October 28, 2020
New York

Survey: Opposition to wind power project grows in Somerset, Yates

Thomas J. Prohaska | The Buffalo News | Oct 27, 2020 | buffalonews.com

A new survey of Somerset and Yates residents shows that opposition to a wind power project near Lake Ontario has grown in the last five years.

The Lighthouse Wind project, proposed by Apex Clean Energy, is in limbo. Apex has closed its Barker office, removed its meteorological towers and has not filed a final application. But a new state law allows automatic approval a year after an application is filed.

The citizen group Save Ontario Shores said Tuesday that it mailed 2,148 surveys to residents of the towns in late August and early September, and 31% of those were returned to the Buffalo accounting firm Lumsden & McCormick.

Its tally said 83% of respondents oppose the project, which sought to erect 47 turbines, each 591 feet tall, including the rotor blades.

The 2015 surveys showed 67% opposition among Somerset property owners, 77% opposition among Yates property owners and 65% opposition among Yates registered voters. Return rates then were 56% in Somerset and 46% in Yates.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/10/28/survey-opposition-to-wind-power-project-grows-in-somerset-yates/