Friday, September 30, 2011

Citigroup cuts Acciona, renewable tech companies price targets - CNBC

BRIEF-RESEARCH ALERT-Citigroup cuts Acciona, renewable tech companies price targets - CNBC
Sept 30 (Reuters) - RENEWABLE TECH Companies: * Citigroup cuts Acciona SA price target to EUR 70 from EUR 76

Wind power firm files $2.25 billion lawsuit -

Wind power firm files $2.25 billion lawsuit - thestar.com

John Spears
Business Reporter
A wind power company caught by the Ontario government’s moratorium on offshore wind projects is suing the province for $2.25 billion in damages.

Trillium Wind Power Corp. filed a statement of claim against the province Wednesday.

Trillium has been planning a wind farm of up to 6oo megawatts in the waters of Lake Ontario near Kingston, 17 to 28 kilometres from shore.


Link here to full story

Thursday, September 29, 2011

ARTICLE X

09/29/11) The New York Power Act signed this summer includes an item called Article X. Article X creates a state-run process for siting large power plants.

The Innovation Trails's Emma Jacobs reports how the law meant to streamline new power generation has some local people upset .

left click with your mouse the triangle below on the MP3 player
To listen to the NCPR Broadcast




Link here to NCPR for transcript and original story

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

WHERE ARE THE INVOICES?

WHO PAID WO&H

FOR THE CONFLICT OPINION?



MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2006. Cape Vincent planning board chair Richard Edsall told the Watertown Times, “we have the right to outside professional expertise, and we intend to use it.”
The Law firm Whiteman Osterman & Hanna (WO&H) has been providing their "professional expertise" to the Town of Cape Vincent ever since that time, assisting with the wind development site plan process.
Payment for the "professional expertise" of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna was arranged through two escrow accounts set up by the Town of Cape Vincent, Acciona and British petroleum. All expenditures from these escrow accounts are dependent upon approval By Acciona $ British Petroleum.

Additionally, July 8, 2008 ,Whiteman Osterman & Hanna rendered a developer friendly legal opinion about the Cape Vincent board members conflicts of interests.
However, there is no copy of this opinion on file with the Town of Cape Vincent and an invoice for this legal opinion does not exist.

If the Town of Cape Vincent commissioned this legal opinion, there should be a copy on file and an invoice for services rendered, but neither exists. Why isn’t there a copy on file? Did someone other than the Town of Cape Vincent commission this legal opinion? Did the developers commission this legal opinion?

In the legal opinion, Whiteman Osterman and Hanna wrote that for the Town Board, there appears to be no prohibited conflict of interest and the full town board may deliberate and vote concerning a draft law of general applicability to regulate wind projects in the town.
The Whiteman Osterman and Hanna opinion states that the law would affect all proposed and future wind development projects making it a law of general applicability.

Jefferson county senior planner Michael Bourcy attended the private zoning amendment committee meetings and he expressed his concerns about the zoning amendment process to Supervisor Reinbeck in a fax dated April 7, 2006.

Excerpts: I have not heard anyone on the Committee talk specifically that these impacts are mitigated by the proposed setbacks. The discussion has always been who will or will not benefit depending on which setback is used. County Planner Bourcy's statement that the discussions at these committee meetings centered around who will or will not benefit depending on which setback is used gives credence to the fact that the law that they were developing was based upon personal benefit of those people involved in the zoning amendment process and not a law of general applicability.

This is what Supervisor Hirschey had to say about Whiteman Osterman & Hanna's accounting records.

Very soon after taking office I looked into the Escrow accounts which up to then were not available to the public. Over the course of the next few months, I took steps to make accounts more transparent and to have more than one signature approving the invoices. Nonetheless, the brevity of the documentation astounded me. There was neither a correspondence folder nor one piece of written correspondence pertaining to the expenditure of over 100000. Billed by lawyers and engineering Company on the SEQRA process! Upon making inquiries to Whiteman Osterman and Hanna, I was told that there was not much written communication and that it was mostly just talk. Nonetheless, they would send me what they had. To this date even after several reminders, I have not received any copies of emails or written correspondence.

