OUTSIDE LOOKING IN By ~ Perry White
The Buck Stopped Here ~ Watertown Daily Times
There was a time, not so long ago, when town officials both elected and appointed felt a necessity to comport themselves with dignity, to try to uphold their oaths of office, to set an example through word and deed for their constituents. It was sort of what we expected from the people we put in office, and the people that they appointed to unpaid, volunteer posts.
But somewhere along the line, all that stopped. Somewhere, local officials got it into their heads that a town post was a good path to take for personal enrichment. And I have to admit, the sudden proliferation of proposed wind farms has brought this out in spades. Continue...
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Buck stopped here
"Somewhere, local officials got it into their heads that a town post was a good path to take for personal enrichment. And I have to admit, the sudden proliferation of proposed wind farms has brought this out in spades."
The Buck stopped here
Watertown Daily Times
October 31, 2009 at 10:11 am
There was a time, not so long ago, when town officials both elected and appointed felt a necessity to comport themselves with dignity, to try to uphold their oaths of office, to set an example through word and deed for their constituents. It was sort of what we expected from the people we put in office, and the people that they appointed to unpaid, volunteer posts.
But somewhere along the line, all that stopped. Somewhere, local officials got it into their heads that a town post was a good path to take for personal enrichment. And I have to admit, the sudden proliferation of proposed wind farms has brought this out in spades.
In October, Oswegatchie Councilman Kenneth Wilson let people know he is.... Link here to continue reading
The Buck stopped here
Watertown Daily Times
October 31, 2009 at 10:11 am
There was a time, not so long ago, when town officials both elected and appointed felt a necessity to comport themselves with dignity, to try to uphold their oaths of office, to set an example through word and deed for their constituents. It was sort of what we expected from the people we put in office, and the people that they appointed to unpaid, volunteer posts.
But somewhere along the line, all that stopped. Somewhere, local officials got it into their heads that a town post was a good path to take for personal enrichment. And I have to admit, the sudden proliferation of proposed wind farms has brought this out in spades.
In October, Oswegatchie Councilman Kenneth Wilson let people know he is.... Link here to continue reading
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wind turbines show how costly 'free' energy can be
Wind turbines show how costly 'free' energy can be Commentary Minnesota Public Radio News
Most of what the public knows about wind turbines comes from the media.
by Ron Reimer
Without a grounding in the sciences of thermodynamics and economics, the average person, eager to be politically and environmentally correct, fixates on the concept of "free energy," and closes his mind to further discussion of how expensive "free" can be.
Citizen watchdogs like myself, who dig a little deeper to learn the whole story, come off in the media as deluded malcontents or NIMBYs, though we back up our warnings with statistics, case studies, laws of physics, comparative research and personal testimonies of real people who suffer from proximity to turbines. Continue reading via this link
Ronald Reimer is an organic farmer in Ettrick, Wis.
Most of what the public knows about wind turbines comes from the media.
by Ron Reimer
Without a grounding in the sciences of thermodynamics and economics, the average person, eager to be politically and environmentally correct, fixates on the concept of "free energy," and closes his mind to further discussion of how expensive "free" can be.
Citizen watchdogs like myself, who dig a little deeper to learn the whole story, come off in the media as deluded malcontents or NIMBYs, though we back up our warnings with statistics, case studies, laws of physics, comparative research and personal testimonies of real people who suffer from proximity to turbines. Continue reading via this link
Ronald Reimer is an organic farmer in Ettrick, Wis.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Spain: The Rise of Eco-Corruption? - BusinessWeek
Spain: The Rise of Eco-Corruption? - BusinessWeek
Posted by: Mark Scott on March 23
With governments outlining multi-billion dollar schemes to make investment in green energy more palatable, beware of a new trend: eco-corruption. That’s the take from a Mar. 22 article in British newspaper The Observer, which details the arrest of 19 people in Spain for alleged bribery charges linked to renewable energy projects.
All accused, including a small-town mayor in Northeast Spain, deny the charges. But their story should raise concerns for countries looking to cleantech investment to jumpstart their domestic economies. If Spain, which ranks in the top three for both global wind and solar generation respectively, can fall foul of this type of corruption, then others elsewhere — particularly in countries that want to mirror Spain’s renenwables development — may also attempt to skim money from government coffers. Continue...
