Cape Vincent / Hammond~Local elections influence two Town's wind futures

(01/11/12)

North country Public radio
Joanna Richards reporting


The prospect of wind energy development has divided north country communities from Cape Vincent to Clinton County.

New York's new Article X law gives developers the option to seek state review of where to put their wind farms.

But prior to Article X, accepting and siting the big turbines was up to each town. And companies can still choose local rather than state review. More than once, the conflict over wind has spilled over into local politics.

That has been the case in both Cape Vincent, on Lake Ontario, and Hammond, on a windy ridge overlooking the St. Lawrence River. In both towns, last fall's elections pitted incumbent supervisors who favor regulation of wind power against challengers who had already signed leases with energy companies to place wind turbines on their land.