Cape Vincent Citizen Dave Lamora Comments on Recent Town Letters to the NY PSC

I apologize to readers and to Dave.  I was having many issues with the text and background color schemes on this post that I could not resolve, thus the odd white background - Art Pundt



Dave's comments:

The recent letters from the Town of Cape Vincent to the PSC in response to the PSC’s comments regarding a potential conflict of interest and possible ethical misconduct by BP, include some intriguing yet disturbing revelations. In particular, this quote-

“There has to be some recognition in the Article 10 process between an applicant's rhetoric and their compliance with the law, rules and the recommendations of the DPS. In BP's Article 10 case they obviously talk better than they walk. Although we view the loss of home rule to be unfair to the interests of our community, we felt the rules that were promulgated by DPS attempted to balance the interests of all the players, us included. However, if BP continues to be unresponsive to these rules, as they have been with their PIP, then we foresee a continued adulteration of the Article 10 process. Governor Cuomo, during the signing of the NY Power Act 2011, stated that “the process will be fair,” and we hope and expect that the Siting Board will uphold the expectation of the governor. “

Unless I am misreading this completely, the Town of Cape Vincent has professed that they feel the rules established for the siting of industrial turbines by an ART. X . siting board are balanced for everyone in the process.  You can’t be serious! 

I simply cannot believe any town official would sign their name to this letter representing the citizens of Cape Vincent.

To say that the town hopes and expects the siting board to uphold the expectations of Governor Andrew Cuomo is pure capitulation.  The governor expects this siting board to issue a permit to BP to erect 500 ft industrial turbines in Cape Vincent and other communities across the State. He could care less what we think is fair. If he truly cared what we considered fair, he would never have proposed the ART. X. Legislation.  Fair in his mind means that everyone sees the logic of his energy policy and agrees to contribute their fair share to seeing it come to fruition. 

The town officials have crossed a line with this letter that should not sit well with the citizens( at least it does not sit well with me).  They not only have accepted the PSC’s explanations regarding the conflict of interest with the Harris’s as  adequate, which is in itself a big naive leap of faith,  but now they are professing that if only BP would follow the rules and recommendations, we will accept the process as fair.

Maybe I’ll go back to believing in Santa Claus.