Monday, March 30, 2015

The NYS DEC has Galloo Island listed in their 2014 Draft Open Space plan

LAKE ONTARIO AND LAKE ERIE SHORELINES, 
ISLANDS AND NIAGARA RIVER


A major New York State resource consisting of islands, sand dunes, bluffs, embayments, wetlands, major tributaries, lake plains, significant bat and avian migratory flyways, opportunities for shoreline and island access and other significant natural and cultural resources. This system begins at the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson County and extends to the New York/Pennsylvania border on Lake Erie. The near shore areas, drowned river mouths, and riparian corridors provide spawning and nursery habitat for various fish species, including those that are threatened and endangered, such as lake sturgeon. This area also provides nesting, feeding and resting habitat for waterfowl.


Galloo Island, the largest undeveloped island on Lake Ontario, measuring approximately 3½ miles by 1½ miles or 1,934 acres, is just one of the undeveloped islands worthy of attention.



Wind Power Stirs Up Controversy in Henderson

Hounsfield Town supervisor Tim Scee, says the town board and planning board are 100 percent behind the project.

~~~

When water meets land, there's wind. And when wind meets windmill, there's controversy.  
Some residents in Henderson don't want to see those blades spinning and lights blinking across the Harbor.


"Unfortunately, it would ruin the character of the island," said  Mitch Franz, Henderson Harbor Guides Association Vice President.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Appellate court reverses ruling that Hounsfield must pay attorneys $160k

 SACKETS HARBOR — A state appellate court has unanimously reversed a lower court’s ruling that the town of Hounsfield must pay a Watertown law firm $160,615 in legal fees related to the defunct Galloo Island Wind Farm development.
Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times...

Friday, March 27, 2015

SASS IS A DESIGNATION NOT AN ASSASSINATION!

March 25, 2015
“United we stand, divided we fall”.  This phrase was popularized in modern times by Founding Father John Dickinson when he composed “The Liberty Song”.  In 1768 he wrote: “Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all:  By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!”   The phrase has been used extensively throughout our history and it is worth reflecting on today as some of our waterfront communities are considering the benefits of a SASS designation.
SASS stands for Scenic Area of Statewide Significance, and is part of the NYS Coastal Management Program; there are currently only two such designated areas in New York - portions of the Hudson River Valley, and the village and town of East Hampton, Long Island.  
The Thousand Islands is without a doubt, one of the most scenic and beautiful regions within the state and it is surely worthy and deserving of a SASS designation. In a unique and unprecedented display of cooperation, ten river communities have worked diligently the last couple of years, in partnership, to explore getting a SASS designation for their communities and the region.
People should know that last year an outside consultant and media expert was brought in to our region by a few powerful families for the express purpose of killing SASS. The consultant is an expert at manipulating public opinion by using fear, uncertainty, and doubt to make things happen or not happen.  These powerful interests have employed both a selective media campaign and aggressive lobbying effort to pick off many River front communities one by one as they have gotten them to withdraw from the SASS effort.
It is important for people to understand what SASS is or isn’t. The purpose of SASS is to identify, evaluate, and preserve specific areas of scenic value within a region or designated area. SASS does not require any new or additional permits or licenses, nor does it impose any new regulations on development.  It works within existing regulations in that, if a permit is required under State or Federal rules, then there is an additional step in the evaluation process that asks the appropriate permitting authority to comment on any impact that the request may have on the shoreline area viewshed.  
The shoreline areas are the only areas of concern under SASS. There are no other impacts on the balance of a town.  This means that there are no mandated controls, regulations or modifications to existing town laws.  SASS can issue an opinion about the impact of a project on scenic views, but it does not approve or disapprove any projects, as it has no regulatory power or authority.  
A review of the facts shows that between 2000 and 2014 there were 1917 applications that required evaluation within the SASS designated area on the Hudson River. Of these, 23 were considered for review and only 4 of these were found to have a significant issue relative to impact on the view shed.  That is less the 0.2% of the applications.  This is a very small number and substantiates the point that very few development projects have been adversely affected by SASS.