WHERE WIND POWER GOES CORRUPTION GROWS.
~~~~
Wind energy corruption (3:45) | PRI's The World
~~~
Watertown Daily Times | Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent
~~~
Nightly Ramble:Wind power, Iraq, Democrat Corruption, more | BitsBlog
~~~
N.Y. wind rush brings corruption complaints, divides rural communities | Grist
~~~
N.Y. wind energy corruption probe reaches Vermont: Rutland Herald Online
~~~
Corruption in the awarding of wind farm concessions on the Canary Islands
~~~
Reforming Wind Power Industry - Greed and Corruption in NY Wind Energy - thedailygreen.com
~~~
Scandal Sullies Spain's Clean Energy
~~~
Threads of Corruption that Tie Together Like a Noose - Ron Kaye L.A.
~~~
Siemens offers settlements in corruption cases | R&D Mag
~~~
href="http://bestringsjewelry.com/609140-Wind-Farms-and-Corruption.html Wind Farms and Corruption
~~~
Finding the Dark Side of Wind Energy | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural
~~~
Ill wind of corruption in Sicily's alternative energy sector - The Irish Times - Tue, May 05, 2009
~~~
Maria Clelia Spinas -- a candle caught in the wind of Venezuelan corruption!
~~~
Global warming and/or the end of the world
~~~
Changing the vernacular of global warming
Posted by: Mark Scott on March 23
With governments outlining multi-billion dollar schemes to make investment in green energy more palatable, beware of a new trend: eco-corruption. That’s the take from a Mar. 22 article in British newspaper The Observer, which details the arrest of 19 people in Spain for alleged bribery charges linked to renewable energy projects.
All accused, including a small-town mayor in Northeast Spain, deny the charges. But their story should raise concerns for countries looking to cleantech investment to jumpstart their domestic economies. If Spain, which ranks in the top three for both global wind and solar generation respectively, can fall foul of this type of corruption, then others elsewhere — particularly in countries that want to mirror Spain’s renenwables development — may also attempt to skim money from government coffers. Continue...
WHERE WIND POWER GOES CORRUPTION GROWS.
~~~~
Wind energy corruption (3:45) | PRI's The World
~~~
Watertown Daily Times | Conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent
~~~
Nightly Ramble:Wind power, Iraq, Democrat Corruption, more | BitsBlog
~~~
N.Y. wind rush brings corruption complaints, divides rural communities | Grist
~~~
N.Y. wind energy corruption probe reaches Vermont: Rutland Herald Online
~~~
Corruption in the awarding of wind farm concessions on the Canary Islands
~~~
Reforming Wind Power Industry - Greed and Corruption in NY Wind Energy - thedailygreen.com
~~~
Scandal Sullies Spain's Clean Energy
~~~
Threads of Corruption that Tie Together Like a Noose - Ron Kaye L.A.
~~~
Siemens offers settlements in corruption cases | R&D Mag
~~~
href="http://bestringsjewelry.com/609140-Wind-Farms-and-Corruption.html Wind Farms and Corruption
~~~
Finding the Dark Side of Wind Energy | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural
~~~
Ill wind of corruption in Sicily's alternative energy sector - The Irish Times - Tue, May 05, 2009
~~~
Maria Clelia Spinas -- a candle caught in the wind of Venezuelan corruption!
~~~
Global warming and/or the end of the world
~~~
Changing the vernacular of global warming
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
German army stops wind turbines as security threat | Reuters
German army stops wind turbines as security threat | Reuters
By Kim Bode
BERLIN (Reuters) - The German army has identified a series of wind park projects as a threat to national security and blocked investments worth 1.5 billion euros because it fears spinning wind turbines will interfere with its radar systems.
The Bundeswehr has launched an investigation into the impact of the wind turbines planned for northern Germany's coastal area amid concerns they could compromise air defense -- because they could in theory provide a shield for enemy aircraft. Continue...
By Kim Bode
BERLIN (Reuters) - The German army has identified a series of wind park projects as a threat to national security and blocked investments worth 1.5 billion euros because it fears spinning wind turbines will interfere with its radar systems.