Urban Hirschey
~~~~~~~

Additionally all the payments were authorized by Rienbeck with no accounting of the specifics of what was done and the costs.

Link here for the legal opinion written By Whiteman Osterman & Hanna

Acciona ~SLW~ Escrow Account Document


British petroleum escrow account document

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

DON'T DRINK THE WATER

UPDATE : from NYS Health Department
9:07 AM Sept. 29, 2011
Yesterday as I was reading an article in the Water town Times about water quality at Wilson Bay. Reportedly Wilson Bay’s waters, once plagued by high bacteria counts, met state and federal safe-swimming standards this summer, according to a Save the River report.

However, the Clayton-based environmental organization is hesitant to conclude that the bacteria problem at Wilson Beach has been completely eradicated because different standards were applied this year.
In years past, Save the River has been testing for enterococci bacteria, but this year the state Department of Health wanted E. coli tests conducted instead. Both types of bacteria can cause rashes and gastrointestinal illness.

I called the New York State Health Department to find out if bacteria in the water would pose any health implications for people that have shore wells. What I asked was do you have to ingest the water for it to be a hazardous to your health? Is the water considered safe for bathing? I was promised an answer to this question; as soon as I have an answer, I will post it on my blog.

The N.Y.S Health Department reported to me that the water from shore wells is safe to bathe in

Right now as I am writing this there are residents of the Town of Cape Vincent that do not have safe clean drinking water, or clean water to bathe in . However, we have a mysterious water line that serves no purpose or does it...

This story covers the details of this mysterious water line; why does this waterline exist? The following story will shed some light on this.
Additionally I have added links to Watertown Times articles related to water district #5
Plus the USDA July 17, 2006 press release link here describing the completed project~ And internal links with related info~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PELO ROAD - A Waterline to Nowhere or a Waterline to ACCIONA's Cement Batch-Plant?
You've heard of the infamous Alaskan Bridge to nowhere – the $400 million bridge to Gravina Island with its 50 residents? This bridge became a national icon to political pork and political absurdity. Well Cape Vincent may have its own example and brand of local absurdity – the Pelo Road extension of Water District #5.

This isn't a tale of pork, however, it's more a tale of questionable change orders, maybe some unauthorized expenditures, perhaps wind industry collusion and, of course, the ever-present conflicts of interest of local officials.
Cape Vincent Water District #5 was started in November 2005 as an extension of Water District #1 to serve the residents of St. Lawrence Corners. Federal dollars made the project possible. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development branch provided $500,000 in grant money (that's a free-bee) along with a loan for $299,000. The loan will be paid off-by those residents that are served by the water district.
An important point: a waterline down Pelo Road was not part of the original project. It was an add-on after the original project was completed.
Apparently the initial project came under-budget. Normally, this would mean either a saving of Federal Grant money or a reduction in the debt owed by the residents of the water district. However, Tom Rienbeck, Cape Vincent's past Town Supervisor, and a few of the good-ole-boys may have viewed this as an opportunity to spend a little loose cash. How did they choose to spend the “extra” money? They decided to put an extension on the waterline down Pelo Road to the Clayton town line. But, there's a catch.
According to a USDA July 17, 2006 press release, “The new distribution system brings clean, safe drinking water to 39 homes in St. Lawrence Corners.

Area residents were formerly plagued by water quality problems, including e-coli and other dangerous bacteria.

” The Pelo Road addition, however, services NO homes. Monies that were intended to address a community health problem in Cape Vincent were used to run a waterline down an uninhabited road to nowhere! But why? What possible reason could the good-ole-boys have for spending lots of cash, apparently over $60,000, on a waterline extension that would service no families?
Here is where Acciona Energia comes into the story. The figure below was taken from the St. Lawrence Wind Farm's project layout as it appears in their website's SDEIS documents (figure 2-1). The No. 1, blue highlighted area along Pelo Road on Wood Farms, LLC property is designated as a “Potential Cement Batch Plant.” In the development of its wind farm, Acciona Energia has a huge requirement for cement for the construction of wind turbine pads or foundations. A huge requirement for cement also means a huge requirement for water. But why the need for a cement plant on Pelo Road, why not place it anywhere along Water District #1, which runs parallel to NYS Rte 12E? Heavy cement truck traffic along a busy, populated State roadway is not ideal; along an isolated rural, secondary road is ideal.








Now we come to the part of this story where we scratch our heads and wonder. If the Pelo Road extension to the water district was an add-on, was it properly authorized and if so, who authorized it? It is hard to imagine all this took place without the knowledge and approval of Supervisor Rienbeck. If there are no families along the road and the water district was designed to provide safe drinking water to people, then why was it added to the project after the completion of the original project work? If it was not added to provide safe drinking water, then what was its purpose? Was USDA aware of any change orders and did they approve the Pelo Road add-on?

There is also a lot of uncertainty in how Acciona fits into this story. The cement batch plant is located on Wood Farms, LLC property. Prior to the July 2006 completion of Water District #5 the LLC signed a contract with Acciona and expected to have 6-20 wind turbines installed on its property. At that same time Town Councilman Joe Wood and Zoning Enforcement Officer Alan Wood had direct financial connections to Wood Farms, LLC. Their sister Karen Bourcy served on Cape Vincent's Planning Board and her son is a part owner of Wood Farms, LLC.
The timing of Pelo Road extension, the Wood Farms, LLC wind contract with Acciona, and Acciona's need for a source of water for a cement batch plant all came together conveniently in 2005-06. Obvious questions remain. Did Wood family town officials discuss Acciona's need for a water source for its cement batch plant during their wind contract negotiations in 2005? Did Wood family town officials then influence the decision to add the waterline extension along Pelo Road abutting property owned by Wood Farms, LLC? Finally, is it fair to residents of Water District #5 to pay off that portion of the construction debt that may be more the responsibility of the Wood Farms, LLC or Acciona Energia?
Acciona Energia's wind agreements stipulate that leaseholders have to support and assist Acciona in forwarding their wind project. This is not a casual suggestion, but rather, it is a binding contractual obligation. Wood family town officials took an oath of allegiance to support the constitution when the assumed their town office positions, but when they signed leaseholder agreements they may have compromised their duty to their community by signing a financial agreement that required a more important, personal allegiance to Acciona.
What Cape Vincent needs now is a thorough investigation of the Pelo Road waterline extension, including an examination of Acciona's records to establish any potential wrongdoing on their part. Good corporate practice in this situation would demand stepping back and waiting for New York’s Attorney General to complete its investigation, but it remains to be seen if good corporate practice is any concern of Acciona Energia.

The Lone Ranger...

NYPA ~ G.L.O.W~ DEAD

Watertown Daily Times NYPA will not pay for offshore wind, Galloo Island Wind Farm


From the Buffalo News


September 27, 2011

The proposal for a wind energy farm off the shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario is officially dead.

The New York Power Authority today pulled the plug on the project, citing the high costs of the subsidies that would be needed to make the wind farm economically feasible.

"It's not fiscally prudent at this time to select a proposal and pursue a project in the Great Lakes," said Jill Anderson, a Power Authority staff member who delivered a report to the agency's board of directors.

NYPA's staff estimated that a 150-megawatt wind farm off the Great Lakes shoreline would require a subsidy of $60 million to $100 million a year. A larger project — NYPA officials had said a project could generate as much as 500 megawatts of electricity — would require much larger subsidies.

The Power Authority last year received five proposals from developers seeking to build the offshore wind farm, which would have placed 150 to 170 wind turbines along a stretch of Lake Erie from Chautauqua County to Buffalo. A 500 megawatt project would have generated enough electricity to supply about 130,000 homes and would have reduced pollution by reducing the state's reliance on power plants that run on fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas. The project's supporters also hoped the wind farm would spin off an entire side industry for the region, making it a center for manufacturing many of the 8,000-odd components that go into each wind turbine.
However, Anderson said the high costs of building a wind farm several miles offshore in deep water made the project too costly. She estimated that the subsidies required by an offshore wind farm in the Great Lakes would be two to four times the subsidy needed by a similar wind farm built on land.

NYPA would have provided the subsidy for the offshore wind farm by agreeing to purchase the project's electricity at a negotiated rate that would have been many times higher than the current market price of power in Western New York.

While the Great Lakes project was backed by many environmental groups, it also faced stiff political opposition. County legislatures in at least seven of the nine counties lining the Lake Erie and Ontario shoreline, including those in Erie, Chautauqua and Niagara counties, passed resolutions opposing the wind farm project.

Watertown Daily Times NYPA will not pay for offshore wind, Galloo Island Wind Farm

The authority will focus on an offshore wind project near Long Island with a direct connection to Long Island, New York City and New Jersey. Galloo Island Wind Farm, proposed by Upstate NY Power Corp. for an uninhabited island in Lake Ontario about six miles from shore, submitted a proposal. Its developers said it needed a power purchase agreement through NYPA to secure financing.

Physicians raising a health alert for wind turbines

By Sally Ross Ph.D.

On May 20 of this year, the Batavia Daily News printed a digest of findings I submitted, by health care providers, relevant to deteriorating health and proximity to industrial wind turbines. (“Health concerns rise for proposed Alabama wind farm,” Another Point of View, May 20.)

Dozens of cases, concerning both people and animals, were discussed. In response to that article, I learned that, in May 2010, an international team of physicians agreed to a “proposed case definition for adverse health effects and industrial wind turbines.” Because our tri-county region is still in the throes of weighing the pros and cons of wind energy, I am here passing along an overview of wind turbine syndrome, as explained by this team of doctors.

Common signs and symptoms — sleep disturbance, loss of quality of life, stress or psychological distress, inner-ear trauma, headaches, and excessive tiredness.

Less-common symptoms — palpitation, high blood pressure, migraines, cognitive difficulties and gastrointestinal problems.

Adverse health effects were noted to worsen over time, and the physicians advised that no direct treatment was available, other than to leave the environs of an industrial wind facility. Severity of health issues was aggravated by proximity to turbine installations and was terrain-dependant. That is, flat land, hilly or mountainous landscape, or siting turbines offshore were important in gauging how close it was safe to live near industrial wind complexes.

Among the respondents to the May 20 article were several longtime residents of Western New York who shared similar experiences of deteriorating health, for which they had sought legitimate medical assistance. One adult male — I’ll call him Jesse — lives on a high peak commanding a breathtaking vista of the valley below, a panoramic mountain ridge beyond — with circa 100 turbines, six miles distant. Cell phone towers ranged along another escarpment. His magnificent, capacious, upscale stone home had become uninhabitable, after the startup of the turbine operation, because it vibrated. Jesse, his infant daughter and the mother of their child all had sleep disorders and they had to vacate their home. He went on to tell me more about his own medical profile: He has eye and ear pain, involuntary neurological twitching of the eyelid, a persistent lower back of the head headache, inability to concentrate, nausea, body stiffness, as well as drying out of the body, high blood pressure, and congestion of the throat, all when in the toxic environment. When he leaves, his symptoms diminish or, depending upon the complaint, altogether disappear. They recur when he returns. Although Jesse is professionally employed he is essentially homeless. When he cannot afford a motel, he sleeps in his truck.

Proposed case definitions are milestones in paving the way toward understanding the complexities of disease and illness. Anyone interested in receiving an electronic line to the names of the physicians referred to above, their affiliations and their proposed case definition for wind turbine syndrome, please contact me at srladygrail@gmail.com.

Sally Ross, Ph.D., lives in Oakfield.

Monday, September 26, 2011

: Confession of a former wind turbine supporter

The Daily News Online - Batavia, NY Opinion Letter: Confession of a former wind turbine supporter


They say that confession is good for the soul, so here is my confession:





A few years ago I thought like so many other people in this country, in particular in this town of Orangeville, that wind must be good, after all it's free. I even went so far as to have a "green energy" sign on my lawn. Free works for me, but it didn't take a lot of research to discover that like the lunch, nothing is free!

I began to ask questions such as: Why does each industrial wind turbine contain 400-plus gallons of oil? Why are the employees of the industrial wind turbines told to not get within 1,300 feet of a working turbine? Why have the issues of wind sheer noise and blade flicker not been resolved? And the questions kept coming. So many unanswered questions and no real answers were coming from the industrial wind turbine people or my elected town board.


For instance, I discovered that if the wind isn't blowing or is blowing too strong, the turbines are shut down, hence, where is the reliability in this? I do not believe we could do a load of laundry or dishes, or even take a shower with this undependable energy source.

The current grid is ancient and when energy is sent into it, the grid is unable to handle the overload and the energy cannot be stored. Hence, all this free energy is now costing us the taxpayer money. I started to wonder exactly how many coal cars have been saved and how many barrels of oil have not been used by the use of the industrial wind turbines? And, my research revealed that the industrial wind turbines that we are seeing are actually antiques themselves. Since they were purchased by the wind company, new models which are more reliable and efficient are now available. But the wind company that wants to put up industrial wind turbines have already purchased these antiques and they want to pawn them off on us, the unsuspecting landowner.

Something else that I discovered while researching industrial wind turbines is that there is now an industrial wind turbine heart condition, which is caused by the adverse affects of having an industrial wind turbine near one's home.

Additionally, I learned that the industrial wind turbine investors are just that. They have no real interest in providing accessible wind energy to this country, New York State, or the town of Orangeville, instead they are more interested in the tax benefits that they will gain from New York State and the federal government. Plus, when they receive too much in tax credits they can actually sell the excess tax credits, as they are fully transferable. We then end up with non-resident owners who really don't care that the current machinery is antiquated and outdated before it is erected.

Needless to say, all this acquired knowledge left my head spinning so I went to the supervisor of one of the wind companies and was told that yes I too could be an investor if I had the amount of money needed to purchase an industrial wind turbine. Further, because of the tax benefits, the profitability of investing in an industrial wind turbine is very lucrative. Thus, I began to wonder how is it that the investors and the industrial wind turbine companies do not pay their fair share in taxes but instead are allowed to pay a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) which amount to several hundred thousand dollars for each town, but again, against the millions generated by tax benefits and credits received by the investors, this amount seems incredibly small and nearly insulting to the towns that accept this PILOT payment.

Now the town of Orangeville wants to put the industrial wind turbine within 700 feet of a property line, not the 1,300 feet recommended by the company.

The industrial wind turbine companies have done to Orangeville what they did in Sheldon, Bliss and all the other towns and counties where they have signed people up for leases or land variances. The industrial wind turbine companies have successfully split these towns and pitted neighbor against neighbor. There is a better way to do business, but the industrial wind turbine company has chosen to come into each town with no information about them and sign unsuspecting landowners up without giving the land owner any knowledge at all about the hazards of these turbines.

Now that you've read my confession I urge you to also look into these industrial monsters before you are swayed by a slick talker from out of town, into signing your property away. Know what your rights are, know what you are signing and know the end results.

Soon an election will take place in Orangeville which gives you, the voter, a genuine opportunity for change, real change. The opportunity to vote for folks who are not anti-industrial wind turbine and indeed support them in non-residential areas. Steve Moultrup, Mary Jo Hopkins and Darryl Dickinson each want what is best for Orangeville, not their own personal pocketbooks.

Here ends my confession. I feel relieved knowing that you, the reader, now have information that you can discern and are the wiser for having received it.

Linda Makson

Warsaw

Wind Energy and Radar: A National Security Issue

AIR DEFENSE/ HOMELAND SECURITY
RADARS Currently IMPACTED




214 Total Radars
-83 impacted by Wind Turbines
-39% of
DoD/DHS
Radars impacted