Cape Vincent and Clayton are fortunate in that they have dealt with the Department of State (DOS) under the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) for many, many years and they know how to deal with LWRP requirements.  Since the DOS policies for a scenic review are the same under both SASS and LWRP, there is not a new learning curve and no additional review would be required.
If Cape Vincent and Clayton continue to work together to achieve a SASS there is a high probability that it will be granted. A SASS designation for these communities is not only consistent with their comprehensive plans, but will also serve as a driver for economic development by encouraging more tourism.
We have been entrusted with the awesome responsibility of protecting the unique character and benefits that Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River bring to our towns.  We have an obligation and a responsibility to our children and future generations to do our best to not make decisions that will have an adverse effect on our Towns and on the Thousand Islands region.
By standing together Cape Vincent and Clayton can be the nucleus to do what is right for its citizens and the region as a whole.  And perhaps some of the other communities that have opted out of SASS, will reconsider and opt back in when they see the benefits that SASS can bring to the Thousand Islands.
Please remember -  “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Michael J. Comerford
Cape Vincent

Monday, March 23, 2015


Iberdrola tops list of US corporate welfare hogs

How much welfare Uncle Sam provides companies has long been one of the great mysteries of taxpayer spending. Like a secret underground river, boodles have flowed out of the Treasury and into corporate bank accounts without notice.


Now we finally have a first look at the size of that river and where the cash goes.

Friday, March 20, 2015

SOLAR NOT WIND



The white, rectangular overlay on Galloo Island represents a 500 acre segment that could encompass a modern 100 MW solar project, the equivalent sized energy project to Hudson Energy's Galloo Island wind energy proposal.



Ten Best Reasons for Bill Moore to Use Solar Instead of Wind on Galloo Island.

  1. Article 10 reasonable alternatives to the facility are required by PSL 164(i)
  2. Moore won't have to do a visual simulation for negative scenic impacts, since there are none.
  3. Bald eagles, other raptors and migrating waterfowl won't be chopped, diced and blended.
  4. Solar has no risk from a turbine failure fire destroying the entire and unique Galloo Island habitat.
  5. No blinking light disturbance from nighttime turbine lighting for lake-shore property owners.
  6. Solar is New York and Gov. Cuomo's preferred renewable energy alternative while wind is waning.
  7. No potential wind turbine infrasound health effects for lake-shore residents.
  8. No lake-shore property devaluation from degraded sunset views from 30, 500+ ft spinning turbines.
  9. Town of Hounsfield still gets their money without pissing-off neighboring towns.
  10. Even fewer jobs created so no PILOT will be granted by Jeff County and more tax revenue for taxing authorities.


Both Wind and solar are dumb Ideas for Galloo.
 

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Wind energy has dismal record of output

After a decade, we are still faced with industrial wind hucksters in Northern New York.

This time it’s the once dead Galloo Island wind proposal. Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director Don Alexander thinks the visual impact at a distance will be equal to a thimble. However, we have solid evidence this project will be a visual disaster for eastern Lake Ontario viewscapes.

 Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

SASS Views

To The Editor:
There is a major hot topic currently being discussed locally: will a SASS designation REALLY protect 1000 Island communities from industrial wind energy development?
Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times


DooDoo Diligence




Link here to read a handy guide ~How to Remove your Head from your Ass

Monday, March 16, 2015

2009 ~ Galloo Island Wind ~Developer windfall: $23 million

By NANCY MADSEN
TIMES STAFF WRITER
PUBLISHED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2009 AT 3:16 AM


The proposed Galloo Island Wind Farm is ready to agree to spend more than $2 million per year as part of a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, but it stands to save nearly $23 million in other tax abatements.

JCIDA will levy a $1.2 million fee for its role in working on the tax breaks.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Investors with no hope of returns

Recent stories about payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements should once again be raising a public question about how PILOTs are arrived at in particular and economic development policies in general.

