April 13, 2015
Blogs, New York

Galloo Island wind developer asked Jefferson County Legislators to meet privately

Jefferson's Leaning Left | Sunday, April 12, 2015 | jeffersonleaningleft.blogspot.com

The developer of Galloo Island asked to meet privately with several Jefferson County elected public officials and apparently, in two cases, the developer was successful.

But, it has been confirmed by several sources that the full body of the Jefferson County Legislators and a legal advisor have since reminded members, who might be targeted by the developer, that their eagerness to lend the developer an extra ear could be considered a breach of the public trust. Such meetings could be perceived by the public as an unethical opportunity to grease palms behind closed doors. Bribe or no bribe, there is public perception.

Experienced Jefferson County Legislators already know the wily ways of wind coyotes. They have been around the block many times over a period of nearly a decade. Our county leaders learned a lot during the days of Richie Kessell’s NYPA dreams of filling the Golden Crescent’s Lake Ontario with a thousand turbines. And then, there was the the first slick attempt by a developer who wanted to sacrifice Galloo Island. I also believe they understand that a wind foot in the door means a Golden Crescent transition from a treasured sporting and scenic region, with endless tourism and recreation potential, to an energy dump and a massive sacrifice zone.

So, it apparently has been made clear to the Galloo Island wind developer. If he wants meets with the Jefferson County Legislators, his sales pitch will be part of their normal schedule and will witnessed by the public.

Jefferson County Legislators, who have alway demonstrated respect for their electorate, are also fully aware that concerned citizens with skills and resources will be all over the Galloo development like white on snow. And, the Jefferson County Board of Legislators is aware that The Coalition for the Preservation of the Golden Crescent and Thousand Islands represents strong voices from Jefferson and Oswego Counties.

Yes, It is no secret that Northern New York industrial wind development has a history of fuzzy ethics. Years back, an honest town supervisor blew the whistle on a wind developer who dropped a pouch on the front seat of his pickup truck. Inside the pouch was $50,000. That was one of the private deals that caused former New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to announce a special Industrial Wind Turbine Code of Ethics that required wind developers to make a public announcement of the names of public officials who had wind agreements and were being paid while serving the public trust.

Right in my home town of Cape Vincent, Cuomo launched an Attorney General Investigation of the conduct of certain public officials and their involvement with British Petroleum and Accionia Energia. At one time, three town councilman had leases with wind developers. Their appointed Chair of the Town Planning Board had leases with British Petroleum and was reaping thousands per year. Only pro-wind appointments were being made by the wind corrupted board and if you dared ask questions about wind at a public meeting, all hell broke loose. The meeting would be adjourned. They even called the cops on a man sitting quietly and doing videos of their public proceedings.

When developers brought in a community organizer to help the Cape-Lyme “green shirts” with “programs” that would convince neighbors, family and friends that they could not live without wind. Part of the British Petroleum Community Organizer’s program included a stern warning that Long Island types, owning cottages in the town, and hoity-toity locals who didn’t hang their diapers in the Cape will try to take it all away. Those who spoke against wind got sued in a Voter for Wind, British Petroleum leaseholder and CFG-Democrat SLAPP action. Legally registered seasonal residents were accused of fraud and intimidated by a Supreme Court petition filed against voters, opposing candidates for town council and even the honorable Jefferson County Elections Commissioners.

You see, industrial wind developers suck up monster bucks from federal and state pools of taxpayer money. With promises and the appearance of endless new found money, wind developers invade communities bearing gifts. Gifts paid for by taxpayer subsidy.

Asking public officials to meet privately is an insult to their integrity and endangers their credibility as a public servant.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/04/13/galloo-island-wind-developer-asked-jefferson-county-legislators-to-meet-privately/