Updates

Princeton physics professor William Happer on why a large number of scientists don't believe that carbon dioxide is causing global warming.

Click here to read full Wall Street Journal article.

Labels: Global Warming

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Michael Townsend doubts viability of offshore wind farms

New York Power Authority board chairman Michael Townsend questioned Monday whether the authority's offshore wind farm proposal should go forward.

"From my perspective, I don't think that project is very viable at this time, politically or economically," said Townsend, a lawyer with the Perinton-based law firm Harris Beach.

The authority, an independent arm of state government, has been reviewing five private-sector proposals to erect wind turbines in state waters of lakes Ontario or Erie. Officials are supposed to announce a decision by June.

Townsend, appointed to the board in 2004 by former Gov. George Pataki, does not expect to be reappointed when his term expires later this month.

He noted that authority President Richard Kessel, a champion of the offshore idea, had said offshore turbines would not be built where they're not wanted. County lawmakers in seven of the nine shoreline counties, including Monroe, have voted to express opposition to the plan for aesthetic, environmental and other reasons. "We're not being welcomed," Townsend said.

He also said the project might be financially burdensome. Kessel had said the authority would support an offshore wind farm by signing a long-term power purchase agreement on terms favorable to its private development.

But Townsend said the authority, which generates or purchases electricity for hundreds of business, government and other customers, might be "spread too thin" financially to sign an expensive agreement. That's especially true, he said, if the authority finalizes a costly purchase agreement to support construction of a huge transmission line under the Hudson River to carry power to New York City.

He said that "unofficially, other board members agree" that offshore wind may be too expensive. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who supported the offshore concept during his gubernatorial campaign as long as it was financially feasible, is "the big X factor," said Townsend, who pointed out that offshore projects elsewhere in the Great Lakes have been axed or frozen.

Connie Cullen, a spokeswoman for the authority, said Monday that "while we greatly respect the opinions of our trustees, NYPA hasn't yet completed its review of the bids for the ... initiative. We hope to present the full results of the review to our trustees in the next couple of months."

Townsend said the common wisdom is that John S. Dyson will replace him as chairman. Dyson chaired the authority during the Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo administrations, and he was named to the board again by Andrew Cuomo earlier this year.

Townsend said he had nothing to say to rumors that Kessel, authority president since October 2008, could be leaving. Cullen said Kessel had no plans to resign.

Written by Steve Orr, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle staff writer.

Labels: Money, New York, Process

Plans for offshore wind farms sputter

As New York Power Authority officials near a decision point for their Great Lakes offshore wind-farm plans, they find themselves almost alone in their pursuit: Nearly all the other freshwater offshore wind projects in North America have stalled or died.

Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the other three Great Lakes are among the windiest spots in the eastern half of the continent, and in recent years wind-energy developers publicized proposals for a dozen or more large wind farms for the lakes' waters.

Today, none of those large-scale proposals are active, a circumstance that in some cases is attributed to fierce public opposition. Two months ago the Canadian province of Ontario, which had been promoting wind energy and considering development of roughly 1,000 turbines in lakes Erie and Ontario, terminated or suspended all offshore projects.

Only one small pilot project, in the waters of Lake Erie near Cleveland, is moving forward.

The sudden declaration of an offshore wind moratorium in Ontario was "a huge blow to offshore development in not only Canada but in the U.S. as well," said Alan Isselhard, an outspoken opponent of the power authority's plan.

"But I don't feel NYPA will be intimidated ... by what's happened anywhere else," said Isselhard, who lives on the Lake Ontario shoreline in Wayne County. "They have unlimited public money at their disposal to go forward."

Indeed, the authority — an independent arm of state government based in Westchester County — is pressing ahead eagerly, hoping to be the first offshore wind project in the Great Lakes. At an offshore wind conference in Henrietta on Wednesday, authority spokesman Louis Paonessa said NYPA was "very close" to announcing a way forward.

Since last June, authority officials have been reviewing five private-sector proposals for offshore wind farms in the New York waters of Lake Erie or Lake Ontario. Though officials have refused to release any details about the proposals, each of them likely calls for construction of dozens of huge electricity-generating turbines a few miles off shore.