The request by the developer of the new and (he says) improved version of the Galloo Island wind farm has already raised the hackles of a lot of people, for more than one reason. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Saturday, March 14, 2015




Screw a compact fluorescent not Galloo!


Galloo Island Wind Farm - How Important to NY's Energy Future?

When the 100 MW Galloo Island Wind Farm gets plugged-in every electron it produces will be transmitted downstate. Future demand for electricity in New York is about meeting downstate needs, not upstate.

Any wind farm in New York is lucky if they average one-third of rated capacity. For the Galloo project it would mean producing 289,000 MWh each year.

How will this production help meet New York's downstate electric need? Better yet, what would downstate households have to do to reduce demand so that we would not have to despoil Galloo Island with 30, 500+ ft high wind turbines?

If each downstate household (4.8 million) replaced a single 60 watt incandescent light bulb with a 10 watt compact fluorescent for three hours of daily use, it would save more electricity than that produced by the proposed Galloo Island project.

Why ruin a unique Lake Ontario island habitat if it could be saved by having downstate households replace a single light bulb.


Wind turbine project causes turbulence in Henderson

HENDERSON — Some town residents and business owners are readying for what they think could become another fight against wind power.

The prospect of a wind farm on Galloo Island in the town of Hounsfield — about 6 miles from the closest mainland at Stony Point in Henderson — has provoked a response from people in the area who believe there are compelling reasons to oppose building turbines there.
Link here to continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

What does the Town of Hounsfield Comprehensive Plan say about Wind power?

  Developer Bill Moore has resurrected the idea of building an industrial scale wind complex  in the Town of Hounsfield on Galloo Island.
What does the Town of Hounsfield's Comprehensive plan say about renewable energy and wind in particular?

Renewable Energy

The future economy will be dependent upon affordable, reliable and renewable energy and the North Country is already a proven leader in these areas. In total, more than 50% of the State’s installed wind generation is within the region. With a deepwater port, available land, rural development patterns and the infrastructure required to transport power already in place,
the region is poised to take advantage of wind’s potential.


Related links


JCIDA chief exaggerated support for Galloo Island wind project, legislator says




Caravan Stage Company plans to dock in Clayton and host shows aboard its ship

  CLAYTON — The Caravan Stage Company will dock and perform at the Antique Boat Museum for two days in August.
The Canadian-based company will float up to the dock at the museum for shows Aug. 14 and 15. The acts will feature aerial acrobatics and theatrics. Continue reading via this link to the Watertwn Daily Times

Friday, March 13, 2015

Island wind developer plans to build power line to Jefferson County


SACKETS HARBOR — The Galloo Island wind developer said Thursday he plans to build a transmission line to a substation in Jefferson County because National Grid hasn’t been receptive to his proposal for an underwater route to Oswego County.
William M. Moore said National Grid has denied his company’s proposal to run a 50-mile underwater transmission line to one of its substations in Oswego County because infrastructure there supports nuclear plants in the area. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

 

DEC Adopts New Freshwater Fishing Regulations

  New or Modified Regulations Pertaining to Sportfish Species, Baitfish and Other Non-Game Fish and to Gear and Angling Methods Statewide Fishing Regulations Eliminate Unnecessary Special Regulation


 
New freshwater fishing regulations go into effect April 1, 2015, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens  announced. 




Thousand Islands Inn receives $100,000 from National Grid

CLAYTON — The Thousand Islands Inn has received $100,000 from National Grid to help revitalize the 117-year-old building in downtown Clayton through the company’s Main Street Revitalization Program incentive.


“We’re very excited to see this project come to fruition,” said inn owner Bradford J. Minnick, of Wellesley Island.

