch.org/news/category/locations/americas/us/new-york/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in New York">New York</a></div>
<h1 class="after entry-title">
<a href="https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/09/new-york-renewable-power-plan-would-cost-382-billion-by-2030/" style="border: none;" title="New York renewable power plan would cost $382 billion by 2030">New York renewable power plan would cost $382 billion by 2030</a> </h1>
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<i><b>Credit: </b></i> By Louise Downing - 2013-04-08 |
Bloomberg |
<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-08/new-york-renewable-power-plan-would-cost-382-billion-by-2030.html">www.bloomberg.com</a> ~~</div>
New York would need about $382 billion and wind turbines
covering an area equivalent to 13 percent of the state’s land mass if it
followed a Cornell University plan to derive all of its power from
renewables.<br />
Robert Howarth, a Cornell ecology professor, suggested last month the
state could get half its power from wind and enough from solar, tidal
and other forms of clean energy to replace fossil fuels by 2030. The
plan for 254 gigawatts of generation capacity would cost about $1.5
million a megawatt, or $382 billion, according to data compiled by
Bloomberg.<br />
<br />
The findings cast doubt on the ability of the state to eliminate oil,
natural gas and coal from its energy supply. The Cornell proposal would
require onshore wind turbines covering an area 3.3 times the size of
New York City’s five boroughs.<br />
<br />
“It’s too ambitious by 2030 to replace all the state’s power with
renewables, although big progress could be made,” Angus McCrone, a
senior analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in London, said today.
The projections, he said, look “unrealistic” for individual
technologies.<br />
<br />
The Cornell study published in the journal “Energy Policy” in March
was done along with Stanford University. It called for 4,020 onshore
turbines and 12,700 machines offshore harnessing the wind’s power. It
also suggested 387 concentrated solar plants and 828 utility-scale
photovoltaic generators. Wave, tidal and hydroelectric would supply much
of the rest of the electricity.<br />
<br />
Study’s Vision<br />
The report envisions all vehicles running on battery power or
hydrogen fuel cells and electricity-powered heat pumps replacing heating
oil in homes. New York already gets about 11 percent of its energy from
renewable sources, according to the state’s Department of Environmental
Conservation.<br />
<br />
Savings from reducing air pollution would top $33 billion, and a
further $3.2 billion could be saved by reducing coastal erosion and
extreme weather due to climate change, the researchers concluded.<br />
<br />
The offshore wind turbines would cover an area of about 4,903 square
miles, and onshore machines would cover a further 1,000 square miles,
according to calculations based on Bloomberg New Energy Finance data for
how much space each turbine would occupy. By comparison, New York City
covers 305 square miles, and the state about 47,200 square miles.<br />
<br />
“A different combination, such as with more residential and
small-scale photovoltaic, and greater use of energy efficiency, might be
more realistic by 2030,” McCrone said.<br />
<br />
To meet the target, the report’s authors suggest measures including
the establishment of a Green Bank, introducing feed-in tariffs, or
premium payments for small-scale energy generation, and implementing a
goal for at least 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2020. <br />
</article>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-66088636052793260512013-04-11T10:54:00.000-07:002013-04-11T10:54:27.525-07:00NOTES FROM GLENN SCHLEEDE<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><div>
<span class="hP" id=":1da" style="outline: none; padding-right: 10px;" tabindex="-1"><span style="font-size: x-small;">RE: </span>WIND SUBSIDIES IN <span style="font-size: x-small;">THE </span>SENATE BILL and the claim 37,000 jobs will be created <span style="font-size: x-small;">(unfortunately the PTC subsides were extended anyway - till the end of 2013)</span></span></div>
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<span class="hP" id=":1da" style="outline: none; padding-right: 10px;" tabindex="-1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="hP" id=":1da" style="outline: none; padding-right: 10px;" tabindex="-1"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glenn's comments: </span></span></div>
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1. 37,000 is a "made up" number.</div>
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2. Electricity from wind is high in cost and low in value.</div>
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3. Billions in capital investment dollars have been wasted, with many of those dollars going to other countries for turbines, towers and blades.</div>
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4. Those capital investment dollars could have been used more productively and employed many more people than the few employed in erecting and operating wind turbines.</div>
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5. Hundreds of millions in higher costs for electricity and in tax burden have been shifted from the pockets of ordinary taxpayers and electric customers to the pockets of "wind farm" owners.</div>
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6. Those dollars could have been used by taxpayers and electric customers to buy goods and services that would have employed many more people than are employed in the wind industry. </div>
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</div>
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7. federal tax breaks and subsidies have added to deficits and to the national debt -- which debt will have to be paid by our children and grandchildren.</div>
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8. Look at the situation in NY. A reliable gas-fired generating unit build in the New York City area could have produced more electricity than all of New York's "wind farms" -- and made it unnecessary to expand transmission capacity from upstate and western New York.</div>
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9. In summary, the costs of electricity from wind turbines FAR outweigh the benefits.</div>
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<div>
Glenn </div>
</span>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-74999067964572317252013-04-11T10:26:00.001-07:002013-04-11T10:26:20.163-07:00TEN WAYS TO KILL BIG WIND by Mike Bond<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h3 align="center" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">How a Little Island Stopped a Huge
Industrial Wind Project</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"></span></h3>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Despite many victories, communities around the world are still
facing a plague of industrial wind projects that like hideous War of the Worlds
steel monsters are destroying communities, mountains, and wildlands,
slaughtering birds and bats, sickening people and driving them from their
homes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Even though
these wind projects do not reduce greenhouse gases or fossil fuel use, they
have dreadful environmental, social and economic impacts on whole regions. But
they are a tool for energy companies and investment banks to make billions in
taxpayer subsidies that get added to our national debt.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">The good
news is that communities worldwide are learning how to defeat these dreadful
projects. More and more laws and moratoriums are being passed against them,
while other projects are defeated on legal grounds or by overwhelming public
opposition.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">In Hawaii,
an industrial wind project that would have constructed ninety 42-story turbine
towers across seventeen square miles of Molokai has been defeated by a
determined two-year effort of the island’s residents. In the process we learned
many tactics, which I’ve tried to summarize below and are further described in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://mikebondbooks.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: #1155cc;">Saving Paradise</span></i></b></a>:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Show wind projects for what they are: industrial</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Not environmental,
not green, not renewable, and cause no reductions in greenhouse gases or fossil
fuel use, no long-term jobs and few short-term ones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Don’t be nice</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. These wind developers are your enemies: they
want to destroy where you live, steal your money (property values), and are
quite happy to literally drive you from your homes. They will lie, cheat,
bribe, buy politicians, and do whatever else they can to win. They won’t be
fair and you can’t trust them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Create a group and get your community behind you</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Point out property
value loss, human health issues, environmental destruction, tourism impacts,
and all the other dreadful results of industrial wind. If you have a
homeowners’ associations, make them aware of the danger so they can join the
fight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Publicize your case</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. In the newspapers, TV and radio, on blogs
and in nationwide petitions. Use videos and good graphics. Go viral,
worldwide. Develop a good professional website with lots of information and
ways for viewers to participate. Community members should write op-eds and
letters to the editor. A very powerful tool is frequent press releases that
pass on news reports from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.wind-watch.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">National
Wind Watch</span></a>, <a href="http://www.windaction.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Industrial Wind Action Group</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and other organizations about the
devastating impacts of industrial wind. These press releases should be sent to
all relevant media outlets and local, state and national legislators.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Do mailings to everyone</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. In Molokai we sent two mailings to all the
island’s 2,700 addresses. The first mailer described the dangers of the project
and included a survey with a stamped return envelope. We had a massive
response, with 97% of responses against the project, and our group gained
hundreds of new members. A year later we sent a second mailer with photo
mockups showing how the turbines would tower over homes and landscapes. This
mailer also included a bumper sticker which many residents then put on their
cars.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Be visible</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Put up lots of signs, both homemade and professionally
done. Put up billboards if you can. Professional signs show you mean business,
and are taken more seriously.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Find legislators who will help you</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. On the state level,
Republicans are often more responsive and more concerned about the environment
than traditionalist Democrats who have bought the idea that wind is
environmental (or who are receiving contributions from wind companies).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Litigate</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Find every avenue to impair or slow the wind developers.
Once the Washington industrial welfare subsidies are removed, industrial wind
companies will vanish overnight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Get property value loss appraisals</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Average losses of
40% or more are being reported; in Molokai, one of the reasons the landowner
planning the project cancelled it was they estimated a 75% property value loss
on their lands near the project. Publicize the loss of assessed value at county
level, and how that will reduce tax revenues. In most cases, property value
loss far exceeds any revenue the county might receive from the project.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Civil disobedience</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Politicians and energy companies are
terrified of this. Don’t be afraid to go to jail to protect the land and homes
you love. On Molokai we planned if necessary to start a hunger strike on the
island, and there were people ready to starve to death to protect our island.
The level of your commitment is equal to the level of your success.</span></div>
The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-79843945843419319622012-12-11T10:46:00.002-08:002012-12-11T10:46:55.981-08:00<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 18pt;">New York’s Energy Highway – <u>It’s
All About Wind</u></span></i></b><br />
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This will be news for many folks reading this discourse.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has given birth to the New York Energy Highway and has
created an energy Task Force and a new website you should have a thorough look
at: <a href="http://www.nyenergyhighway.com/">http://www.nyenergyhighway.com</a></div>
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But first we need to re-examine what Cuomo said in 2010
when running for NYS Governor. He wrote a document he called <i>Power NY; The
New NY Agenda, Andrew Cuomo, 2<sup>nd</sup> in a Series</i> in which he
identifies NYS problems and his potential solutions for New York including
energy. Here’s some Cuomo philosophy from his Power NY document:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria,Bold";">Make New York the Nation’s Leader in Wind</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria,Bold";">Power</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">Wind is the most promising renewable</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">resource for large-scale energy generation in New</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">York. (page 73)</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">The Attorney</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">General’s Code prohibits conflicts of interest between</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">municipal officials and wind energy companies and</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">establishes public disclosure requirements on wind</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">companies. (page 74)</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">We must work hard to</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: TimesNewRoman;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">address the lack of adequate transmission capacity</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">for renewable energy from upstate areas to the high-demand</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">downstate region (page
74-75)</span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Promote On-Shore Wind Project<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">s...</span></span> </span></h1>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria,BoldItalic"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Facilitate
Siting </span></i></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria,BoldItalic"; font-size: 12.5pt;">(page 75)</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">As described in other</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">sections, the State should promote smart</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">transmission investments that expand the market for</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">wind power. Next, as described in sections below, the</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">State needs a new energy siting law that will create</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">an accelerated siting process—allowing for necessary</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">community input and protecting critical community</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">interests—that ensures that sound projects are</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">approved and permitted expeditiously. A new siting</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">law should include an expedited review and approval</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;">for renewable energy.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria,BoldItalic"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Enter Into Power Purchase Agreement for</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria,BoldItalic"; font-size: 12.5pt;">Off-Shore
Wind When Economically Feasible</span></i></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Cambria,BoldItalic"; font-size: 12.5pt;"> (page 76)</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria,BoldItalic"; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cuomo wrote another 2010 document called <i>The New NY
Agenda: A Plan for Action</i>. Here’s some of his thoughts from this document:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial Narrow";">New York
State already has ambitious goals to improve energy efficiency and increase the
use of renewable fuels, but not nearly enough is being done to meet those
goals. To make more rapid progress, the New York State Power Authority and the
Long Island Power Authority must be made full partners in advancing energy
related projects that will create jobs and grow the economy. Their efforts
should include both major wind-power projects and making possible smaller
“distributed generation” renewable energy projects by allowing net metering.
(page 122) </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial Narrow";">New York’s farmers must be able to share in the benefits of
emerging technologies. Alternative energy sources—ranging from wind to
biomass—can create new economic opportunities for farmers. (page 124)</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">And Cuomo authored yet another 2010 document
called <i>The New NY Agenda – A Cleaner Greener NY</i> which includes these
thoughts:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.5pt;"> Moreover, we should build the
smart grid to empower citizens to</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">reduce their energy costs and increase efficiency, support
and foster the growth of clean tech businesses, promote onshore and offshore
wind projects, create a new “NY-Sun” renewable energy tax credit to stimulate
investment in solar energy, jumpstart the use of solar thermal technology for
water heating and enact a new fuel neutral power plant generation siting law
that provides fast-track review and approval for efficient power plants that
provide the most power and are located on existing plant facilities and for
renewable energy projects. (page 48)</span></div>
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And lets not overlook NYS Lt. Gov. Duffy and what the
Rochester, NY newspaper said in an article on Aug 20, 2010:</div>
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“<i>Duffy, who is running for lieutenant governor, said
offshore wind farms were desirable as a source of renewable energy and,
potentially, a source of jobs and economic growth for the Rochester region.</i>”</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">From Cuomo’s 2012 State of the State address:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">We have
an excess of generation capacity and tremendous</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">wind
power potential in Upstate and Western New York and</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">north of
the border in Quebec. We have tremendous energy</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">needs
Downstate. Just as we built the New York State</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">Thruway
to unite distant parts of the state, we will develop</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">an
“Energy Highway” system that will bring excess fossil-fuel</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">energy
from Western New York downstate, and also tap into</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 12pt;">Upstate’s potential for
renewable energy, like wind power.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">The
permanent Article X energy siting law</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">we
passed last year will be a critical tool to help with meeting</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">our
energy needs </span><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial-ItalicMT;">and </span></i><span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT;">protecting our environment in this</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 12pt;">effort.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
In late March 2012 the Wall Street Journal published an
article announcing that the Obama administration cooked up a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) agreement with 5 Great Lakes states governors, including
New York, to speed up approval of offshore wind factories. That’s right, Cuomo
signed up for this after knowing how repulsive off shore wind factories were to
NY counties bordering the Great Lakes. Jefferson, Oswego, Wayne, Monroe,
Niagara, Erie and Chautauqua counties <u>passed resolutions against offshore
wind</u>, the NYPA GLOW project, in 2010 and 2011. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<h6>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Conclusion---</span></h6>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
May we hence conclude that Governor Cuomo is a <b><i>HUGE</i></b>
supporter of wind energy and that his use of the words “renewable” or “clean
energy” mainly infer wind energy? Solar, biomass, flywheels produce such minute
amounts of electrical energy they can’t even be considered players in today’s
commercial energy production. And can we conclude that Cuomo’s appointees (see
below) for the New York Energy Highway <b><i>Task Force</i></b> as well as New
York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment - would be
people that strongly support his position on energy, <u>especially wind</u>?</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Here are the appointed members of Cuomo’s new energy Task
Force - or the good old boys club:</div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Task
Force Members:</span></h4>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Gil C. Quiniones</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">President and Chief Executive Officer,
New York Power Authority (NYPA) (Co-Chair), lives in New York City</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Joseph Martens</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Commissioner, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (Co-Chair), lives in the Albany area</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Kenneth Adams</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">President & CEO and Commissioner,
Empire State Development, lives in Brooklyn</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Garry A. Brown</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Chairman, New York State Public Service
Commission, lives in Averill Pk. (Albany area)</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Francis J. Murray, Jr.</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">President and Chief Executive Officer,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), lives in
Delmar (Albany area)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Quiniones is the replacement for the arrogant Richie
Kessel, ex-CEO <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">and</span></span> Pres. of NYPA –
you remember Kessel don’t you - biggest wind charlatan north of Manhattan. We
already know NYPA’s position on wind, especially offshore wind as NYPA
squandered millions of NY ratepayer dollars on the failed offshore GLOW
project. Quiniones was part of that fiasco. And read between the lines of
Quiniones presentation (in blue) made at the recent NY energy summit meeting
April 4, 2012 at Columbia University where he was a featured presenter:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt;">Higher costs </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt;">to downstate consumers due to inability to access power from
lower-cost power plants upstate </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> - do you
think NYS would be concerned if upstate consumers paid higher electric costs
than downstate consumers for the same reasons? Would there be any state effort to reverse this?<span style="font-family: Symbol;"> Doubtful!</span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: blue;">Limited downstate access to renewable energy
generated upstate.... </span></h3>
<div class="Default">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Build <b>clean, economical new plants.....
