Wind farm woes continue for Oswego County residents
Posting Date: 02-23-2008
link to full story The Valley News Online
by Carol Thompson
A proposed wind farm in Jefferson County has Oswego County residents upset because they could be forced into giving up property rights so that power lines can run from one county to the other.
The project, proposed for Galloo Island, located in the Jefferson County Town of Hounsfield, would require power lines to come ashore off Lake Ontario in Henderson and travel south through Oswego County to Parish.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Aubertine, Barclay Spar Down Strech
Staff writer Michelle Breidenbach contributed to this report.
By Charles McChesney
Staff writer
The Post-Standard
22 February 2008
Candidates in state Senate race argue over wind farms, Empire Zones.
The campaigns for the 48th state Senate District grappled on Thursday, trading charges as the race entered its final days.
Assemblymen Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, and Darrel Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, are vying for the seat left open by Jim Wright’s resignation in January. Tuesday is election day.
Continue reading via [this link]
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Rivals Favor Wind farms
link to full story Rivals favor wind farms
SENATE RACE: Barclay, Aubertine disagree on how to regulate projects
By JUDE SEYMOUR
TIMES STAFF WRITER
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008
Assemblymen William A. Barclay and Darrel J. Aubertine both support building wind farms to help offset New York's growing demand for energy, but they disagree on how those projects should be regulated.
Both state Senate candidates agree that New York should revive its dormant power plant siting law, known as Article X. They disagree, however, about allowing wind power projects to pass through that expedited process.
SENATE RACE: Barclay, Aubertine disagree on how to regulate projects
By JUDE SEYMOUR
TIMES STAFF WRITER
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008
Assemblymen William A. Barclay and Darrel J. Aubertine both support building wind farms to help offset New York's growing demand for energy, but they disagree on how those projects should be regulated.
Both state Senate candidates agree that New York should revive its dormant power plant siting law, known as Article X. They disagree, however, about allowing wind power projects to pass through that expedited process.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
2/20/08 TI Sun Jan,29 Bp DEIS Public Hearing
Cape Vincent- Town Supervisor Tom Rienbeck said it was a dog and pony show.
The Cape Vincent Planning Board held a public on BP Alternative Energy’s Cape Vincent Wind Farm DEIS report on Jan. 26. While some speakers addressed the planning board with their concerns over the document, Councilman Donald Mason said that he had many complaints from people over the way it was organized.
“People were giving their three minutes to friends or other speakers. The gentlemen from Lowville didn’t say anything about the DEIS. He only talked about his problems. A lot of people didn’t talk about the DEIS and I think that should be addressed if they do this again, “he said. The board felt
that the public hearing was supposed to be specifically about the DEIS and not personal feelings about the wind project itself. Beth White, a resident of Cape Vincent, said that speakers should have only addressed the planning board and not have been allowed to grandstand. “A microphone or speaker system should’ve been set up in the recreation center if they couldn’t be heard, “she said.
Mrs. White was upset that she felt people were able to take over the meeting with comments not pertaining to the DEIS discussion. “You get three minutes to address the board and when those are up you go to the end of the line and wait to go through again.” She added. Supervisor Rienbeck said that the chair of the planning board, Richard Edsall, would likely have intervened in the process if he had not felt threatened by the people who felt he had a conflict of interest when it came to wind farm development. “He felt that he should abstain and he just accepted the process, but I think other members of the planning board should have said lets tighten up here, “he said. The board felt that town attorney Mark Gebo did the best he could to monitor the event, but felt that the boards, town and planning, should have given him some guidance to assist in the hearing’s proceedings.
Councilman Marty Mason said that overall a microphone system should be set up in the recreation center to avoid future issues. The forced air system in the center was loud and conveniently used as an example for noise levels. “Its 14 decibels, by the way, “he joked.
Barbara Steinhouse, resident of Cape Vincent, asked the board about zoning laws Supervisor Rienbeck said would be revisited in 2008. She was curious as to what the board would be able to do if all the councilmen couldn’t vote.