The Bundeswehr has launched an investigation into the impact of the wind turbines planned for northern Germany's coastal area amid concerns they could compromise air defense -- because they could in theory provide a shield for enemy aircraft. Continue...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A SMEAR CAMPAIGN DISGUISED AS A POLITICAL POLL
A SMEAR CAMPAIGN DISGUISED AS A POLITICAL POLL
With the upcoming special election in the twenty third congressional district, there has been a lot of political stumping going on. I myself have received two almost identical political polling phone calls. The technical name for this type phone call is “push polling”
The calls went something like this.
First I was asked if I was going to vote in the upcoming special election, and who I was voting for. The pollster then asked me a series of brief questions that were framed in a negative way. All of these questions were crafted to plant seeds of doubt in my mind about Dede Scozzafava. All of the questions were inflammatory, and if I were to repeat them it would only perpetuate the objective of the “push poll”. For example, the pollster might ask “Would you be less likely to vote for Dede Scozzafava, if you knew she were the spawn of the devil? After one such question, I asked is this true? The pollster replied, well… I don’t know. I am being paid to ask these questions. After the pollster finished with the bash Dede segment of the call they then asked if I had reconsidered my vote. I replied No!
The pollster then began with a brief biography extolling the virtues of Bill Owens. Imagine that!
After this I was again asked if any of this had changed the way I would vote. I said definitely not! As a matter of fact my convictions are stronger than ever.
After both calls, I spoke to their supervisors. I expressed to the supervisors my dismay about the poll’s intent on swaying peoples opinion in a negative way toward Dede Scozzafava. I then asked who had sponsored the poll. In both cases they replied that they had no way of knowing who the sponsor was.
I think based on the content of the questions I might be able to figure it out.
This is how you conduct a smear campaign and call it a political poll.
~UPDATE~
There have been claims that the two polls that I described were actually polls done by Doug Hoffman.
I do not know who conducted the polls that I participated in.
I merely speculated whom they were commissioned by, based on the content of each poll, for example the shining biography given about Bill Owens, and the remarkable absence of questions about Doug Hoffman as though he were a non entity.
With each poll the pollster identified themselves as being with an independent research agency. I asked the pollsters supervisors who had sponsored the poll. In both cases they replied that they had no way of knowing who the sponsor was.
I was not told that they were polls conducted by McLaughlin & Associates. Or that they were commissioned by Doug Hoffman.
However in the last poll that took place just a few days ago, the pollster did ask me questions about the governor, and how I would rate his performance.
Has anyone considered that more than one candidate may have been polling, or does Doug Hoffman have a corner on the market?
With the upcoming special election in the twenty third congressional district, there has been a lot of political stumping going on. I myself have received two almost identical political polling phone calls. The technical name for this type phone call is “push polling”
The calls went something like this.
First I was asked if I was going to vote in the upcoming special election, and who I was voting for. The pollster then asked me a series of brief questions that were framed in a negative way. All of these questions were crafted to plant seeds of doubt in my mind about Dede Scozzafava. All of the questions were inflammatory, and if I were to repeat them it would only perpetuate the objective of the “push poll”. For example, the pollster might ask “Would you be less likely to vote for Dede Scozzafava, if you knew she were the spawn of the devil? After one such question, I asked is this true? The pollster replied, well… I don’t know. I am being paid to ask these questions. After the pollster finished with the bash Dede segment of the call they then asked if I had reconsidered my vote. I replied No!
The pollster then began with a brief biography extolling the virtues of Bill Owens. Imagine that!
After this I was again asked if any of this had changed the way I would vote. I said definitely not! As a matter of fact my convictions are stronger than ever.
After both calls, I spoke to their supervisors. I expressed to the supervisors my dismay about the poll’s intent on swaying peoples opinion in a negative way toward Dede Scozzafava. I then asked who had sponsored the poll. In both cases they replied that they had no way of knowing who the sponsor was.
I think based on the content of the questions I might be able to figure it out.
This is how you conduct a smear campaign and call it a political poll.
~UPDATE~
There have been claims that the two polls that I described were actually polls done by Doug Hoffman.
I do not know who conducted the polls that I participated in.
I merely speculated whom they were commissioned by, based on the content of each poll, for example the shining biography given about Bill Owens, and the remarkable absence of questions about Doug Hoffman as though he were a non entity.