</b></span><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">– </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">could economical new plants possibly be wind factories? Of
course it is – what else could it possibly be? What’s clean about wind energy?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt;">Encourage development of <b>renewable generation </b></span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">– </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">could this possibly be wind
factories? <u>Its amazing how they all try so hard to avoid specifically
mentioning <b><i>WIND</i></b>.</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Be sure to check out Quiniones Energy Highway Overview
illustration #3 showing a sketch of generation, transmission, distribution and
consumers and note the wind turbines as part of the generation facilities. Then
we see the sketch showing the power going over the high tension lines, then to
the power poles and finally to the homes, apartments and factories in sunny
downstate while upstate get nothing but unintended consequences and inverse
condemnation from wind factories. No sunshine upstate – only gloom over the
noisy, ugly wind factories. Quiniones message is there for those “in the know”
however its humbly understated. Cuomo appointed Quiniones as President and CEO
of NYPA.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">If you’ve ever walked
into NYSERDA headquarters in Albany you can’t help but be overcome with their
dedication to wind energy with pamphlets supporting wind in the lobby as well
as photos of turbines in the building and staff clearly speaking overwhelmingly in favor of
wind energy. No question on where NYSERDA stands on wind energy! Francis Murray
heads NYSERDA and he’s a huge wind supporter – and NYSERDA is all on your dime – a tax
disguised as a “charge” on your monthly electric bill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Now think about the Power NY Act of 2011 and its Article X
section (co-authored by NY Assemblyman Kevin Cahill and NY Sen. George Maziarz) and its
New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment,
"Siting Board" – the board of five unelected Albany bureaucrats that will
site new power projects (wind factories) in NYS that are NOT wanted by the municipalities that are victimized by them. Think about how covertly both
Cahill and Maziarz crafted this Power NY Act bill for Cuomo – acted on at night
on the last week of the legislative session with zero transparency. The bill was
wordsmithed with “feel good” items in the first and third sections unrelated Article X to to make it extremely difficult for fellow
legislators to say no – and <u>few</u> did say NO.
Tacked onto the bill is the disgusting Article X section that
does the real damage to New Yorkers and the sole reason why this bill was
designed via Cuomo’s shrouded direction. <span style="color: red;">The bill strips New Yorkers of “home
rule” regarding the siting of power plants and gives that task to the siting board whose members probably have never visited the community they will victimize.</span> Did you know that <b><i><u>EVERY</u></i></b>
downstate assemblyman and senator voted in favor of the Power NY Act of 2011
and Article X but I wonder how many of them fully realized they were signing
off on home rule (for siting power plants) when they voted to approve this
bill? Think of the Power NY Act as the enforcement mechanism for siting
turbines but this will all play out in the courtroom soon after the first victimized
town is selected. Home rule is something that’s been part of the state
Constitution for decades – and to now take home rule away from New York
municipalities <u>is illegal</u>. Here’s what Cahill said at a March 2012
Jefferson Community College forum when questioned about this:</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<i><span style="color: blue;">…..when the state picks a
compelling interest to legislate on, such as energy and the energy planning
process and the energy siting process, and it is considered to be one of those
compelling areas, the home rule laws take second place to this.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Its probable Cahill is standing on weak ground by making such
statements but only time and an expensive legal showdown will clear the air –
unfortunately at the expense of the taxpayers in the victimized community. Numerous NYS counties have passed resolutions opposing Article X of the Power NY
Act. A statewide organization called Coalition on Article X (COAX) has
organized to inform state residents about the Power NY Act, Article X and how
New Yorkers will be hurt by this law. See the website <a href="http://coaxny.org/">http://coaxny.org/</a> for much more Art. X and "home rule" information.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
The Art. X section is so cleverly worded that nobody would
pick up on home rule being snatched from New Yorkers by this bill until days
after the acceptance vote was made. Cahill must have cherished this exploit and
how slickly it passed with little question or controversy. And Cahill praises his Article x law because there is limited money available called "intervenor funding" for unfortunate wind victimized towns to use to save their ass. Cahill doesn't bother to explain that this funding is available to many different group including groups that want wind energy. The pot of intervenor funding money isn't really what Cahill tries to convince people it would be used to help their cause while it may actually go the other way - against them. All this is what Cuomo had in mind when he
scribed his: <i>The New NY Agenda: A Plan for Action</i>. The Power NY Act of 2011 creates a new board
to <b><i><u>force</u></i></b> unwanted electrical wind plants on New Yorkers and
here is the siting board lineup - the unelected bureaucrats: </div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">New
York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment members:</span></h4>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Joseph Martens</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Commissioner, New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (Co-Chair)</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Kenneth Adams</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">President & CEO and Commissioner,
Empire State Development</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Garry A. Brown</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Chairman, New York State Public Service
Commission</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Francis J. Murray, Jr.</span></h5>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">President and Chief Executive Officer,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority</span></div>
<h5 style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.</span></h5>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Commissioner,
NYS Department of Health, lives near Albany</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">With
the exception of Dr. Shah - are we experiencing a </span><i>Déjà vu</i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"> ? </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Do you see a
duplication here? Maybe a conflict of interest? Ask yourself - could this
possibly be ethical? What did Cuomo once promise about ethics? A shortage of volunteer bureaucrats maybe? Governor – what
have you done? <b><i><u>Four of the 5 members of the NY Energy task force and NYS Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment </u></i></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;"><b><i><u>are the SAME people!</u></i></b> These are Cuomo’s “yes” men and the ultimate
good old boys club. (We wonder how much an MD might know about the energy
highway, siting power plants, etc. and appointed by Cuomo to boot) Think about
this - if the Task Force recommended an action - do you think the Siting Board would question it? Isn't this all ethical?<u><i><b><br /></b></i></u></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Now
look at the NY Energy Highway web site home page for a peek at: </span><br />
<h2>
The Energy Highway</h2>
<center style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</center>
Wind turbine population is how Cuomo sees future
electrical power being generated for downstate NY and NYC. This could be your upstate town! And of course this complies with
Cuomo’s promised <i>New NY Agenda</i>(s). But what happens when the wind isn’t
blowing? Think about how many wind
turbines it would take to power your home when the wind speed is zero MPH. And
think about the Task Force – suggesting the wind factory debacle for
upstaters for the benefit of downstaters and dressing it all up by overstating
how many jobs the project will produce. And then consider the separate NYS
Board on Electric Generation Siting <u>forcing</u> the wind factory on a
municipality that loathes wind - as a result of the Power NY Act of 2011 and
its Article X. This is the future of New York State energy through Cuomo’s
& Assemblyman Cahill’s eyes but shared also by Senators Schumer and
Gillibrand – all downstate NY Democrats united supporting wind energy. <br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Cuomo and his gang are ignoring the sound advice of the
New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) that has <u>repeatedly</u>
advocated placing the power generators <span style="font-size: small;"><u>near where the power is needed</u></span>. Cuomo
simply won’t accept this. Cuomo’s NY Energy Highway website info says that 67%
of New York’s generating facilities statewide are 30 years and older and 22%
are older than 50 years. <b><u>Could anyone possibly think that a wind factory
could last beyond 20 years</u></b>? The Energy Highway website map shows the
need for power is from Westchester County south and especially western Long
Island. Upstate has excess power – why erect wind factories trashing upstate?
What’s in all this for upstate except problems? NYISO claims there’s a serious bottleneck getting power from
upstate to downstate declaring aging transmission lines need repairs and
replacement especially from Oneida County to Albany and south as far as
Dutchess County. Placing wind turbines in Westchester County and on western
Long Island would bypass that bottleneck. Can you imagine if upscale
Westchester County and affluent Long Island would tolerate a wind factory in
their neighborhoods – <b><i><u>no way</u></i></b>. Then why should upstate NY accept this vandalism
of the countryside? And Cuomo wants to kill the Indian Point nuclear power
plant (Westchester Co.) that supplies
30% of NYC power but Cuomo has no alternate source for replacing that lost
nuclear power. Cuomo hasn’t yet given an indication of support for the largest
power project ever perceived in NYS history – the Champlain Hudson Power
Express – that could bring 1,000 Mw of power from hydro Quebec to Yonkers, NY
via cables placed under Lake Champlain and the Hudson River - a $2 billion
energy project – <u>privately financed</u> too, clean, carbon free dependable
energy. Its time Cuomo took the blinders off and realized wind energy is a
poor, unacceptable choice. Governor what are you thinking?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Hudson Valley residents are still proud of their historic
successful fight to save Storm King Mountain — northern gateway to the fabled
Hudson Highlands — from a Con Edison proposal to build the world's largest
pumped-storage hydroelectric plant – a 17-year battle beginning about 1963. Who
can blame Scenic Hudson for trying to protect their majestic landscape on the
Hudson River but how is this any different than the hydroelectric plant on the
Niagara River? Isn’t the Niagara Gorge just as beautiful as the scenic Hudson
Valley? Maybe now is the time for the Storm King Mountain pumped-storage
hydroelectric plant to be revived as a replacement for the Indian Point nuclear
plant Cuomo wants to dismantle. Electric power is needed in this Hudson Valley
area – why shouldn’t Hudson Valley residents accept part of the negatives that
solve their power problems? Maybe they’d like a wind farm instead? Upstate
doesn’t need a wind farm or its power and we already have the Niagara hydro
power project. Why should downstate, NYC and LI escape a little
industrialization that helps them? Do you think Cuomo’s Task Force or Siting Board
would locate a power plant along the Scenic Hudson? In Westchester County?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b>Some Answer(s)</b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
The answer is not hundreds or thousands of wind turbines
littering the NYS landscape or waterscape in producing <u>intermittent</u>, low
quality, expensive power. The answer is not expensive solar or biomass or
flywheels – these technologies cannot produce meaningful amounts of commercial
energy. Here are some possible answers to a shortage of power downstate and on
LI. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 37.5pt; text-indent: -19.5pt;">
(1)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>NYS
accepting and encouraging the Champlain Hudson Power Express and its host –
Transmission Developers Inc., to bring clean and affordable Canadian hydro
power to Yonkers - needs immediate endorsing and state approval to begin
construction as soon as possible. This is a project that needs fast tracking.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 37.5pt; text-indent: -19.5pt;">
(2)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Correct the
power bottlenecks where needed as NYISO requests</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 37.5pt; text-indent: -19.5pt;">
(3)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Replace
decades old power lines and infrastructure where needed as NYISO requests</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 37.5pt; text-indent: -19.5pt;">
(4)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Conversion
of coal power plants to natural gas should be investigated and pursued as soon
as possible where cost effective and practical. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 37.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 37.5pt; text-indent: -19.5pt;">
(5)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>NYS should
become a leader in promoting modular nuclear or mini nuclear power plants that
will produce power that’s affordable, reliable, clean and green and be located
on small parcels of land (less than 10 acres) near where the demand for
additional power is greatest. Modular nuclear units could be small enough they
could fit into a 2-car garage. Modular or mini nuclear power plants, also
called local reactors, CANNOT meltdown, they’re affordable and safe. NYSERDA
would be the state agency to promote mini or modular nuclear and provide
taxpayer seed money to encourage this energy development. <u>NYSERDA could be
effective here and should be directing money to encourage developing this
source of energy instead of squandering taxpayer money on intermittent wind,
& expensive solar and biomass</u>. Billionaire Bill Gates gave his backing to the nuclear
power renaissance, investing $50 million in TerraPower, a nuclear power
research company that is hoping to design a new generation of reactors.
