Exellent Editorial Comment By Perry White of the Watertown Daily Times

Mr. White is the managing editor of the WDT.  You can see his editorial at the link below.

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/section/BLOGS10

However, I do wonder where this sentiment was when Cape Vincent was under siege for nearly a decade by two wind developers with a huge projects that would have devastated our area visually and with the decline in property values.

Is Don Alexander Of The Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency Using Even A "Thimble" Full Of Brain Power????

Well here we go again.  After more than a decade we are faced with more onslaught in NNY from the industrial wind hucksters! 

This time it is the Galloo Island wind proposal that is being resurrected from the dead  that previously failed.  Fewer turbines this time but much taller around 600 ft. 

And I don’t give a hoot about what Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency (JCIDA) chairman Don Alexander says with his asinine “thimble theory” of visual impact.  This will be a visual disaster for Eastern Lake Ontario viewscapes.

Beyond the visual issue, Alexander and the JCIDA needs to review a little history before they squander any taxpayer dollars to give a break to any wind developer. 

So let’s take a look at reality. 

Start by reviewing the chart below for of U. S. sources of electric generation.  This chart is from the US Energy Information Administration from 2012.  Here is the stark and absurd reality about wind energy.   You can see wind energy in 2012 contributed about a paltry 3.4%.  All renewables including wind, but other than hydro contributed a little over 5%.

 

Now the wind industry likes to make a lot of fan fair about this number.  But let’s look at it a different way and use a little reality and critical thinking. 

This means that about 95% of U.S. electrical generation comes from other reliable sources that we have depended on for many decades. I recognize that these other sources have their own environmental issues, but at least they are dependable sources or electric power that can reliably meet demand, and have proven so over a long long history.

Wind energy on a commercial scale in the U. S. has been around and heavily and disproportionately supported by the tax payer since the early 1980s.   This is 2015.  Apparently wind is now providing about 4% of U.S. electric generation. 

 So in the span of three and a half decades ( 35 years ) wind energy still after all that time and after lame exaggerated promises year after year can still only put out 4% of U. S. electric generation.   

And keep in mind that is not  generation that can be relied upon when needed.  It is at the whim of the weather.  This is also  reflected in wind’s capacity factors that realistically range around 20% or less in NY State, or only 20% of its actual capacity.  Not to mention that it has had to use the tax subsidy crutch to do even this little bit of generation.

But there is another insidious hidden crutch wind energy has to use to promote its absurd propaganda.  Go back to the chart and note the 95% other electric generation sources provide.  And that would be…very reliably provided!

This reliable generation is the additional cover and crutch that allows wind energy to get away with the propaganda they regurgitate year after year to suck away your tax dollars and scam people like Alexander and the JCIDA who your would think would know better.  Apparently not!

Fact is, when you flip on your light switch and the light goes on, or you  charge your Iphone when needed, most of that energy, as the chart indicates, comes from reliable sources…NOT wind energy or even other renewables when you look at the big electric generation picture.  When you flip the switch for whatever reason, you don’t have a clue where it is coming from.  So when wind energy is idle or producing next to nothing due to the weather, you never know it, because the other reliable sources provide cover for wind.  

It’s a great scam for the wind industry. They spit out propaganda and never really have to be accountable.  The wind industry can get away with criticizing the environmental issues of fossil fuels, but the reality is, it is the same fossil fuels, even dirty coal, that are in effect providing cover for the wind industry scam.

This means the reliable sources are heavily propping up wind and wind NEVER has to be accountable for its absurd unreliable output.  And that is over three decades and propped up by your tax payer dollars to boot!  

If you actually depended on wind energy and hit the button on your microwave and nothing happens, you would realize how the wind scam works and be forced to think more critically.

If Alexander and the JCIDA won’t…then you need think critically.  Almost 4 decades and wind still only provides about 4% of electric generation in the U. S. 

 IT IS ABSURD!!!!

 Don Alexander’s “thimble” is more representative of wind energy’s output and reliability, and he and the JCIDA need to get a clue and should not give any wind developer even a thimble full of tax breaks to prop up their developments.  It also appears Alexander is not using a thimble's worth of brain power when addressing the wind issue and its tax breaks.

When you look at wind energy’s failure over three and a half decades to provide anything other than thimble full of generation, while being propped up by disproportionate tax subsidies, it is sheer financial recklessness  for Alexander and the JCIDA to consider tax crutches for wind development.  This would call into question what kind of financial judgment Alexander and the JCIDA are actually exercising on behalf of Jefferson County residents.