With each poll the pollster identified themselves as being with an independent research agency. I asked the pollsters supervisors who had sponsored the poll. In both cases they replied that they had no way of knowing who the sponsor was.
I was not told that they were polls conducted by McLaughlin & Associates. Or that they were commissioned by Doug Hoffman.
However in the last poll that took place just a few days ago, the pollster did ask me questions about the governor, and how I would rate his performance.
Has anyone considered that more than one candidate may have been polling, or does Doug Hoffman have a corner on the market?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Route 3 Reopened After Wind Tower Falls Off Truck | WWNY TV 7 Watertown, NY | Local News
Story Published: Sep 16, 2009 at 5:01 PM EDT
A portion of Route 3 in the Jefferson County town of Ellisburg was closed to traffic part of Wednesday afternoon due to damage from an oversized load.
According to state police, a large tower used for wind turbines separated from a truck at approximately 1:20 p.m.
Authorities closed the highway between Benton Road and Bolton Road to allow workers to repave a portion of the damaged road.
Continue reading via this link
Route 3 Reopened After Wind Tower Falls Off Truck | WWNY TV 7 Watertown, NY | Local News
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
SECRET ~ OFFICIAL~ OPENING ~ FOR ~ WOLFE ISLAND WIND
Wind Concerns Ontario~
The Official Opening for the Wolfe Island Wind Plant will take place
Tomorrow Sept.10, 2009 at 11am. Wire was informed by a call from a
Reporter for the Whig Standard looking for our reaction. The event is by
Invitation only. Even the press where required to respond to ensure
Admittance. This is another example of the efforts of Governments and
Canadian Hydro Developers to ensure that only the private club of
Proponent, company and government will be heard. WIRE apologizes to the
Members of Wind Concerns for the lateness of this notice. Efforts have
Been on going to determine when this opening would take place. We
Understand and appreciate the enormous effort and support that has been
Afforded our group. Comments and suggestions would be gratefully
Accepted. Gail (WIRE)
George Smitherman Deathly Afraid of More Protests Tomorrow
Back in April of this year at the Grand Opening of the Enbridge Wind
Farm in Kincardine
George Smitherman was met with a large group of very angry protestors.
Seems this time, he’s not taking any chances. A little birdie told us
That *tomorrow at 11 am* (Thurs Sept 10), he will be doing a carefully
staged photo-op and press conference for the grand opening of the
environmental fiasco called the Wolfe Island Wind Project
Attendance is by invitation only and only if he responds. Attendance is
accessible only to the private club of proponent, company and
government. Even the press require special clearance. The residents of
Wolfe Island who must live under the shadow of these turbines are
NOT invited.
Mr. Smitherman, how can you justify your policies when you must so
carefully manipulate a simple Grand Opening?
Hush, hush now. We wouldn’t want any of the “public” to show up!
Please get this out to any Americans in the Cape Vincent area. We need
your support! Short notice, I know. Government officials are trying
to hide.
Contact Gail Kenney for more info wiegk@sympatico.camailto:wiegk@sympatico.ca
Maureen Anderson
Wind Concerns Ontario
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A blot on the landscape? - The Whig Standard - Ontario, CA
A blot on the landscape?
It's a classic summer morning in Kingston -- the typical summer morning with clear blue skies, brilliant sunshine and a tantalizing sparkle off the water in the harbour. As I pen this missive I'm watching the eastern sun reflect off the Wolfe Island wind turbines. Sadly, the island, in appearance, seems more of an industrial wasteland rather than one of nature's more tranquil settings.
The presence of these overwhelming techno-energy giants brings to mind a science fiction novel by H. G. Wells. Seeing the wind turbines conjures up images of invading space creatures from his work War of the Worlds, with the turbines reaching like tentacles upward to the sky. They certainly tower above the natural treeline.