Hyperion, a New Mexico-based manufacturer, has said it plans to start
delivering 25-megawatt reactors, which are about the size of a garden shed and
cost around $25 million, in 2013. Can you imagine the tons of jobs makers of
these mini nuclear power generators would provide if NYS industry was smart
enough to be first to design, manufacture and market this technology for the
world?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
There is considerable information on modular and mini
nuclear energy sources on the internet. Unfortunately, Id say its more likely
to snow in July than for Cuomo to accept nuclear energy at any level. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt;">Although Cuomo’s Energy Highway may touch on
energy other than wind – make no mistake about the ultimate Cuomo motive – this
is all about wind factories and forcing wind factories upon upstate New York
via Article X because downstate wouldn’t tolerate these massive machines and
the harm they bring. Wherever you hear or read the word "renwables" from Cuomo - replace that word with <b><i><u>wind turbines</u></i></b>. The NY Energy Highway website FAQ sections says:</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="A2"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt;">This bold
proposal for an “Energy Highway” promises to help provide reliable, economical
power to New York’s homes and businesses for the next half century…</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span class="A2"><span style="color: windowtext;">There is nothing reliable about wind, its expensive and NOT
economical and no wind factory would come close to lasting a half century. Wind
benefits are oversold. Its time politicians woke up to the half-truths,
exaggerations and outright lies propagated by the corrupt wind industry for
their own self-serving benefit. After getting by the mouth watering appeal and
opportunity rhetoric – the wind energy sideshow fails to live up to is hype and
will actually help drive America into fuel poverty. Staking our future energy
needs on intermittent, expensive, non-dispatchable wind is folly and a money
waster. Investing public money in wind factories misdirects funding that would
be better invested in more promising clean energy technologies. We do not need
to infest beautiful New York State landscapes or waterscapes with steel forests
of 500’ tall lightening rods. Cuomo’s NY Energy Highway is all about wind, an
assault on resident’s health, property values, natural resources, the
environment<span style="color: windowtext;">, </span>people’s quality of life and mo<span style="color: windowtext;">re</span>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Lastly is a wind turbine image that shows the horrible
truth of the matter - the photo is from Hawaii where the weather is perfect 365 days a year. Would you like this scene in
your town? This is exactly what a wind farm will look like in 20 years. Would you like it in your town?</div>
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<img alt="Deralict wind turbines" height="300" src="http://ramblingsdc.net/Australia/WindFarms/DeadWindPowerInstallation.jpg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" width="500" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #500050; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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Photo acknowledgment – treedork, Flickr</center>
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The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-59494614938366361352012-12-11T09:59:00.000-08:002012-12-11T09:59:43.556-08:00Judge dismisses Litchfield, NY wind turbine lawsuit<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="fn"><b>By AMANDA FRIES</b></span> <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.uticaod.com/">Observer-Dispatch</a> </div>
<div title="2012-12-10T18:58:43Z">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Posted Dec 10, 2012</span></div>
Utica, NY<br />
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HERKIMER — <span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span></div>
A Herkimer County Supreme Court judge last week dismissed a lawsuit
challenging the Litchfield wind turbine law.<br />
While town law bans industrial turbines, smaller, domestic powered turbines
— 120 feet or less at 50 kilowatts — are permitted.<br />
The complaint filed by several Litchfield residents challenged the local
wind law and said the Town Board violated several laws in the process of
creating the new law. The lawsuit alleged that:<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">The plaintiffs want to
nullify the decision to ban large scale wind energy systems, which they
say is in violation of the state Environmental Quality Review Act.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">When adopting a zoning
ordinance, Attorney Meave Tooher — of Tooher & Barone, LLP based in
Albany who represented the residents — said officials did not refer to the
county planning agency for review of the final local law. Though it was
reviewed once, Tooher asserted that officials received suggestions but
ignored them and enacted a completely different law.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">Officials did not abide by
the Open Meetings Law.</li>
</ul>
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Attorney Douglas H. Zamelis, who
represented the town along with Town Attorney David Malone, said Judge Norman
Siegel held that the petitioners didn’t have the legal standing to bring a
claim under the state Environmental Quality Review Act, that the argument
concerning the Open Meetings Law is barred by the expiration of the statute of
limitations, and the law is not a zoning law, so referral to the planning
agency is not required.</div>
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“The court saw right through this
meritless lawsuit and summarily dismissed the petition on the Town Board’s
motion” Zamelis said.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Tooher could not immediately be
reached Monday.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Zamelis said the residents would
have the right to appeal.</div>
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The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-91185605014189435362012-11-26T14:02:00.000-08:002012-11-26T14:02:06.069-08:00WIND TURBINES DEVALUE HOMES - PLEASE READThe letter below is addressed to Jaclyn Brilling,<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Secretary to the Commission,<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>New York State Public Service Commission</span>, New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment</span>. The "siting board" is a good old boys club consisting of 5 unelected Albany bureaucrats who will decide if your NYS community will be cursed with an unwanted energy plant such as a wind factory. It's likely that none of these 5 have ever visited the community that will become the victim of their decisions - nor do they care as they are totally unconnected to the victimized municipality. This all became possible because of the Power NY Act of 2011 and its Article X section which became law in August 2011 when Gov. Cuomo signed the bill passed by the NYS legislature THAT REMOVED <u>HOME RULE</u> from all NYS municipalities - home rule that up till passage of the Power NY Act - was guaranteed by the NYS Constitution. Make no mistake about it - Gov. Cuomo was the major behind the scenes force that caused this piece of disgusting legislation to happen. Cuomo's upfront man in the NYS Assembly is Ulster County Assemblyman Kevin Cahill - who co-authored this repulsive bill. Cahill is a wind zealot, a turbine hugger. Now energy company British Petroleum, who has been fined BILLIONs for environmental disasters, is applying to the NYS Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment to erect a 124 turbine wind factory in the town of Cape Vincent - a horror of a project. And although the town of Cape Vincent has zoning regulations in place to prevent this type of development - the decision to allow this disgusting project will ultimately be made by the unelected 5-member siting board of good old boys. The letter below is not a fictitious letter written by some ghost writer with an axe to grind - but written by a real home owner who trusted & loved NYS and unfortunately is now getting ripped off for investing in a new home in NYS in Cape Vincent on the St. Lawrence River in an exclusive location. Think how you would feel if you were him. Do you think the good old boys club in Albany cares one bit? Read his letter:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Secretary to the Siting Board<br />
Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling<br />
<br />
I have been a regular visitor to the St. Lawrence River and the 1000
Islands Region of New York State since the early 1960's. Once I became
familiar with the Cape Vincent, New York area, I fell in love with a
section called the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse Road.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This road runs from the village of Cape Vincent to the historic
lighthouse on Tibbetts Point. This is where Lake Ontario forms the St.
Lawrence River. There are no houses on the river side of the road.
Directlly across the river is Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I dreamed for years of owning property and a home on this road. I
wanted to sit on my front deck and watch the river run, the wildlife and
the seaway traffic. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In 2006 that dream came true. My wife and I were able to buy 7.7 acres
for $313,000. We started to build our river home in 2006 and finished
it in 2007. It was built by a local contractor. When it was completed
in 2007, our total investment in this land, house and landscaping came
to $1,036,000. A nice addition to the local tax base.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Shortly after we took possession of this home the Province of Ontario
authorized the construction of wind turbines on Wolfe Island, Ontario,
Canada directly across the river from our new home. We can now see 67
of them from our front deck. At night instead of stars, we have
flashing red lights. We hear the turbine noise 24 hours a day if the
wind is from the west or northwest.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Two real estate agents have told us that if we were to try and sell our
new home at this time we would be lucky to sell it for $500,000 to
$600,000. <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">A reduction of my
investment of some 40-50%. I say again, a loss of 40-50%. The reason
they give is the view shed of 67 wind turbines on Wolfe Island and the
threat of British Petroleum constructing 100 plus 499 foot tall wind
turbines around the village of Cape Vincent, NY.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Industrial wind turbines should not be allowed to built anywhere there
are residences that will see devaluation of their property value of
20-50 %. There is no logic that can justify doing so.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The western end of Wolfe Island, Canada is now a real estate grave yard
and will remain so until such time that the turbines are gone. The same
effect will be felt all around the village and town of Cape Vincent if
BP is allowed to construct turbines. It will be a real estate grave
yard for years and the financial blow to the local tax base will be
devastating.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Industrial wind turbines do not belong near people and residences. Why
should our tax dollars be used to subsidize their operation while at the
same time we see our property devalued? There is only one answer to
the question - it should not be allowed to happen.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is no single individual on the Siting Board, the PSC or in power in Albany that would want this situation forced on them..</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Please do not allow this travesty to be forced on our area. It would
destroy the 1000 Islands; one of the natural jewels of New York State.</div>
<br />
<br />
Respectfully submitted<br />
<br />
Tom McMullenThe Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-71492901680071050132012-05-18T17:48:00.000-07:002012-05-18T17:49:27.637-07:00The Champlain Hudson Power Express<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Transmission Developers Inc. has proposed bringing hydro power into NYS from Quebec to serve mainly New York City and the power line would be mostly underwater and all of it hidden. But immediately there is controversy on this novel idea and NYS politicians have already taken a major blow to the project. Sen. George Maziarz introduced legislation, </i>BILL NUMBER:S7391<i>, to prohibit the use of
eminent domain for projects that import power, rather than buying power
from New York state power plants.<br /> “Imported power is the wrong
choice for our state’s economy and the wrong choice for our energy
future,” said Maziarz, (R)Newfane, Niagara County, chairman of the Senate
Energy and Telecommunications Committee.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Several of us question Sen.
Maziarz's wisdom & position regarding the Champlain-Hudson Power
Express (CHPE) that would run this power line under Lake Champlain and the
Hudson River to bring 1,000 mw of Quebec hydro power to NYC. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;">Sen. Ritchie of the north country takes the same position as Maziarz and about 15 other senators followed suit. One
of our folks actually spoke with north country Sen. Ritchie's staffers and didn't get reasonable answers. </span></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>We can't help but wonder who's paying off Maziarz - the wind
companies or the labor unions? The CHPE is the biggest energy project
ever to hit NYS (yes - bigger than Niagara), a 100% privately financed
$2B effort, it bypasses the eastern NYS electrical infrastructure
congestion, it would send clean, continuous, 100% renewable electric to
NYC as DC current (gets converted to AC in NYC), would save NYC
residents money on their power bills, no power lines to fret about,
silent, completely out of sight, won't attract terrorists, will get NYC
out of power trouble if their Indian Point nuke plant gets shut down and
more. </i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dm3bp3RSbEc/T7Plpfy2ZDI/AAAAAAAAH8o/yfCtOLG_kQs/s1600/03-31-11-48-25-0001.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dm3bp3RSbEc/T7Plpfy2ZDI/AAAAAAAAH8o/yfCtOLG_kQs/s320/03-31-11-48-25-0001.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Senator Patty Ritchie is seen here with NY Ag.</i><br />
<i>Commish and industrial wind lease holder,</i><br />
<i>Darrel Aubertine, the former Senator.</i><br />
<i> Ritchie was supported by Northern New York anti industrial </i><br />
<i>wind voters who have often been given credit for</i><br />
<i>turning enough votes for her to defeat Aubertine.</i><br />
<i>Like many politicians, it now appears that she may</i><br />
<i>be nothing more than a "wind chime".</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Now think of all the reasons why you can't accept wind energy and the
CHPE avoids them. We're not sure yet where Cuomo stands on the CHPE or
where NYSERDA stands either but no doubt they are listening
closely to what's happening right now in the Maziarz dilemma. The wind
companies have come out opposed to the CHPE so that is enough to make me
a supporter of the CHPE project. Maziarz has made decisions lately that
make me question where he stands on wind energy and if he's really on
our side of the fence or in line with fellow Republicans. Although he's
opposed to Great Lakes offshore wind Im not sure his wind opposition
goes beyond that. He's already said he's not completely against wind
energy. He was a co-sponsor & big supporter of the Power NY Act of
2011 (and Article X) that stole municipal home rule from New Yorkers
regarding power plant siting - something that Cuomo had in the cards for
a long time if you've read Cuomo's agendas published long before
election day. </i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I even question Maziarz actions going further back when he was
supposed to have a public hearing questioning NYPA's arrogant Richie
Kessel's actions & behavior but cancelled the hearing after he
(Maziarz) hurt himself in a fall and never rescheduled the hearing. The
reasons why Maziarz and a few others won't support the CHPE project are
weak and puts "possible" jobs ahead of the need for affordable electric
power to downstate New Yorkers. I do not believe this power line will
put any New Yorker out of a job. </i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In addition to Patty Ritchie's lack
of CHPE support there are 16 other NYS senators NOT backing the CHPE.
