July 21, 2013
New York

Clayton board to take a stance on Cape Wind

By Pamela McDowell, Staff Writer | Thousand Islands Sun | July 17, 2013 | via Pandora's Box of Rocks

Clayton – after having mulled over a presentation made by Cape Vincent Wind Project business developer Paul Chandler at its June 26 meeting, the Clayton Town Board has decided to voice its opinion regarding the wind project.

Namely, that the turbines, which are expected to be just short of 500 feet high, will have a negative aesthetic and visual impact on residents of Clayton and the St. Lawrence River islands within the town boundary.

British Petroleum is proposing that some of its turbines be constructed within clear view of the areas of Clayton, particularly near Route 9.

The board has authorized a letter to be sent to the New York State Public Service Commission stating, in essence, that the town of Clayton supports home rule, rather than a state override of local laws under Article 10, but that the board does not necessarily endorse the Cape Vincent zoning law, since it would allow turbines relatively close to the river and town line.

In a related matter, Supervisor Justin Taylor said that he has not had any contact within the past few months with Iberdrola Renewables, the wind company that is proposing a project in the towns of Clayton, Orleans, Lyme and Brownville.

In preparation for the state’s review process, the board may hire a professional consultant to be sure that positions and opinions coming from the town of Clayton, either for or against elements of the project, are accurately presented to the power commission, with little chance of misrepresentation.

During the discussion, Councilman Chris Matthews commented, “It’s awful that we have to create a wind law in which we have to be careful that, if we’re too restrictive, the state will override the law.”

Iberdrola has intentions to build a wind project south of the pole bill that would include approximately 48 turbines.

In other business, Supervisor Taylor announced that Kristi Dipple, director of the Clayton Local Development Corporation, will become the interim director of the Clayton Improvement Association as well. The duties are similar: promoting and seeking grants in Clayton.

The councilmen will inspect the piping beneath the floor of the ice arena at Cerow Recreation Park to get a firsthand look at improvements needed.