Friday, May 27, 2011

Cape survey finds more favor wind power

 Link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times Cape survey finds more favor wind power
ZOGBY POLL: Opponents of turbines feel more strongly; majority critical of council's handling of issue
By JAEGUN LEE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011

CAPE VINCENT — More town residents are for wind development than against, according to a recent survey.

The survey report, submitted to the Town Council by IBOPE Zogby International, Utica, on Wednesday, found that nearly half, 47 percent, of the roughly 300 respondents supported industrial wind turbine projects in Cape Vincent, while 41 percent were opposed to them. The remainder said they weren't sure what they thought.

For change in Cape Vincent, oust Mason

 For change in Cape Vincent, oust Mason

FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011

Elections will soon be upon us. We Republicans get to go first with a primary in September. We have two excellent candidates running against the incumbent. Clif Schneider and John Byrne are honest and intelligent. They also have the desire to represent the people. All the people.

I would like to welcome back all you seasonal folks. We need your help. Please register to vote in the primary and the general election. With your help we can and will win.

Marty Mason is the incumbent, who by the way, is under investigation by the attorney general's office for conflicts of interest and who knows what else.

Was it not Marty who voted to throw a petition with over 800 signatures in the trash? Does he really expect the people who signed the petition to vote for him?

Was it he who voted "no" on an audit when the new supervisor took office and originally voted "no" on paying for it? Was this the audit that found out about the $160,000 slush fund? The same audit discovered the so-called water line to nowhere that's under investigation.

Was it not Marty who used his position to get his sister the job of replacing Arlene Ingerson as town clerk? Didn't his sister resign because of missing funds? Isn't this the third scandal at the dump, with him on the board?

While being chairman or co-chair of the Republican Committee, didn't he refuse to endorse or help any of the Republican candidates in the last two town elections? Now he has the nerve to ask his fellow Republicans for support, because he is entitled?

We've always had the good old boy system in Cape Vincent. The only difference in the past, we didn't have to get involved. They looked out for the people.

Now, look what we've got: attorney general investigation, missing money, slush fund, secret meetings, secret contracts and conflicts of interest, appointing other conflicted people or friends who will agree with them (or they don't get appointed) to the Planning Board.

With the "because we can" attitude, Marty and Donny Mason with their pal Mickey Orvis are in lockstep to fill their pockets and the heck with the people. They have three votes against two. This means, as you have seen, they can appoint whomever they agree on and can pass anything they want with the majority of the votes. Only we, the people, can change this. If we don't get involved enough to vote, we deserve whatever we get. Folks, when is enough, enough?

Harry E. Landers Jr.

Cape Vincent

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Developers likely paid for pro-wind mailer

Developers likely paid for pro-wind mailer
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011

The "mysterious" green-card mailing that is showing up in north country mailboxes trumpeting financial advantages to be gleaned from "wind" farms, is conspicuously and no doubt purposefully missing any identity or contact point from the sender, except for the signature "Voters for Wind."

This is most certainly both intentional and purposeful, because the last thing this group wants to engage in is an ongoing open and honest discussion of all the facts behind wind farms, particularly the financial and local political ones.

It should surprise no one that not far below the surface of this mailing is most likely direct financial support from wind farm developers, again, most likely being channeled through citizens who in one way or another have their hands in the cookie, er, wind jar.

Charles Wilson

Three Mile Bay

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Journal | Hammond Nears Wind Ordinance Decision

 Link here to continue reading The Journal | Hammond Nears Wind Ordinance Decision

Hammond Nears Wind Ordinance Decision
By MATT MCALLISTER
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011

HAMMOND - A final version of the town's wind ordinance may be coming in as little as a month.

The Town Council on Monday discussed health and safety setbacks proposed by the wind advisory committee. Town Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram and councilmen Dr. James R. Tague and spent the evening attempting to find a happy medium between the existing setbacks established on the original wind law and those proposed by the most recent wind committee.

Two setback standards, including how close wind turbines should be allowed to Hammond Central School and the distance they should be set back from the St. Lawrence River, dominated the evening's conversation.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Hammond may loosen proposed sound rules

 Link here to continue reading Hammond may loosen proposed sound rules

By MATT MCALLISTER
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011

HAMMOND — The Town Council is leaning toward eliminating one of three sound standards proposed by the wind advisory committee for the local wind ordinance.

"I personally don't see the reasoning behind an additional, unnecessary component," town Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram said of the three-tiered noise standard proposed by the committee. "I really don't understand the benefit of a three-hour time slot. I think it would create more of a problem than anything else."

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Great Lakes Offshore Wind ~ loses it glow

 Link here to continue reading Wind loses it glow » Local News » Lockport Union-Sun & Journal Online
April 30, 2011

Wind loses it glow
Great Lakes Offshore Wind project loses steam
By Bill Wolcott
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Sat Apr 30, 2011, 11:50 PM EDT

LOCKPORT — The movement for wind energy was stronger five years ago. Perhaps people pictured Holland’s picturesque windmills surrounded by tulips.

Certainly, windmills painted a prettier picture than nuclear reactors and smoke stacks from coal-fired power plants.

Hammond ~ Iberdrola ~ favors old law

 Link here to continue reading Watertown Daily Times Wind company favors old law


HAMMOND PROJECT: Iberdrola asks town to reject proposal from advisory group
By MATT MCALLISTER
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2011


HAMMOND — Iberdrola Renewables last week asked the Town Council to keep in place its "reasonable" wind law and not adopt the recommendations of the town's wind advisory committee.

The company, which wants to build its Stone Church Wind project in the town, believes the town's existing law "is reasonable and consistent with the majority of 15 operating wind farms in New York state," said spokeswoman Jenny L. Burke.