Although we have not heard Gov. Cuomo speak directly about the CHPE by
name, you have read into this comment he made prior to his election. In
essence Cuomo does back power coming into NYS from Canada to NYC.</span></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“<span style="color: blue;">We need to do a better job of transmission. We
need to get the power from upstate New York, from Western New York, low-cost
power from Canada down to the metropolitan area of New York City. That’s
basically a challenge of transmission lines</span>.”<span style="color: black;"> –
Andrew</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span class="il"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 136); color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Cuomo</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">, Hofstra/Newsday Gubernatorial Debate, October 18, 2010. </span></span><i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Maziarz position on the CHPE now put's this promising power
project in jeopardy. They seem to think its unacceptable to have Quebec
making money off this project yet never consider the enormous transfer
of American wealth into the hands of offshore wind turbine manufacturers
paid for with 60% American taxpayer money on a wind power project that
may last 20 years! </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffe599;"><i>What is Maziarz, Ritchie and the other senators thinking????</i></span></div>
</div>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-58993803514300640472012-04-03T06:25:00.001-07:002012-04-03T06:32:49.338-07:00Maziarz announces creation of power allocation board<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <h1 style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:25.5pt;background:white"><span class="blox-headlineentry-title"><span style=" border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0infont-family:inherit;font-size:22.5pt;color:#222222;" ></span></span><a href="http://thedailynewsonline.com/content/tncms/live/" title="Send to Facebook_like"><span style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inherit;position:relativecolor:initial;" ><br /><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;" ></span></span></a></h1> <form name="form-blox-like-top" id="form-blox-like-top" style="outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;border-image: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit; border-width:initial"> <div style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-image: initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inherit" id="form-action-like-top"> </div></form> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;background:white; outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style: initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight:inherit; font-style:inheritcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0infont-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" > </span></p><div style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inherit;position:relativecolor:initial;" id="blox-story-text"> <div style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inheritcolor:initial;" id="paging_container"> <div style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inherit;float:nonecolor:initial;"><span style="outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inheritcolor:initial;" >State Sen. George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, said this year</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0infont-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >’</span><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0infont-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:black;" >s budget negotiation process includes formation of the Western New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board.</span> <span style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inheritcolor:initial;" > <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;background:white; outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style: initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight:inherit; font-style:inheritcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0infont-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >The Niagara Power Project allocates a certain amount of power each year for use by citizens of this state. Upon the circumstance that there is allocated, but unused power, the proceeds from that unused power are collected into a single account to be distributed for local economic development as opposed to being placed into the general state fund.</span></p> </span> <div style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inherit;float:leftcolor:initial;" id="in-story"> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 11.25pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; outline-width: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><span style=" ;font-family:inherit;font-size:9pt;color:black;" > </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 11.25pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; outline-width: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><span style=" ;font-family:inherit;font-size:9pt;color:black;" >The new five-member panel, whose members will serve a five-year term, will designate where this money will go. Three of the board members must live within a 30-mile radius of the plant, two of whom will be chosen by the heads of the state Senate and Assembly.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;background:white; outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style: initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight:inherit; font-style:inheritcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" ><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 11.25pt; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; outline-width: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >All eligible companies for receipt of the money </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:inherit; mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >—</span><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" > either private or not-for-profit </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >—</span><span style="font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" > must also be located within 30 miles of the Lewiston Plant and must show that funding </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >“</span><span style="font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >will support the growth of business in the state.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:inherit; mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >”</span><span style=" ;font-family:inherit;font-size:9pt;color:black;" > Funding can be used for capital investments in buildings, research and development, tourism, transportation projects or for land acquisition.</span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;background:white; outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style: initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight:inherit; font-style:inheritcolor:initial;"><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" ><br /></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;background:white; outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style: initial;border-border-image: initial;font-weight:inherit; font-style:inheritcolor:initial;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:inherit; mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >“</span><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >This is a huge victory for our district and the people of Western New York,</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family:inherit; mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >”</span><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" > Maziarz said. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >“</span><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >Having this money stay in the area for economic development will not only help the growth of the business of the state, but more importantly the businesses in Niagara County.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >”</span><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" ></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;background:white"><span style="font-family:inherit;mso-bidi- font-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" > </span></p> <span style="font-family:inherit;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:Arial;font-size:9.0pt;color:black;" >(article is from the Batavia Daily News 3/27/12)</span></div></div></div></div>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-49445561159236405472012-04-03T06:16:00.001-07:002012-04-03T06:19:31.578-07:00PROPERTY VALUE LOSSES NEAR WIND TURBINES GREATER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, APPRAISERS SAY<h1 class="title" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 900; color: rgb(13, 79, 164); font-size: 1.4em; text-decoration: none; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></h1><div class="node" style="margin-top: 0em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.9em; margin-left: 0px; display: block; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="content" style="line-height: 1.3; text-align: left; font-size: 1em; margin-top: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; "><p class="MsoNormal" face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" size="0.95em" color="initial" style=" border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- border-image: initial; line-height: 1.3; "><strong>Losses can be up to 40%; values affected 3 miles from turbine sites</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" size="0.95em" color="initial" style=" border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- border-image: initial; line-height: 1.3; ">By Billie Jo Jannen<img src="http://eastcountymagazine.org/sites/default/files/wind-sunset.jpg" alt="" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; " align="right" border="1" height="195" hspace="6" vspace="6" width="350" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">For East County Magazine</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">March 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--A real estate appraisal expert who has made a specialty of assessing impacts from nearby wind turbines has announced that he is revising his figures in response to a recent study of over 11,300 transactions near northern New York state turbine arrays.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">Mike McCann of McCann Appraisal, LLC spoke at a Boulevard wind energy information meeting last winter and said property owners experience an average 25 percent value loss. At the time, he expected properties up to two miles away to experience value changes in response to turbine construction.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">“I wish to refine my distance of forecast adverse value impacts to include at least three miles, should any 3 MW turbines be proposed by any of the developers in East County,” McCann said. “Furthermore, property value guarantees should extend to this greater range to reflect the nuisance and stigma effect of more powerful turbines on marketing of homes.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">The current study, released in July of 2011 by the Economic Financial Studies School of Business at Clarkson University, cites losses of up to 40 percent on properties located within 0.10 miles of new wind turbine facilities. This has prompted him to revise his loss figure upward to a maximum of 40 percent and expected adverse impacts out to three miles, with effects becoming less extreme with distance.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">“The Clarkson study clearly shows value impacts out to three miles … and clearly shows the closer the turbine, the greater the impact,” McCann said.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">A Department of Energy-funded study originally released in 2009 by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, often cited by wind proponents, says property value impacts are negligible and that effect of what is known as “wind farm anticipation stigma” goes away after the turbines are built. The Berkeley results are divided into sale values for pre-announcement, post-announcement and post-construction time periods. The study may be flawed, however, as it leaves out some of the very properties that might provide the most telling results, McCann said.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">In the study footnotes, Berkeley authors specified that land without homes, properties of over 25 acres, homes where the sale price was thought to deviate too far from the norm and 34 repeat sales were excluded from the study.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">A co-author of the study, SDSU Economic Department Chairman Mark Thayer, defended the exclusions as appropriate from a statistical standpoint and said he feels the Clarkson study supports the Berkeley conclusion that negative value impacts go away after the projects are built.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">The Clarkson study is based mainly on pre-construction figures, Thayer said: “There is no impact. Property values do not go down near turbines.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">However, real estate appraisers, which are closely regulated by the federal government, base their calculations on “comps,” or nearby sales of comparative properties. A licensed appraiser would not have the luxury of leaving out the properties omitted by Berkeley, McCann said, so the older study does not offer a realistic assessment of the value loss that would be suffered by neighbors of turbine arrays. Statistically appropriate or not, those sales would not be excluded from an appraisal.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">“The fallacy of the Berkeley study is the assumption that value impacts must somehow be statistically significant against a data background of sales located 5 to 10 miles from turbines,” McCann said. “Had they focused on the 1/10th-mile to 3-mile range, I expect their findings would be significant to the homeowners who are losing 15 to 40 percent of their home equity and value.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">Neither of the studies consider time-on-market, McCann said, adding, “And what about the homes that don’t sell at all?” The latter do not show up on studies because there are no transaction records for them.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">The size of the turbines being built is also a factor in McCann’s announcement, as almost all the data available is on older installations that contain smaller turbines. Increasingly, 3-megawatt machines are appearing on the landscape with concomitant increases in visibility and sound pressure. Sound is a “disamenity” often mentioned by wind farm neighbors, some of whom have abandoned their homes altogether because of the constant noise.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">McCann is a proponent for property value guarantees in communities that are heavily impacted by wind turbine projects. Both the Boulevard and Jacumba planning groups have asked for property value guarantees as a condition for permitting large projects, as well as evidence-supported setbacks and protections in the noise ordinance to include low frequency and sub-audible effects. Both wind developers and the county have, so far, resisted addressing either.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">Among the numerous energy projects proposed for the Boulevard area is Tule Wind, an up-to 137-turbine project slated to be built along McCain Valley Road by Iberdrola Renewables. The turbines will range in size from 2MW to 2.5MW.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">Asked why, if they are so confident of no impacts, wind developers wouldn’t offer value guarantees, Tule Wind project manager Jeffrey<em>Durocher</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>said the terms of some proposed guarantee programs are just too subjective.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">Some proposals “… give the homeowner leeway to claim that any value loss is attributable to the presence of turbines, despite the possible effects of other factors,”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Durocher</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>said.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; ">“It’s very difficult to get agreement among the various parties on what causes the value loss. To do that for a number of homes for an unspecified distance is pretty unmanageable,”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Durocher</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>said.</p><p style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 1.3; "> </p></div></div>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-12614119360434534272012-04-03T06:05:00.002-07:002012-04-03T06:09:53.968-07:00The Ugly Truth About Wind<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); ">Here's what a wind farm will look like in 25 years. Now try to get these eyesores removed and you'll find the decommissioning money has disappeared or was never properly appropriated to begin with. Do you think your local municipality could afford to pull these down? This double hit wreckage "complex" is in Hawaii and will likely curse the view for years. This is what many communities have signed up for while thinking the wind factory would be a plus for the community. And now - because of the Power NY Act of 2011 law - this hideousness will be FORCED onto NYS communities thanks to your state legislature. Be glad this monstrosity doesn't live near you.</div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); ">Please pass this sight along and share it with as many people as you can. This is the ugly truth about wind.<br /><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><img alt="Deralict wind turbines" src="http://ramblingsdc.net/Australia/WindFarms/DeadWindPowerInstallation.jpg" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); " height="300" width="500" />.<br /><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); display: inline !important; float: none; ">Photo acknowledgment – treedork, Flickr</span><br /></div>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-29495127339062790282012-04-02T18:27:00.005-07:002012-04-02T18:43:52.675-07:00MOU Signed by State & Federal Officials<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING<br /></span></div>Among<br />THE WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, THE U.S.<br />DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE U.S.<br />DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC<br />PRESERVATION, THE U.S. COAST GUARD, THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL<br />PROTECTION AGENCY, THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, THE FEDERAL<br />AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC<br />ADMINISTRATION THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA<br />And<br /><br />THE STATES OF<br />ILLINOIS<br />MICHIGAN<br />MINNESOTA<br />NEW YORK<br /><br /><br />To CREATE A GREAT LAKES OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY CONSORTIUM TO<br />COORDINATE ISSUES OF REGIONAL APPLICABILITY FOR THE PURPOSE<br />OF PROMOTING THE EFFICIENT, EXPEDITIOUS, ORDERLY AND<br />RESPONSIBLE EVALUATION OF OFFSHORE WIND POWER PROJECTS IN THE<br />GREAT LAKES<br /><br />I. Purpose<br />The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to support the efficient,<br />expeditious, orderly and responsible review of proposed offshore wind energy projects in the<br />Great Lakes by enhancing coordination among federal and Great Lakes state regulatory agencies<br />(collectively, “Participants”).<br />The Participants that hereby enter into an MOU are the following Great Lakes states: the<br />Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the States of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and New York;<br />and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) along with the following federal<br />agencies: the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the<br />U.S. Department of the Army (DA), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), the<br />U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and<br />Wildlife Service (FWS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Oceanic<br />and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).<br /><br />II. Background<br />Great Lakes offshore wind energy resources present a significant opportunity to stimulate<br />economic revitalization of key sectors of the economy, to enhance our national security by<br />accelerating energy independence efforts, and to diversify the region’s energy supply. Federal<br />offshore wind resource data for the Great Lakes indicates a gross resource of more than 700<br />gigawatts, representing a substantial portion of the nation’s total gross offshore wind resource.<br />However, offshore wind ventures must be evaluated against potential social or environmental,<br />safety and security impacts and fully considered by the appropriate Federal and State regulatory<br />and resource agencies. Because the bottomlands of the Great Lakes are owned by each State<br />within its respective boundary and both Federal and State regulatory authorities apply, proposals to develop offshore wind in the Great Lakes require consideration and decisions by a number of Federal and State entities, including each of the Participants.<br /><br />III. Responsibilities of Participants<br />In order to ensure successful collaborative implementation of this MOU, it is the intent of all<br />participants to:<br />1. Commit to provide staffing and resources, including attendance at periodic meetings, to<br />implement the provisions of the MOU and resulting agreements, to the extent resources<br />allow;<br />2. Work together to create a regulatory roadmap – a document that describes the<br />regulatory review process and identifies current and anticipated data needed to inform<br />efficient review of proposed offshore wind energy facilities in the Great Lakes. The<br />roadmap should also set forth a clear process to efficiently coordinate data collection<br />and dissemination and reviews undertaken by the Participants that will include<br />anticipated processing times for review, to the extent possible, and decision-making<br />associated with each type of permit. The roadmap will remain consistent with<br />Participants’ existing authorities. The Participants will complete and publish the<br />roadmap within 15 months of the effective date of this MOU;<br />3. Participate in pre-application consultations and joint reviews of applications for<br />offshore wind development, consistent with Participants’ jurisdiction and authorities, to<br />the extent resources allow;<br />4. Discuss, document and apply lessons learned during implementation of this MOU when<br />evaluating existing and future proposed offshore wind energy facilities;<br />5. Designate one or more appropriate points of contact to coordinate implementation of<br />this MOU. The points of contact will (1) assist with identifying and assigning<br />appropriate personnel and resources; and (2) assist in ensuring that responsibilities are<br />met;<br />6. Attempt to resolve issues arising under this MOU expeditiously; and<br />7. Agree that the White House Council on Environmental Quality can serve as a single<br />Federal point of contact for communications under this MOU, as authorized by the<br />National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et. seq.) to ensure<br />federal responsiveness to state inquiries concerning this MOU and that nothing in this<br />MOU shall preclude a state from working directly with individual Federal agencies.<br /><br />IV. Mission and Statutory Authority<br />Each of the participants asserts their authorities and responsibilities as follows:<br /><br />CEQ – The CEQ has authority to enter into this MOU under NEPA. NEPA assigns CEQ the<br />task of ensuring that federal agencies meet their obligations under the Act. Its principal purpose<br />is to formulate and recommend national policies to promote the improvement of the quality of<br />the environment and to coordinate federal agency actions in order to advance those policies. The<br />CEQ Chair is also a co-chair of the National Ocean Council. Efforts undertaken by the<br />Participants to fulfill the responsibilities of this MOU will inform implementation of the National<br />Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes, including the process<br />for collaborative, regional coastal and marine spatial planning.