Continue reading via this link
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wolfe Island Wind
Amherst Island Wind Information
The following letter was written to the Kingston Whig-Standard, dated July 15,
2009, written by David R. MacDonald, whom I do not know. Although proponents
will be quick to dismiss it as “simply subjective” it is a well-written
description of what a large number (probably a majority) of people see when they
look at Wolfe Island. I am reposting it here in its entirety because the Whig-
Standard doesn’t archive letters like this.
unsigned:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a classic summer morning in Kingston -- the typical summer morning with
clear blue skies, brilliant sunshine and a tantalizing sparkle off the water in
the harbour. As I pen this missive I'm watching the eastern sun reflect off the
Wolfe Island wind turbines. Sadly, the island, in appearance, seems more of an
industrial wasteland rather than one of nature's more tranquil settings.
The presence of these overwhelming techno-energy giants brings to mind a science
fiction novel by H. G. Wells. Seeing the wind turbines conjures up images of
invading space creatures from his work War of the Worlds, with the turbines
reaching like tentacles upward to the sky. They certainly tower above the
natural treeline.
It's hard to see anything else. When I look towards the water, I don't see the
natural beauty of Kingston's harbour anymore. I don't see Garden Island, Simcoe
Island or even Wolfe Island, as my vision is drawn to these massive propellers
waiting in rest or whirling away, depending on the breeze. If the daytime view
isn't bad enough, the blinking red warning lights on the towers at night light
up the sky like a runway at Pearson International Airport.
What got me thinking of our harbour's beauty was not only the view from my
window but also two photographs that appeared in the Whig-Standard. Both were of
boats plying the waters of Kingston Harbour. The first was our beloved tall
ship, St. Lawrence II, and the other was a wee Optimist sailing dinghy. What
struck me was that my eye was not drawn to the beauty of the vessel in each
photo but rather to the towering wind turbines in the background. I just found
it sad.
I am of mixed emotions as to whether these turbines are a source of pride for
the local communities. Fair enough that this was a decision for the residents of
Wolfe Island, as they own the property where these towering giants sit, but
their decision has also affected the lives of those in Kingston and our
neighbours to the south in northern New York State.
I've yet to encounter anyone who finds the wind turbines an attractive addition
to the already beautiful landscape. In fact, most simply whisper about the
project, as saying anything negative is tantamount to heresy. Dissenting
opinions are shouted down as anti-progress, anti-change or anti-environment. For
the most part, this isn't the case. Everyone's entitled to his or her opinion,
and what I'm finding is that for better or worse, the folks I speak with on this
side of the harbour don't think the turbines are attractive.
I don't know why the islanders voted to have the wind farm developed on their
lands. That was their decision alone. Perhaps it was visceral in nature -- a
longing to facilitate change in the world and reduce our carbine footprint
through the development of alternative energy sources. The sacrifice of lands
and natural beauty today could be well worth the protection of future
generations. Alternatively, it's also possible the rise of these massive
turbines was the result of a cash grab by those suffering from our flagging
economy and seeing a sure bet for income. Who knows for certain?
I just can't seem to get excited by the wind farm and its whirling turbines.
It's not that I'm against reducing our carbon footprint or searching for
alternatives to fossil fuels. Rather, my concern is that the largest of the
islands in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River, one of
creation's most beautiful vistas, has effectively been turned into a 30,000-acre
money-producing platform. Let's not lose sight of the fact that the only reasons
the company that built the wind turbines came to Wolfe Island were the
consistent winds and the desire for profits. The equations are quite simple: For
the landowners, the more turbines on their property, the more money in their
pockets; and for the corporation driving the project, megawatts equal megadollars.
I've heard the term NIMBY (Not in my backyard) used all too often to describe
those folks who oppose this and other wind projects. Shamefully, even our
premier and local MPP have resorted to using this acronym for those whose
opinions are differing from their own. I suppose our premier really doesn't need
to be concerned, since if you live in Toronto you can't see the view in
Kingston. Likewise for Canadian Hydro Developers Inc.'s corporate officers in
Calgary.
Hopefully, when all the Wolfe Island whirlygigs are finally spinning freely they
will be a welcome addition to the natural beauty for which the eastern end of
Lake Ontario has always been known. At the moment however, I have my doubts.
David R. MacDonald Kingston
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Whig-Standard allows online comments and this letter attracted its share.