Click here to read the entire Rochester Democrat & Chronicle article by staff writer Steve Orr.

Labels: Money, New York, Process

A world of thanks to the Prattsburgh Town Board

To the Editor,

The majority of the current town board of Prattsburgh, has kept their promise. When the election results were tallied in November of 2009, a clear message was sent. The town wanted a renewed town board that would not only listen, but use their experience and knowledge to make decisions benefiting the town. Some say the election was only based on wind farms. This is far from the truth. The current town board has been pro-active with every area of improvement for the town. Benefits like seeking grants to improve water systems and bargaining for lowering electric rates for the town have been overshadowed by attacks on the town by Ecogen, the wind farm developer, and lawsuit costs to protect the residents of Prattsburgh. This level of detail and commitment has not occurred in Prattsburgh for many years. There will always be two sides of the story, and different beliefs by individuals. I am proud that the majority of the current town board has kept their promise, stuck to the issues, represented the people that voted them in and kept an open honest government. In this day and age of lack of faith in our public officials, I am proud of this group and the representation they have delivered. Thanks for representing us and what we believe in. “We The People”, merely had to show up and vote you in to office. You are the ones that continue to shoulder the burden. You must balance the facts that surround you and make decisions that represent “Us”, the voters that put you there. Thanks for your continued dedication!

Thomas MacAllister
Prattsburgh/ Italy/ Naples

Labels: New York, Process

Hello Everyone,

First of all, the letter from the Supervisor has been posted to the Town website.

Things with the Ecogen lawsuit have gotten interesting - and expensive. The Town of Prattsburgh has paid the legal bills for the past year and has budgeted money for the coming year, but we're hoping that many of you will be willing to donate to the legal defense fund in an attempt to defray expenses. A legal defense fund has been established by Angela Einwachter of Cook School Road - Angela is a member of the Zoning Commission. See details below.

What has happened is the judge wants former town attorney John Leyden as well as Harold McConnell, Chris Jensen and former code enforcement officer Les Babcock to testify in court-- The bottom line is this: In fall 2009 Ecogen sued the town, claiming that the town was holding up their project, preventing Ecogen from breaking ground. The previous town board majority agreed to a settlement that, in our opinion, was a sellout of the town -- not only was the financial settlement inadequate, but the setbacks for health and safety were grossly inadequate. This settlement took place AFTER Al, Chuck and Anneke were voted into office. The new town board rejected the settlement and Ecogen sued the town for rejecting it.

Now the judge wants to hear the former town officers and employees under oath describe what happened in order for him to decide whether Ecogen was actually ready to begin construction. We don't understand how Ecogen can say they were ready since they didn't have the leases they needed for a transmission route or a transport route and there was no road agreement. In addition, they definitely did NOT have an agreement with the town of Italy and without Italy they don't have a substation.

In our opinion, this testimony is going to be a good thing - the town has truth on its side - but of course it is going to cost the town thousands of dollars to go to court. So we are asking you to please donate whatever you can to the legal defense fund that has been set up by Angela Einwachter. If everyone gives something it will make a huge dent in the town's legal fees. Please make checks payable to:

Prattsburgh Legal Defense Fund
c/o Angela Einwachter
5928 Cook School Road
Prattsburgh, NY 14873

Regards,
Ruth and Nancy

Labels: Legal Issues, New York

Hartsville Board Member Charged With Welfare Fraud

Sheriff's Department says Philip and Michele Herrnacker illegally got $62,000 in benefits.

Michelle Herrnecker, a member of the Hartsville town board, has been accused of getting welfare benefits illegally. She and her husband got a combined total of $62,000 according to the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department.

Mrs. Herrnecker has been charged with two felony counts - offering a false instrument and 3rd degree welfare fraud. Her husband, Philip allegedly received $24,000 of benefits while Michele got a total of $38,000.

Both were arraigned before Town of Canisteo Judge Gary Forshee and released in their own recognizance for appearance at a later day.The Steuben County District Attorney’s office assisted the Sheriff’s office in the investigation.

If convicted, Mrs. Herrnecker will not be allowed to hold office in Hartsville.

Labels: Legal Issues, New York, Process