Congressman Bill Owens joins Russell, Blankenbush and Ritchie in opposing Article 10 industrial wind siting in the Golden Crescent and Thousand Islands regions
Jefferson's Leaning Left | May 15, 2013 | jeffersonleaningleft.blogspot.com
Jefferson's Leaning Left | May 15, 2013 | jeffersonleaningleft.blogspot.com
Yesterday a letter from Congressman William Owens was posted on the New York State Public Service Commission website as a comment to British Petroleum’s intent to develop a massive industrial wind turbine sacrifice zone in the Town of Cape Vincent, NY. (I call it a “sacrifice zone” because the only way British Petroleum can get it done under Article 10 is to violate our home rule land use laws. We make the sacrifice.)
In his comment letter, Congressman Owens objected to British Petroleum using Article 10 to put their turbines in Cape Vincent. Owens wrote:
As you know, the initiation of the Article 10 process in the Town of Cape Vincent has caused great concern among many of my constituents. No only does it allow the state to supersede local community zoning regulations when it come to the siting of power projects, but it also tramples the right of citizens to make their own determination on the best interests of the community.
Owens, a Democrat, went on to join the New York State Department of Public Service, the New York State Department of Conservation, and Save the River in their support of our local all-Rebulican Town Board of Cape Vincent in it’s criticism of British Petroleum’s shoddy Preliminary Scoping Statement.
Owens has joined our local State representatives in their opposition to Article 10’s threat to home municipal law. When Article 10 came to a vote in Albany, Assemblywomen Addie Russell, a Democrat, voted NAY. Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, a Republican voted NAY. They were then joined by State Senator Pattie Ritchie, a Republican who also voted NAY.
Their actions are a bipartisan signal to the Citizens of the Golden Crescent and Thousand Islands region of New York State that we have the right to rule our own local destiny. In the words of Congressman Owens, “it (Article 10) tramples the right of citizens to make their own determination of the best interests of the community.”
This is no time to back off, shut up and apologize for wanting to prevent the Golden Crescent and Thousand Islands from becoming a wind turbine sacrifice zone. And our Congressman and State representatives all agree that it is our choice.