Most of them were unremarkable; however the following anonymous letter was wellwritten,
obviously by someone who has been closely following the Wolfe Island
saga.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I might add that Wolfe Island residents never "voted" for these turbines. The
wind project was negotiated in secret by the Mayor, Jim Vanden Hoek and
facilitated by a council of five: two had land lease options receiving thousands
of dollars from the company throughout the process. They re-zoned the island to
accept intensive industrial development before any environmental assessment was
presented to residents: in direct contradiction to the promises they made when
elected and in fear that the company would sue the municipality under the OMB if
the proposal was rejected.
The By-law to industrialize Wolfe Island passed in 2006 with two votes (Howe
Island councillors only voted and the Mayor abstained!). The development you see
wasn't the choice of Wolfe Island residents but was made by a lame duck council
with money from the company in the majority of their pockets.
All with the blessing and assistance of MPP John Gerretsen.
With no environmental assessment and no site plans made public (though the
council and landowners knew months before any disclosure), islanders were
shocked in March 2007 to discover that the small-scale, community-based
development proposed and promoted was in fact an 88 tower (two monitoring towers
were added) monstrosity. Landowners signed up with the company were well aware
of the number and intensity -- but that was kept secret from the public until
March 2007. By then, all the contracts were signed and sealed.
Wolfe Islanders never voted for this development. Many, myself among them,
promoted a community-based, small scale and environmentally sustainable wind
project.
What you see now, is a project that was sought out by a council with personal
financial dealings with the company and supported by landowners who signed away
their own rights (and I would suggest personal responsibility) to alert their
neighbours, some of whom have lost their ability to sever and build on their own
land because their neighbour's turbines are too close.
Many of the landowners, on the company's behalf if not behest, participated in a
quiet yet menacing campaign of intimidation, including letters sent to community
members accusing anyone in opposition to the development as being "hypocrites"
and "against farmers." Men stood at public meetings in formation, arms crossed,
faces red with barely contained rage, en masse by the busload -- paid for by the
company -- whenever a controversy was suspected that might be cause for delay or
even public reflection.
Now with their bags of 30 silver pieces, they are quick to defend themselves
with the tiresome accusations of NIMBYism and the oft heard dismissal: "the pros
outweigh the cons."
It would be more accurate for them to say; "the pros for me measured in dollars,
outweigh the cons for you measured in your health, rights and quality of life".
The island's familial and social networks have been re-written by profiteering
Calgary carpetbaggers. Sadly too many were taken in.
And to respond to those who would suggest that the only alternative to this
massive industrial development in the most important bird migration and habitat
internationally and globally is a carbon smoke stack -- not one environmental
group supporting wind energy development (Sierra Club, Suzuki Foundation,
Audubon Society, Nature Canada to name a few) has defended or promoted the
imposition of large-scale development on Wolfe Island. Their silence is
deafening!
This project is already a posterchild for how not to develop wind energy
The following letter was written to the Kingston Whig-Standard, dated July 15,
2009, written by David R. MacDonald, whom I do not know. Although proponents
will be quick to dismiss it as “simply subjective” it is a well-written
description of what a large number (probably a majority) of people see when they
look at Wolfe Island. I am reposting it here in its entirety because the Whig-
Standard doesn’t archive letters like this.
unsigned:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a classic summer morning in Kingston -- the typical summer morning with
clear blue skies, brilliant sunshine and a tantalizing sparkle off the water in
the harbour. As I pen this missive I'm watching the eastern sun reflect off the
Wolfe Island wind turbines. Sadly, the island, in appearance, seems more of an
industrial wasteland rather than one of nature's more tranquil settings.
The presence of these overwhelming techno-energy giants brings to mind a science
fiction novel by H. G. Wells. Seeing the wind turbines conjures up images of
invading space creatures from his work War of the Worlds, with the turbines
reaching like tentacles upward to the sky. They certainly tower above the
natural treeline.
It's hard to see anything else. When I look towards the water, I don't see the
natural beauty of Kingston's harbour anymore. I don't see Garden Island, Simcoe
Island or even Wolfe Island, as my vision is drawn to these massive propellers
waiting in rest or whirling away, depending on the breeze. If the daytime view
isn't bad enough, the blinking red warning lights on the towers at night light
up the sky like a runway at Pearson International Airport.