~~~~~Today there is an article in Master resource by Lisa Linnowes , Ms. Linowes is an expert on the impacts of industrial-scale wind energy development on the natural environment, communities, and the regional grid systems. A conservation and land use advocate with over 20 years of executive business experience, Ms. Linowes has held high-profile elected and volunteer positions in community planning, land negotiation, and education outreach.
Wind Energy and Radar: A National Security Issue — MasterResource
by Lisa Linowes
September 26, 2011

Military leaders are under pressure to not disrupt White House green energy policies even while green energy technology is disrupting our navigation aids and impairing U.S. national security.

Washington has a track record of muzzling military testimony to protect its pet policies and political friends. Last week, Air Force Gen. William Shelton admitted he was pressured by the administration to change his testimony regarding LightSquared’s network and its adverse impact on military space-based navigation systems. We applaud Shelton for not bowing to the pressure.

But the military has not been honest about the effect wind turbine technology has on our national radar systems.

The fact is that our air space has been made less safe by turbines and our national security compromised because of a reckless policy of siting wind towers within 50-miles of radar installations. Military radar experts in the field know the damage that’s been done. But with the debate surrounding energy policy dominated by politics and money, the military has bowed to the pressure.

Read the complete article written by Lisa Linnowes at Master resource ~link here

Recently
The Watertown Times printed an article titled
CAN WIND FARMS AID CRIMINALS?
That is a question the federal government may have to tackle if the Department of Homeland Security does as Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has asked, and deploys military-grade radar along the U.S.-Canadian border to nab low-flying aircraft. The Defense Department has warned that wind turbines interfere with radar and has opposed their placement near military installations.
Turbines' effect on radar has not been a big issue along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, where developers have eyed a number of locations for wind farms. That could change if DHS deploys the more sophisticated radar — something Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano strongly hinted last week could happen.
Additionally, this same Watertown Times article includes quotes by Jim Madden Bp's former project manager in regard to what he thought about RADAR DEPLOYMENT and the possibility that Turbines may produce false detection readings on U.S.-Canada border .
"It's certainly something we study," said Madden.
Mr. Madden said the issue has not surfaced at Bp's 86 turbine project proposed for Cape Vincent, and he was not familiar with DHS's possible plans for radar. Adjustments in radar software often can fix the problem, he said, depending on the type used.
Report to the Congressional Defense Committees the Effect of Windmill Farms on Military readiness link ~ here ~

Military tests conducted between 2002 and 2005 by the U. S. Air force and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense found that wind turbines located within the line of sight of military radar can adversely affect its ability to track aircraft and other aerial objects.
These findings virtually stopped the development of wind energy facilities across the country.

