CAPE VINCENT WIND PROJECT QUESTIONED

This Watertown times article
mentions a public hearing for the proposed local law, which would amend the town's zoning laws to include provisions about wind power, for 10 a.m. June 3, 2003 at the fire hall.

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Published: May 14, 2006

Page: A1

Edition: Both

Section: Jefferson

Copyright, 2006, Johnson Newspaper Corporation

CAPE VINCENT WIND PROJECT QUESTIONED

CAPE VINCENT WIND PROJECT QUESTIONED
By JUDE SEYMOUR
TIMES STAFF WRITER
CAPE VINCENT -- A wind power developer established temporary lodgings at the fire hall here Saturday to assuage concerns about its proposed 65-turbine project. But AES/Acciona Wind Power NY Project Manager Todd R. Hopper said residents' most consistent query was about potential setbacks, an aspect not controlled by developers.



On Thursday, the Town Council proposed a project boundary that would begin 1,000 feet from the established river district boundary. If approved, the first wind turbine would be no closer than 2,600 feet from the river side of Route 12E. They set a public hearing for the proposed local law, which would amend the town's zoning laws to include provisions about wind power, for 10 a.m. June 3 at the fire hall.


The Rochester-based developers have looked to secure lease agreements from property owners in their intended project area, generally defined as Route 12E on the north, Route 9 on the east, Constance Road on the west and Favret, Mason and McKeever roads on the south.


While the wind velocities in that area - which top out at about 6.96 meters per second - are not optimum, Mr. Hopper said speeds are aggressive enough to have a viable project. The company is hampered more by the transmission line's 130 megawatt capacity. Mr. Hopper said upgrading the power lines would be cost-prohibitive, so AES/Acciona will be content with maximizing the output.


The project manager stressed that the company is still more than two years away from siting its first turbine. The company needs eight to 36 months to prepare a draft environmental impact statement, a voluminous document that will include studies on visual and sound impacts; shadow flicker; effects on bird, bat and other wildlife population, and the effect on the Federal Aviation Administration.


This process, which will be subject to public review and comment, also will include a transportation study, which will assess the feasibility of upgrading existing infrastructure to transport each $1 million turbine.


Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, said in a mid-April interview that he'd like to see the companies use the existing coal docks, which are adjacent to Broadway Street.


"What we have the opportunity to do is use the port of Cape Vincent rather than the port of Oswego," Mr. Aubertine said, referencing the starting point for turbines involved in the Maple Ridge Wind Farm project. "Certainly enhancements would need to be made to the existing coal dock area to offload ships at the breakwall. But those improvements that will be made are improvements that will be there long after the ships have offloaded the windmills."


Mr. Hopper said using local dockage is possible, but only if it's economically sound. He said AES/Acciona will create a plan for repair and restoring any infrastructure affected by turbine traffic. It may include upgrades before turbines hit the roads.


The project manager said the company plans more public information sessions. For now, Mr. Hopper encouraged residents to attend the upcoming hearing.


"They need to show up at the public hearing and give their opinion so the town can make a decision that makes the majority happy," he said.

Additionally~
This is the letter from Darrel Aubertine to the Cape Vincent Town Board instructing them to vote on wind issues, even though they have conflicts of interests . In this letter Darrel Aubertine mentions a that he regrets that he was unable to attend the public hearing of June 3rd 2006 the Watertown Times article in this post, addresses this public hearing as well as other issues.

Cape vincent Wind Project Questioned

Cape Vincent Wind Hist May 2006 Mason &Wood will recuse themselves

May 12, 2006:

At the town board meeting Councilmen Mason and Wood state they have received notification from the Jefferson County Board of Ethics and that they will recuse themselves from any votes or discussion of wind development issues. At the same meeting PBC Edsall was present and provided “input to the Board regarding this decision (wind law).” [Edsall never mentioned requesting an advisory opinion from the Jefferson County Board of Ethics, nor did he recuse himself to the extent of Mason and Wood.]

CAPE COUNCIL COMPROMISES ON WIND FARM

Published: May 12,2006
CAPE COUNCIL COMPROMISES ON WIND FARM
By JUDE SEYMOUR
TIMES STAFF WRITER
CAPE VINCENT -- The Town Council agreed Thursday to compromise on a wind development project line that would begin 1,000 feet from the town's river district boundary, meaning the first wind turbine could be no closer than 2,600 feet to Route 12E.
The council set a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the zoning regulations for 10 a.m. June 3 at the Cape Vincent Fire Hall.

The agreement was reached after Supervisor Thomas K. Rienbeck advocated a 500-foot boundary from the river district, which would allow the first tower at 2,100 feet, while Councilman Clifford P. Schneider backed a 2,500-foot setback from the river district, which would allow the first tower at 4,100 feet from Route 12E.

"What is so special about that additional piece of land, going from, say, what you're proposing out to about 4,300 feet?" Mr. Schneider said. "I looked at the wind maps, and it certainly isn't the wind."

Councilman Mickey Orvis's offer was just 100 feet more than Mr. Rienbeck's proposal, but the council needed a unanimous vote because Councilmen Marty T. Mason and Joseph H. Wood were notified orally Thursday by the county Board of Ethics that they should abstain from any vote regarding wind turbines, owing to conflicts of interests.

Mr. Mason has given AES/Acciona Wind Energy New York, Rochester, right-of-way access on his land along the regional water line. He said in April that he is still in negotiations with that company for developing other property he owns.

Mr. Wood said he was told he did not have to disclose the Board of Ethics ruling and declined to explain what the board considered to be his precise conflict. He sold his 20 percent interest in the Wood farm, which has a contract for wind rights, in January 2005. But the councilman has immediate and extended relations who benefit financially from the wind power companies.

Mr. Schneider said the community is so polarized and divided about setbacks that any compromise is one "which everyone leaves here with a frown." He added, "If we end up with a hearing in June where some side gets up when we're done and is clapping and cheering, I think we will have failed."

The board also agreed to add two more stipulations to the proposed zoning amendments, as recommended Wednesday by the town Planning Board.

"We want in the law a separate thing that says there will be a fee per tower," Planning Board Chairman Richard J. Edsall said. "You're not specifying the fee. We'll come up with that later. And the second one is that we say that it is 1,000 feet from a property line that's not participating."

Property owners who allow the erection of a tower on their property must ensure it is at least 1,000 feet from any neighbor who is not participating in the development.

"I want that 1,000 feet on the property line, because that keeps good neighbors," Mr. Edsall said.

Todd R. Hopper, the AES/Acciona project manager, supported the additional two stipulations. He also told councilmen, "We're not going to start construction until we have permission to connect." The project manager predicted the first turbine would not be constructed and operational in Cape Vincent until the fall of 2008.

The council also received a petition from Frank J. Giaquinto; the Route 12E resident claimed 322 residents signed the document, which advocated a setback of 1,600 feet from Route 12E.

"I think the town is overwhelmingly in favor of having them and having a reasonable setback," he said.