What got me thinking of our harbour's beauty was not only the view from my
window but also two photographs that appeared in the Whig-Standard. Both were of
boats plying the waters of Kingston Harbour. The first was our beloved tall
ship, St. Lawrence II, and the other was a wee Optimist sailing dinghy. What
struck me was that my eye was not drawn to the beauty of the vessel in each
photo but rather to the towering wind turbines in the background. I just found
it sad.
I am of mixed emotions as to whether these turbines are a source of pride for
the local communities. Fair enough that this was a decision for the residents of
Wolfe Island, as they own the property where these towering giants sit, but
their decision has also affected the lives of those in Kingston and our
neighbours to the south in northern New York State.
I've yet to encounter anyone who finds the wind turbines an attractive addition
to the already beautiful landscape. In fact, most simply whisper about the
project, as saying anything negative is tantamount to heresy. Dissenting
opinions are shouted down as anti-progress, anti-change or anti-environment. For
the most part, this isn't the case. Everyone's entitled to his or her opinion,
and what I'm finding is that for better or worse, the folks I speak with on this
side of the harbour don't think the turbines are attractive.
I don't know why the islanders voted to have the wind farm developed on their
lands. That was their decision alone. Perhaps it was visceral in nature -- a
longing to facilitate change in the world and reduce our carbine footprint
through the development of alternative energy sources. The sacrifice of lands
and natural beauty today could be well worth the protection of future
generations. Alternatively, it's also possible the rise of these massive
turbines was the result of a cash grab by those suffering from our flagging
economy and seeing a sure bet for income. Who knows for certain?
I just can't seem to get excited by the wind farm and its whirling turbines.
It's not that I'm against reducing our carbon footprint or searching for
alternatives to fossil fuels. Rather, my concern is that the largest of the
islands in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River, one of
creation's most beautiful vistas, has effectively been turned into a 30,000-acre
money-producing platform. Let's not lose sight of the fact that the only reasons
the company that built the wind turbines came to Wolfe Island were the
consistent winds and the desire for profits. The equations are quite simple: For
the landowners, the more turbines on their property, the more money in their
pockets; and for the corporation driving the project, megawatts equal megadollars.
I've heard the term NIMBY (Not in my backyard) used all too often to describe
those folks who oppose this and other wind projects. Shamefully, even our
premier and local MPP have resorted to using this acronym for those whose
opinions are differing from their own. I suppose our premier really doesn't need
to be concerned, since if you live in Toronto you can't see the view in
Kingston. Likewise for Canadian Hydro Developers Inc.'s corporate officers in
Calgary.
Hopefully, when all the Wolfe Island whirlygigs are finally spinning freely they
will be a welcome addition to the natural beauty for which the eastern end of
Lake Ontario has always been known. At the moment however, I have my doubts.
David R. MacDonald Kingston
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Whig-Standard allows online comments and this letter attracted its share.
Most of them were unremarkable; however the following anonymous letter was wellwritten,
obviously by someone who has been closely following the Wolfe Island
saga.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I might add that Wolfe Island residents never "voted" for these turbines. The
wind project was negotiated in secret by the Mayor, Jim Vanden Hoek and
facilitated by a council of five: two had land lease options receiving thousands
of dollars from the company throughout the process. They re-zoned the island to
accept intensive industrial development before any environmental assessment was
presented to residents: in direct contradiction to the promises they made when
elected and in fear that the company would sue the municipality under the OMB if
the proposal was rejected.
The By-law to industrialize Wolfe Island passed in 2006 with two votes (Howe
Island councillors only voted and the Mayor abstained!). The development you see
wasn't the choice of Wolfe Island residents but was made by a lame duck council
with money from the company in the majority of their pockets.
All with the blessing and assistance of MPP John Gerretsen.
With no environmental assessment and no site plans made public (though the
council and landowners knew months before any disclosure), islanders were
shocked in March 2007 to discover that the small-scale, community-based
development proposed and promoted was in fact an 88 tower (two monitoring towers
were added) monstrosity. Landowners signed up with the company were well aware
of the number and intensity -- but that was kept secret from the public until
March 2007. By then, all the contracts were signed and sealed.
Wolfe Islanders never voted for this development. Many, myself among them,
promoted a community-based, small scale and environmentally sustainable wind
project.
