Greece, N.Y. — Members of a grass-roots group of Lake Ontario shoreline dwellers attempted to fan opposition to an idea that could bring as many as 166 wind turbines off various locations of the lake’s south shore, although no specific plan or location has been outlined.
They found the right spot.
About 100 like-minded residents crammed into the Lakeview Community Church in Greece last week for a heated meeting on the GLOW project, or Great Lakes Offshore Wind.
The New York Power Authority has identified potential turbine locations off the shores of Greece, Rochester, Irondequoit, and Webster — and other potential wind farm sites on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie — and has received five proposals from unnamed developers.
A selection could be made later this year or early in 2011, although construction of a wind farm anywhere is several years off.
Alan Isselhard, who was one of several speakers from the Great Lakes Concerned Citizens group to speak, urged the Monroe County Legislature to join Wayne, Jefferson and Oswego counties and draw up a resolution opposing the “appalling action.”
To date, the Legislature “has let us down,” Isselhard said.
“We want to see the offshore turbine project defeated,” said Isselhard, who lives in Huron, Wayne County.
Legislator Rick Antelli, R-Greece, whose district includes the shoreline from Payne Beach in Hilton to Charlotte Beach in Rochester, said he is working on such a resolution with other legislators, telling residents he is willing to act on “whatever you like us to do.”
Antelli said he personally sees no benefit of turbines that upset a natural resource like Lake Ontario.
“My gut feeling is, I don’t believe they want to go where they’re not wanted,” Antelli said.
Two representatives of the Power Authority attended the meeting, although there was an unsuccessful attempt to stop Sharon Laudisi, a business development and government and community affairs specialist, from speaking and answering questions.
Laudisi did say the sites identified only mark locations where the wind speed is 17 mph or greater, water depths are 150 feet or less, and are out of shipping lanes, and there is “absolutely no project” until a developer and site are identified.
Laudisi, who said many New Yorkers across the state favor wind power, did criticize several of the speakers.
“There’s opinion, personal beliefs, and actual facts,” Laudisi said.
But many of the residents who are worried about the impact of turbines on their property values, wildlife, and lake views, remained unconvinced a wind project is worth the expense and don’t believe the Power Authority’s claims to the contrary.
Cathey Manley, who lives on Edgemere Drive, favors a proposal to stop a project.
“As a resident, I don’t trust what’s going on,” Manley said.
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