“I’m not trying to stir anything up, but I just want to know what we’re looking at, “she said. With two of the two councilmen, Marty Mason and Joe Wood, accused of having conflicts of interests, Supervisor Rienbeck stated that while he didn’t have anything legal to back up his assumption, he thought that once someone accused of having a conflict of interest was re-elected to the same position, the conflict of interest was void. “Mind you I’m not one- hundred percent about that, but I speak for the board when I say that if we had not folded under the threats of lawsuits, we’d have zoning laws right now,” he said. The Cape Vincent Town Board has faced several challenges of late, including, the interest of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators. The county board is looking to become involved in community PILOT agreements so the county can receive some of the money that the host communities are being offered. Supervisor Rienbeck said that it was wrong and until the town board was satisfied with the offered PILOT agreements no wind farm would make through the planning board’s site plan review.
“The Jefferson County board is in it for the money. We’re in it for Cape Vincent,” he concluded.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Group Supporting Cape Wind Plans ~ Voters For Wind / 2008
19,February 2008 Page: B3
Edition: Both
Section: Jefferson
Copyright, 2008, Johnson Newspaper Corporation
Group supporting Cape Wind plans
By Jaegun Lee TIMES STAFF WRITER TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2008 CAPE VINCENT — Wind power is the fastest growing electricity source in the U.S., said Beth A. White, chairwoman of Voters for Wind, a citizen's organization in support of the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm. "We have a chance to reduce the cost of energy and create a better future for our children," she said. "Many people are concerned with rising energy cost. It is the right thing to do."
The relatively new group held a bake sale to raise money. On Saturday, organizers assembled a human wind sign to demonstrate their support of wind power at the Gauthier farm in Cape Vincent. The Cape Vincent Wind Farm is a proposed 210-megawatt project in the towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme. BP Alternative Energy, the project sponsor, proposes to build as many as 140 turbines.
The complete story can be read in the [Watertown times archives ]
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Supervisors Want Host agreements for wind farms
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008
Times staff writer Jude Seymour contributed to this report.
Link to full story Supervisors from towns with wind projects want to see host community agreements in their towns as a part of any tax breaks for wind power developers.
The Jefferson County Board of Legislators heard from the county's counsel on negotiations, Kevin R. McAuliffe, Tuesday night. He advocated negotiating only payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements.
But the supervisors want to see PILOT and host community agreements.
TIMES STAFF WRITER
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008
Times staff writer Jude Seymour contributed to this report.
Link to full story Supervisors from towns with wind projects want to see host community agreements in their towns as a part of any tax breaks for wind power developers.
The Jefferson County Board of Legislators heard from the county's counsel on negotiations, Kevin R. McAuliffe, Tuesday night. He advocated negotiating only payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements.
But the supervisors want to see PILOT and host community agreements.
Aubertine Campaign Hit By Major Fraud Scandal
Newzjunky.com :: Wiliam A. Barclay
Link to read full story
Candidate's Tattered Credibility Takes New Hit on Charge of Faked Ad
MEDIA RELEASE
PULASKI, N.Y., Feb. 11 — Voters should be deeply concerned by the latest revelations of distortion and outright fabrication by Darrel Aubertine in his increasingly negative and personal campaign for State Senate.
Aubertine campaign operatives reportedly coached a local fisherman to makeup a completely false story about his childhood fishing on the Salmon River. His fictional account was included in the candidate's major campaign commercial.
In the ad—one of Aubertine's most widely broadcast commercials—a local fisherman tells a touching story about fishing with his "granddad" on the Salmon River. The individual who appears in the ad now admits that his story was completely false, and that he had been entirely scripted in advance by top aides to Aubertine.
"
Official: WillBarclay.com
Source NEWSJUNKY
Link to read full story
Candidate's Tattered Credibility Takes New Hit on Charge of Faked Ad
MEDIA RELEASE
PULASKI, N.Y., Feb. 11 — Voters should be deeply concerned by the latest revelations of distortion and outright fabrication by Darrel Aubertine in his increasingly negative and personal campaign for State Senate.
Aubertine campaign operatives reportedly coached a local fisherman to makeup a completely false story about his childhood fishing on the Salmon River. His fictional account was included in the candidate's major campaign commercial.
In the ad—one of Aubertine's most widely broadcast commercials—a local fisherman tells a touching story about fishing with his "granddad" on the Salmon River. The individual who appears in the ad now admits that his story was completely false, and that he had been entirely scripted in advance by top aides to Aubertine.