Financial Judgment???  Is Alexander actually willing to stake wind energy's proven dismal performance over decades, for tax breaks that will likely cost millions in local  property values in one of NY's most beautiful and environmentally sensitive settings?

Seems to me when you step back and look at the reality of wind power’s history and failures over decades, the Jefferson County tax payers should be furious and call for Alexander’s removal as well as any JCIDA member who votes to approve a PILOT for any wind developer scam.

 

SASS - Protection Of Scenic Resources - Some Of Our Local Leaders Need To Get A Clue!!!

When I see all the struggling over the SASS designation in the 1000 Islands I just have to laugh.

 Don’t get me wrong…I agree with having the designation for the 1000 Islands region.  That is not my point.  My point is certain local leaders are running scared of reasonable protections

 (actually fairly toothless in reality, yet still important) for this region to help preserve some important aspects of it for future generations.  They appear to have a rather ignorant, selfish and provincial view of the issue. 

Maybe they should consider what has been done nationally since 1964 and earlier by leaders both political and environmental with some actual courage to step up and really protect precious lands from rampant development. 

Some of our local leaders need to get a grip.  No one is suggesting completely stopping development, only making sure that the development is compatible with the treasured scenic resources of our area, which are already recognized internationally...AND are much of what actually supports the local communities. 

Of course as with any issue like this it is always money against conservation or preservation. 

I live in N. AZ, and  travel and recreate in the western U.S. much of the time when I am not in Cape Vincent and the 1000 Islands  Much of my recreation is in very remote areas on federal land that is either designated as wilderness, national forest, national monuments, national parks, and BLM lands etc.

 

 

 

And if you don't think these lands are important to a large cross section of the population then you should visit on a weekend or holiday.  Often they spend a great deal of money in surrounding communities.

A prime responsibility of these entities is preservation or conservation of our federal public lands, or at least to critically examine any development or other activity that might take place and properly regulate it.  Sometimes they do very well at carrying out that mission…sometimes not.

But here is a point to consider as we debate this SASS designation for our area.  I wonder if some of our leaders have ever considered a land use that outright says NO to man’s development or even mechanized use of the land.  A complete preservation for many future generations, of wild animals and humans to use and enjoy keeping it essentially as it is and was over millenniums. It is a radical idea, but has already been carried out in many places in the U. S.  Especially in the western states.

Now I am sure that thought would  make some of the people objecting to the SASS cringe and would get their underwear in a real bunch!

Of course I am not suggesting a wilderness designation or anything like it for the 1000 Islands, or any designation that would prohibit careful, compatible, and reasonable development to take place.  We are hundreds of years beyond that, and it would be unreasonable. 

However, to back off reasonable protections for the 1000 Islands is just plain stupidity and shows a lack of vision, thinking and understanding, considering the 1000 Islands  are a prime scenic and recreational wonder known around NYS, the nation, and the world. Not supporting reasonable protections is selfish, irresponsible, and reckless.

And it is museum quality ignorance to not recognize the relationship between preservation, conservation, recreation, and reasonable protections to enhance those qualities, and how that can dramatically enhance local economies.

An example. 

I live in Flagstaff, AZ.  We are a gateway city to the Grand Canyon and many other spectacular natural scenic resources in our area.  Every direction you go from Flagstaff you will come into contact with public lands under some type of conservation or  protection, some of which are large tracts under strict wilderness protection. 

And guess what?  That brings millions upon millions of people and their dollars to this area.  Not only as tourists, but as residents and second home owners seeking a life style enhanced by the outdoors.   

And not just limited to hikers who are willing to put out extra effort to explore remote wilderness areas, but also people who own ATV’s UTV’s Boats, RV’s snow mobiles’s, horses, skis, 4wd’s, bikes…and on and on.  Tourism is a HUGE part of our economy as it is in many local N.AZ towns.  Not to mention the second homes and people who are willing to pay a premium on homes to live here in this environment.  Most of this because of the regions spectacular scenic beauty, and preservation and access to it. 

 

And guess what...as people moved here because of  the beauty and outdoors...businesses followed, and not just service oriented business like Burger King.  We are now home to a number of important industries, that can fit in.  Like Purina feeds, Gore (Gortex and medical products), Joy Cone, Walgreens Distribution,

Teva Sandals and , even SW Wind Power(small wind turbines and more.

