October 4, 2018
New York

Save Ontario Shores continues opposition to Lighthouse Wind

Staff Reports - 3 October 2018 - orleanshub.com

LYNDONVILLE – A citizens’ group opposed the past four years to Lighthouse Wind says the project is not wanted in the towns of Yates and Somerset.

Apex Clean Energy on Tuesday presented the locations for the turbines, which includes eight in Yates and 39 in Somerset. Apex is working on its application to the state.

“From Day One, Apex has ignored the will of the people of Somerset and Yates and their opposition to this project,” said Pam Atwater, president of Save Ontario Shores.

SOS issued a news release this morning in response to a Tuesday evening forum by Apex about the project.

“There was no real exchange of ideas and no public opportunity to ask spontaneous questions,” Atwater said. “Questions in writing were screened by a moderator, a clear attempt to silence the legions of local residents who oppose this ill-sited project.”

Atwater pointed to multiple surveys which have found an overwhelming number of residents opposed to the project; town boards in Yates and Somerset passed resolutions in opposition; legislatures in Niagara, Orleans and Erie counties are on record opposing Apex and various national, statewide and regional bird groups, including the highly respected American Bird Conservancy, have also raised questions about the siting of the project.

In advance of the meeting, Apex sent three mailers to local residents, which included outdated studies, omitted relevant information and discussed generalities that do not address opponents’ specific questions and concerns, Atwater said.

“Our expectations for the information shared at the forum were extremely low and Apex didn’t disappoint,” Atwater said. “In the media, Apex has been rudely dismissive of our concerns and characterized us as misinformed. People are very knowledgeable about what this project would mean to our community. Just look at the New York State Department of Public Service website and you’ll see an overwhelming number of substantive comments expressing opposition to this project.

“Apex is attempting to silence majority opposition, so we took our message outside the forum with an ‘Apex Go Home’ rally, a passionate, respectful, old fashioned First Amendment gathering,” Atwater said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/10/04/save-ontario-shores-continues-opposition-to-lighthouse-wind/