The FAA halted work on about a dozen land-based wind farm projects that were within the line of sight of any military radar. The Sierra Club sued the Pentagon in June of 2006, for failing to complete the report within the mandated time period. In an attempt to force the release of the Department of Defense Report two Democratic Senators from Illinois, Richard (Dick) Durbin and Barack Obama, blocked a Senate vote on a Defense Department nominee Robert L. Wilkie and they announced that they would block the nomination of Andrew Steinberg to be Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a conclusive determination as to whether the operation of wind farms under construction in the Midwest will interfere with radar systems.~~~
Without this certainty, potential investors will fear that their resources could be lost.
~~~~
The Sierra club published a post on their website
stating that the DOD released their report in response to their lawsuit. Claiming that the result of the DOD's report was "vindication of the Club's position , that windmill construction should move forward". We now seem to be back where we started with the radar issue back on the horizon. This is a matter of public safety not an issue that needs to be expedited by political arm twisting or by court room theatrical maneuvers by wind lobbyists.

Thursday, September 7, 2006

This is the press release from Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and Barack Obama ~ click here ~ to view actual page


This is the press release from Senator Durbin's website ~ click here ~ to view actual page


This is the press release from Senator Durbin's website ~ click here ~ to read report

Sunday, September 25, 2011

County officials discuss 3-mile turbine setback from shoreline



County officials discuss 3-mile turbine setback from shoreline


This story is about several small communities in Michigan’s Thumb area. These communities are kicking around the idea of a wind turbine setback of at least 3 miles from the shoreline of Lake Huron the reason for this is that a large portion of the area’s income comes from tourists, and turbines would detract from the visual beauty of the shoreline or negatively affect residential property values.

I am re- posting this article in its entirety because I know this area well having lived in Harbor Beach a quaint little community in Michigan's Thumb area on the shores of Lake Huron.

This area has much in common with Cape Vincent.

Huron Daily Tribune > News > Local News
By Kate Hessling
Tribune Staff Writer

BAD AXE — The idea of restricting wind turbines from within 3 miles of the shoreline, as well as allowing county-zoned townships to prohibit wind developments in their jurisdictions, was discussed during Thursday’s Huron County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Commissioners discussed creating a resolution asking the Huron County Planning Commission to consider revising the county’s wind energy ordinance to include a number of factors, including a wind turbine setback of at least 3 miles from the shoreline.

The revisions were proposed by 7th District Commissioner John A. Nugent, who represents Dwight, Hume, Lake, Lincoln, Pointe Aux Barques and Port Austin townships.

He also proposed restricting the height of turbines within the vicinity near the shore that’s out of that 3-mile range of the shoreline.

Nugent said a large portion of the area’s income comes from tourists, and he doesn’t want turbines to disturb the shoreline or negatively affect residential property values. He said the shoreline has the heaviest concentration of valuable residential property outside of cities and villages.

Board Chairman Ron Wruble agreed setbacks should be looked at because turbines are being built taller and larger. He also recommended having properties that are adjacent to where a turbine is sited be participants in the overall wind development.

Another revision Nugent proposed would allow for county-zoned townships to opt out of having wind turbines in their district. He said this is something he’s been asked about by his constituents, and there is a township in his district that is under county zoning but does not want to house any wind turbines in the future.

Commissioner David Peruski, who represents Bingham, Grant, Paris, Sheridan and Sherman Townships, agreed with having the planning commission review the wind ordinance. He said planners should also be asked to look at the noise requirements in the ordinance.

Also during Thursday’s meeting, Wruble announced a letter to wind developers currently is being drafted. He said it will ask whether developers will support efforts to help implement legislation that would replace the personal property tax if it is eliminated. He said the letter will ask for — not demand — a written commitment from wind developers.

A motion authorizing the board chairman to sign and send the letter is listed on the agenda of the board’s next regular meeting.

Wind energy developments took center stage at last week’s board of commissioners meeting. Commissioners held a lengthy discussion about a resolution that would impose a moratorium on any new wind overlay districts until the State of Michigan makes a determination regarding the various proposals to eliminate the personal property tax.

Discussion was suspended and the resolution is on the agenda of the board’s next regular meeting, which is set to follow a 9 a.m. meeting of the whole in Room 305 Tuesday in the County Building.

Note: the issue mentioned above about personal property tax

There is a push in Lansing to reduce or eliminate taxes currently on personal property taxes such as machinery, equipment and furniture in industrial and commercial buildings.

Michigan Personal Property tax info here

Solar Decathlon

DOE awards 100,000 apiece

for 20 Solar Shacks

Source Scientific American

Ever wonder what the Department of Energy does with your tax dollars?

Here is one not so bright idea...

Solar Decathlon's Rainy Start
Sep 23, 2011
The Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon kicked off September 23, in Washington on the National Mall, under dark rainy skies.
In a press release announcing the competition, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu is quoted as saying, "The Solar Decathlon collegiate teams are showing how clean energy products and efficient building design can help families and businesses reduce energy use and save money... Continue...

 

Was Acciona's withdrawal from Prairie Mills project prompted by a turbine ban?

Golden Illinois

The Village Board of Clayton passed a ban on wind turbines within 1.5 miles of its borders in early January of 2011, making it the second Adams County community to enact such restrictions. A recent survey by the board reportedly found that 88 percent of the town's citizens were in support of the measure. According to the Quincy Herald-Whig:

Two public hearings were held — one in August and another in October — to hear from residents of Clayton and landowners surrounding the village on wind energy restrictions. Comments during the public hearings from those opposed to turbines near Clayton warned that it would limit any potential growth of the community, could have potential health effects and provide the town any tax dollars.

Additionally, resident Diane Haschemeyer of Golden said her family initially agreed to lease land within the 1.5-mile radius for a wind turbine, but they have since changed their mind after visiting a wind farm in Wisconsin.
“I will tell you right now, we did not hear one positive comment,” said Haschemeyer, who believes the noise level of turbines was misrepresented to them when they made their initial decision. “That wind farm has been up and running for over three years.”

Proponents argued that it would provide tax revenue to school districts and other taxing bodies and provide additional revenue to local farmers.

Clayton, Golden and Camp Point are in an area where Acciona Energy North America and Global Winds Harvest proposed building a $300 million, 96-turbine Prairie Mills Wind Farm.

Because Clayton has zoning powers, it is within its legal rights to enact such a ban. The nearby village of Golden does not have zoning laws, but has nonetheless passed a legally-questionable zoning ban on wind turbines.

Coincidentally shortly, after this final ban was enacted Acciona Energy withdrew from the Prairie Mills Wind Farm plan .
Here is the complete statement from the companies: “The Prairie Mills wind project has been an exciting joint venture for ACCIONA and Global Winds Harvest. From the beginning, we saw this project as one of high value set to provide Adams County with renewable energy for years to come. This view has not faltered. Aside from energy production, the Prairie Mills Wind Project will increase property tax revenue, promote long-term income to family owned farms, propel job creation and reduce our nation’s dependency on foreign fossil fuels.
ACCIONA’s resources are currently focused on expanding in other regional markets. For this reason, Global Winds Harvest will take ownership of the project and continue to increase the project’s value while taking it to completion. Both companies have been actively working together to develop this project and are excited to have Global Winds Harvest carry the project forward.

Despite Acciona’s withdrawal from the project, Plans are still under way for the 96-turbine Prairie Mills wind farm in western Illinois' Adams County.



Source Quincy Whig Herald



Prairie Mills Wind Farm project still moving forward but little new information

A Government shutdown looms and that means OPPORTUNITY for us!

The House passed CR 2012 (Continuing Resolution 2012) before going home to their districts for a week.

This latest CR is needed to fund the government until November 18.

On Friday (Sep 23) the Senate voted NO complaining the bill took DOE loan guarantee money to fund FEMA disaster relief. DOE loans guarantee Solyndra and your local wind projects.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

The Senate's 'NO VOTE' WAS NOT ABOUT DISASTER RELIEF

The Senate's 'NO VOTE' WAS ABOUT KEEPING DOE's LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM FUNDED

-- even after the SOLYNDRA debacle --

WHAT WE NEED TO DO

Call -- Email -- Fax your SENATORS' Washington offices. Demand they support the House version of CR 2012. If they don't listen, tell them to COME HOME so you can explain it to them in person.

Call -- Email -- Fax your REPRESENTATIVES' home district offices. Ask them to hold firm on CR 2012 and Cut the Administration's pet loan program.

Please share this with others.

This is an opportunity we can't afford to pass up!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

ACCIONA'S "GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY"


This was sent to me in an email and I thought that it was interesting considering that the wind issue in Cape Vincent is not about wind it is about our freedom being taken away for the "Greater Good"


Recently Carmen Becerril, President of ACCIONA Energy, participated on behalf of ACCIONA in a roundtable at the United Nations Private Sector Forum 2011, a forum that defined the role of the private sector in support of the "Sustainable Energy for All" strategy promoted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The aim of this strategy is to unite the efforts of governments, the private sector and civil society partners to achieve three major goals by 2030:

•Achieving universal access to modern energy services.
•Improving energy efficiency by 40%.
•Increasing the share of energy generated from renewable resources around the world to 30%.
The following are the objectives for the Forum:

•To galvanise support for the strategy on "Sustainable Energy for All"
•To create a shared understanding of the role of the private sector in achieving sustainable energy for all
•To provide a platform for companies, investors, Governments, foundations and civil society organizations to share efforts and commitments
•To inspire new forms of public-private partnership to overcome challenges at local level


Does this all tie into AGENDA 21?
If you never heard of Agenda 21 — get ready for possibly the ride of your life. This is the United Nations blueprint for global control; socialism/collectivism on a global scale. It is the integration of economical, social and environmental policies. Government control in the hands of a small elite group under the guise of protecting the environment is just one of the programs fostered by Agenda 21. Now you will ask how this will impact us as Americans? Our individual liberties and property rights will be taken away (happening now). There will be a limit to our property and privacy (happening now). We will not have the freedom to travel or have our own economic freedom (happening now — gas prices prevent us from going too far). We will see shortage of goods. We will be made to make sacrifices by paying higher taxes and redistributing our wealth to those who are too lazy to work (happening now).

Now, what will we get in return? There will be restrictions on energy and water use. Our consumption of products will be decreased as well as our wealth and even our population growth. Look at China. They allow only one child per family. What will they do with an increase of male children when it comes to repopulation? We are not alone but it seems we are on that tract. It shouldn’t happen since we are the country with the most resources available and have privy to more.
Don’t say it can’t happen to us because it already started. There are now people in power who want to nullify our Constitution. They are now forcing us into a system we did not choose by people we did not elect. The free market economy which brought us to such a high level of living will be gone forever. There will be controlled planned economy instead.
All of the above was started three years ago by Barack Obama and his proposed “change.” How will they do this? Four roads lead to this transformation of America. There will be smart growth in cities. People will not own property, but live in certain sections of the country instead, probably leasing in high-rise buildings. We will have non-elected boards and regional governments — not selected by the people but by selected groups. There will be no more small businesses — only those owned by the government.
How can we see this happening and possibly prevent it? Follow the money. See from where our politicians get their money. Don’t take anything for granted — don’ t be afraid to ask questions. As Galileo once said: “All truths are easy to understand, once they are discovered. The point is to discover them.”


Barbara Skokan
PERTH AMBOY

Friday, September 23, 2011

Governor Cuomo launches New Website

CitizenConnects

CitizenConnects
Governor Cuomo launches a new website link here to CitizenConnects.
This new website it is being hailed as an online town hall where you can find everything you need to communicate with New York State Government.
Additionally on the right side of the website is a gadget that has a rolling schedule giving information about live chats that citizens may participate in. Two that may be of interest

Live Chat with Governor Cuomo

Saturday, September 24, 9:00 – 10: 00 Am.