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Wildlife experts: Huron turbines could kill thousands of bats

By Chris Aldridge Tribune Staff Writer BAD AXE —

 Round Island Light Lake Huron Michigan

 To clear the air on what some county officials called a “wishy-washy” stance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists visited Huron County on Wednesday to affirm that wind turbines should not be sited within three miles of Great Lakes shorelines. Jeff Gosse and Scott Hicks of the Fish and Wildlife Service presented results of a Huron County study funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, conducted in 2011 and 2012, to county commissioners and planners in two separate meetings on Wednesday.


Continue reading via this link to the Huron Daily Tribune

Around Lake Ontario, Neighbors Debate a Dam, Property Values and Muskrats

OFF GRINDSTONE ISLAND, N.Y. — When Jeff Garnsey, a third-generation fishing guide along the St. Lawrence River, looks at the water off Grindstone Island, he notices that it does not move the way it used to.


“The current isn’t running through,” Mr. Garnsey said, standing on a river-borne skiff and pointing out at a silt-filled channel. “It’s been choked off.”

Continue reading via this link to the New York Times


PILOT license: JCIDA head embellishes support for proposed wind project


When it came to proclaiming widespread support for another Galloo Island wind farm project, a member of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators believes that Donald C. Alexander counted his chickens before they hatched.

Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Daily Times

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Bird Conservation Group Calls for Changes in Collection of Data at Wind Developments

Media release


(Washington, D.C., March 5, 2015) American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to institute a new system of pre-construction risk assessment and bird and bat mortality data collection in connection with hundreds of thousands of bird (and bat) deaths being caused by wind turbines and the likelihood that that number could substantially exceed one million deaths when the industry reaches its full build out capacity by 2030 or before.


The ABC proposal was made in a letter to Department of Interior and FWS pursuant to their request for comments on information collection in connection with their land-based wind energy guidelines. It follows the entering of a guilty plea on January 6 from PacifiCorp that will require the company to pay $2.5 million in fines, restitution and community service for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act by killing 38 Golden Eagles and 336 other birds at two Wyoming wind farms.


ABC is asking FWS to institute a pre-construction risk assessment and bird mortality data collection that are based on:

  1. studies conducted by independent, qualified experts selected by the FWS or a trusted consulting company hired by FWS;

  2. costs being borne by wind energy companies;

  3. all reports sent directly to the FWS, and not through the wind energy company, which would then have no opportunity to edit or alter the reports to their advantage;

  4. reports being made available to the public to add an additional layer of scrutiny; and

  5. mandatory requirement to conduct independent Environmental Assessments (EA) and obtain incidental take permits under the Endangered Species Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act when protected species are present.

The ABC letter commended the FWS for formally recognizing, in their comment solicitation, that there may be serious problems with their current voluntary system of siting and operational guidelines for the wind industry, which is based largely on self-reporting.  The solicitation said that: “We are currently in the process of evaluating the efficacy and use of the Guidelines and the Service is considering regulatory options. Based on feedback from the wind energy industry and from Service staff, the Guidelines are often successful in improving communication and lead to development of wind projects that are safer for wildlife, but in other cases are not successful in preventing wind energy facilities from being constructed in areas of high risk to wildlife.”


ABC objected to the statement “often successful,” asserting that there are no data to support such a statement. ABC is calling on FWS to “trust but verify” in regard to bird mortality data collection and monitoring, citing a wide range of problems with the current system, including:

  1. industry-paid consultants that downplay the potential impact of wind energy facilities on federally-protected birds and bats during the Environmental Assessment development process;

  2. attempts by the wind industry to site wind energy in highly sensitive areas for birds (e.g., Mill Creek in Missouri, Camp Perry in Ohio, Apple Blossom in Michigan, etc.);

  3. industry-paid consultants who collect data on post-construction fatalities and report unverified and potentially incorrect data to regulators;

  4. lack of fatality reporting by existing wind energy facilities; and

  5. efforts to hide bird and bat fatality data from the public.