"
Official: WillBarclay.com
Source NEWSJUNKY
Saturday, February 9, 2008
| Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent ~opinion
Watertown Daily Times Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent
Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2008
Wind energy claims to be clean. Unfortunately, we can't say that about wind company ethics and some local town officials entangled in wind issues. There's a deafening silence from leaders entrusted with the public welfare. Conflicts of interest between wind companies and town boards appear to be a regular occurrence in small communities hypnotized by financial gain.
In Cape Vincent, town officials appear to have conflicts of interest with wind companies, yet the town has no public record of these contracts. There is only hearsay, conveniently enabling town officials to cloud the question while remaining in office. Remember that the Jefferson County Ethics Board recommended that these officials should recuse themselves from voting on wind power issues.
Continue reading
Watertown Daily Times Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent
Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2008
Wind energy claims to be clean. Unfortunately, we can't say that about wind company ethics and some local town officials entangled in wind issues. There's a deafening silence from leaders entrusted with the public welfare. Conflicts of interest between wind companies and town boards appear to be a regular occurrence in small communities hypnotized by financial gain.
In Cape Vincent, town officials appear to have conflicts of interest with wind companies, yet the town has no public record of these contracts. There is only hearsay, conveniently enabling town officials to cloud the question while remaining in office. Remember that the Jefferson County Ethics Board recommended that these officials should recuse themselves from voting on wind power issues.
Continue reading
Watertown Daily Times Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent
Answer questions about Cape DEIS Letter
Answer questions about Cape DEIS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2008
The Cape Vincent Planning Board held a meeting on Jan. 26 for the public to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) submitted by British Petroleum (BP) and accepted by the Planning Board.
First, Tom Rienbeck, town supervisor, advised the board to stay the course, not be influenced by threats from people here, but to forge ahead with the wind energy project. Is he suggesting the board pay no attention to voters/taxpayers' concerns, and accept a DEIS which clearly does not meet the intent of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)?
Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2008
The Cape Vincent Planning Board held a meeting on Jan. 26 for the public to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) submitted by British Petroleum (BP) and accepted by the Planning Board.
First, Tom Rienbeck, town supervisor, advised the board to stay the course, not be influenced by threats from people here, but to forge ahead with the wind energy project. Is he suggesting the board pay no attention to voters/taxpayers' concerns, and accept a DEIS which clearly does not meet the intent of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)?
Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Lyme Extends wind Moratorium
Link not available~
WWNY TV 7
29 January 2008
The Lyme town board decided Monday night to extend its moratorium on a proposed wind project for another three months.
That, as some residents urged the board to make the moratorium much longer.
BP Energy proposes 60 wind turbines for the town.
“Right now, we’ve gotta look at the setback issues, the noise issues,” said town supervisor Scott Aubertine.
At least three town residents proposed longer moratoriums — from six months to ‘indefinite.’
“One to five years minimum,” said one resident. “We should really study before we go ahead with this.”
As is the case in other north country towns, Lyme residents are divided over important questions — how noisy and environmentally damaging the wind towers are; how far they should be kept away from water front properties; what sort of deal should be struck with the developer.
Watch Alexandra Field’s report from Monday night:
WWNY TV 7
29 January 2008
WWNY TV 7
29 January 2008
The Lyme town board decided Monday night to extend its moratorium on a proposed wind project for another three months.
That, as some residents urged the board to make the moratorium much longer.
BP Energy proposes 60 wind turbines for the town.
“Right now, we’ve gotta look at the setback issues, the noise issues,” said town supervisor Scott Aubertine.
At least three town residents proposed longer moratoriums — from six months to ‘indefinite.’
“One to five years minimum,” said one resident. “We should really study before we go ahead with this.”
As is the case in other north country towns, Lyme residents are divided over important questions — how noisy and environmentally damaging the wind towers are; how far they should be kept away from water front properties; what sort of deal should be struck with the developer.