~~~~~~~~~
Live Chat with Joe Martins DEC Commissioner
On Hydrofracking Sat October 8, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Once on this website if you click on the image displaying the information about the Governors live chat, a box appears where you write in your question in advance of the “live chat” .

Below is a copy of the introduction and Promo from the Governors the website
CitizenConnects empowers you with the information you need to actively participate in your state government. In the spirit of the old town green, Citizen Connects provides a way for you to participate in state government and share your thoughts, opinions and ideas for New York's future. Get involved in your community, come out and participate!
Governor Cuomo believes that government works when the voice of the people rings strong and true. Democracy works best when people are most engaged. It’s your government: own it!
Through CitizenConnects, Governor Cuomo encourages you to make your voice heard.

Link here to the Governors new Website and see if your voice is heard

Thursday, September 22, 2011

"Conflicts is Conflicts"

&

"Pigs is Pigs"

An insightful reader sent me this story.

In spite of Edsall’s Planning Board declaring the current zoning law was adequate for siting a wind project (June 14, 2006 letter), the law did not spell out the kind of site plan use for a wind project nor did it prohibit wind development in the river and lake front districts. To correct these would require an interpretation from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and the adoption of the draft wind law by the Planning Board as a set of guidelines (the draft wind law banned commercial wind development along the waterfront).

The ZBA determined in a 3 to 2 decision on February 28, 2007 that a commercial wind project could be considered a utility as defined in the current zoning law. This is the decision that was unsuccessfully challenged by WPEG.

The courts had no knowledge, however, of some local good-ole-boy, hanky-panky and questionable activities associated with the ZBA's decision. About the time the ZBA understood it may play a role in helping Edsall and Rienbeck circumvent the town's need for a wind law, one of the members, Lori Docteur, resigned from the ZBA. Docteur is the wife of Jefferson County Representative Michael Docteur.

What remains unclear is whether Edsall and Rienbeck tried to influence Ms. Docteur in voting to support their claim that wind projects are utilities. After her resignation the Town Board appointed Paul Robbins as her replacement. Robbins voted that wind turbines were utilities, but attended only a few meetings of the ZBA, missed more than he attended and resigned a year later.

What remains unclear about Robbins' appointment is whether Edsall or Rienbeck recruited him and if there was any discussion about an upcoming vote on the wind project/utility issue and if they suggested how he should vote.

Another bit of hanky-panky with the ZBA decision was the vote of another member, John Wiley, who also voted to affirm wind projects as utilities. At the time, Wiley never disclosed any conflicts of interest, but later BP Alternative Energy listed him on their website as having a potential conflict because his brother Patrick was a leaseholder ($24,400 /yr.). In addition, Wiley did not disclose his potential conflict of interest as the brother-in-law to Senator Darrel Aubertine, who has lease agreements with Acciona Energia.

Aubertine may have advised Wiley to vote regardless of his conflicts, since Aubertine was on record with his June 15, 2006 letter advising Cape Vincent officials to vote on wind in spite of conflicts of interest.

There are a number of questions that need to be answered regarding events leading up to the ZBA's decision on whether commercial wind projects should have been designated utilities.

If Edsall and Rienbeck are found to have interfered or unduly influenced ZBA members to support their gambit to circumvent adopting a wind law, then they might have crossed the line from ethics to criminal violations.

Signed ~ The Lone Ranger

Below is the BP Disclosure ~ showing Conflict of John Wiley, Cape vincent zoning board member 2006-2009

WIND LAW

VERSUS

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

A Comprehensive Plan is a guide or blueprint for the physical development of an area or region over a specified period of time.
Cape Vincent has a comp plan our comprehensive plan provides that for the area of the Town where the industrial wind projects are proposed, it clearly states the uses to be discourages are "Location of towers, prisons or utility facilities where there [sic] impact would have a negative impact on scenic vistas and tourism assets" while at the same time, the uses to be encouraged are " Agriculture. Development that has minimum impact on important resources such as scenic natural vistas, working landscapes and tourism assets." This dovetails with the law itself, who's stated purpose is, among other things, to "encourage the development of land for its most appropriate use within the town, and to conserve and protect the rural, agricultural, and scenic resources of the Town..." and, specifically the intent of the Agricultural residential district is to Promote all types of development in the interior portions of the town in a manner that provides the rural character and promotes active farming operations."

Industrial wind development does neither. However, the interpretation that the only legally defensible position is that they are not permitted under the comprehensive plan may not hold water.

why we must develop a strong wind law.

