Saturday, July 31, 2010

Legislators explain why they oppose offshore project

Several members of the Oswego County Legislature’s Economic Development and Planning Committee addressed the reasons they objected to the proposed Great Lakes offshore wind turbine project at the July 27 meeting.

While at a meeting held in regard to the project, Legislator Louella LeClair related that New York Power Authority Chief Executive Officer Richard Kessel said there were no advantages for the county to host the wind turbines.

“He said there was no benefit as far as taxing or anything else for the host community,” she said. “We would get no benefit for our county as far as tax dollars and we would get no benefit as far as rate reduction.”

LeClair said she also had concerns about the impact the project could have on the fishing industry.

“It could totally destroy our fishing industry that we rely on,” she said.

Legislator Shawn Doyle, who has been actively involved with the issue, said that there was no real economic benefit to hosting the wind turbines.

While the construction of the towers could bring a short-term economic boom, when the project is completed, the boom would end, he noted.

“It would be a boom and then it would go bust and it would be a big bust,” he said.

Because the work is highly specialized, few local residents would be employed during the construction process and Doyle said while the area will benefit from the short-term stay of the out-of-town employees, they will leave once the job is completed.

The legislature voted in March to oppose a New York Power Authority project that would locate dozens of wind turbines in Lake Ontario.

A proposal made by New York Power Authority called for the construction, siting and operation of wind-turbine facilities in Lake Erie and/or Lake Ontario’s eastern basin. The project would include inland transmission lines.

They thought the issue had ended until news reports suggested area officials may still be interested in hosting the project (see related story).

Legislators stressed that their decision is final and that they are not interested in bringing discussion back to the table.

LeClair mentioned the other counties that have opposed the project.

“How can all these counties be wrong?” she asked.

Doyle said the onshore wind project under development by British Petroleum in Cape Vincent has divided the community.

“It’s like colonialism all over again,” he said.

Legislator Barbara Brown brought up the Fenner wind project.

“Fenner wind power has taken away half the benefits they gave to the community,” she said. “They’ve also determined that the bases to the windmills weren’t big enough.”

Legislator Jacob Mulcahey asked if the legislators could have an opportunity to gather more information in regard to wind power.

Legislature Chairman Barry Leemann said that since Mulcahey is a member of the county’s Green Team, the issue could be explored more.

Mulcahey said he would like a primary meeting to be inclusive of only the Green Team and the legislature.

“Obviously we can’t throw the public out,” he added.

Leemann said sometime in the future the Green Team will entertain a wind developer and someone from an opposing citizen’s group. “We won’t be bringing them in together,” he added.

As for the Lake Ontario wind tower proposal, legislators said it will not be reconsidered.

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