January 22, 2016
Letters, New York

Regional opposition to ‘Lighthouse Wind’ is a reality

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal | January 21, 2016 | www.lockportjournal.com

On Jan. 14, the Yates Town Board adopted a resolution formally opposing Apex Clean Energy’s proposed Lighthouse Wind project within the town of Yates. I would like to thank my colleagues on the town board for a job well done. In addition, I would like to extend my gratitude to the people of the town for their passion and Herculean efforts to ensure that the town board possessed all of the information required in order to properly represent them in making the critical decision to oppose the Apex project.

While long awaited, our town’s formal opposition is only one action.

As a result of concerns pertaining to industrial wind turbine encroachment on Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station’s flight path, and the potential loss of over 3,000 jobs at NFARS if base operations are compromised, the Erie County Legislature also has now formally opposed the Apex project.

These actions by the Yates Town Board and the Erie County Legislature have now solidified a clear, monolithic and regional opposition to “Lighthouse Wind.”

By way of review, official opposition to the project has been communicated by the following august representatives and representative bodies standing for approximately 1.3 million Western New Yorkers: U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, New York State Sen. Robert Ortt, the Niagara, Orleans and Erie county legislatures and the Somerset and Yates town boards.

Their actions represent a clear mandate to oppose the project and, interestingly, make a corollary statement on the loss of home rule in New York state.

I remain eager to represent the people of Yates regarding this industrial wind turbine issue and help lead Yates into a future of meaningful economic development and improved quality of life for all who value and enjoy the beautiful, irreplaceable Western Lake Ontario Region of New York state.

John B. Riggi
Yates town council member
Lyndonville


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/01/22/regional-opposition-to-lighthouse-wind-is-a-reality/