The ABC letter charges that “…wind energy companies should not be collecting their own fatality data, as it is a direct conflict of interest.  Industry does not share mortality data with the public and FWS contends that the data are owned by the companies.  ABC contends they only ‘own’ the data because of the system that FWS has set up, which is based entirely on self-reporting.”


ABC had additional concerns with current federal plans to have the American Wind and Wildlife Institute (AWWI) retain bird and bat mortality data. Under that plan, AWWI would sign a confidentiality agreement with wind energy companies and would not be subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. “This seems like a less-than-veiled attempt to continue to keep the public and concerned NGOs in the dark,” said Dr. Michael Hutchins, National Coordinator of ABC’s Bird Smart Wind Energy Campaign and author of the letter.

GREAT LAKES SEAWAY TRAIL CEO CONCERNED ABOUT WIND TURBINE PROJECT


Link here to Save Ontario Shores



February 18 at 3:07pm ·

GREAT LAKES SEAWAY TRAIL CEO CONCERNED ABOUT WIND TURBINE PROJECT


"I am writing this letter as the CEO of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, to advise your Board of our concerns regarding the proposed wind farm project proposed for Orleans and Niagara Counties in the Route 18 corridor."

(Posted on the NY Public Service Commission public comment section for the Apex Lighthouse Wind Project. To see the original on GLST letter head go to PSC website: http://documents.dps.ny.gov/…/MatterManage…/CaseMaster.aspx…)


February 11, 2015

Great Lakes Seaway Trail, Inc.

PO Box660

Sackets Harbor, NY 13685 315-646-1000

www.seawaytrail.com

NYS Board on Electric Generation Siting

3 Empire State Plaza

Albany. NY 12223-1350

Re: Niagara Orleans Lighthouse Wind Farm Project Project 14-F-0485


To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter as the CEO of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, to advise your Board of our concerns regarding the proposed wind farm project proposed for Orleans and Niagara Counties in the Route 18 corridor. Route 18 through most of Orleans and Niagara County is the designated route of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, a federally designated National Scenic Byway. It is our position that the scale and environmental impacts of the towers would be detrimental to the view scape and agricultural nature of the trail in this area.

The Lake Ontario Shoreline and lake plain are part of a well-documented avian migration flyway; the towers would represent a significant threat to bird populations well beyond western New York. We also have an overarching concern regarding the vitality and livability of all of the communities along the trail. We are concerned that the industrial scale and environmental impacts of the wind turbines would be a significant negative Impact to nearby communities.

The legislation creating the Byways has been adopted by local municipalities and is embedded in their Zoning requirements. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail is not opposed to development which is economically beneficial to the area; however, we seek to ensure that the natural and scenic resources of the area are carefully addressed by those empowered to approve such development.

Please advise of any public hearings or public information available regarding this project.

Sincerely, John P. Hall CEO, Great Lakes Seaway Trail

Keep wind farms farther offshore, DENR secretary says

North Carolina’s environment secretary has urged a federal agency not to sell wind energy leases within 24 miles of the state’s coast, a limit that advocates say would largely block wind farms. Link here to continue reading


Sunday, March 8, 2015

They hate the government more than they love the Thousand Islands!


Lets clear the air about what the opposition to the proposed SASS designation for the Thousand Islands is all about . The so called anti SASSERs have been dishonest as to what is really stuck in their craws, and it isn’t about a designation that calls the Thousand Islands a pretty place.

This is about their anger, gut-wrenching anger, and hatred directed at the SAFE ACT, ARTICLE 10 and BIG GOVERNMENT.   

This hate groups paranoid agenda to kill something as positive as a SASS designation is disturbing.


They have engaged in a campaign spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) by disseminating negative,dubious and false information.  


What should be of concern to all of us  are the extremes they are taking to undermine efforts to do something positive for tourism and the Thousand Islands.  


Their actions have proven without doubt they hate the government more than they love the Thousand Islands.

Big brother is watching