A comprehensive management plan for a jurisdiction, such as a township or municipality, can be developed to serve as a guide to plan for future development, including prospects to develop wind energy. The subsequent zoning decisions must then be consistent with the municipality’s comprehensive management plan (Salkin and Donohue, 2005). Developing a comprehensive management plan to support zoning ordinances and community planning will help to identify and address community concerns about wind energy development early in the community planning process. Additionally, zoning ordinances specific to wind energy development may be developed in combination with or in lieu of a comprehensive plan for a jurisdiction.However, although zoning ordinances can regulate development if adopted prior to project construction, even special zoning provisions may not necessarily entirely prevent wind energy development from occurring (Salkin and Donohue, 2005). In some instances, other laws governing the zoning and use of private land may supersede the zoning ordinances pertaining specifically to wind energy development. Agriculture operations in particular may be regulated under a specific agricultural law which supersedes the zoning decisions that would ordinarily prohibit wind energy development in an area. Many agricultural laws may have specific zoning codes promoting agricultural operations, including the construction of auxiliary wind energy facilities (Salkin and Donohue, 2005). For example, there are specific agricultural district laws in New York which allow for wind energy development exploration and development, effectively superseding any local zoning ordinance which may prohibit development (Salkin and Donohue, 2005). In New York , zoning ordinances are superseded by the agricultural district law because it was determined that the zoning ordinance unreasonably restricted farm operations within the agricultural districts (Salkin and Donohue, 2005). New York is also a state where high potential for wind energy development is observed in many areas statewide, as well as a state where wind farms have been and continue to be proposed on agricultural land.

Sources:




Link here to read Wind Energy Development in the United States:Applying the Nuisance Argument to Address Impacts to Visual Values


Link here to read Cape Vincent Town Village ~ Comprehensive Plan 2003

link here to read Town of Cape Vincent Zoning Law

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Doheny Formally Files Paperwork to Challenge Rep. Bill Owens



by Timothy W. Scee II
Special to Newzjunky.com
Published September 21, 2011

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Matthew A. Doheny, R-Watertown, formally announced his candidacy for the 23rd Congressional District seat Thursday and plans to focus his campaign on “growing the economy” by lowering taxes for business owners and encouraging job growth in the private sector.

“We’ve learned from Obama and Owens that right now we’ve been promised that we’re going to have greater economic growth, which will lead to jobs- we don’t have it,” Doheny said. “If you look at national unemployment and if you look at the weak economy, whether its the north country or all over the country, we’re going in the wrong direction.”
Newzjunky - Doheny Formally Files Paperwork to Challenge Rep. Bill Owens

Here is just one example of Owens taking us in the wrong direction
(Photo of Owens )



WASHINGTON, Mar 3, 2010 - Congressman Bill Owens announced funding to improve energy efficiency in Northern New York. More than two million dollars in funding was made possible for eleven projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“I am glad to see these federal funds come back to the North Country,” said Owens. “During these tough times, these types of grants are needed to reinvest in our infrastructure, cut future energy costs, create jobs and turn our local economy around.”

A total of $2,029,137 will be provided to schools, municipalities and health centers to streamline energy consumption at these public facilities and reduce future costs. The projects are estimated to save an estimated $536,731 annually.

Look at the math Owens must think that throwing tax dollars away will turn our economy around.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
AWARDEES FOR ARRA STATE ENERGY PROGRAM - ROUND 2 AWARDS FEBRUARY 2010
Amount awarded, $163,760 to the Thousand Island central School district, for the installation of a 20 KW wind turbine ~ estimated yearly savings = $7,474. At this rate it will take approximately 21 years for it to pay for itself.

A 20 KW wind turbine has an approximate life cycle of twenty years so it will be a close call. It is worth a look at the NYSERDA website to see what our fiscally bankrupt State sees as necessary to spend tax dollars on, money that we do not have.

People keep applying for grants using the rational if we don’t apply it will go somewhere else. This needs to stop! We do not have this money to waste on these rationalizations. This unnecessary spending has to stop.

Total awards for ARRA STATE ENERGY PROGRAM



  • ROUND 1 AWARDS October 2009 were $ 24,030,700 with an estimated savings of 6,507,683

  • ROUND 2 AWARDS for FEBRUARY 2010 were $39,375,845 with an estimated savings of $6,980,700



  • ROUND3 Awards
    ~ $9,045,089 with an estimated savings of $5,169,632


New York is in a fiscal mess we do not need our tax dollars to be wasted on friviolous projects.

Bill Owens excerpt from the Watertown Times June 14, 2010
I think we need to be looking at all the possibilities - wind, nuclear, biomass - everything that's available that we can look at we need to be looking at as options to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. That to me is one of the critical issues both environmentally and economically.

Wind turbine Projects Awarded through NYSERDA Administered ARRA Funding Opportunities




Update for the proposed Wind Turbine at Thousand Islands High School
CLAYTON — The Thousand Islands Central School District's plan to install a wind turbine on school grounds has been changed.

Instead, the district will spend the federal grant money it received last year to install a photovoltaic system.
"Because of issues with the government over where we could purchase it, that plan has fallen through," district Board of Education member John P. Warneck said. "So we're changing it to a 35 kw photovoltaic system that converts sunlight into electricity."
Map of American Reinvestment Recovery Act Awarded Projects New York State



Projects Awarded through NYSERDA Administered ARRA Funding Opportunities

* Voter residency requirements

There is still time

I have been getting many questions lately about voting requirements coincidentally this was sent to me recently by a reader .

The Supreme Court decided in 1972 that lengthy requirements for voting in state and local elections were generally unconstitutional, and suggested that 30 days a year was an ample period of residency. Most of the states have changed or eliminated their durational residency requirements to comply with the ruling.

New York has a 30day residency requirement. That requirement can be satisfied with various kinds of documentation -- including a lease or rental agreement showing a local address, a utility bill in your name with a local address, or a deed to a residence at a local address. I believe that even a boat slip rental contract for 30 days or more would acceptable and probably without a challenge.

The common misconception is to equate "residency" with the legal concept of "domicile." A person has only one domicile but can have many residences -- and can pick any one of those residences as the place where he or she will vote. The location of voter registration will usually have little or no consequence in settling a decedent's estate or determining state income tax liability.

Greater (greater than 30 days) residency requirements may apply to tax issues, estate settlement issues and motor vehicle registration, liability insurance and a host of other matters. You can't spend 30 days a year in Florida and decide that you therefore owe no NY state income tax when you spend the other 11 months in Utica. New York will come after you for their tax money if you spend 11 months in Utica and one month somewhere else. But voter eligibility is not the same thing as all those other matters and is not a controlling factor in making determinations re those other matters.

Florida doesn't care where you register to vote, and neither does New York -- as long as you don't use it as the single basis of a scam to avoid state taxes (on money earned in New York or while a resident of New York) or other obligations.

Northern New York Follies

Before Wolfe Island had turbines




I found this piece in my archives ~much has passed since it was written in 2007 the turbines are now turning.
Perry White, the City Editor for the Watertown Times, used to be known as "Kent’s boss" for his blog, "NNY Follies."
Clark Kent's boss at The Daily Planet newspaper was named Perry White as well.

Perry White is now writing for the Watertown Times on line. The following piece, written by Perry White (“Kent’s boss”) was posted on his blog, “NNY Follies,” March 23 , 2007, bringing us back to earlier days in this "Wind War"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

23 March 2007

Next week, Canadian Hydro will sponsor two public hearings to discuss a plan to construct 86 windmills on Wolfe Island. The 200-megawatt project will feed Ontario’s electric grid, from towers located across the west end of Wolfe Island.