Watch Alexandra Field’s report from Monday night:
WWNY TV 7
29 January 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
January 26, 2008 DEIS ~ Meeting ~Called a Dog and Pony Show Because Citizens Voice Their Concerns
February 20, 2008 by Kristina Rusho in Thousand Island Sun
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Town Board still weighing option in Lyme wind debate
Link not available~
Watch Jessica Cain’s report:
WWNY TV 7
12 January 2008
The Lyme Town Board says it needs some time to think before voting on a proposed local law regulating wind power.
The decision comes after a second public hearing on the proposed law Saturday.
At the public hearing it became clear the wind debate is no longer divided among those in favor or against wind power in the town.
The debate is now complicated by how far setbacks for turbines should be and whether another moratorium on wind power should be put in place.
The Town Board says it needs time to process all the opinions from the two public hearings held on the proposed law.
It took nearly two hours to read all the written opinions on the law before those who attended Saturday’s public hearing spoke.
When the public did get up to speak the opinions were all different.
A big issue in the proposed law are 4500 foot setbacks from the waterfront, the Chaumont river, and the villages of Chaumont and Three Mile Bay.
Newly elected Town Supervisor Scott Aubertine says the proposed local law and the wind power debate overall have made for many sleepless nights.
Aubertine would not say how long he felt the board needed before voting on the proposed law or making changes to it.
Watch Jessica Cain’s report:
WWNY TV 7
12 January 2008
Watch Jessica Cain’s report:
WWNY TV 7
12 January 2008
The Lyme Town Board says it needs some time to think before voting on a proposed local law regulating wind power.
The decision comes after a second public hearing on the proposed law Saturday.
At the public hearing it became clear the wind debate is no longer divided among those in favor or against wind power in the town.
The debate is now complicated by how far setbacks for turbines should be and whether another moratorium on wind power should be put in place.
The Town Board says it needs time to process all the opinions from the two public hearings held on the proposed law.
It took nearly two hours to read all the written opinions on the law before those who attended Saturday’s public hearing spoke.
When the public did get up to speak the opinions were all different.
A big issue in the proposed law are 4500 foot setbacks from the waterfront, the Chaumont river, and the villages of Chaumont and Three Mile Bay.
Newly elected Town Supervisor Scott Aubertine says the proposed local law and the wind power debate overall have made for many sleepless nights.
Aubertine would not say how long he felt the board needed before voting on the proposed law or making changes to it.
Watch Jessica Cain’s report:
WWNY TV 7
12 January 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Lyme proposal could kill wind power plans
Chanel
WWNY TV 7 link not available
11 January 2008
Is the wind power issue dead in the Jefferson County town of Lyme?
The proposed local law to regulate windmills would kill plans for BP Alternative Energy to put up as many as 60 turbines there.
Under the measure, turbines would have to be 4,500 feet away from the lake, the river and the villages of Chaumont and Three Mile Bay.
Within those areas there are limits as well.
“If it stays an ordinance as it’s currently written, BP could not build a wind farm in the town of Lyme,” said Jim Madden of BP Alternative Energy.
The town planning board said the proposed law is based on the results of a survey sent out to local residents.
“Those are the setbacks that we came up with. That’s what the people wanted and that’s what we put down,” said Judy Tyndell of the town planning board.
BP officials said they wouldn’t be surprised if the 4,500 foot setback plan is the most restrictive in New York state.
7 News took a look at several local laws across the state; no other town we found has setbacks as far as the town of Lyme’s proposal.
In addition, Lyme’s noise restrictions are a lot tougher.
The final public hearing on the issue of wind power will be held in Chaumont Saturday.
The proposal will either head toward town board approval or back to the drawing board.
WWNY TV 7
11 January 2008
WWNY TV 7 link not available
11 January 2008
Is the wind power issue dead in the Jefferson County town of Lyme?
The proposed local law to regulate windmills would kill plans for BP Alternative Energy to put up as many as 60 turbines there.
Under the measure, turbines would have to be 4,500 feet away from the lake, the river and the villages of Chaumont and Three Mile Bay.
Within those areas there are limits as well.
“If it stays an ordinance as it’s currently written, BP could not build a wind farm in the town of Lyme,” said Jim Madden of BP Alternative Energy.
The town planning board said the proposed law is based on the results of a survey sent out to local residents.
“Those are the setbacks that we came up with. That’s what the people wanted and that’s what we put down,” said Judy Tyndell of the town planning board.
