Saturday, December 1, 2012

Town of Cape Vincent Supervisor

Responds to BP Letter dated November 20, 2012

BP Wind Energy claims to be proceeding in good faith under Article 10 by engaging in a Public Involvement Program (PIP) through which they will diligently seek to inform and educate the residents of Cape Vincent and other stakeholders. However, the referenced BP letter shows no trace of genuine public involvement.



November 26, 2012
Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling
Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission
Three Empire state Plaza
Albany, NY 12223-1350

Re: Case 12-F-0410

Dear Secretary Brilling:

We are in receipt of a letter dated November 20, 2012 from Mr. Larry Folks, Senior Vice
President and Chief Development Officer for BP Wind Energy North America, Inc.

Mr. Folks claims in his letter to respond to a letter sent to BP Alternative Energy and BP Wind Energy North America on October 30, 2012. In that October 30 letter we, the collective elected and appointed officials of the government of the Town of Cape Vincent, expressed a number of problems we experienced in attempting to learn BPs plans for a major wind power development project in our town.

Mr. Folks’ letter is a “response” only in the most technical sense. In fact, it is wholly
unresponsive. Of the several concerns and questions clearly set forth in our letter, Mr. Folks does not respond to any of them. His letter does not merely fail to clarify anything; it does not even do us the courtesy of acknowledging the issues presented in our letter.

BP Wind Energy claims to be proceeding in good faith under Article 10 by engaging in a Public Involvement Program (PIP) through which they will diligently seek to inform and educate the residents of Cape Vincent and other stakeholders. However, the referenced BP letter shows no trace of genuine public involvement. It is nothing more than a few short paragraphs of very standard BP marketing language quoting generalized benefits that BP asserts will come to a community from having a wind project. We could have lifted that language from one of their
brochures.


The letter concludes with BP claim to be looking forward to “continuing dialogue” with us, but
we are unaware of any dialogue to date with BP -- in spite of our repeated efforts to have one.
BP’s effort is better characterized as a monologue, not a dialog.

This most recent communication from BP is very disturbing. It serves as further indication that
our town is faced with a major industrial developer, proposing a project of unprecedented size
and scope, which refuses to talk with us in any meaningful way.

We trust that you will weigh our concerns and frustrations very carefully as you continue to
evaluate BP’s so-called public involvement with the Town of Cape Vincent.

Sincerely,
Urban C. Hirschey
Supervisor

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