Even in places like Las Vegas that is the icon of development and excess, where do millions of people generally go along with visiting the casinos and shows?  Many explore the spectacular lands that surround or are near Vegas. Like a helicopter ride to Grand Canyon, or a trip to Red Rocks, Valley of Fire, or Death Valley, The Colorado River or Lake Mead. 

So to those local leaders and people who don’t get this and think SASS is going to unnecessarily  strangle you…look beyond your noses and get a clue. 

 

The fact is, the SASS and other preservation and conservation efforts, and compatible well considered development...is a WIN WIN, not mutually exclusive.

And anyone who thinks that industrial wind energy should not be constrained by scenic preservation efforts, or is compatible in a place so precious and scenic as the 1000 Islands and it's surroundings needs to have their brain examined and should not be entrusted with the stewardship of local communities. Their scenic resources, which in fact have been PROVEN over many decades to be a fundamental and a significant boost to the local economies. In fact I believe the SASS designation should also include much of Eastern Lake Ontario.

For a little perspective I have included some quotes from the Wilderness Act of 1964.  The hard work of some political and environmental leaders that had real vision and courage to protect our natural resources.   Living in the West and having been the direct beneficiary of so much protected public land has had a real impact on how I think about issues such as this. 

Imagine that…land completely protected from any development, or the mechanized devices of man.

 

Below are some quotes from the Wilderness Act passed by Congress in 1964.

 

WILDERNESS SYSTEM ESTABLISHED - STATEMENT OF POLICY

SECTION 2. (a) In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. For this purpose there is hereby established a National Wilderness Preservation System to be composed of federally owned areas designated by the Congress as "wilderness areas," and these shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness, and so as to provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for the gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness; and no Federal lands shall be designated as "wilderness areas" except as provided for in this Act or by a subsequent Act.

 

DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS

(c) A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make

practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

The Pandora Blog Has A Critcal Point !!!

    Are we serious about saving the 1000 Islands or not?  If we are, then the Pandora blog eludes to    
                       the  right direction with her concerns about the State's Art X process.


I would suggest everyone who is interested in the SASS process currently going on in the 1000 Islands area go read the Pandora's Box of Rocks blog and read her last post at the link below.

http://pandorasboxofrocks.blogspot.com/

Particularly where she states that she feels towns should be fighting the State's heavy handed Art X process that removed community home rule on siting electric generation facilities including industrial wind plants.

I nearly fell off the couch when I read that quote!  Right on Pandora!!!  Right On. A little late but good for you!   I hope she is sincere about her post and I giver her a lot of credit on this one despite my pervious disagreements with her and her blog comments.  But I have been saying this for a long long time.  Good to hear it from another source.

During the Cape Vincent wind fight myself and a very few others where promoting this idea to fight Art X and not fold up to the State's outrageous heavy handed robbery of our rights to promote wind energy at tremendous cost to our region.  There were some other options, but they took some real political courage.

 The mantra back then was that they had to go along to appease the State since it was the law and of course the State through Art X would be fair and listen to all our concerns, and we could defeat  wind developers since the State would recognize our concerns and not override our zoning laws.

This was an extremely naïve belief and approach. However, BP walked away on their own which I believe gave some a very false sense that we beat them and Art X might have been part of the reason.

That is pure fantasy. We are deal with  huge corporations with billions of dollars to get there own way.  Art X would not even exist if these large wind developers didn't see it to their distinct advantage.

In fact even after the town officials in CV found out that the BP lawyer was the wife of a prominent NYS PSC commissioner they still didn't get it and would stay involved in the Art X process.
Art. X is a process that makes the average citizen feel important and involved, but then you get screwed anyhow...but you had INPUT... that is the buzz word that lulls people into submission.

We have temporarily lucked out in CV, but town officials still need to get a grip that Art X still insidiously hangs over our head, and in a heart beat everything could change and we would be fighting another absurd wind development.  In fact the Galloo Is. project has been revived.

The SASS is fine and I agree with it, but if you want real protection, towns like CV need to toughen their comp plans and then ban wind energy altogether and go with the CELDF approach of community rights laws against corporate domination which has been successfully done in some communities fighting absurd  industrial development of various kinds.  They need to get support from the county and all the local environmental groups...who unfortunately have been far to weak on these points.

The one very significant power that the NYS legislature granted NY communities is the power to comp plan and zone for their land use.  Art. X is arbitrary and is in direct contradiction to this land use regulation power granted to communities, and a legal fight should be waged on these grounds and the grounds against corporate constitutional rights as well.