<br /><br />DOE – DOE has authority to enter into this MOU under Section 646 of the Department of<br />Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91), as amended (42 U.S.C. § 7256). DOE’s Office of<br />Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) mission is to enhance energy efficiency and<br />production, to protect the environment, and to bring clean, reliable, and affordable energy<br />technologies to the marketplace. EERE’s Wind Program focuses on advancing the offshore wind<br />industry in the United States.<br />DOD – DOD has authority to enter into this MOU under powers and authorities contained in 10<br />U.S.C. 113. Consistent with its national defense mission, the DOD reviews and comments upon<br />whether proposed offshore wind energy facilities will adversely affect Defense activities and will<br />work with the Participants to identify possible measures to mitigate those impacts.<br /><br />DA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a branch of the DA, has authority to enter<br />into this MOU pursuant to its responsibilities for administering laws for the protection and wise<br />use of waters of the United States, pursuant to the requirements of Section 10 of the Rivers and<br />Harbors Act (RHA) of 1899 (33 U.S.C. § 403), Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33<br />U.S.C. § 1344) and Section 14 of the RHA (33 U.S.C. § 408). Under Section 10 of the RHA, the<br />USACE may authorize work and/or structures in or affecting the course, condition, location, or<br />capacity of navigable waters of the United States, which include the U.S. side of the binational<br />Great Lakes, their connecting channels, and adjacent wetlands. Under Section 404 of the CWA,<br />the USACE may authorize the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United<br />States, including wetlands, where the USACE determines that the proposed action is not contrary<br />to the public interest and is in compliance with the Clean Water Act 404(b)(1) Guidelines (40<br />CFR 230). If any proposal would require alteration or modification to an existing Corps project<br />and/or structure, an additional authorization must be received from the Secretary of the Army<br />(delegated to the Chief of Engineers) in accordance with Section 14 of the RHA, or under 33<br />U.S.C. § 408. The USACE review is also subject to compliance with NEPA and several other<br />applicable federal laws.<br /><br />ACHP – The ACHP has authority to enter into this MOU under Section 202 of the National<br />Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. §§ 470 et seq.). The mission of the ACHP is to<br />promote the preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation’s diverse historic<br />resources, and advise the President and the Congress on national historic preservation policy.<br />Sections 106 and 110 of the NHPA require that federal agencies act as responsible stewards for<br />our nation's historic resources. When their undertakings affect historic properties, which can<br />include tribal historic and cultural resources, Section 106 requires federal agencies to take into<br />account the effects of their undertakings (which include issuance of leases, permits, and<br />licenses), on historic properties, and afford the ACHP a reasonable opportunity to comment on<br />such undertakings. The ACHP's regulations (36 CFR Part 800) set forth this process, involving<br />consultation with the State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and others, as appropriate,<br />to determine if the undertaking will affect an historic property, and if so, what measures might be appropriate to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects.<br /><br />USCG – The USCG has authority to enter into this MOU under 14 U.S.C. § 93(a)(20), which<br />allows the Commandant of the USCG to enter into cooperative agreements with other<br />government agencies. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security delegated to the<br />USCG her authority under the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA) (33 U.S.C. § 1221 et<br />seq.) to prevent damage to structures on or in the navigable waters of the United States and to<br />protect the navigable waters of the United States and the resources therein. The USCG has<br />safety and regulatory jurisdiction over projects located in navigable waters of the United States<br />and is responsible for granting permits for private aids to navigation (see 33 C.F.R. Part 66). The<br />USCG, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is a cooperating agency<br />for NEPA purposes and will provide recommendations to the lead federal agency responsible for<br />approving the proposed action on matters over which the USCG has jurisdiction by law or<br />subject matter expertise, to include, but not be limited to, issues related to safety of navigation,<br />OREI security, or to minimize potential impacts on other USCG missions.<br /><br />EPA – The EPA has authority to enter into this MOU under a wide range of environmental laws,<br />including Sections 104 and 118 of the Clean Water Act (CWA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1254 and 1268) and<br />Section 103 of the Clean Air Act (CAA, 42 U.S.C. § 7403). The EPA also has authority to carry<br />out the commitments contained in this MOU under a wide range of environmental laws,<br />including Sections 402 and 404 of the CWA (33 U.S.C. §§ 1342 and 1344) and section 309 of<br />the Clean Air Act (CAA, 42 U.S.C. § 7609). The EPA has responsibilities relevant to the siting<br />of offshore wind facilities, including participation in the CWA Section 404 permit process and<br />restriction, in certain circumstances, of the use of specific disposal sites for dredged or fill<br />material pursuant to Section 404(c). The EPA also has responsibilities related to activities that<br />involve discharges of pollutants subject to the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge<br />Elimination System, established under Section 402 of the CWA. Pursuant to Section 309 of the<br />CAA, EPA is required to review and comment on environmental impact statements (EISs) for<br />proposed actions of other federal agencies in accordance with NEPA and to make those reviews<br />public. EPA also has the discretion to review and comment on other documents prepared under<br />NEPA. EPA is also the lead federal agency on the U.S. side for implementation of the binational<br />Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement under 33 U.S.C. § 1268. The Agreement, first signed in<br />1972 and revised in 1978 and 1987, expresses the commitment of the U.S. and Canada to restore<br />and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem<br />and includes a number of objectives and guidelines to achieve these goals. It also reaffirms the<br />rights and obligations of Canada and the United States under the Boundary Waters Treaty of<br />1909.<br /><br />FWS – The FWS has authority to enter into this MOU under the Endangered Species Act (ESA,<br />16 U.S.C. § 1531et seq.), NEPA, the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. §§ 742(a)-742d &<br />742e-742j-2), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (“FWCA”) of March 10, 1934 (16 U.S.C.<br />§ 661 et seq.), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703 et seq.), the Bald and Golden<br />Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d), and Executive Order 13186, Responsibilities of<br />Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds. The mission of the FWS is to work with others to<br />conserve, protect, manage, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing<br />benefit of the American people. With respect to migratory birds, the Service’s goals are to<br />ensure long-term ecological sustainability of all migratory bird populations, increase<br />socioeconomic benefits, improve hunting and birdwatching and other outdoor bird-related<br />experiences, and increase awareness of the value of migratory birds and their habitats for their<br />intrinsic, ecological, recreational and economic significance.<br /><br />FAA – The FAA has authority to enter this MOU under 49 USC § 40103, and 44718. 49 USC §<br />40103, Sovereignty and use of airspace, vests the FAA with broad authority to regulate the safe<br />and efficient use of navigable airspace. 49 USC § 44718, Structures interfering with airspace,<br />provides that that if the construction or alteration of a structure may result in an obstruction of<br />the navigable airspace or interference with air navigation facilities and equipment, the FAA shall<br />“conduct an aeronautical study to decide the extent of any adverse impact on the safe and<br />efficient use of airspace, facilities, or equipment.”<br />Section § 44718 requires a person to give notice of the construction, alteration or expansion (or<br />the proposed construction, alteration or expansion) when the notice will promote safety in air<br />commerce and the efficient use and preservation of the navigable airspace. Additionally, §<br />44718 requires an aeronautical study if the construction will result in an obstruction of the<br />navigable airspace. Based on the study findings, the FAA decides whether and to what extent a<br />structure will adversely impact on the safe and efficient use of the airspace, facilities or<br />equipment. The FAA decision is set forth in either a determination of no hazard or a<br />determination of hazard. <br />Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 77, Objects affecting navigable airspace, was<br />promulgated under the authority in the two above-referenced sections of Title 49 of the United<br />States Code. Part 77 sets out the specific requirements and procedures for the submission of a<br />notice and FAA review and decision making based on the notice. Part 77 requirements apply for<br />all structures affecting navigable airspace, including wind turbines.<br />NOAA – NOAA has authority to enter this MOU under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act<br />(NMSA, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1431 – 1445c-1) and the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA, 16<br />U.S.C. §§ 1451-1464). NOAA has responsibilities under several statutes including NEPA, the<br />Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. §§ 742(a)-742d & 742e-742j-2), FWCA, the NMSA,<br />and the CZMA. Before permits for offshore wind facilities are issued, NOAA consults on<br />impacts to NOAA trust resources under the FWCA, and if appropriate NMSA, and makes<br />recommendations to avoid, minimize or mitigate impacts. The NMSA prohibits the destruction,<br />loss of, or injury to a Sanctuary resource and activities affecting a Sanctuary resource may be<br />subject to permits by the Secretary of Commerce. In addition, the Secretary of Commerce,<br />through NOAA, approves state coastal management programs under the CZMA. State coastal<br />management programs must have appropriate processes for siting energy facilities in their<br />coastal zones that consider the national interest in energy production as well as the national<br />interest in protecting coastal resources. All eight Great Lakes states have federally-approved<br />coastal management programs. NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) uses a national radar<br />network to provide weather forecasts and warnings for the United States and adjacent waters for<br />the protection of life and property (15 U.S.C. § 313), and for meteorological services necessary<br />for the safe and efficient movement of aircraft in air commerce (49 U.S.C. § 44720). The NWS<br />has a process to determine whether proposed wind energy facilities will adversely affect the<br />radar network and actively seeks mitigation of adverse impacts from wind facility developers.<br />The NWS also is involved in cooperative efforts to improve the basic wind forecast for all users,<br />including wind power. In addition to statutorily mandated regulatory responsibilities, the<br />mission related responsibilities of NOAA include the provision of scientific and policy expertise,<br />products, and services many of which are necessary for offshore energy facility development and<br />operations.<br />The States of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York and the Commonwealth of<br />Pennsylvania have the authority to enter into this MOU under their respective laws and<br />constitutions and under the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C. §§ 1301-1315). Specifically, the<br />Submerged Lands Act recognized and confirmed to the States the title to and ownership of the<br />lands beneath navigable waters within the boundaries of the respective States, and the natural<br />resources within such lands and waters, along with the authority to manage, administer, lease,<br />develop, and use such lands and natural resources. The nature of this authority is described by<br />applicable State and Federal law and the Public Trust Doctrine.<br /><br />V. Administrative Provisions<br />1. Nothing in this MOU is intended to or will be construed to limit or affect in any way the<br />authority or legal responsibilities of the Participants. This MOU neither expands nor<br />limits those powers and authorities vested in the Participants by applicable law or<br />regulation, including preliminary and final action on leases, permits, licenses, or any<br />other matter requiring official decision, and nothing in this MOU should be interpreted to<br />preempt, abridge or supersede the rights of each State to manage the respective<br />submerged lands within the boundaries of each State in accordance with the laws,<br />directives and policies of each State. If a section or term of this MOU is inconsistent<br />with the authority or legal responsibilities of the Participants, that section or term shall be<br />invalid, but the remaining sections and terms of this MOU shall remain in full force and<br />effect.<br />2. Nothing in this MOU may be construed to obligate the Participants to any current or<br />future expenditure of resources.<br />3. The mission requirements, funding, personnel, and other priorities of the Participants may<br />affect their ability to fully implement all the provisions of this MOU.<br />4. Nothing in this MOU is intended to, or will be, construed to restrict the Participants from<br />participating in any other activities or arrangements with other public or private agencies,<br />organizations, or individuals.<br />5. This MOU is intended only to enhance and strengthen the working relationships of the<br />Participants in connection to offshore wind energy proposals in the Great Lakes region<br />and is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,<br />enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States or any State, its<br />departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.<br />6. No Participant will make an official statement on behalf of any other Participant in<br />connection with this agreement.<br />7. Information furnished between the Participants under this MOU may be subject to the<br />Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, et seq. (FOIA), and, for participating State<br />agencies, a relevant State Freedom of Information Act. Determinations regarding the<br />release of federal agency information exchanged pursuant to this MOU that is responsive<br />to a valid request under FOIA will be made by the agency from which the information<br />originated. Absent express Congressional authorization, federal Participants will not<br />disclose to the other Participants any privileged or confidential trade secret, commercial<br />or financial information obtained from a third party, or other information protected by<br />law, unless the owner of such information expressly consents to such disclosure in<br />writing. Documents furnished to States under this MOU may be subject to applicable<br />state information handling and disclosure requirements.<br /><br />VI. Contacts<br />All notices, communications and coordination will involve, at a minimum, the following<br />individuals, their successors and/or designees as follows:<br /><br />White House Council on Environmental Quality: Deputy Director<br />U.S. Department of Energy:<br />U.S. Department of Defense:<br />U.S. Department of the Army:<br />Advisory Council on Historic Preservation:<br />U.S. Coast Guard:<br />U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:<br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:<br />Federal Aviation Administration:<br />National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:<br /><br />State of Illinois:<br />State of Michigan:<br />State of Minnesota:<br />State of New York:<br />Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:<br />Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary<br />Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable<br />Energy<br />Executive Director, Siting Clearinghouse<br />Regulatory Program Manager<br />Army Corps of Engineers<br />Headquarters,<br />Great Lakes & Ohio River Division,<br />Mississippi Valley Division<br />Director<br />Office of Federal Agency Programs<br />Chief, Navigation Standards Division<br />Great Lakes National Program Manager<br /> Region 5 Regional Administrator<br />Senior Advisor to the Director<br />Manager, Obstruction Evaluation Group<br />Director of Policy<br />Deputy Director<br />Illinois Department of Commerce<br />Director, Office of the Great Lakes<br />Deputy Commissioner<br />Minnesota Department of Commerce<br />Commissioner, New York State Department<br />of Environmental Conservation<br /> President & CEO, New York Power Authority<br />Energy Executive<br />Office of the Governor<br /><br />VII. Effective Date, Modification, and Termination<br />1. This MOU is effective as of the date the last Participant executes the MOU and expires<br />five (5) years from that date, at which time the MOU will be subject to renewal or<br />expiration. When effective, the MOU will not be modified except through written<br />agreement executed by all Participants.<br />2. Any Participant may terminate participation in this MOU 120 days after providing<br />written notice to the other Participants.<br /></div>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-88669475993867090542012-04-02T18:14:00.002-07:002012-04-02T18:26:30.596-07:00Fact Sheet—Great Lakes Offshore Wind Energy ConsortiumWhat is the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Energy Consortium?<br /><br />To remain a leader in the global clean energy economy the United States needs Federal and state<br />governments to execute permitting and review processes in an efficient and effective manner that protects the health and safety of our communities while supporting vital economic growth.<br />In particular, the excellent offshore wind resource in the Great Lakes region presents a<br />significant opportunity to stimulate economic revitalization. Accordingly, a bipartisan federalstate memorandum of understanding (MOU) has created the new Great Lakes Offshore Wind Energy Consortium to support the efficient, expeditious, orderly and responsible review of<br />proposed offshore wind energy projects in the Great Lakes.<br /><br />What will the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Energy Consortium do?<br /><br />Offshore wind proposals must be evaluated for potential social, environmental, cultural, safety<br />and security impacts by the appropriate Federal and State agencies. The Consortium will enhance coordination among participating federal and Great Lakes state regulatory agencies, working toward the shared goal of coordinating reviews and data collection and dissemination needs to the extent practicable. The MOU facilitates coordinated, regionally-based planning that has the potential to lower costs and improve the efficiency of decisions. The MOU also embodies a fundamental principle of the National Ocean Policy to support sustainable, safe, secure, and<br />productive access to, and uses of the Great Lakes.<br /><br />What is the potential for Great Lakes offshore wind and how does this agreement help?<br /><br />Deployment of offshore wind in the Great Lakes region would stimulate economic revitalization<br />in key sectors of the economy, diversify the Nation’s energy supply and enhance our national<br />security by accelerating energy independence efforts, and reduce air pollution and greenhouse<br />gas emissions. Offshore wind turbines are being used in a number of countries to harness the<br />energy of the moving air over the oceans and convert it to electricity. The total offshore wind<br />potential is over 700 gigawatts in the Great Lakes regions. This represents about one-fifth of the<br />total offshore wind potential in the United States. While offshore wind is an emerging<br />technology in the United States, over 3800 MW of installed capacity already exists today, mainly<br />in Europe. Work under the MOU will spur collaboration on innovative ways to address<br />significant market barriers to offshore wind deployment in a key region of North America, the<br />Great Lakes. A similar agreement forming the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium, has<br />been successful spurring cooperation and increased efficiencies with respect to wind<br />development in the Atlantic outer continental shelf.<br /><br />Why are the federal government and the states signing this agreement now?<br /><br />The Administration and participating states are committed to building the foundation for a clean<br />energy economy. In addition, the President has directed federal agencies to speed infrastructure<br />development through more efficient and effective permitting and environmental review. This<br />agreement also responds in part to a request to the President by a bipartisan group of the nation’s<br />governors to establish a combined intergovernmental state-federal task force on wind energy<br />development in order to help meet America’s domestic energy demands in an environmentally<br />responsible manner, while reducing the nation’s dependence on imported energy sources and<br />stimulating state and national economic development.<br /><br />What is the scope of the Great Lakes Wind Resource?<br /><br />The map created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory describes the high wind<br />speeds, corresponding to excellent wind power resources, available in the Great Lakes.<br /><br />Which federal agencies are parties to the agreement?<br /><br />The White House Council on Environmental Quality<br />The U.S. Department of Energy<br />The U.S. Department of Defense<br />The U.S Department of the Army<br />The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency<br />The U.S. Coast Guard<br />The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<br />The Federal Aviation Administration<br />The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<br />The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation<br /><br />Which Great Lakes states are currently parties to the agreement?<br /><br />Illinois<br />Michigan<br />Minnesota<br />New York<br />Pennsylvania<br /><br />(Note - Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin are NOT a party to the agreement as of this date)The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-54726085438015145082012-04-02T18:09:00.001-07:002012-04-02T18:10:41.025-07:00Obama Administration and Great Lakes States Announce Agreement to Spur Development of Offshore Wind Projects<h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-size: 1.7em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 64, 99); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.2em; "><br /></h1><h3 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); line-height: 1.2em; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">March 30, 2012</h3><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">As part of President Obama's all of the above approach to energy, the Obama Administration today joined with the governors of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will streamline the efficient and responsible development of offshore wind resources in the Great Lakes. This effort underscores the President's commitment to American-made energy, increasing energy independence, and creating jobs.