October 23, 2012
New York

BP to meet with towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme about wind power project

by Joanna Richards, Watertown Correspondent | North Country Public Radio | Oct 23, 2012 | www.northcountrypublicradio.org

With a wind project proposed by BP, the town of Cape Vincent recently passed strict new regulations for commercial wind turbines. Then BP began seeking state review under the Article X law. That process could bypass local laws, if they’re deemed “unreasonable.” Now the company has called a meeting with town officials, set for tonight.

Town officials say they don’t know exactly what to expect from the meeting. BP has had no contact with Cape Vincent officials for months.

Bob Brown co-chairs the town Planning Board.

“They haven’t shared anything with us ahead of time, but the town is considering this a very, very, very significant meeting,” Brown said.

Cape Vincent town officials will be joined by the Lyme Town Council, since transmission lines for the proposed project would run through that town.

Article X requires BP to have a public involvement plan. But the state said the company didn’t involve the public enough its first time around. Brown thinks the meeting tonight is part of the company’s efforts to revise that plan.

But Brown says town officials intend to use the meeting to send a clear message to BP.

“Cape Vincent is not an appropriate place to have a large, industrial wind farm,” he said.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the town’s Recreation Hall on James Street. Officials predict a huge turnout.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/23/bp-to-meet-with-towns-of-cape-vincent-and-lyme-about-wind-power-project/