For the geographically challenged or those who don’t have much opportunity to visit the Cape Vincent area, Wolfe Island is across a narrow channel of the St. Lawrence River from Cape Vincent; the ferry runs from the southeast corner of the island to the Cape. The island is clearly visible from Cape Vincent to Tibbets Point, and most of the towers will be clearly visible as well.

I mention this because, with the wind farm or farms proposed for Cape Vincent and Clayton, if the Canadian Hydro project goes through, the St.Lawrence River valley and eastern Lake Ontario will almost overnight become the site of as many as 350 windmills.

There are fewer than 200 towers in the Maple Ridge project on Tug Hill, and that project dominates the horizon from Turin to past Copenhagen. Along the river, wind farms could dominate the horizon from Fishers Landing to, well, to well out into Lake Ontario.

I have a great deal of ambivalence about the prospects of turning the lake and river area into a giant wind farm. I do believe that green power is important — the renewable, natural nature of wind-generated power has to be superior to burning coal or natural gas or splitting atoms. And yet…the number of windmills it takes to produce enough power to make a wind farm economically viable means that no working wind farm can ever be inobtrusive. Despite what some of my Cape Vincent critics blindly maintain, the aesthetic enjoyment of an area with such breathtaking natural beauty as the Thousand Islands region has significant value and it should be protected.

It seems to me that the dual “economic development” goals of some people along the river are mutually exclusive; you cannot on the one hand push a massive wind farm as a major economic asset and also continue to pursue with abandon tourism dollars. Some — perhaps many — people will be put off by the sight of the towers relentlessly marching along the river to the extent that they will not find the natural beauty they came to enjoy. And they won’t come back. (And believe me, when the initial awe of wind towers wears off, they aren’t going to draw any tourists here.)

Sometimes, man acts with foresight and wisdom. Mostly, though, my experience is that foresight is in extremely short supply. As Joni Mitchell pointed out, “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone?” It seems that folks along the river are hell bent on paving paradise and putting in a tower lot. They don’t seem willing to consider that once paradise is gone, it just never comes back.

posted by Kentsboss

nnyfollies

23 March 2007

Sen. Johnson: Investigate 'green energy' bankruptcies -

Sen. Johnson: Investigate 'green energy' bankruptcies - 93 Rock Wisconsin Rock Music Radio

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

(WSAU) U-S Senator Ron Johnson is co-sponsoring a bill to require federal investigations into companies that go bankrupt after getting renewable energy funds.

The Wisconsin lawmaker is teaming up with fellow Republican David Vitter of Louisiana – who’s critical of White House loan guarantees given to Solyndra Incorporated of Fremont California. Critics said the White House rushed the approval without enough oversight. The company filed for Chapter-11 bankruptcy earlier this month, and laid off all of its 1100 employees.
 .link 93 ROCK NEWS

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Issa to launch probe of Obama actions on Solyndra, LightSquared -

Issa to launch probe of Obama actions on Solyndra, LightSquared - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

By Justin Sink - 09/20/11 09:55 AM ET

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said Tuesday that his committee plans to investigate government loan programs to private corporations in light of allegations of improper dealings between the White House and failed energy company Solyndra and wireless startup LightSquared.  More from the Hill's Blog Briefing Room.

Darrel Aubertine

Only his Tailor Knows for Sure

People have been asking me how much influence has Darrel Aubertine had in the most recent political debacle in Cape Vincent (The Democrat Caucus.)

That is an excellent question. Darrel Aubertine is no stranger to political controversy,

The answer is ~

Only his Tailor knows for sure. ...

Darrel Aubertine began his political Career in Cape Vincent as Town Councilman.
Aubertine was elected to the Jefferson County Legislature began serving his term January of 1996.
However, Mr. Aubertine remained a member of the Cape Vincent Town Council for eleven weeks, before he resigned his Cape Vincent Town Council position effective April 1, 1996. Even though it was unclear in many minds, including Mr. Aubertine's, whether holding both elected offices was legal or ethical.
While holding both positions Aubertine did some cross promoting, he was instrumental in passing a legislative resolution March 27, 1996, supporting the efforts of certain Towns in Jefferson County (Cape Vincent & Clayton ) interested in the possible siting of a State Prison within Jefferson County. A copy of this resolution of support was forwarded to the Governor and the State of New York Department of Correctional Services.
Questions remain as to whether or not Aubertine had property listed as a potential site for a new prison.

Darrel Aubertine went on to make political history in Jefferson County New York
January 6, 1998, in an unprecedented move Darrel Aubertine became the first Democrat ever to lead Jefferson County government.
At a time when Republicans outnumbered Democrats on the board 12-3 Aubertine was elected by an 8-7 vote.
This Historical event was later characterized by some as the fumbling of Republican members of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators.
The six DISSIDENT REPUBLICANS who helped elect Aubertine to lead Jefferson County government later apologized in a letter to other members of the county GOP.
“We are not proud of the outcome and certainly had nothing to gain and much to lose by our actions”.
Prior to Mr. Aubertine’s being elected to the chairmanship he had supported Paul J. Warneck, R- Sackets Harbor for a second term as chairman.
Aubertine said that when it got right down to voting in January for a new Chairman, there was only one person he could trust: himself.

“There are no apologies for supporting myself,” Mr. Aubertine said.

Since the beginning Darrel Aubertine has had what may seem to some as a meteoric political rise to his position as a New York State Senator.
But this is far from the case.
After the strategic political maneuvering that gained Darrel Aubertine the chairmanship of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators , things began to accelerate to another level for Darrel Aubertine. August of 1999, Michael W. Schell, former head of the county Democrats, invited Aubertine to a ROCHESTER DINNER WITH HUD SECRETARY CUOMO and AG CHIEF GLICKMAN.
Mr. Schell, at this time is the head of New York's Democratic Executive Committee. They all drove to Rochester with Aubertine and met with two members of President Bill Clinton's cabinet in Rochester.
This meeting in Rochester was a crucial point in Darrel’s political career. People in high places were taking an interest in Darrel Aubertine.
Darrel Must have made a good impression , perhaps they decided that Down On the Farm Darrel could deliver the North Country to the Down State Democrats, Darrel made the grade and was moved on to the next stage of the game. Handpicked to become the new chosen one for the Albany insiders club . He had that aw shucks persona they needed to appeal to the North Country population as they knew they couldn’t. He is the perfect political decoy.

In the spring of 2000 Aubertine made an announcement~ "I have been asked to run for state Senate, but I've also been asked to run for Assembly,"Mr. Aubertine said. "I'm very flattered." By April of 2000 Aubertine announced that he had made a decision he will run for State Assembly. ( I am suprised he didn't try and do both at the same time)
Winning did not become a reality for Darrel until early spring of April 2002 when Assembly's Democrats give Aubertine a gift that money can't buy : Assembly district 118 was redrawn this was a major move that helped Aubertine tie up the election. He was elected three times beginning in 2002 to serve in the NY State Assembly representing the 118th or "River" District.Eventually moving on to become a NY State Senator fulfilling the obligations and ambitions of the voracious political machine that launched his political career.

Now one thing that the slick suits that were grooming Darrel for puppet hood did not count on was that Darrel is an ethical illusionist and along with that aw shucks persona comes his Cape Vincent code of ethical standards , an unwritten code of unethical standards so convoluted and twisted that they are intertwined in an incestuous tanglement of lies and contradictions that are mind numbing.
Just to name a few---

Darrel Aubertine signed two lease agreements on May 1, 2004 with NY Wind power LLC purchased by (Acciona) He has lied about this, not making the required financial disclosures.

Aubertine signed a bill that eliminated a tax penalty for converting land zoned for agricultural use to non-agricultural use.
Now, when a farmer hosts wind turbines on his land this bill eliminates a tax penalty for changing the use of the land from agricultural to non agricultural.