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"President Obama is focused on leveraging American energy sources, including increased oil and gas production, the safe development of nuclear power, as well as renewable energy from sources like wind and solar, which is on track to double in the President's first term," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "This agreement among federal agencies and Great Lakes states is a smart, practical way to encourage the development of homegrown energy that will create jobs, power homes, and help increase our nation's energy security."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"As the President has made clear, an American economy that lasts is one built on American energy, designed and produced by American workers," said Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman. "This effort will allow us to tap into our abundant offshore resources, enhancing our energy security through an all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The MOU will enhance collaboration between federal and state agencies to speed review of proposed offshore wind projects. Specifically, federal and state agencies will develop an action plan that sets priorities and recommends steps for achieving efficient and responsible evaluation of proposed offshore wind power projects in the Great Lakes region.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Unlocking the Great Lakes' offshore wind energy resources could yield tremendous economic and environmental benefits throughout the region, and has the potential to produce more than 700 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind, about one fifth of the total offshore wind potential in the United States. The development of even a small portion of the area's offshore wind potential could create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs and generate revenue for local businesses. These efforts are in line with the steps the Administration has taken to increase domestic energy production, including increased production of our nation's oil and natural gas resources—with domestic oil production higher than any time in the last eight years and natural gas at an all-time high. The Administration is also supporting the construction of the first nuclear power plant in 30 years, and today's announcement builds on the extensive effort by the Administration to increase energy from renewable sources like wind and solar, which will double by the end of the President's first term.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that each gigawatt of offshore wind installed could produce enough electricity to power 300,000 homes. The efforts made possible by today's agreement will also bolster existing investments in offshore wind technologies by promoting a consistent and predictable regulatory environment that inspires innovation and helps to bring clean energy solutions to market.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"In Illinois, we believe investing in clean energy projects and the development of wind resources helps promote economic development and create jobs, while reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources," Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said. "We are extremely pleased to collaborate with the U.S. DOE and our fellow Great Lakes states to harness the clean, natural power of our offshore wind."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"Minnesota has been a leader in developing wind energy for nearly two decades. We now have more than 2.7 thousand megawatts of wind projects online, and we rank fifth among the states for the most installed wind capacity," said Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. "We look forward to sharing our expertise with other states and federal agencies, to learning from them, and to collaborating on the further development of offshore wind resources."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"The Great Lakes have the potential to provide clean energy from offshore wind and related green jobs in upstate New York," said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. "This MOU offers a responsible mechanism for enhanced and efficient collaboration among federal, state, and local interests in evaluating processes and proposals for development of this resource."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"This agreement will enable states to work together to ensure that any proposed off-shore wind projects are reviewed in a consistent manner, and that the various state and federal agencies involved collaborate and coordinate their reviews," said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">To safely and responsibly develop offshore wind resources, federal and state agencies—which share jurisdiction in the Great Lakes—must fully evaluate the potential social, environmental, safety, and security impacts of projects. The agreement signed today will enhance collaboration between federal and state agencies to speed review of proposed offshore wind projects and accelerate the development of clean, American energy from offshore wind energy resources in the Great Lakes region. Under the MOU, federal and state agencies will develop an action plan that sets priorities and recommends steps for achieving efficient and responsible evaluation of proposed offshore wind power projects in the Great Lakes region.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; line-height: 1.4em; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The following participants have signed the MOU:</p><ul style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: rgb(60, 67, 73); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 12px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">State of Illinois</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">State of Michigan</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">State of Minnesota</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">State of New York</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">Commonwealth of Pennsylvania</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">White House Council on Environmental Quality</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">U.S. Department of Energy</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">U.S. Department of Defense</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">U.S. Department of the Army</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">Advisory Council on Historic Preservation</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">U.S. Coast Guard</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">Federal Aviation Administration</li><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; ">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</li></ul>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-15018332106299542022012-04-02T17:51:00.002-07:002012-04-02T17:59:47.645-07:00The Power NY Act of 2011 - Its About Wind<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ISJGZvWe2s/T3pKz6nqz0I/AAAAAAAAAIc/xYcudY6ztQ8/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ISJGZvWe2s/T3pKz6nqz0I/AAAAAAAAAIc/xYcudY6ztQ8/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726972131924430658" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Kevin & Addie Show</span></p> <p class="MsoTitle"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many COAX members attended the forum held Thursday (3/8/12) at Jefferson Community College (JCC) in Watertown, NY. Power NY Act of 2011 & Art. X co-author, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill was there to defend this law while area Assemblywoman Addie Russell took the position opposing the law – both are Democrats. A good-sized crowd of about 100 people also attended and the meeting was video taped as well by Steve Weed Productions. The forum was hosted by JCC’s Dr. Ray Petersen – an expert on NYS energy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">COAX provided 2-sided color flyers that were passed out to all who attended – flyers critical of the Power NY Act of 2011 & Art. X <u>emphasizing the loss of municipal home rule</u>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cahill spoke before Russell and I was shocked that not once did he mention “home rule” during his initial comments. He did say he thought Addie Russell’s main complaint about the Power NY Act would be the Art. X reduction of the power threshold from 80 mgw to 25 mgw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Cahill also admitted he and other Kingston, NY residents fought a garbage to energy plant proposed for his area years ago that would burn waste – does that make him a NIMBY? A hypocrite?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cahill also confused others and myself in the room when he alluded to the siting board possibly containing more than 7 members, that local governments under the new law have significant representation on the board, saying that if a power plant was proposed within a village that the village and town and county gets to appoint representatives on the board and that the state legislature gets to appoint people on the board. I do not know how he could have this issue mixed up as the law Gov. Cuomo signed clearly says <i><u>7 board members</u></i>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Assemblywoman Addie Russell followed Cahill’s comments and her second sentence was on point: <span style="color:blue;">“<i>And, Kevin was right when really one of the major concerns I had and the reason why I voted against this piece of legislation was the reduction in the megawatt threshold because the reduction in the megawatt threshold resulted in the loss of local control.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></i></span>Yes… loss of local control, municipal home rule, is the crux of the matter at hand and Russell understands this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >Assemblywoman Addie Russell made this comment regarding turbines:</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">“Article X will never allow them to be built here”, said Russell. “I believe industrial wind is done for the entire region. With Article X, we have just lost the ability to have the projects that have been proposed here. Article X has relieved us of the burden of industrial wind.”<span style="font-style:normal"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;color:windowtext;" >And Russell also said this in her comments:</span><span style="font-style:normal"> “</span>I will also say that I actually think that this Article X likely will never allow industrial wind to be built here.”<span style="font-style:normal"></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>In my opinion you must believe in the tooth fairy to accept Russell’s above comment. As soon as the Governor signed the Power NY Act into law – the legislature was out of the picture. Russell is only kidding herself to think that wind developers would be intimidated by the Power NY Act and avoid the beautiful Cape Vincent – Thousands Islands region. If she thinks the law will prohibit wind development she’s wrong. The developers are hoping the Power NY Act and the unelected siting board will force wind factories into this area against the will of the town’s officials and state legislators will NOT be part of the decision process. Time will tell the outcome but you can predict the first victim will likely be an rural upstate community that could ill afford litigation to prevent their town from being raped.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Im sure most people attended the forum for the opportunity of a question and answer (Q & A) period that followed the speakers formal comments. During the Q & A I asked Cahill about his reference to having more than 7 persons on the siting board and he back-pedaled in my opinion from what he previously said. I believe he was unsure about his answer but he did indicate that ad hoc board members would have the right to vote on a power plant site.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>during the Q & A - A woman spectator kind of yelled out that the Latin “ad hoc” meant “no vote”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I checked this out later and this is NOT true and if I knew who she was Id call her to correct her. Per Wikipedia: <b><i><span style="color:blue;">Ad hoc</span></i></b><span style="color:blue;"> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_phrases" title="List of Latin phrases">Latin phrase</a> meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span>Per Law.com: <span class="definedword"><span style="color:blue;">ad hoc </span></span><span style="color:blue;">adj. Latin shorthand meaning "for this purpose only." </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:blue;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As most of you know I’ve been trying to get an answer from Cahill for months on the ad hoc member voting matter and where in the Art. X text it says ad hoc board members have or have not the opportunity to vote on <b><u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" >siting</span></u></b> the electric plant and he has steadfastly refused to answer me. My own assemblyman has also refuse to answer me on this. I also requested an answer from Assemblyman Speaker Sheldon Silver – never expecting he would answer me. But he DID answer my 2 simple questions in a letter I received the day after the JCC forum. Here is the key text of Assemblyman Sheldon Silver’s typed reply to me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“<span style="color:blue;">Although the law does not explicitly state that members vote on a final decision, it as envisioned that ad hoc members vote on the siting of a facility, just as they had under the previous law, which expired in 2003.” </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now - having Assembly Speaker Silver’s reply -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do you feel my question is adequately answered and that you are convinced that ad hoc siting board members will have 2 of 7 votes on the <b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" >siting</span></b> of a power plant when a vote is taken? I am not convinced they will have a siting vote!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In any case, at the JCC forum Cahill was asked about the siting board and two ad hoc board members and here is his reply:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText">The local governments, if there are multiple local governments, each of the local governments get to appoint to the board. The board will expand based upon the number of local government entities that there are. The local governments get to appoint those representatives. You are absolutely correct in that they are not elected by the people. They are appointed by the local governing board. The very same people who would have been making the home rule decision had there not been an Article X process. In addition to that, legislative leaders upon the recommendation of, from a pool recommended, would also be making decisions. So, it's very (?) board. It's not a very small board.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >This answer brings confusion and does NOT jibe with what is now sign law as the law clearly states 7 board members including ad hocs. The editor of the Jefferson’s Leaning Left blog site wrote this:</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">I then asked Assemblyman Kevin Cahill if the locally appointed members of the Article X siting boards were voting members. He (Cahill) said yes.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >Well…….. this is only partly true – if you read the law there are clearly several issues to be voted on by the siting board that the ad hoc members are <u>exempt</u> from voting on. Despite the questions asked by these 2 attendees – my two questions were still not answered and they were (1) will ad hoc board members actually have a vote on the siting of a power plant? And (2) where does it say in the Art. X text that they do or don’t have the opportunity to vote on the siting of a power plant? I managed to put them directly to Cahill and actually received an answer – </span><span style="font-style:normal">“It is my understanding that they do have a vote.” </span><span style=" font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >On question #2 – he said he could not answer because he didn’t have the text of the bill with him.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >During the Q & A Cahill also said this: </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText">What I started to see, particularly when it came to wind, was that promoters of wind development across New York state were town-shopping; they were municipality-shopping. And we saw a number of examples where town governments, in my view, were corrupted by wind developers.</p> <p class="MsoBodyText"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >I surely agree with this! Why did Cuomo, as attorney general, invent the Code of Ethics specifically for NYS wind developers to sign and agree to? Its because they are corrupt! What other businesses operating in NYS have you ever heard of that signed a Code of Ethics to behave?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >Cahill said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>“</span><span style="font-style: normal">Something that deserves as much of your attention as Article X is the Governor's proposal for an energy highway. The energy highway proposal will make it so energy can be moved from one part of the state to the other.” </span><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" ><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now read between the lines here – what Cahill’s really saying is that wind factories and all their related consequences will be located upstate while their small amount of power will be shipped downstate. Upstate will be victimized as usual and should not welcome the “energy highway” because this would certainly involve more litigation as a result of eminent domain court actions involving unwanted power lines beginning at the turbines. And because of the loss of home rule – it will be difficult if not impossible to stop the siting process.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >In the Q & A Cahill also mentioned that in the USA it would be possible for 7 carefully placed bullets to take out our entire USA power system. Both Cahill and Russell expressed surprise at how the passage of the Power NY Act and Art. X took place but if you again read between the lines –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>quick passage of the law was done at the behest of the Governor – the one who embraces transparency and ethics.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >After the meeting was over someone wondered how Cahill could arrive at this forum without a full copy of the Power NY Act (and Art. X) with him?</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >Dr. Ray Petersen saved his last power point slide for the end of the forum after all comments had been made. Part of his opinion should be mandatory for Art. X but likely won’t be. Petersen indicated </span><span style="font-style:normal"></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><span style=" font-style:normal;font-family:Symbol;" >·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-style:normal">Generating facilities be build as close as possible to the demand centers and </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><span style=" font-style:normal;font-family:Symbol;" >·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-style:normal">Regions with generating potential should keep a large portion of the power within the region for development and </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><span style=" font-style:normal;font-family:Symbol;color:windowtext;" >·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-style:normal">Expand intervener fund to cover legal costs.</span><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" ></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal"> </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:black;" >Im surprised Dr. Petersen’s recommendations didn’t mention to home rule – that was a big one to miss. The NYISO (Independent System Operator) has also said repeatedly that new power plants should be <u>located where the power is needed</u>. Cahill and the Governor are quick to dismiss this compelling recommendation.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-style:normal;color:black;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi- font-style:normalfont-size:12.0pt;color:red;" >Make no mistake about Assemblyman Kevin Cahill – Cahill is a turbine hugging wind charlatan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span style="font-style:normal;color:windowtext;" >He’ll welcome a wind factory in your neighborhood and could care less about the value of your property declining, the noise impact generated by the turbines and how it affects your health, and how the dozens of other insurmountable issues these subsidy sucking monstrosities infect the community and quality of life.</span></p>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-2170517411381133562011-12-30T17:36:00.000-08:002011-12-30T18:09:40.670-08:00Power NY Act of 2011 is a Farce<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This year the NYS legislature introduced and overwhelmingly passed a bill that will allow an unelected group of Albany bureaucrats to site energy plants anywhere in NYS they choose WITHOUT municipal approval. The bill was signed into law by Governor Cuomo in August 2011 and the law is called the Power NY Act of 2011. Part of this law is entitled Article X and this section essentially strips all NYS municipalities of home rule when it comes to siting electrical power plants. This, of course, includes wind factories. A group called COAX, </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Coalition on Article X</span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;">, has formed this summer to fight Article X action. COAX is attempting to convince all county leaders and town leaders in the state that this new law removes of freedoms each municipality used to enjoy as a home rule state. COAX has sent the letter below to all county leaders to educate them on the Power NY Act and Article X and asking them to pass resolutions against this new law. As of 12/30/11 seven counties have passed resolutions opposing this law - Jefferson, Herkimer, Ontario, Cortland, Wayne, Wyoming, and Oswego. There is considerable more information on the COAX website at this address: <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">http://coaxny.org</span> Please read the legislator letter below to become better informed.</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" >Dear County Legislature Chairman</span>,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are contacting you to make you aware that both branches of the NYS Legislature on June 22, 2011 passed a bill entitled <b><i>Power NY Act of 2011</i></b>. Part of this bill is called Article X. On August 4, 2011 Governor Cuomo signed this bill into law, unfortunately.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Power NY Act of 2011 was sponsored by Sen. George Maziarz (R - Niagara Co.) and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D - Ulster Co.). The NYS Senate voted to approve it by a 59 to 3 margin and the Assembly voted to approve it 120 to 14. Every New Yorker should revile the bill and its passage process. This bill (1) was passed with zero transparency, (2) deliberately kept under the radar by the legislature because the assembly and senate knew how outraged the towns and counties would be once they learned the contentious details, (3) the bill <u>was passed in only one day</u> with (4) NO public input! Is all this clandestine process ethical? How would all this pass new Gov. Cuomo’s ethics standards after listening to him rant for months about new improved NYS ethics in his term as Governor?