Quote from NY Town Law Art.16 Section 272

"1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby finds and determines that: (a) Significant decisions and actions affecting the immediate and long-range protection, enhancement, growth and development of the state and its communities are made by local governments. (b) Among the most important powers and duties granted by the legislature to a town government is the authority and responsibility to undertake town comprehensive planning and to regulate land use for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of its citizens. "

The SASS is a good step and it is absurd for some communities leaders to back away from it. But despite that you won't save the 1000 Islands if you don't understand the implications of the other issues I have mentioned that are the real root of our problems in environmental protection for our area.  Seems like Pandora's suggestion that we should be far more worried about the Art X issue and its implications than any regulation the SASS might bring, is a good step to understand the real issue we face.

 Many in the Cape Vincent govt and their supporters promoted appeasing Art X, and in fact  this resulted in a zoning law with wind regulations that actually allow some wind development.  Yet I don't think they grasp the terrible implications of how this actually moves us further way, not closer to the protections we seek and need the protect our area.

In my view they and other towns have totally caved in to the state.  If you are serious this is not how you save the 1000 Islands.

If we are serious about saving the 1000 Islands region from things like the over reaching and absurd environmental impacts of industrial wind development, then local govt and environmental  leaders need to face up to the fact it will take real political courage, and a more radical, resistant, and creative approach than we have seen before.  Not folding up every time the State and their  large corporate clients say so!

The SASS Report - Well No Feakin Kidding

While reading the SASS report I noticed this little gem which is quoted here.

“Consequently, massive industrial and infrastructure projects should not be built within the SASS district or within its surrounding viewshed. There are presently no techniques to mitigate the visual impacts of these structures because they are so tall, massive and frequently in motion.’ 

Well no sh!!.  It took over 8 freakin years to get a report that would finally admit the obvious!!!! Well good for them.  It’s hard to fathom we are really serious to protect the 1000 Islands region when it takes nearly a decade to figure this out!! 

The second part of that quote that I underlined is the clincher. I was pushing hard for an industrial wind  ban over 8 years yet received lots of criticism from the supposed “anti wind” faction as a raving irrational  lunatic for promoting a ban, and that was to radical of an approach. 

Even Wiley at the JLL blog was sniping that you can’t go into meeting screaming no wind no wind.  Well guess what pal… suck it up and go read this report and see how many times over and over basically this report suggests that exact thing!

With this being such an obvious no brainer for so long, my question is…why in the hell have so many of community governments along the St. Lawrence River sucked into the idea of trying to use zoning to “mitigate” the impact of wind turbines …when in fact you can NOT mitigate them as this report finally recognizes?   

So if you can’t mitigate them, then guess what, you ban them, which I have also been saying for 8 years. Not play games with zoning and absolutely absurd setbacks fooling yourself into believing you are somehow controlling what can’t be controlled then patting yourself all over your back for it. 

Traditional zoning is in fact completely  impotent to control massive scale industrial wind development for precisely the reason given in this report…they are way to huge.  Zoning set backs are a joke and show complete ignorance on the part of town officials and their zoning lawyers who have sucked into this scam.  And frankly, right now they have a lot of egg on their faces trying to support the SASS designation when their very own land use regulations allow what this report indicates should not be allowed. 

For example in the Cape Vincent zoning law there is a setback for wind turbines of 1.25 miles from the scenic corridor of 12E, and a two mile setback from the River.  These are absurd jokes…and basically this report is verifying that. 

When CV drafted its law, I submitted a paper to the committee that gave well considered rationales based on visual research and my own experience at numerous wind farms on both ends of the country, that they should not zone for wind development which is pointless, but instead ban the development. 

Sadly they completely ignored that input and in fact some refused to read it at all.  In CV the model laws that they review had only the setback approach and no consideration of a prohibition.  Now we have this SASS approach and our land use laws on these tall structures in numerous local towns  will be completely out of step with the designation if we get it. 

Not only are they out of sync with reality in the local zoning on wind development, but wind zoning  laws are invitations to wind developers, when this reports states we should not have this type of development in the first place. 

And as we speak a developer is trying to bring back the Galloo Island wind development from the dead. 

Maybe it’s time for our town leaders to get in sync with reality and the painfully obvious now that this report states what they didn’t have the political courage to deal with in the first place.

 

Anything Strike You Odd About the John Byrne Campaign for NYS Assembly???? Who Was Missing In Action???

Mr. Byrne lost by a narrow 96 vote margin according to the Watertown Daily Times.  That is a pretty slim margin when you consider the size of the district he was running in.