BP officials said they wouldn’t be surprised if the 4,500 foot setback plan is the most restrictive in New York state.
7 News took a look at several local laws across the state; no other town we found has setbacks as far as the town of Lyme’s proposal.
In addition, Lyme’s noise restrictions are a lot tougher.
The final public hearing on the issue of wind power will be held in Chaumont Saturday.
The proposal will either head toward town board approval or back to the drawing board.
WWNY TV 7
11 January 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Chaumont ~ Public Debates Wind Energy
Link not available
1/07/08 ~ ?
By KELLY L. REYNOLDS
TlMES STAFF WRITER
Watertown Daily Times
CHAUMONT — More than 100 people both for and against wind power development crammed into the fire hall Saturday for the first of two public hearings on the town of Lyme’s proposed zoning ordinance for wind turbines.
Several comments at the three-hour meeting were followed by applause and some by boos, but Town Supervisor Scott G. Aubertine said after the hearing that he was pleased by the turnout and the willingness of the crowd to listen to differing opinions.
Continue reading via the [WDT archives]
1/07/08 ~ ?
By KELLY L. REYNOLDS
TlMES STAFF WRITER
Watertown Daily Times
CHAUMONT — More than 100 people both for and against wind power development crammed into the fire hall Saturday for the first of two public hearings on the town of Lyme’s proposed zoning ordinance for wind turbines.
Several comments at the three-hour meeting were followed by applause and some by boos, but Town Supervisor Scott G. Aubertine said after the hearing that he was pleased by the turnout and the willingness of the crowd to listen to differing opinions.
Continue reading via the [WDT archives]
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Watertown Daily Times (NY)
January 6, 2008
PUBLIC DEBATES WIND ENERGY
LYME HEARING: CROWD FOR, AGAINST DEVELOPMENT VOICES OPINIONS ON ZONING
Author: KELLY L. REYNOLDS
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Edition: Both
Section: Jefferson
Page: B1
Dateline: CHAUMONT
Estimated printed pages: 4
Article Text:
More than 100 people both for and against wind power development crammed into the fire hall Saturday for the first of two public hearings on the town of Lyme's proposed zoning ordinance for wind turbines.
Several comments at the three-hour meeting were followed by applause and some by boos, but Town Supervisor Scott G. Aubertine said after the hearing that he was pleased by the turnout and the willingness of the crowd to listen to differing opinions.
"This turnout shows a lot of care and concerns of the people," he said. "They have a lot of very valid questions and concerns, so after the meetings the board will digest all of it and make a decision."
BP Alternative Energy is proposing the Cape Vincent Wind Farm in the towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme, with 90 to 140 wind turbines. The Town Council extended the moratorium on wind farm development in November until the end of January. The original six-month moratorium was developed in April and later extended through November.
Dawn M. Munk, Three Mile Bay, is a member of the group Voters for Wind and spoke on why she thinks the setbacks in the ordinance are too restrictive. The ordinance says that a turbine may not be placed within 4,500 feet from Lake Ontario, the Chaumont River, the village of Chaumont boundary line and the hamlet of Three Mile Bay boundary line.
"If this goes through the way it is, it would be three times the setback in any other wind farm in the state," Mrs. Munk said. "It would be two times the noise regulations of any other in the state. I am disappointed in the way the town board and Planning Board have handled this. We have such an abundance of wind here, and it's not something we have to drill or mine. We just have to harness it. We do not need another moratorium; we need action."
Scott C. Discount and Seann A. Coffee recently bought a parcel of land in the town and are building a year-round residence. Mr. Discount said if he had known about the wind power proposal, he would not have moved to the area.
"We came up here for the absolute beauty of the area," he said. "That goes away with wind farms. I think the setbacks should be increased and you should have a longer moratorium. I came here to invest in my future, and now I want to protect that investment."
James A. Oxenford, Three Mile Bay, also is worried about how the placement of turbines would affect the town's character.
"Why place a noisemaker in the quiet country?" he said. "Why put tall towers in a low area? I think we're looking cheap and easy. We wouldn't be getting much compensation for what we would get taken away from us."
Daniel J. Villa, Three Mile Bay, said he is in favor of wind farms but also thinks the regulations are fine as submitted.