</p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>THE BAD NEWS</b>:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Article X, as passed by the legislature and since approved by the Governor, <b><i><u>strips ALL towns in NYS of their municipal home rule regarding the siting of electrical power plants</u></i></b>. The Article X bill abrogates New York’s Consolidated Law - Municipal Home Rule. The new Art. X expedites a state-led program for permitting electric generating facilities while preempting local requirements. <b><i><u>This law is a strike against freedom and democracy as it transfers power from local municipalities into the hands of unelected bureaucrats who are completely disconnected from the municipality they are victimizing!</u></i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>THIS IS WRONG. As one person put it – NYS has neutered municipal home rule.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver said this about Power NY Act 2011:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" >“……we will help give New Yorkers an increased voice in the development of power plants in their communities”.</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" > </span>Reading the Art. X section will bring one to reality and instead of having an increased voice in the development of power plants in their community – New Yorkers will eventually realize they no longer have a voice of any kind regarding developing power plants in their community. The removal of voice is what Power NY Act 2011 does. Who is Speaker Silver trying to fool when he says the Power Act will give New Yorkers an increased voice <u>when precisely the opposite has taken place</u>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Leaders of the state legislature somehow managed to convince the majority that the Power NY Act was beneficial and without them having time to do their homework they were sold a bill of goods based on false rhetoric and passed the bill.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Power NY Act of 2011 reauthorizes & revives Article X of the Public Service Law, which expired on January 1, 2003, governing the siting and approval of power plants in New York State. The new version expedites a state-led program for permitting electric generating facilities while preempting local requirements. The <span class="apple-style-span">law usurps local control on siting projects in communities. Those involved in the electric generating business will celebrate this passage of this law because it now gives them a free pass to avoid municipal rejection and now opens the door for the most disruptive conditions their industry is known for.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Article X creates a new “Board” that is now the supreme authority on locating proposed new electrical power plants. <span class="apple-style-span">The seven-member siting Board will consist of five state agency officials (Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Economic Development, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), as well as two ad hoc members who are required to reside in the community in which the proposed facility is to be located. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" background:white;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;color:#333333;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">THE "BOARD" MEANS THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD ON ELECTRIC GENERATION SITING AND THE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH SHALL BE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND CONSIST OF SEVEN PERSONS: THE CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT, WHO SHALL SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>BOARD;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>THE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>COMMISSIONER<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>OF<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ENVIRONMENTAL<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>CONSERVATION;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>THE COMMISSIONER<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>OF HEALTH; THE CHAIR OF THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; THE COMMISSIONER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>AND TWO<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>AD HOC PUBLIC MEMBERS, BOTH OF WHOM SHALL RESIDE WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH THE FACILITY IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED, EXCEPT<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>IF<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>SUCH FACILITY IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THEN ALL AD<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>HOC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>MEMBERS SHALL RESIDE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT IN WHICH THE FACILITY IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-background:white;font-size:9.0pt;color:#333333;" >The Board will be tasked with determining if the contemplated project should receive a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need ("Certificate"), which must be obtained before commencement of any site development or facility construction.</span></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-Times New Roman"font-family:";" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b>Opposition to Art. X</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">As a direct result of the passage of the Power NY Act of 2011 – several people concerned about the loss of municipal home rule have banned together and formed an organization called COAX – <b><i>Coalition On Article X</i></b>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">COAX’s mission statement is as follows: <b><i>As a diverse, grassroots, statewide coalition we will act as advocates for the Towns of New York State that have lost their home rule to Albany bureaucrats in critical community planning and zoning decisions.</i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">COAX’s purpose: </span><b><i><span style="background:white;color:black;" >Our purpose as Coalition on Article X ("COAX"), is to protect and reinstate "Home Rule" regarding siting of energy facilities and to involve the public, elected officials and appointed officials in this cause.</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";background:whitefont-family:";color:black;" ></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span">The COAX web site (</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" background:white;font-family:Arial;font-size:11.5pt;color:#1F497D;" ><a href="http://www.coaxny.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0000CC;">www.coaxny.org</span></a></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style=" background:white;font-family:Arial;font-size:11.5pt;color:#1F497D;" >) </span></span><span class="apple-style-span">will disclose how your senator and assemblyman voted on this important issue. The web site contains the entire text of Article X. The web site documents what’s wrong with Article X and suggests what needs to be done.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>What we are asking of every NYS county legislature chairman:</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">Pass this information to every town supervisor and town clerk in your county. <span style="color:red;">(<i><u>This is extremely important</u></i>)</span> We ask that each town supervisor pass this information to all town board members, planning board members and zoning board members and other town officials that may be interested.</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:red;"> </span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in">Pass this information to all legislature members in your county.</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Town supervisors – please become familiar with Art. X then encourage your town board to pass a resolution AGAINST Article X and make your senator, assemblyman and the Governor aware that your town opposes Art. X and wants this legislation repealed. Please do this as soon as possible and notify COAX when the resolution is passed. A sample copy of a resolution is enclosed.</p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><u><span style="mso-bidi-;font-size:10.0pt;color:black;" >What we want.</span></u></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops:list .5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:10.0pt;" >·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;" >We want Art. X repealed</span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;" >.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops:list .5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:10.0pt;" >·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;" >We want NYS towns and counties to put laws in place to prohibit new above ground power lines emanating from state sited power plants which do not have town or county approval and limit the vehicle weight on town roads.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops:list .5in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;font-size:10.0pt;" >·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;" >We want the towns and counties to pass resolutions against Art. X</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in">We want the Assn. of towns to lead the fight against Art. X repeal.</li></ul> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-family:Symbol;">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span>We want the Assn of counties to assist in the fight to repeal Art. X.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" background:white;font-family:Verdana;font-size:9.0pt;color:#333333;" > </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:9.0pt"><span style="background:white">Despite all the flowery unsubstantiated euphemisms freely strewn about by our politicians and the beneficiaries of this draconian legislation, two facts remain: 1) this is a retraction of Home Rule right of NYS citizens, and 2) </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-background:whitefont-size:12.0pt;color:#3366FF;" > </span></span><span class="apple-style-span">the real objective here is to implement more expensive, less efficient electricity </span>(like wind and solar energy),<span class="apple-style-span">upon communities that may not want such an imposing industrial complex that may not fit the character of the municipality that it victimizes.</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-background:whitefont-size:12.0pt;" > </span><span style="Arial Unicode MS"; background:whitefont-family:";" ></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;" >If power plants were not harmful to a community then why is Art. X needed in the first place?</span></b> <span style="background:white">Such measures translate to talk is cheap, and there is business as usual in what used to be the great state of NY. The power industry will adore the state legislature and Governor for this “free pass”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background:white"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-;font-size:10.0pt;color:black;" >The dark way the Art. X was revived is an embarrassment to the state and reeks of poor ethics. In my view this is simply the beginning of NYS ramrodding more unwanted land use down our throats. They're telling us its good for the economy and will create jobs as all these horrible actions always do - there is little other reason for selling us this trash. Telling New Yorkers the Power Act will bring jobs is simply another example of false mouth-watering appeal. We must take a stand against this or the downstate machine will rape upstate in other ways. Next year they'll take the next step and amend Art. X to pass legislation that would allow them to site landfills, chemical plants and hydro fracking upstate and where Albany chooses</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="mso-bidi-;font-size:10.0pt;color:black;" > </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><u><span style="mso-bidi-;font-size:10.0pt;color:black;" >without municipal or public input</span></u></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-;font-size:10.0pt;color:black;" >. What’s next?</span></span><span style="background:white"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background:white"> </span></p> <span style="font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-Times New Roman";background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";font-size:12.0pt;" >Sincerely,<br /><br />COAX<br /></span>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-29583976352240050762011-12-30T17:29:00.000-08:002011-12-30T17:30:29.162-08:00The Latest Wind Scam<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Well you’ve heard for years about our government paying American farmers NOT to grow crops. That’s basically what the UK wind developers are now receiving – a welfare check from National Grid NOT to produce electricity! This new wind scam in the UK is called “constraint payments” whereby 17 wind developers have been paid about £10M this year to shut their wind turbines off and not produce the renewable electric their consumers were taxed to support in the first place in the building of wind factories. The Telegraph newspaper claimed: “<span class="caption1"><span style="color:blue">The rules meant that some renewable energy companies were paid more to switch off their turbines than they would have received from ordinary operations. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:blue">The payments are made when too much electricity floods the grid, with the network unable to absorb any excess power generated and the electric producers are paid to shut the wind turbines off</span>.” Needless to say – this has severely raised the ire of wind opponents in the UK. </span><span class="apple-converted-space"> Get this: “</span><span style="color:blue">The rules meant that some renewable energy companies were paid more to switch off their turbines than they would have received from ordinary operations</span>”. <span class="apple-style-span">The constraint money is ultimately added onto household electric bills and paid for by UK National Grid consumers. Consumers are essentially now paying (£10M in 2011 in the UK) operators NOT to allow the turbines to operate to prevent electricity from being generated that they never used - in addition to subsidizing renewable power to begin with! This is the ultimate of adding insult to injury but what can you expect from a sleaze ball company like National Grid. <span style="color:black">Can similar action in the US be far behind? </span>Reported in <b><span style="color:black">The Daily Telegraph, 27 Dec 2011</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color:black">.</span></b></span></span>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-8767218269883655442011-06-09T16:03:00.000-07:002011-06-09T16:06:12.963-07:00Perry Puts People First<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:20.25pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#333333"> </span>Posted:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span title="2011-06-09T11:11:00-04:00" style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inherit">Thursday, June 9, 2011 11:11 am</span> - taken from the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>The (Batavia, NY) Daily News</p><p class="story-timesdtstamp" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 12.0pt;outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-style:inherit"><span class="updated"><span style="border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"></span></span><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#666666"></span></p><div style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit; background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial" id="blox-social-share-horizontal"> </div> <p></p> <p class="byline" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:12.0pt; outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style: initial;border-color:initial;font-style:inherit"><span style="outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit"><span style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight: inherit;font-style:inherit"><span class="fn"><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666;border:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">By Mary Kay Barton</span></b></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#666666"></span></b></span><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#666666"><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><a href="http://thedailynewsonline.com/opinion/editorials/article_7ec6a2de-92ab-11e0-8004-001cc4c002e0.html#user-comment-area" id="comment_7ec6a2de-92ab-11e0-8004-001cc4c002e0" style="outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;background-attachment:initial; background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-color:initial; background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position-x:0%;background-position-y: 50%"><span style="color:black;border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><br /></span></a></span></b></p> <div style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit; position:relative" id="blox-story-text"> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 11.25pt; outline-width: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">A </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family: inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">“</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">de facto</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family: inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">”</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> approval to put people first was approved by the Perry Town Board at their May 11, 2011,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_b6ae6248-8047-11e0-be11-001cc4c03286.html" target="_blank" style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="color:#457D9D;border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Town Board meeting</span></a>.</span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">In this </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">“</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">anything for a buck</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">”</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"> world we live in today </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">—</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> where all too often it seems people just don</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit; mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">t care about one another any more </span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">—</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> the fact that the Perry Town Board put their citizens first when it came to siting an industrial wind installation within their town is absolutely refreshing to one</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">s soul!</span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"> </span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">It is understandable that our town boards had to look at these projects when they first showed up six or seven years ago now, because of the potential income industrial wind salesmen seemed to be offering. However, the overwhelming evidence exposing industrial wind as the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://deoxy.org/emperors.htm" target="_blank" style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family: inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#457D9D;border:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">“</span><span style="color:#457D9D;border:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">Emperor Who Has No Clothes,</span><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"; mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:#457D9D;border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">”</span></a>far outweighs the dollar signs and devastated communities left in their wake in the long run.</span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">Health studies from around the world indicate that the setbacks recommended in Perry</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">s new law are still inadequate to protect the health of nearby neighbors. The fact that these still-inadequate setbacks effectively </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family: inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">“</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">ban</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family: inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">”</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> industrial wind turbines in Perry because they now </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">“</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">won</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">t fit in,</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">”</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> only highlights the absurd and dangerous nature of the wind industry</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">s initially proposed setbacks.</span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">The failure of many local governments across the state and nation to provide appropriate leadership on this issue has been appalling. Massive wind plants create incivility </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">—</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"> pitting neighbor against neighbor, and even family member against family member. A major duty of good government is to foresee, and prevent or eliminate this kind of incivility.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 11.25pt; outline-width: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Those who endorse or profit from placing such industrial complexes near the homes of others evidently don</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit; mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">t have a clue about how to foster civil society! Perry</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family: inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">s Town Board is more than clued in! They have proven they are committed to common sense, grounded in common decency! Such leadership is increasingly rare, and correspondingly valuable.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 11.25pt; outline-width: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: inherit; color: black;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Citizens here should be proud of Perry</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">s Town Board! Rather than swallowing the usual snake-oil offered by corporate shills to make people believe that pigs can fly, the Perry Town Board approved no-nonsense wind regulations </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">—</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> insisting on civility and reality, and ultimately keeping these hucksters at bay.</span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to say a well-deserved thank you to the Perry Town Board! You listened, and took the time to educate yourselves. We all greatly appreciate and admire your perseverance, courage and dedication to doing the right thing in the face of such great pressures. The result was the enactment of enlightened public policy which all towns should strive to emulate. Perry</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">s new wind law will protect not only Perry</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit; mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">s citizens, but all New York state taxpayers and ratepayers who are sick and tired of footing the bill for this corporate welfare scam. (See:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://thedailynewsonline.com/opinion/editorials/article_886768a8-32ea-11e0-a04d-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story" target="_blank" style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="color:#457D9D;border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">"The corporate welfare bar"</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://thedailynewsonline.com/opinion/editorials/article_e37ec63a-7275-11e0-99c9-001cc4c03286.html" target="_blank" style="outline-style: initial;outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial; border-style:initial;border-color:initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="color:#457D9D;border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">"Wasteful, redundant schemes must stop"</span></a>) </span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">The Perry Town Board</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">s new industrial wind law is what responsible government looks like in a land where people still care about their neighbors! I am sure that Perry Town Board members sleep easy at night knowing they put people above money, and abided by Jesus</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">’</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"> commandment to </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:inherit;mso-hansi-font-family: inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">“</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Love your neighbor as yourself.