This is the begining a series of Wind education posts.
British Petroleum's new project manager Peter Gross said that he wanted to educate the community about wind development . Here is something to educate Mr. Gross
June 14, 2002, NY WIND, now Acciona, had sealed a deal with Darrel Aubertine’s neighbor to monitor wind on their property. [1] [2] The Planning Board tentatively decided that a temporary permit could be issued with a guarantee that the apparatus used for this study be completely removed at the end of 18 months.[3],[4],[5]
It was also noted that this was to be a one- time educational project approval. The met tower in question still stands today at this same Constance road location.
June 2003, Aubertine, now a state assemblyman, used his position for potential personal gain by helping to develop and pass a law that eliminated tax penalties for farmers that host wind turbines on their land. Additionally, Darrel Aubertine kept quiet about two lease agreements he signed with Acciona in May of 2004,[6] moreover, he did not make the required financial disclosures. As mentioned previously, Acciona signed Marty Mason to his first lease agreement April 14, 2005, and Donny Mason signed a lease April 15, 2005, as well, for property that he acquired on Favret Road. There were many other landowners in Cape Vincent who signed lease agreements with commercial wind developers in early 2005.[7]
As word about the wind development began to leak, Town officials held a public meeting at Recreation Park on Aug. 5, 2005, [8]to inform the public about the possibility of a commercial wind development in Cape Vincent. In a Watertown Daily Times (WDT) article that immediately preceded the meeting, Supervisor Reinbeck and Jefferson County Planning officials were quoted saying they were formulating an amendment to Cape Vincent’s zoning law to prohibit commercial wind development. Many newly signed leaseholders may havefelt threatened by this meeting and by the statement and position of Supervisor Reinbeck.
Supervisor Reinbeck’s quotes refleced that he was skeptical about wind, "People might stand up and say 'we all want them' or they may say 'no, we don't want them; I don't know, I think there are more downsides than upsides."While Reinbeck was skeptical about commercial wind, other officials who attended the August 5 meeting were praising the idea. Articles from the WDT and TI Sun., clearly demonstrate what our town officials stand on wind development is. Here are just a few of the things that have been said over the years:
Richard Edsall: “It would allow these farmers to stay in business.” “If they get two or three windmills on the land, they can pay the taxes on the land.[8]
Donny Mason: "Those projects are too far along and it's not fair to the wind companies, to begin with, to suspend them now."[9]
Mickey Orvis: “We have to take advantage of the tax relief that’s going to be available to us”.[10]
Marty Mason: "I've been involved in it from day one, and not as a benefit to myself, but as a benefit to the town," he said. "I want to see that every town taxpayer will benefit from it."[11][12],[13]
Andy Binsley: disclosed that six of his relatives had contracts and he gave the following quote to the WDT: "I have one brother-in-law that walks with a limp," he said. "He can't afford health insurance, but if he can put one windmill on his property maybe he can. Maybe he can stay here. Maybe he can live here.[14],[15]
Within days of this meeting, a number of leaseholders “stormed into Reinbeck’s office,” presumably to demand he take a more positive stand on commercial wind. However, it did not end there. Reinbeck’s opinion earned him a very hard lesson in local politics. A few weeks later, at the Republican caucus Aug. 29, 2005,[16] the Republican Party Chairman and wind lease holder Marty Mason blindsided Reinbeck when he brought in supporters for another candidate, ultimately removing Supervisor Reinbeck from the Republican ballot. Reinbeck was shocked, dismayed and began to fight to secure his job as town supervisor. The local Democratic Party then endorsed Reinbeck, who went on to win reelection. Reinbeck learned his lesson and then became a rabid supporter of wind energy. His motivation for supporting wind development was not from any personal gain from wind leases, but rather from his considerable ambition to remain in office.
Sources:
[1] page 1 of a letter from NYW concerning met tower
[2] page 2 of a letter from NYW concerning met tower
[3] TB minutes June 13,2002
[4] TB minutes page 2, June 13,2002
[5] TB minutes July 11,2002
[6] Darrel Aubertine Wind turbine map
[7] Acciona wind lease conflict disclosures
[8] WDT covering first open wind meeting 8/5/2005
[9] WDT article July 10,2009
[10] WDT article June 16,2006
[11] WDT article April 12, 2006
[12] WDT April 12,2006 Page 2
[13] WDT April 12,2006 Page 3
[14] WDT article April 13,2006
[15] WDT article April 13,2006 page 2
[16] WDT article August 29,2005
6 comments:
No making any excuses for Rienbeck.
But it is unfortunate for him that he did not have, at that time, any well formed wind opposition constituency that he could have turned to for support.
Seasonal residents, at that time, were still in the wrongheaded way of thinking that they were not full-fledged citizens of the town.
But given some of his bitter statements, you wonder if Rienbeck would have even accepted the support of seasonal residents.
Rienbeck's resentment should have been directed at the oligarch bullies who turned on him and dumped him, rather than at the seasonals and others who would have had nothing against him if he had not decided to allign himself against them and with the bullies who mistreated him.
Several years ago the bullies stormed the Town hall and told Rienbeck no wind no job for you. The wind bullies and later the wiley kings misjudged who makes up this town. 5500 sumer people and 2500 year rounders, many who used to be summer people. The be working hard to drive out the summers.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK KATHY !!!!!
WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE BOOT JACK WIND THUG CARTEL MEMBERS ARE DEFEATED ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!! WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PRO WIND THUGS LIE LIKE HELL !!!!
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY B.P. PAID FOR ACCIONA'S INTEREST IN THE ST. LAWRENCE WIND PROJECT ?
My guess is one dollar that they used to buy Larry Hickey and Harvey White a coffee to split.
A Dollar And A Dream
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