Chandler wrote that BP has been “engaged” with the Town and members of its community for many years.The town has already evaluated potential impacts from the Cape Vincent and St. Lawrence Wind Farm projects and made favorable findings. Under Board members with conflicts of interest that signed loyalty clauses.
At this point BP has two choices as to how they can proceed.
They can continue to "work closely” with our community, implementing their plan of attack until they feel they have sufficiently neutralized the opposition, or until they feel they have exhausted all other options and then proceed under article 10.
It all depends how lucky they feel.
Once they go to an article 10 process the fate of their project is out of their hands and there is no turning back …
Below is a reproduction of Chandler's letter .
Via Electronic Delivery
Town of Cape Vincent
P. O. Box 680
Cape Vincent, N Y 13618
Re: Proposed Amendment – 2012 of Town Of Cape Vincent Zoning Law
On June 5, 2012 the town of Cape Vincent (“ Town") issued Proposed Amendment – 2012 to the
Town of Cape Vincent Zoning Law (" Proposed Zoning Law"). The Proposed Zoning Law would
effectively prohibit wind generation from being sited within the Town. The town has already
evaluated potential impacts from the Cape Vincent and St. Lawrence Wind Farm projects and
made favorable findings. The requirements of the Proposed Zoning Law, however, are
inconsistent with these findings. The requirements, setback provisions, exclusion areas, and noise
standards contained within the Proposed Zoning Law are highly restrictive and should be
substantiated by realistic and credible studies, consistent with other operational wind projects, and
in line with industry standards.
As you know, the developers of the Cape Vincent Wind Farm and St. Lawrence Wind Farm
Projects (combined" the project") have been engaged with the Town and members of its
community for many years. By working closely with the community, BP has been able to make
several changes to and positively shape the Project into one that will provide significant benefits
to the Town and the community and do so in an environmentally responsible manner. Wind
development in the Town will create jobs, increase the demand for local goods and services, and
increase tax revenues to the Town, County, and school district. Land owners will be able to
secure an additional revenue stream while continuing to use their property for agricultural and
recreational uses, a positive benefit during challenging economic times. The Project also will
provide renewable power that is good for the environment.
For parties interested in submitting applications to site wind energy projects in the Town of Cape
Vincent, the provisions contained within the Proposed Zoning Law are unreasonably burdensome
that's in view of existing wind generation technology and/or in view of the needs of/costs to
ratepayers. We respectfully request the town to reconsider the Proposed Zoning Law, taking into
account the above mentioned comments.
Below are excerpts from wind leases signed by conflicted board members that may explain the favorable findings for the development of BP's project that Chandler mentions in his letter.
click here to view BP Wind Lease agreement
click here to view BP Wind Good Neighbor agreement
click here to view Acciona Wind lease agreement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Below are the loyalty clauses from BP's & Acciona's wind leases
2 comments:
One of the ways Bp has been engaged with the community was to enjoy one of their lease holders being the chairman of the lead agency, the town planning board. Richard Edsall. Edsall's friend Start a Business in CV is trying to make Edsall out to be the victim of the hundreds of Cape Vincent citizens who read and support the blogs. Industrial wind engaged our community by dividing Cape Vincent. Start a Business in CV is trying to re-write the truth on that one, too.
That is why I have supported the:
Blogger's Defense Fund
Box 8
Three Mile Bay, NY 13693
Nice try Dickie. This is a letter BP sent knowing they would get no where with their request to the town to dump its protective regulations. This from the company that sent to the town a letter in 2010 telling them money for everybody was indirectly related to safety and precaution, which meant drop your safety guard and watch your bank account grow. BP, the corporate equivalent to "Nightrider" in Mad Max, wants us to dump concerns for health and safety and let them make every nickel they can (some chump change for the rest of us, too).
BP is betting on Article 10. Notice the term unreasonably burdensome, a phrase right out of the Art. X legislation and rules. But, for BP to dump our local zoning code will take more than a letter from BP - there will be a big fight with the town. Even if BP were successful in getting the siting board to remove the town's zoning law, BP would then need a PILOT (local tax savings/gift) to satisfy their investors. However, there is no chance for BP to get any PILOT with the current Town Board and the Jefferson County Legislature. Even though BP is big and has muscle, Article X is not that beneficial to them and the Cape is currently better positioned to prevail.
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