Additionally There is the infamous letter that (then Assemblyman) Aubertine wrote to the Cape Vincent town board informing them that it was their duty to vote even though they have conflicts of interest. Additionally Aubertine wrote that governing by referendum is unwise.
This upcoming vote had the potential of eliminating turbines from Aubertine’s neighborhood. And may have had the potential to benefit him financially.

Did Aubertine do these things to fulfill a clause in a wind lease that he has signed with Acciona Spain?

The clause~~~

Monday, September 19, 2011

Due to paperwork error, Cape Vincent, Clayton, Wilna won't field Dem candidates

Watertown Daily Times | Due to paperwork error, Cape Vincent, Clayton, Wilna won't field Dem candidates
September 19, 2011

The towns of Cape Vincent, Clayton and Wilna won't field Democratic candidates in this November's elections because party officials there didn't tell the county Board of Elections that they'd be holding caucuses 10 days in advance.Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Obama Administration reworked Solyndra loan to favor private donors

Administration reworked Solyndra loan to favor private donors - Fosters
By MATTHEW DALY
and JACK GILLUM


Sunday, September 18, 2011

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration restructured a half-billion dollar federal loan to a troubled solar energy company in such a way that private investors — including a fundraiser for President Barack Obama — moved ahead of taxpayers for repayment in case of a default, government records show. More...

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Cape Vincent ~Turban Turbulance

Why Alan Wood, Rich Edsall,& Roger Alexander

Are on the Lone Ranger's

Shit-List


I posted this story a few months back , recently I have had more than a few inquires about this issue . This is just a one example of the convoluted idiocy that is part of Cape Vincents Culture of Corruption.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are riding along NYS Rte 12E from Cape Vincent toward Clayton you will undoubtedly see an odd looking white contraption hovering over a nearby home, seemingly ready to unleash some ungodly alien attack. But, it isn't an attack of the Ninjas, rather, it's Roger Alexander and Alan Wood's idea of a joke – a private wind generator, that rarely spins, placed entirely too close to the home of Mary and Bob Grogan.






How close is too close? Alexander's pseudo-spinning machine is 90 ft high, 108 ft from the Grogan property line and 132 ft from their home.


The supplier of Alexander's machine admitted it's noisy and said it should be further away from a home than 100 ft.


GE has a simple formula for determining safe setbacks from wind generators to avoid ice-throw problems and that formula says Alexander's spinner is too close. NYSDEC noise policy indicates the noise and wind generator is too close. But more importantly, the Cape Vincent Planning Board policy says Alexander's spinning whirligig is way, way too close. If all this is true, then how could this overhanging, pseudo-spinning thing have ever been allowed to be that close to Mary and Bob Grogan's home? Why? Because Alan Wood isn't that smart, Rich Edsall is a hypocrit and because Roger Alexander is a Big Fat Idiot! What, Alan Wood isn't that smart? I thought he was the brain behind the Wood Farms, LLC.
Wood issued the first permit for Alexander's wind generator in 2006 and renewed it in May 2009. The permits had a few errors. Wrong height of the generator. Wrong intended use. Wrong parcel. Yes, I said wrong parcel. Imagine that a zoning officer who has no idea where he was. I shouldn't be too hard on him, at least he knew he was in the Town of Cape Vincent. Wait, Silver has not yet reached the summit of Mount Idiocy.


The permit did not only contain a few “minor errors,” but it was also illegal. After Grogan complained to the town's complaint department, the Zoning Board of Appeals, they agreed with her and determined that the permit Wood had approved was illegal. ZEO Wood missed Section 585 in the law, which states nothing can be higher than 30 ft on a lot without a house.


Alexander's spinarama was on an independent lot without a house. This was a clear violation of the law that Wood was paid to understand, administer and enforce. Wood's excuse was I checked with the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals before I issued the permit.


Alexander didn't like the idea his permit was ruled illegal by the ZBA, so he took the town to court; only to lose. Then he had a brilliant idea – put a house on the lot so that it conforms with Section 305 of the Zoning Law, which states that a supplemental structure (e.g., wind generator) can be taller than 30 ft as long as there is a house on the lot and it has an additional setback from the property line.


Alexander garners the Big Fat Idiot title when he spends $132,500 to purchase a home adjacent to his independent lot with his whirlygig and then consolidates both lots making his whirlygig in compliance with Cape Vincent zoning law.
Rather than admit he was wrong, rather than removing the wind generator as required by the ZBA's ruling and rather than doing the right thing for his neighbor, the Big Fat Idiot shows he has more money than brains by spending $132,500 rather than dismantle a non-operative, junk generator.


And now for the part of this sad story that really pisses-off the Lone Ranger.


In early 2009 Verizon Cellular applied for a permit to put a cell tower on property that adjoins land owned by ZEO Wood. At a February 11, 2009 meeting of the Planning Board, its Chairman Richie Edsall is flummoxed when he learns Verizon intends to put a 195 ft tower only 213 ft from ZEO Wood's property line. “I'm not going to vote for a tower that's closer to a property line than 1.5 times the tower height unless you get the neighbor to sign some sort of legal document,” Edsall stated. Edsall then asks the Verizon representative, “Who's the neighbor?” After a pause, ZEO Wood says, “Oh, that's me that neighbor you're talking about.” At the April 8, 2009 public hearing for the Verizon cell tower application, Wood asks Edsall, “You took care of the issue of it being too close to the line? Edsall says yes and Wood states finally, “It should be good then.”


Wow! Okay then for Alan Wood to have a tower setback 1.5 times its height from his property line, but screw the Grogans. I've found that the local natives of Cape Vincent have a common epithet they like to spit out at people of a different color or persuasion - it's scumbag. Well, that's the only term you can apply to people who took delight in allowing the Big Fat Idiot's 92 ft wind turbine to be placed 108 ft from Mary Grogan's property line. Yup, that's closer than Edsall said he'd allow, yet that scumbag happily agreed to Alexander's lot line shift that shafted the Grogans. Damn, I don't think anything is more a burr under my saddle than hypocrisy!


As most of you know, the Ranger never stays in one place very long. I like to move along and help people where they are in need, but there is so much injustice in this town that I think I better stick around a spell. Adios, see you in a bit.

The Lone Ranger...











Saturday, September 17, 2011

Galloo Island Wind Farm in limbo as state senator calls for end to Great Lakes Offshore Wind

Watertown Daily Times | Galloo Island Wind Farm in limbo as state senator calls for end to Great Lakes Offshore Wind

NYPA APPLICATION: Ritchie says agency in review process after report Long Island locale is likely winner
By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011


Developers of Galloo Island Wind Farm have waited months for word on their application for a power purchase agreement, and now a state senator has said the entire program for offshore wind power in the Great Lakes should be scrapped.

State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, told the Buffalo News on Thursday that the New York Power Authority is backing away from the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie project in favor of a wind farm off Long Island with the Long Island Power Authority and Consolidated Edison.


more...

Friday, September 16, 2011

* DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA?

Acciona community noise outreach

Wind developer should open meetings
FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010
Acciona Wind Energy USA has a strange way of reaching out to the public. They'll do it behind closed doors.

The developer of St. Lawrence Wind Farm in Cape Vincent plans to set up a community relations group of 10 to 15 town and county officials as well as residents on both sides of the issue to provide a variety of viewpoints.

Project Manager Peter E. Zedick said it will help them share "all the information we can with the community." They expect to meet next month with several other meetings planned this year under the direction of a moderator from Jefferson Community College's Center for Community Center.

But there's a catch.

The meetings will be secret. They will be closed to the public, which will have to rely on minutes or secondhand reports of what was discussed. Such closed-door arrangements do little to gain public trust or confidence; just the opposite. They give rise to suspicions and distrust.

If Acciona wants a dialogue with the community, then it should try transparency and open the doors.


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Community Relations Group letter