</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: inherit;mso-hansi-font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">”</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"></span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">God bless you all, and thank you for putting people first in Perry!</span></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt;outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit"><em style="outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;outline-color: initial;border-style:initial;border-color: initial;font-weight:inherit"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black;border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"> </span></em></p> <p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:11.25pt"><em><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black;border:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Mary Kay Barton lives in Silver Lake.</span></em><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:inherit; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"></span></p> </div>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-53951522466017038342011-06-02T16:17:00.000-07:002011-06-02T16:19:28.489-07:00NY Power Authority Chairman Does About-Face<div class="deleteBody"><h2 class="postTitle" style="color:#666;"><br /></h2> <p class="postBody" style="color: rgb(119, 119, 119);"><br /> <span style="font-size:130%;">Michael Townsend doubts viability of offshore wind farms </span><br /></p><p class="postBody" style="color:#777;">(article by Steve Orr of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle newspaper)<br /><br />New York Power Authority board chairman Michael Townsend questioned Monday whether the authority's offshore wind farm proposal should go forward."From my perspective, I don't think that project is very viable at this time, politically or economically," said Townsend, a lawyer with the Perinton-based law firmHarris Beach.The authority, an independent arm of state government, has been reviewing five private-sector proposals to erect wind turbines in state waters of lakes Ontario or Erie. Officials are supposed to announce a decision by June.Townsend, appointed to the board in 2004 by former Gov. George Pataki, does not expect to be reappointed when his term expires later this month.He noted that authority President Richard Kessel, a champion of the offshore idea, had said offshore turbines would not be built where they're not wanted. County lawmakers in seven of the nine shoreline counties, including Monroe, have voted to express opposition to the plan for aesthetic, environmental and other reasons. "We're not being welcomed," Townsend said.He also said the project might be financially burdensome. Kessel had said the authority would support an offshore wind farm by signing a long-term power purchase agreement on terms favorable to its private development.But Townsend said the authority, which generates or purchases electricity for hundreds of business, government and other customers, might be "spread too thin" financially to sign an expensive agreement. That's especially true, he said, if the authority finalizes a costly purchase agreement to support construction of a huge transmission line under the Hudson River to carry power to New York City.He said that "unofficially, other board members agree" that offshore wind may be too expensive. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who supported the offshore concept during his gubernatorial campaign as long as it was financially feasible, is "the big X factor," said Townsend, who pointed out that offshore projects elsewhere in the Great Lakes have been axed or frozen.Connie Cullen, a spokeswoman for the authority, said Monday that "while we greatly respect the opinions of our trustees, NYPA hasn't yet completed its review of the bids for the ... initiative. We hope to present the full results of the review to our trustees in the next couple of months."Townsend said the common wisdom is that John S. Dyson will replace him as chairman. Dyson chaired the authority during the Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo administrations, and he was named to the board again by Andrew Cuomo earlier this year.Townsend said he had nothing to say to rumors that Kessel, authority president since October 2008, could be leaving.Cullen said Kessel had no plans to resign.SORR@DemocratandChronicle.com</p></div>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-17148512653280871072011-06-02T09:14:00.000-07:002011-06-02T09:19:05.572-07:00Report Questions Wind Power’s Ability to Deliver Electricity When Most Needed<span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong></strong></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><strong><span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); " lang="EN"></span></strong></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">Stuart Young Consulting, with support from the John Muir Trust, has released a report studying the ability of wind power to make a significant contribution to the UK's energy supply. It concludes that the average power output of wind turbines across Scotland is well below the rates often claimed by industry and government.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">Indeed, for numerous extended periods of time all the wind turbines in Scotland linked to the National Grid muster less than 20MW of energy - that's enough power for a mere 6,667 households to boil their kettles for a cup of tea.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">Helen McDade, head of policy at the John Muir Trust, the U.K.’s leading wild land conservation charity, said: "<em>This report is a real eye opener for anyone who's been wondering just how much power Scotland is getting from the fleet of wind turbines that have taken over many of our most beautiful mountains and hillsides. The answer appears to be not enough, and much less than is routinely claimed.</em>”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">Stuart Young, author of the report, said, “<em>Over the two-year period studied in this report, the metered windfarms in the U.K. consistently generated far less energy than wind proponents claim is typical. The intermittent nature of wind also gives rise to low wind coinciding with high energy demand. Sadly, wind power is not what it's cracked up to be and cannot contribute greatly to energy security in the UK."</em></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">Mr. Young said: "<em>It was a surprise to find out just how disappointingly wind turbines perform in a supposedly wind-ridden country like Scotland. Based on the data, for one third of the time wind output is less than 10% of capacity, compared to the 30% that is commonly claimed.</em></span></p><p><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">At the end of the period studied, the connected capacity of wind power was over 2500MW so the expectation is that the wind network will produce, on average, 750MW of energy. In fact, it's delivering far less than everyone's expectations. The total wind capacity metered now is 3226MW but at 3a.m. on Monday 28th March, the total output was 9MW.</span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">The report,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.jmt.org/assets/pdf/wind-report.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); "><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); ">Analysis of UK Wind Generation</span></a>, is the result of detailed analysis of windfarm output in Scotland over a 26-month period between November 2008 to December 2010 using data from the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.jmt.org/news.asp?s=2&nid=JMT-N10561#1" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); "><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); ">BMRS (Balancing Mechanism Reporting System</span></a>). It's the first report of its kind, and drew on data freely available to the public. It challenges five common assertions made regularly by wind industry and the Scottish Government:</span></p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">1. 'Wind turbines will generate on average 30% of their rated capacity over a year'</span></strong><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"><br /></span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">In fact, the average output from wind was 27.18% of metered capacity in 2009, 21.14% in 2010, and 24.08% between November 2008 and December 2010 inclusive.</span></p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">2. 'The wind is always blowing somewhere'</span></strong><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"><br /></span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">On 124 separate occasions from November 2008 to December 2010, the total generation from the windfarms metered by National Grid was less than 20MW (a fraction of the 450MW expected from a capacity in excess of 1600 MW). These periods of low wind lasted an average of 4.5 hours.</span></p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">3. 'Periods of widespread low wind are infrequent.'</span></strong><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"><br /></span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">Actually, low wind occurred every six days throughout the 26-month study period. The report finds that the average frequency and duration of a low wind event of 20MW or less between November 2008 and December 2010 was once every 6.38 days for a period of 4.93 hours.</span></p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">4. 'The probability of very low wind output coinciding with peak electricity demand is slight.'</span></strong><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"><br /></span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">At each of the four highest peak demand points of 2010, wind output was extremely low at 4.72%, 5.51%, 2.59% and 2.51% of capacity at peak demand.</span></p><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">5. 'Pumped storage hydro can fill the generation gap during prolonged low wind periods.'</span></strong><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"><br /></span></b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">The entire pumped storage hydro capacity in the UK can provide up to 2788MW for only 5 hours then it drops to 1060MW, and finally runs out of water after 22 hours.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" lang="EN"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN"> [1]<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>BMRS (Balancing Mechanism Reporting System)</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The source of the information on which this analysis is based is the Historic Generation by Fuel Type Data Files on the<a href="https://elexonexchange.bsccentralservices.com/ref=HISTORICGENERATIONBYFUELTYPE" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); "><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); ">ELEXON Portal website</span></a>. Registration is required to create an account.</span></p></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">ELEXON Ltd is the Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo) defined and created by the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC and also known as the Code). ELEXON Ltd procures, manages and operates services and systems, which enables balancing and settlement of the wholesale electricity market and retail competition in electricity supply.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">A wealth of information is to be found on the Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service (BMRS) website at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.bmreports.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">from where links to related sites are found.</a><a href="http://www.bmreports.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">www.bmreports.com</a></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96); " lang="EN">Stuart Young and the John Muir Trust is grateful to ELEXON Ltd for permission to use its generation data, and for the not inconsiderable help I have had from the BSC Service Desk.<a href="mailto:BSCServiceDesk@logica.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">BSCServiceDesk@logica.com</a></span></p></span></span>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3213631450167236087.post-26641915139178604652011-06-02T09:00:00.000-07:002011-06-02T09:01:46.816-07:00New York Wind: Much Ado for So Little<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24pt; " lang="EN"></span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">(Posted May 9, 2011)</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The United Kingdom has long been regarded as having the best wind resource in Europe.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">A<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="http://www.bwea.com/media/news/141105.html" href="http://www.bwea.com/media/news/141105.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">2005 analysis</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of hourly wind speeds collected from sixty-six locations across the UK, identified three characteristics of the wind resource that proponents rely on to justify an expansive build-out of wind energy facilities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The study concluded that over a 35-year period from 1970 to 2005, there was never a time when the entire country was without wind, the wind always blew enough to generate electricity somewhere in Britain and that the resource tended to blow more strongly when demand was highest, during the day and winter months. The analysis found that wind would operate at an annual average capacity factor of 27% -- above levels found in Germany and Denmark -- and low wind speeds affecting most of the country (90%) would only occur for one hour every five years.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Last month, the 2005 study was put to the test.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The United Kingdom's leading wild land conservation charity, the John Muir Trust,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="http://www.windaction.org/documents/31633" href="http://www.windaction.org/documents/31633" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">released a report</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that examined wind power's actual contribution to the UK's energy supply. The findings, based on real-time energy production, were sobering. Wind generated at substantially below the 27% capacity factor and low wind events (defined as output falling below 10% of capacity) occurred over one third of the time, or almost nine months in aggregate. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The report created a firestorm for those tracking wind development. Legislators and energy policy experts immediately questioned whether the same reality existed in their area. Since preconstruction forecasts for wind power performance are based on wind speed data, what if the modeling overstated actual generation?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">New York wind follows the UK's lead</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">In fact, we need only look to New York State to see an identical story line.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">In 2005, the New York State Energy Research And Development Authority (NYSERDA) worked with General Electric to<a title="http://www.nyserda.org/publications/wind_integration_report.pdf" href="http://www.nyserda.org/publications/wind_integration_report.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">release a study</a> aimed at assessing the impact of large-scale wind generation on the reliability of the State's bulk power system and to understand the operational and economic effects of deploying 3,300 megawatts of wind (10% of New York's peak load).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The study concluded that New York could support a 10% penetration of wind into its grid system with turbines reliably operating at 30% average capacity factor or better. To its credit, NYSERDA acknowledged that most of the high wind output would occur during nighttime hours with some overlap occurring "late in the day when the wind output is picking up before the loads have fully dropped off."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Several years of wind generation data are now available and we took a look at how well NYSERDA and GE predicted output levels. We were particularly interested in project performance after developers had a year or more to address start-up issues.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">By the end of 2010, New York State claimed fifteen wind energy facilities totaling an installed capacity of 1,275 megawatts. The projects are geographically distributed in the northern and western regions of the State but typically away from denser population centers including New York City with the highest demand for electricity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Twelve of the fifteen projects comprise the bulk of the nameplate capacity (1225 megawatts). These facilities went into service in the years between 2006 and February 2009. Less than 50 megawatts of wind was installed prior to 2006. Since early 2009, wind development in the State has been largely stagnant with only one wind project built in the last two years. Iberdrola's 74 megawatt Hardscrabble project went online in February 2011.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The lull in construction has provided a valuable opportunity to evaluate two full years of wind generation and to assess whether the promises of New York wind have been realized.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The below table, prepared using the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="http://www.nyiso.com/public/webdocs/services/planning/planning_data_reference_documents/2011_GoldBook_Public_Final.pdf" href="http://www.nyiso.com/public/webdocs/services/planning/planning_data_reference_documents/2011_GoldBook_Public_Final.pdf" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">New York ISO's Gold Book data</a>, provides an important glimpse at wind performance in New York in the years 2008-2010.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a title="http://www.windaction.org/?module=uploads&func=download&fileId=2138" href="http://www.windaction.org/?module=uploads&func=download&fileId=2138" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); "><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=f04e2de790&view=att&th=130287610f5608d8&attid=0.0.1&disp=emb&zw" title="http://www.windaction.org/?module=uploads&func=download&fileId=2138" alt="http://www.windaction.org/?module=uploads&func=download&fileId=2138" border="0" height="505" width="850" /></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Promises meet reality</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">No wind project in New York achieved a 30% capacity factor and most are operating at well below this figure including Maple Ridge 1 and 2 touted by wind proponents as a premier wind site. Maple Ridge was forecasted to have a capacity factor of 34% prior to construction but has consistently operated around 25% -- a significant performance reduction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Noble Environmental's projects produced at even lower levels. When the company sought community acceptance of its projects in upstate New York, John Quirke, an officer and founder of Noble, insisted their projects would operate at 30-35% of their nameplate capacity. In the tax agreement signed with Clinton County, New York, Noble went so far as to sweetened the deal by offering to pay a bonus of $1000/MW every time the annual capacity factor of any of their projects exceeded 35%. Clinton County officials had no way to verify the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>sincerity</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Noble's offer since preconstruction wind data was confidential, but Noble certainly knew the truth. Noble's upstate projects operated with a 20% to 22% capacity factor in 2010.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Wind forecasts and project financing</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">When determining whether a wind energy project is worth the financial risk, a credit analysis is prepared based on conservative wind production. This production amount, known as the annual energy yield prediction, represents the average wind speed forecast for a project with a 90% confidence (P90). In other words, the wind production level that the project is expected to operate at 90% of the time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">The P90 figure needs to be within 12% to 15% of the average production figures in order to catch a bank's attention. If the difference between the average capacity factor (P50) and P90 is off by 20% or better, a project would be considered 'unfinanceable'. We can't know the P90 figures presented to investors for most of New York's wind projects, but our guess is that most of these projects would have been considered unworthy had actual production numbers been available. We'd be interested in knowing whether those who fronted the money for the projects would bother again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Meeting the public's goals</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">NY ratepayers who are subsidizing wind development in the State are also receiving considerably less than promised. Square miles of New York's most rural areas have been transformed into industrial power plants, communities and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="http://www.windaction.org/stories/22210" href="http://www.windaction.org/stories/22210" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">families are split</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>over project opposition, and homeowners have been<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="http://www.windaction.org/stories/20234" href="http://www.windaction.org/stories/20234" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">driven from their homes</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>due to turbine noise, shadow flicker and other nuisances. If tax revenue agreements with communities were negotiated based on inflated capacity factors, actual payments will be lower. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">State and local officials have long encouraged wind as an economic development tool for rural areas, but at some point the public needs to know whether the projects are delivering on the primary plan i.e. to see more renewable energy on the grid. At capacity factors in the low- to mid- 20% range, many more wind turbines and related infrastructure (transmission) will be needed to meet State mandates which will increase costs and impacts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; " lang="EN">Our review only looked at average annual capacity factors and did not consider the hourly and daily variability of the resource and whether the wind helped meet peak demand needs. But looking at average performance alone is enough to suggest New York's wind is not worth all the fuss.</span></p></span></span>The Announcerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01935983826272094308noreply@blogger.com0