One might consider that with that small margin that any number of things might have changed the results.

It makes me wonder...where was Mr. Byrne's political mentor Urban Hirschey, under which Byrne has served on the Cape Vincent Town Board with Hirschey as supervisor?

Byrne was also mentored by Hirschey when Hirschey was president of the Wind Power Ethics Group, which Bryne later took over as president.

In addition Byrne and Hirschey have been partners on two Rep. political tickets in CV, and Byrne serving on the CV board has done virtually everything Hirschey wanted.

Now as I was  thinking back on the Byrne campaign I can't recall  seeing or hearing any "public support" for Byrne from Hirschey in major media venues.  Maybe I am wrong on thatand missed something, but I don't remember anything.  I was in NY till after the election and saw the final push of Byrne ads repeated on TV.  Don't recall Hirschey, or even a letter from him in the WDT in support.

So where was Hirschey for Byrne?  Missing in action?

Hirschey is very well connected politically in Jefferson County and well beyond.  And when I say "beyond" remember that NYS invested in Hirschey's company Climax paper for their green investment portfolio for the NY retirement fund.  And Hirschey has powerful Republican friends like former NYS Sen. James Wright now head of DANC.

Seems with this clout that more public efforts from Hirschey on behalf of Byrne might have easily closed that 96 vote gap that gave incumbent Assemblywoman Russell the very narrow victory.

I give credit to Byrne for coming as close as he did against an entrenched incumbent, but maybe he should consider who his real friends are before he runs another campaign.

NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Arrested On Corruption Charges

You can read the story at this link.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/nyregion/speaker-of-new-york-assembly-sheldon-silver-is-arrested-in-corruption-case.html

Not to mention that Cuomo pulled the plug on the Moreland Commission that was investigating NYS corruption.   Maybe it was getting a little too close to his Democratic buddy Silver!

Next question is...where the hell is NYAG Schneiderman in all this?  Hiding under his desk?????
He should feel like and idiot watching this happen on his watch on his turf.

It took a federal investigation to get to this point with Silver.

Now that reminds me of something.  Back when the Cape Vincent wind issue was raging and there were serious questions about the ethics of some of the CV govt officials at that time, we contacted the FBI, and had an interview with a special agent.   We did this because we didn't seem to be able to get anywhere with Como as AG.

When we explained the situation I distinctly remember the agent saying that the situation in CV looked like low hanging fruit for the NYAG's office to deal with and do something about.

But he also indicated he was getting stonewalled when he tried to talk to the NYAG's office (Cuomo)about the situation.  Sound familiar?

Cuomo a couple years later started an investigation of CV officials in 2010 on the wind ethics matters...but it miraculously evaporated and was never heard from again.  Probably getting too close to Darrel Aubertine and his involvement in the CV wind ethics mess.

Of course when Aubertine was booted from office by NNY voters, and Cuomo was elected Gov. he was quick to sweep Aubertine up into a nice job as the state Ag. Commissioner.

What a freakin circus!!!

And finally...does it make you all warm and fuzzy that the CV Hirschey govt was so willing to roll over and play ball with these guys and the NYS cesspool of corruption with Cuomo's bullshit Art X process for citing wind energy and other electric generation?

If BP had stayed in CV or we get another wind developer, the Art X process is still in place, and the Hirschey bunch wrote a zoning law that actually may allow some wind development to try to appease Cuomo and the state govt. which appears to be more of an ethics cesspool every time we turn around.

Yeah what the hell.  that should work out well!!!

Oh and the other thing.  Over on the Wiley's JLL blog there is a lot of whining about the fact that seasonal voters may not have voted in CV as before and this allowed Marty Mason to be elected over Michelle Oswald.

Well in my view the Hirschey crew, WPEG and supporters, and blogs like  Wiley and Pandora, were in such a tizzy when BP left to portray it as Hirschey and crew and their involvement in Art X as the reason for defeating BP.

Pure bullshit. 

This probably gave many seasonal people the wrong impression that we had won and the threat was over, and they chose to vote elsewhere as a result.

BP wasn't defeated, they simply walked away due to financial conditions surrounding their company and  industrial wind.  And Art X judge Agresta was bending over backwards to give BP a chance to sell to another wind developer to rape CV.

The Hirschey crowd in desperation was patting themselves so hard on the back promoting a fallacy of beating BP and Art X was the proper venue to do it that they probably knocked a lot of critical votes right out of CV!

Smart move!  Suck it up and stop blaming the seasonal people for your defeats!