Renewed push to put wind turbines in Lake Erie gets blowback in Hamburg 

After a state entity shelved the proposal for wind turbines in Lake Erie 14 months ago, opponents of the idea suspected it was only a matter of time before the idea would be recycled.

“Western New York does not want these wind turbines in Lake Erie,” said David Adrian, an aquatic biologist and member of the Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority determined in December 2022 that it wasn’t the right time to put the turbines in Lake Erie or Lake Ontario. NYSERDA concluded the turbines would cost more than other renewable energy options, and wouldn’t offer a feasible contribution to state climate goals.

Five months later, State Sen. Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat and chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, proposed a pilot project to place wind turbines in Lake Erie.

His bill, which sits in the committee, states that reaching the state’s goal of “zero-emission electricity and decarbonization may not be possible without harnessing the wind resources over the Great Lakes.”

New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requires 70% of electricity to come from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, by 2030, and for the state to achieve zero-emission electricity by 2040.

NYSERDA concluded the turbines would cost more than other renewable energy options, and wouldn’t offer a feasible contribution to state climate goals.

Harckham’s bill also states that “given the lengthy timelines associated with new offshore wind developments, an expedited pilot project to fully assess the viability of such development is crucial to ensure that the resource is available when needed.”

New York is moving ahead with projects in other parts of the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that the state conditionally awarded two wind projects in the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island.

Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie, or CAWTILE, got support from the Hamburg Town Board on Monday, when it opposed any efforts to introduce offshore wind turbines in the waters of Lake Erie.

Board members unanimously approved a resolution objecting to turbines in the lake, citing a number of questions and concerns.

They include the disturbance of toxic industrial wastes in the lakebed and how that could affect drinking water and enter the food chain of fish and birds, potential spills of oil and other petroleum products contained in the turbines and the impact on historic sites including lighthouses and shipwrecks.

There also are concerns about the effect of the turbines on migratory pathways of birds, bats and butterflies, radar interference on public safety and border security, and noise vibrations emitted by the wind turbines on anglers, boaters and nearshore residents and visitors.

The Town Board also called for a moratorium on the development and construction of wind turbines in the lake.

Patty Meckes, president of CAWTILE, said the Hamburg resolution is the start of building opposition in other towns and the community.

“CAWTILE will not rest until there is a permanent law prohibiting turbines in Lake Erie,” she told Town Board members.

Hamburg Councilwoman Elizabeth Farrell Lorentz praised the citizens group for its advocacy.

“They are such a fine example of grassroots community engagement. They have done exhaustive research,” Farell Lorentz said.

The Hamburg resolution is to be sent to the governor, leaders of the State Legislature and Western New York legislators, as well as local leaders.