County Opposition to Lake Ontario Wind Turbines - What is the County Actually Saying???

A few days ago the Jefferson County Legislators passed a non binding resolution to oppose wind turbines in the eastern Lake Ontario basin    I contacted one legislator and he confirmed the vote was unanimous.

As you know I applauded this move by the County Legs. in a previous post.  I thought it was very similar to my NO wind position, and political beliefs about how to handle the NY Article X law.  One commenter on my blog said that the County position was nothing like my position and I was distorting all the facts.

Well what did the County actually say by their resolution to OPPOSE wind turbines in Lake Ontario?  Note that word OPPOSE!!!  Let’s examine that for a bit.

As my readers know I want to prohibit industrial wind turbines for a host of credible reasons based on a lot of research and direct experience, like it is a pointless unreliable energy source that does not solve our energy and climate problems…not even close.

But many of you also know one of my big objections is the viewshed destruction that will occur by spreading these monster industrial machines across our beautiful region whether it be in our towns, or out in the Lake. I look at the viewshed issue and protection of it from mainly an environmental  beauty  perspective.  But also view relates directly to property values.  Any realtor in their right mind will verify that, which then relates directly to our economy.  VIEW has a great deal to do with why people choose to come here as tourists, seasonal residents, and to live permanently.  That has been my main stance, along with the other important impacts.  When you spread 400 ft spinning industrial turbines with invasive strobe lighting across the viewshed, it is the height of absurdity to think you can mitigate them with traditional setback zoning. Once again I will say it…just look at Wolfe Island.  You can create setbacks all over the island but you still can’t hide those damn things.  Officials zoning with setbacks to try to mitigate industrial wind turbine view issues, whether it be Cape Vincent of some other town, are in a complete state of denial.  

Let me give you an example.  First look across the River at Wolfe Island from nearly any vantage point along the CV river shore or out on the river itself. .  Depending on your view those turbines could be 2 miles, 5 miles or 10 or more miles, and they are still dominant in the view.  Now in CV we have Rte. 12E as both a national scenic byway and the Seaway Trail. So the zoning committee last I heard puts a 3 mile setback from the river and lake, and (this is the more absurd part) a 1.5 mile setback on either side of 12E out of CV toward Lyme.  Like 1.5 miles is actually going to mitigate a wasteland of 400 ft industrial wind turbines. THEN after they propose this scenic setback their zoning attorney comes along and says “well geee fellas I can’t defend anything just because somebody doesn’t like the way it looks.””””  Aaahhhh…isn’t that the ENTIRE POINT of a SCENIC BYWAY!!!!!  THAT is what I call denial, and it is really absurd!!!

Well there is one govt. entity that is not in denial about this issue thank God!  That would be the Jefferson County Legislators in their unanimous opposition to turbines in the Lake.

Now ask yourself WHY would they be OPPOSED to turbines in the Lake?  Well it appears their concerns are apparently IDENTICAL to mine…VIEW, and the direct impacts from the potential VIEWSHED destruction.  Can you imagine that???. Cape Vincent says…”well gee we will set them back a couple of miles that should fix it”, and the County has the smarts to say NO we don’t want them in the Lake because of the VIEW.  I guess they actually get it about not being able to mitigate gigantic wind turbines, and that it just might be a real big detriment to property values, and the basis of our Golden Crescent, Eastern Lake shore, and 1000 Islands area economy.. HOOOLLLLYYY Crap!!!!

Now you don’t have to believe me just look at sample public comments by a couple legislators, keeping in mind they must be speaking for all of them since the opposition resolution was UNANIMOUS.

“Jefferson County Legislator Robert Ferris said, "We're not for offshore wind turbines in Jefferson County or around the county. We don't think it's necessary. I don't believe it's an efficient use of power or government money to subsidize these wind turbines."

“Ormsby said, "We don't need the lakefront littered with these towers."

“Ormsby (0:19): Primarily, you know, we’re getting a jump on this thing before it picks up much more momentum. Our primary point is, is that we don’t need ‘em sitting on our lakefront – that’s one of our primary industries here in the county, you know, which is tourism.”

“It’s going to have the same negative impact on our shoreline, on the tourism trade, boating, the fishing, the sailing, access to the ports – I mean, there’s nothing positive about it.”

“Ormsby isn’t keen on wind power in general, but he says that debate is for another day. What’s important now, he says, is protecting the county from outside interests that could harm local businesses and the tax base.”

A lot of talk directly or indirectly about the VIEWSED impacts!!!!

I guess that makes them a bunch of radical crazy nut case kooks just like me!

Now they may not be outright opposing turbines on land yet, but look at what Mr. Ormsby and Mr. Ferris are saying about wind not being  an  efficient power source or it’s not a good use of govt. money.  Ormsby says he is NOT keen on wind power in general.  Again almost IDENTICAL to what I and other have been saying and they were willing to stand right up and oppose this wind nonsense.

So what is going on here?  What is the county legislature eluding too?

 Well if you don’t think turbines in the Lake are productive, or they are a waste of money…well I hate to tell you this, but that doesn’t change at all on LAND.  In fact power production on land will be worse than out in the Lake which makes it an even BIGGER waste of money.

So for me here is the  HUGE question.  The County will have to sign off on any PILOT agreement  right….with BP or anybody else?  Seems to me it would be a bit awkward politically to believe this about wind energy and say it quite publicly right up to using those reasons to pass an opposition resolution…then support a wind PILOT to pick the tax payers pocket for what you just publicly opposed!!  Keeping in mind that industrial wind on land is going to be a worse proposition that offshore because it brings additional invasive impacts on PEOPLE that don’t occur miles out in the Lake.

So what is the message here my friends????