"We have to look at this whole piece and see the impact this will have on our town," he said. "I'm in favor of development in the town of Lyme, and I support the regulations as they are."
William A. Brown, also a member of Voters for Wind, is opposed to such restrictive setbacks and showed a map of his property at the meeting. One parcel is 844 acres. Without the setback regulations, he said, he could have 21 wind towers on that property. With all the setbacks, he said, the Planning Board told him he could have two.
His second parcel is 298 acres and would be able to accommodate seven towers without setbacks. With them, he said, none would be allowed.
James H. Madden, BP Alternative Energy's project manager for the project, said his job is to work with the town to address questions and concerns.
"I've been talking to residents, and I've seen the survey, and I do not think this is what the residents want," he said, referring to the wind power survey circulated by the town this past summer. The survey results show 52 percent of property owners in Lyme support wind turbine development, 27 percent were not in favor and 20 percent needed more information. About 37 percent said they would support the development but didn't want turbines in their neighborhoods.
"A wind farm would not be possible under this ordinance and I cannot imagine any wind developer would be able to support a development with this ordinance," Mr. Madden said.
The second and final public meeting on the proposed zoning ordinance will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chaumont Fire Hall.
Caption:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Memo:
PROPOSED REGULATIONS
The Lyme Town Council recently drafted a zoning ordinance for the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm Project that would place 90 to 140 turbines in Cape Vincent and the Town of Lyme. Highlights include:
* Any wind energy conversion system, or turbine, must be set back a minimum of 4,500 feet from the high water mark of Lake Ontario, the Chaumont River, the village of Chaumont boundary line and the hamlet of Three Mile Bay boundary line
* No turbine can be more than 500 feet tall.
* The minumum distance from any public road, the nearest edge of the Wind Overlay District (the area within the project where no turbines are permitted) or any residence or non-turbine structure that a turbine can be erected is 2.5 times the total height of the turbine. If a turbine is 500 feet tall, that would mean it would be at least 1,250 feet away from any of the above.
* A turbine must be placed at least the tower height plus 10 percent from any non-turbine above-ground utilities within the project boundary.
* A turbine must be at least 500 feet from state-identified wetlands or state-identified bodies of water.
* The noise generated by a turbine cannot exceed background noise plus 5 decibels when measured at the nearest property line, school, hospital, church or public building.
* All power cables and lines from the tower to any building or other structure must be underground.
LYME HEARING: CROWD FOR, AGAINST DEVELOPMENT VOICES OPINIONS ON ZONING
Author: KELLY L. REYNOLDS
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Edition: Both
Section: Jefferson
Dateline: CHAUMONT
~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROPOSED REGULATIONS
Saturday, January 5, 2008
WIND FARM ADVOCATES PREPARE FOR LYME HEARING
Watertown Daily Times (NY)
January 5, 2008
WIND FARM ADVOCATES PREPARE FOR LYME HEARING
Author: KELLY L. REYNOLDS
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Edition: Both
Section: Jefferson
Page: B3
Dateline: THREE MILE BAY
Article Text:
About 30 members of Voters for Wind gathered at the fire hall Friday night to organize the opinions they will share at the town public hearing today and to gather more information on the wind turbine zoning regulations recently drafted by the Lyme Town Council.
Public hearings on the regulations are scheduled for 1 p.m. today and Jan. 12 at the Chaumont Fire Hall, but many residents are still unsure of exactly what the ordinance entails, said Marion Trieste, of Green Energy Outreach Services, based in Saratoga Springs, and a contractor for BP Alternative Energy.
[Continue reading Via WDT archives]
January 5, 2008
WIND FARM ADVOCATES PREPARE FOR LYME HEARING
Author: KELLY L. REYNOLDS
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Edition: Both
Section: Jefferson
Page: B3
Dateline: THREE MILE BAY
Article Text:
About 30 members of Voters for Wind gathered at the fire hall Friday night to organize the opinions they will share at the town public hearing today and to gather more information on the wind turbine zoning regulations recently drafted by the Lyme Town Council.
