Setbecks - A Wind Developer's Effective Game Of Distraction

Today I went for a boat ride on the River towards Clayton with some friends.  On our return up river the Wolfe Island Wind Plant is in view the entire way back.  When we arrived at the approximate location of the Clayton, Cape Vincent town line near Cedar State Park  out on the river, I took the photo below.  With my GPS charting  app on my tablet I measure the distance to the Wolfe Is. Wind Plant.

10.3 miles!!!

There has been a lot of debate lately as to whether Clayton will show the NYPSC support for the CV zoning law and home rule.  Well, first people don't seem to get it that home rule is GONE with the 2011 Power NY Act. Gone, bye, bye, see ya later, GONE!!!.  There is no home rule left on this issue to support!

In a way it is almost ridiculous to have this debate since the State is the one going to determine the shore line setback if any, not CV or Clayton. 

The Cape Vincent town board thinks 2 miles is a sufficient setback from the river and lake shore.  Our zoning  lawyer  Paul Curtin says he can't defend visual setbacks based on preserving the beauty of the area. And my personal favorite is our town board also thinks 1.25 miles is a protective setback from the scenic Seaway Trail corridor along 12E.  Seriously!!!!  Have they ever measured exactly and then stood 1.25 miles from a modern industrial wind turbine????  If they think that is sufficient visual or scenic protection they must have been dipping into the "sauce" when they came up with that one!!!

And we have the audacity to tell Clayton how to handle Art. X and support our law????

Now Clayton seems to be balking and debating whether they think  CV's 2 mile setback from the shore is sufficient and if they will support that setback.

 Well good luck with that Clayton if you think 5 miles is taking some high road as a visually protective mitigation for a 100's of 500 ft. industrial wind machines...time to get a clue!!!  Not to mention, 2 mi. or 5 mi. big deal, you can feel all warm and fuzzy about this just like BP wants to sucker you into doing.  Point is it doesn't  matter since the State stripped both towns of home rule and YOU don't get to make that decision any longer!  You're sitting at the children's table with zoning toys while the adults will make the final decision whether your Lego zoning toys get to stand or get knocked down and put in a box!

The visual protection of the 1000 Island's scenic resources  we love and depend on for the local tourism economy is not your call any more,  By going along with Art. X you have placed that decision completely in the hands of state bureaucrats.  Being all wound up in the  State/ BP setback games is nothing more than distraction...a sucker's game, if you will, to keep you neatly focused away from the real issue.  The removal of your home rule rights.

When are these local towns under industrial wind threat going to wake up?  It's like putting an elephant in your living room, even a BIG living room and thinking that restricting the elephant to the lounge chair instead of the couch is somehow going to make an acceptable difference as to the impact on your living room!!!

The only acceptable solution to truly solve the issue is not let the damn elephant in the house in the first place!!!