BP's PIP contains statements that are misleading and/or incorrect.

The November 16, 2012 submission by Cape Vincent Wind Power, LLC (BP) of a revised Public Involvement Program (PIP) for their proposed construction of a wind generating facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, NY contains statements that are misleading and/or incorrect. 

Honorable Jaclyn A. Brilling, ¿Secretary.
NYS Board of Electric Generation Siting and the Environment
3 Empire State Plaza
¿Albany, NY 12223-1350

RE: Case 12-F-041 0 Cape Vincent Wind Power

Dear Secretary Brilling,

The November 16, 2012 submission by Cape Vincent Wind Power, LLC (BP) of a revised Public Involvement Program (PIP) for their proposed construction of a wind generating facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, NY contains statements that are misleading and/or incorrect.   The company claims that its proposed project has the support of citizens in Cape Vincent and Lyme.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I served on the Lyme Planning Board from 2007 until 2011.  During that time I attended many public meetings in Cape Vincent.  I was also one of the founding members and co-chair of the Coalition for the Preservation of the Golden Crescent and the 1,000 islands.  The Coalition was formed to fight wind developers throughout the region.

I have had a long career in the international energy and ocean shipping businesses with a particular expertise in natural gas.  I have served as a consultant in these matters to Mobil Oil, General Dynamics, Pertamina (the Indonesian state energy company), Pertrobras, and others.  I have also developed designs, specifications, and supervised construction of a number of large oceangoing vessels, each containing a complete electrical generation and distribution system and I therefore have a thorough understanding of such electrical systems.  I also have, in addition to my education and experience of 50 years in naval architecture and marine engineering, an MBA from Harvard Business School and extensive experience in the economics of energy production and distribution.

There are a number of reasons why Industrial wind turbines are not suitable for an area such as Cape Vincent and Lyme in the Thousand Islands area.  These towns are located on Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River and have miles of waterfront residences, for both year round and seasonal use.  The imposition of large industrial wind towers, which may be 500 feet or more in height will obviously change this beautiful area into an industrial site that people will not be inclined to visit.  There are many concerns about imposing these large machines on communities of this type and population density, which I am certain others will make you aware of through their letters.

What I wish to point out is that the whole idea of generating useful power with the objective of reducing consumption of fossil fuels is fraudulent.  I am concerned that the State of New York and the Federal government have made a tragic mistake in promoting and subsidizing wind energy.

I attach a power-point presentation that I put together three years ago. It demonstrates that an industrial wind power facility backed up by an open cycle gas turbine, which is the only fuel powered device that can accommodate the natural variability of wind power, will consume more fuel than a modern combined cycle gas turbine without wind power.  The inclusion of wind power on the electrical grid will actually increase consumption of fossil fuels.  The wind turbines are not green.

I would be pleased to travel to Albany to make such a presentation to your commission and answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,