Public hearings on the regulations are scheduled for 1 p.m. today and Jan. 12 at the Chaumont Fire Hall, but many residents are still unsure of exactly what the ordinance entails, said Marion Trieste, of Green Energy Outreach Services, based in Saratoga Springs, and a contractor for BP Alternative Energy.
[Continue reading Via WDT archives]
January 5, 2008
WIND FARM ADVOCATES PREPARE FOR LYME HEARING
Author: KELLY L. REYNOLDS
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Edition: Both
Section: Jefferson
Page: B3
Dateline: THREE MILE BAY
Estimated printed pages: 2
Article Text:
About 30 members of Voters for Wind gathered at the fire hall Friday night to organize the opinions they will share at the town public hearing today and to gather more information on the wind turbine zoning regulations recently drafted by the Lyme Town Council.
Public hearings on the regulations are scheduled for 1 p.m. today and Jan. 12 at the Chaumont Fire Hall, but many residents are still unsure of exactly what the ordinance entails, said Marion Trieste, of Green Energy Outreach Services, based in Saratoga Springs, and a contractor for BP Alternative Energy.
BP Alternative Energy is proposing the Cape Vincent Wind Farm in Cape Vincent and Lyme, with 90 to 140 wind turbines. Lyme's moratorium on wind farm development will be lifted at the end of the month.
"I see people out here on a cold Friday night to hear their questions answered, and I think that's what makes a local government work," Ms. Trieste said. "Tomorrow, they're going to go to the public hearing and be able to talk about things they understand."
Voters for Wind is a citizens group that meets monthly and promotes the wind farm. Much of the discussion at Friday's meeting revolved around the distance turbines would be required to be set back from Lake Ontario and from neighboring property lines, and regulations on the noise level of turbines.
Ms. Trieste said the ordinance calls for turbines to be set back 4,500 feet, or more than five-sixths of a mile, from the lake, which, combined with other setbacks, would leave virtually no space in Lyme for turbines.
"This is the most restrictive ordinance that I've ever seen in the state," she said.
Some people at the meeting wondered why the town would create such restrictive regulations when many residents expressed interest in ample turbine development in a wind power survey circulated in Lyme in the summer.
"The survey shows that a majority is in favor of wind farms," Ms. Trieste said. "If you have that majority, you would expect your Town Council to submit a plan that's far less restrictive than this is."
Guy E. Gosier, a Voters for Wind member, also brought up the positive aspects of placing wind turbines in the town.
"You could bring the town $300,000 and that would cut taxes and it would create 65 jobs," he said.
Ms. Trieste said her goal for the public meetings in the next week is to bring out all residents to voice their opinions.
"It's a great project, and wind is such a great resource," she said. "There are so many misconceptions about wind power that are based on fear and not facts."
TIMES STAFF WRITER
Edition: Both
Section: Jefferson
Dateline: THREE MILE BAY
Estimated printed pages: 2
Article Text:
Lyme residents, BP Energy speak on proposed windmill setbacks
link not available~
report:
WWNYTV
5 January 2008
More than one hundred people showed up Saturday to a public hearing on a proposed change to local law that regulates windmills in the Town of Lyme.
The proposal before the town board includes setbacks of 4500 feet from Lake Ontario and the Chaumont River.
People at Saturday’s public hearing were on both sides of the wind debate.
Also at the public hearing was a representative from BP Energy which wants to build wind turbines in the town.
BP Energy’s representative told the town board the 4500 foot setbacks is too restrictive and if passed BP would no longer want to put wind turbines in the the Town of Lyme.
Those in favor of the proposed setbacks say its far enough to cut down on the noise each windmill makes.
5 January 2008
report:
WWNYTV
5 January 2008
More than one hundred people showed up Saturday to a public hearing on a proposed change to local law that regulates windmills in the Town of Lyme.
The proposal before the town board includes setbacks of 4500 feet from Lake Ontario and the Chaumont River.
People at Saturday’s public hearing were on both sides of the wind debate.
Also at the public hearing was a representative from BP Energy which wants to build wind turbines in the town.
BP Energy’s representative told the town board the 4500 foot setbacks is too restrictive and if passed BP would no longer want to put wind turbines in the the Town of Lyme.
Those in favor of the proposed setbacks say its far enough to cut down on the noise each windmill makes.
5 January 2008
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