What you see now, is a project that was sought out by a council with personal
financial dealings with the company and supported by landowners who signed away
their own rights (and I would suggest personal responsibility) to alert their
neighbours, some of whom have lost their ability to sever and build on their own
land because their neighbour's turbines are too close.
Many of the landowners, on the company's behalf if not behest, participated in a
quiet yet menacing campaign of intimidation, including letters sent to community
members accusing anyone in opposition to the development as being "hypocrites"
and "against farmers." Men stood at public meetings in formation, arms crossed,
faces red with barely contained rage, en masse by the busload -- paid for by the
company -- whenever a controversy was suspected that might be cause for delay or
even public reflection.
Now with their bags of 30 silver pieces, they are quick to defend themselves
with the tiresome accusations of NIMBYism and the oft heard dismissal: "the pros
outweigh the cons."
It would be more accurate for them to say; "the pros for me measured in dollars,
outweigh the cons for you measured in your health, rights and quality of life".
The island's familial and social networks have been re-written by profiteering
Calgary carpetbaggers. Sadly too many were taken in.
And to respond to those who would suggest that the only alternative to this
massive industrial development in the most important bird migration and habitat
internationally and globally is a carbon smoke stack -- not one environmental
group supporting wind energy development (Sierra Club, Suzuki Foundation,
Audubon Society, Nature Canada to name a few) has defended or promoted the
imposition of large-scale development on Wolfe Island. Their silence is
deafening!
This project is already a posterchild for how not to develop wind energy
Monday, August 24, 2009
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper Ontario’s big windy gamble
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
In Canada, the green rush has recently encountered some significant turbulence.
Canada:
The province is betting on wind power, and critics are lining up
all across the country, new wind farm developments are meeting with stiff resistance from local residents, concerned not just about the aesthetics of the giant turbines, but what opponents claim is a growing body of evidence of adverse health effects.In Canada, the green rush has recently encountered some significant turbulence.
A federal subsidy of one cent per kWh generated—which in real terms means a two-MW turbine currently earns its owner about $61,000 a year from Ottawa—did not have its funding extended in the last budget, and will come to an end this fall.
title link
to full article
In Canada, the green rush has recently encountered some significant turbulence.
Canada:
The province is betting on wind power, and critics are lining up
all across the country, new wind farm developments are meeting with stiff resistance from local residents, concerned not just about the aesthetics of the giant turbines, but what opponents claim is a growing body of evidence of adverse health effects.In Canada, the green rush has recently encountered some significant turbulence.
A federal subsidy of one cent per kWh generated—which in real terms means a two-MW turbine currently earns its owner about $61,000 a year from Ottawa—did not have its funding extended in the last budget, and will come to an end this fall.
title link
to full article
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Defiant NY Senate Democrats sit through Pledge of Allegiance
(Video info)
Video of NYS Senate Democrats sitting defiantly through the Pledge of Allegiance in protest after losing political control of the Chamber to Republicans.
Only one courageous Senator tried to stand to honor the flag, but he was immediately pulled down into his seat by fellow Democrats.
The video is from WCBS-2 TV on 6/23/09, taped during a "special session" of the Senate called by Democrat Gov. David Paterson in an effort to end a three-week walkout by Democrats that has brought government to a screeching halt.
Grim-faced Democrats refused to acknowledge even their presence in the Chamber, failing to answer when their names were called, or join in a silent prayer that traditionally begins each session.
The first Senator pictured seated is Antoine Thompson of Buffalo. The Senator attempting to stand is Martin Dilan of Brooklyn, abnd he looks clearly uncomfortable when he is pulled down by Kevin Parker of Brooklyn and Ruth Hassell-Thompson of Westchester.
(RPFlower13601)
June 24, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
CapeVincent a Philosophy of corruption
It seems as though the saga in Cape Vincent is a never ending tale.
The problems in Cape Vincent are not caused by wind development; they are caused by the corrupt philosophy by which the town government is based, coupled with an obvious lack of moral character and rampant greed.
CVWIND posted this letter on channel seven’s you news web page.
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
The problems in Cape Vincent are not caused by wind development; they are caused by the corrupt philosophy by which the town government is based, coupled with an obvious lack of moral character and rampant greed.
CVWIND posted this letter on channel seven’s you news web page.
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
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