Did the JLL Blog Imply That The Cape Vincent Town Officials Just Fell Off The Turnip Truck?

A few days ago we all learned that the lawyer for BP’s Cape Vincent Wind farm is the husband of a high level NY PSC commissioner.  That would be the same NY PSC in control of BP’s Public Information Program  they are going through right now with the town of Cape Vincent, and the NY PSC will also be a big player in the Art X process if BP puts in an siting application.  That is the same NYS that the town and it’s supporters are writing, some begging and pleading with the PSC not to let BP destroy CV with it’s wind farm.  I agree but the last thing I would do is plead with them about it.

On the JLL blog Mr. Wiley made a post about this.  Basically he rightly suggested we would all have to just have fallen off the turnip truck to buy BP’s explanation, concerning the Harris’ relationship, which as you can see the WDT said echoed the NYPSC explanation.  I agree with JLL.  BP…PSC same explanation!

Here are BP’s and the NYPSC’s  comments from the WDT article and the JLL blog.  Underlining is mine.

Mr. Chandler echoed PSC’s statement that Commissioner Harris has “nothing to do” with the Article X review process.

“There is no conflict. The only commissioner that has anything to do with the process is the chairman of the PSC,” he said. “Mrs. Harris has nothing to do with the process.”

OK… now let’s look at part of the recent CV town govt. letter to the NYPSC about this Harris issue.  Read the important last couple paragraphs below.  This letter is also posted on both CV blogs and on the NYPSC website. The emphasis below  is mine.  I would hope town officers would carefully read these things and examine the logic before they sign them.  You know like asking BP for a solar project that neither our zoning or com plan would allow, and has no science of public input to support it.

“We also understand that energy company staff and their attorneys are probably frequent  visitors to the PSC, NYSDEC, NYSDOH and NYSERDA. After all, you are all in the energy or regulatory business. Regrettably, small municipalities do not have the same access and exposure to the State's regulating bodies. We know as we proceed with BP's Article 10 proposal that this imbalance puts Cape Vincent at a disadvantage. Having BP's attorney of record married to a PSC Commissioner does nothing to mollify our fear of having the process tilted even further in favor of the applicant.

To help us we would appreciate some assurance that Commissioner Harris is not involved in the Article 10 process and that she would not have any influence over PSC staff who may be involved in any future proceedings in our case”.

APPRECIATE some assurance!!!  Now we are begging for assurances!!! Seriously!!!!     But wait.  I thought Wiley at JLL said that if we believe any of these explanations from BP then or now, and echoed by the PSC that we would have to have just fallen off the turnip truck.  In fact that was the basic title of his post, yet here is the town asking for just such an explanation or “assurance”!  The town officials  might appreciate an assurance.  Really…and what if the PSC doesn’t respond or give them one, or it’s the same crap they gave to the paper.  Is the town going to say…”well thank you this makes us feel much better?”  Then what is your next move???? Good God… Appreciate assurances. now I have heard it all!

BTW Did Wiley at JLL just call his favorite town officials turnips that just fell off the truck????  This is humorous but there is a much bigger and more serious problem here.  

Let me see If I get this straight.  The town is clearly recognizing that the Art X process is putting CV at a disadvantage.  Actually they are basically saying it puts us at a significant disadvantage. In fact they say it is their fear. Well I can’t say I disagree with that observation. I have contended for a long time this system is stacked and we shouldn’t enable it by participating in it.

But here is the frightening part.  It also says in their  letter they intend to proceed with the Art X process even so…even knowing it is badly rigged against us!

You mean they are so blindly committed at this point that they fully recognize how the system is  stacked badly against us, and they recognize that BP has significant advantages and access in Albany, and they recognize the seriousness of the Harris relationship.  Yet they are going to charge forward and take the community right down the Art X path anyhow?  Seems to me that is a very interesting approach to “protecting” our community when you are willing to subject it’s citizens to an approach that the town  recognizes is badly stacked against the community.  I would say it’s more like committing us to community suicide!  You might say based these facts that a logical alternative would be to do something else!  Makes me wonder knowing the odds are so stacked in favor of BP…WHY is the town charging forward.  Are there now some individual agendas and egos trying to prove that we can outsmart the State and BP?

 Not to mention a wind friendly Governor who appoints all the commissioners at the NYPSC. He is their boss. When was the last time you went against your bosses agenda and how did that work out? If you insist on writing somebody why not smarten up and write Cuomo who controls the entire mess!!! He is the one who appointed Harris after all.

Well…I am sure the NY PSC and BP will give the town all the assurances they want to make them feel far more comfortable so they can justify charging ahead in the  Art X process. And when we get those assurances do we believe them?  What then, suudenly because of the PSC assurances, now everything has changed and there is no more unfair influence in Albany and we move ahead on those assumptions?   SERIOUSLY!!!  

 I would say be damn careful of what you ask for and where it leads! If the PSC comes back with those assurances...we still know the system is stacked as Wiley suggests.  Now what does the town do..call the PSC liars?  I mean if you insist on this path to be nice and reasonable  and appease the PSC , then  you have set yourself up to have to accept their explanantion. Or like I said you could call them liars.  You can't win with this logic!  And our town officials and their supporters  …well except for Wiley and his turnip truck… will probably be lulled into believing that everything will be juuuussssst fine!   Because the NYPSC…and BP….will re-assure the town, and the town will then assure all of us. I mean what other point is there to this letter?  Of course they will have to do a little extra  work on assuring Mr. Wiley.  But you can bet he is not going to continue to call his favorite town officials turnips!

Look…if the  town govt and it’s supporters absolutely insist on pursuing Art X with the PSC and BP, and insist on writing these letters,at least get on the same damn page because you are starting to look really foolish playing this appease Art X game.  Once again I will point out this is how it comes back to bight you.

You want BP to have a “dialogue with you yet you can’t even figure out what your own dialogue is!