BP Will be Using Data from the Cape Vincent ZOGBY Poll to Demonstrate Community Support for their Project

 Cape Vincent - October 23, During the course of a meeting Between BP and the Town and Planning Boards of Cape Vincent and Lyme , BP Representative Richard Chandler stated numerous times that the community supports  BP’s  Cape Vincent Wind project.

  To  promote this idea, BP's wind facilitator Marion Trieste and Project Developer  Richard Chandler will both be using the results of the ZOGBY poll as proof that the majority of the community supports BP's project. 

 They will do this by focusing on the numbers from the ZOGBY Poll e.g. 47% support wind versus 41% opposed to wind.  This data is all they have to support their claim that this project is wanted by the community at large. 

  The updated Comprehensive plan examines the ZOGBY Poll and details how the figures  at face value can be misleading.   Additionally, the  polling questions were formulated under the watchful eye of two conflicted board members. The question of conflicts of interest was not addressed in this survey, nor were respondents asked if they or any of their relatives have wind leases.

 From the Updated Comprehensive plan

 The ZOGBY Community Vision Poll, 2011.

This phone poll was conducted by the Zogby Group at the request of the Town Board. It was a sample of 300 seasonal and year-round residents. The object of the poll was to gain an insight into community support for two wind projects that were proposed for Cape Vincent. 

The results showed that:

a. 82% had a favorable opinion toward Cape Vincent (Q:3

b. 79% were positive about the quality of life, but 66% were negative about the economy (Q:4-5).

c. 59% said the biggest issue facing the Town was industrial wind (Q:6).

d.47% supported industrial wind projects and 41% were opposed (Q: 7).

e. For those supportive of wind, the biggest collective reason for their support was economic - 40% listed money and economy as a reason (Q: 8).

f. The biggest reason for opposition was view, scenic and natural beauty (20%, Q: 8).

g. Although 47% of respondents supported industrial wind, they qualified their support:

   i. 47% said wind turbines would decrease tourism (Q: 10) and 89% said  tourism was very important in Cape Vincent(Q:14-16

ii.Only6% thought wind turbines would increase tourism (Q: 10)

 iii.57% believed wind turbines would decrease land values and 7%said land values would increase (Q: 11).

Summary of the Wind Issue: The ZOGBY poll in 2011 clearly showed that industrial wind was the biggest issue and challenge that faced Cape Vincent and its municipal leadership; that view remains unchanged today. In 2007 the survey done by the Cape Vincent LDC showed 60% support for industrial wind projects, but in 2011 ZOGBY reported that support declined to 47%, compared to 41% who were opposed. It could be argued that from 2007 to 2011 Cape residents became better educated about potential wind impacts and part of that education process included installation and operation of the Wolfe Island Wind Project directly across the St. Lawrence River from the Village of Cape Vincent. Moreover, if both surveys are studied carefully then support for wind is seen as qualified; not unequivocal support.

 ZOGBY showed the principal reason for supporting industrial wind was because people believed it would help the local economy, and a majority of respondents (66%) believed the local economy needed help. But, most respondents also believed tourism, recreation and land values are important too, and that industrial wind development would, at the same time, have a detrimental impact on these factors.

 Although the Cape Vincent Local Development Corporation(CVLDC reported a majority of support for industrial wind projects, they also reported industrial wind would negatively affect Cape Vincent’s character (51%negative versus 22% positive), quality of life (45% negative versus 29% positive), and natural beauty (57% negative versus 13% positive). Similar qualifiers existed in Zogby’s  data as well – 47% said tourism would decrease (6% increase) and 57% believed land values would diminish (7% increase).

These other surveys of community attitudes collectively help us understand the apparent contradiction in attitudes toward industrial wind. The potential benefit of industrial wind is purely economic for some Cape Vincent residents. But, the economic potential provided by industrial wind would not come without some economic loss and damage to our community. The listing of strategies in the 1992 and 2007 surveys showed very strong support for using Cape Vincent’s historic and cultural resources and making the best use of our unique natural resource gifts - the lake and river. Furthermore, in both these surveys strategies that focused on industrial development were low on the Cape’s list of development alternatives.

 The best way to sum community attitude toward industrial wind in 2012 is to go back to1992 in a concluding statement in “Shaping the Future,“They (Cape Vincent residents) would like to see improved job opportunities and services, but not at the expense or sacrifice of the very qualities that make Cape Vincent so appealing – its beauty, history and small town atmosphere.”

 The results of the Cape Vincent ZOGBY poll clearly indicated that three out of five surveyed want the Cape Vincent Town Board to impose a moratorium on wind turbines. In addition, (59%) said that they wanted the wind moratorium to allow time to amend the zoning law to address industrial and individual wind turbines. In accordance to the wishes of the community as indicated by the ZOGBY, poll. 

[ZOGBY results here]

Comprehensive plan link

http://www.scribd.com/doc/95594438/Town-and-Village-of-Cape-Vincent-FINAL-Joint-Comprehensive-Plan-August-1-2012

Facts about What BP Will Really Bring To Our Community

BP Has Started An Article X Pre- Application with Inaccurate Information about Their Outreach To The Entire Community . Remember Our Past Town & Planning Boards Consisted Of Conflicted Leaseholders

Cape Vincent's Unethical Black Hole ~

This is a press release that outlines the conflicts of interests created by BP$ Acciona


 

An open letter concerning the Public meeting between the boards of Cape Vincent and Lyme

  Sorry we haven't yet met but I’m a outspoken anti-wind energy activist from eastern Wayne County.  I was in CV for the Oct 23.  .

My wife and I got started fighting terrestrial wind several years ago here in Wayne Co. and our battle eventually included offshore wind factories with NYPA. We have lots of anti-wind contacts across NYS. We are also highly against fracking and feel fracking is actually far worse than wind factories. Thanks for your efforts with Pandora's Box of Rock and keep up the excellent work.

 ~~~~~

 We attended the Cape Vincent wind workshop meeting Tuesday evening - (Oct 23)

  between British Petroleum and the town boards & planning boards of CV and neighboring Lyme as well as the anti-wind project protest march earlier in the day in Cape Vincent village. 

The protest march started about 4 pm in a town park across the street from the BP wind office. Shortly the march ended directly in front of BP’s CV office with about 20 people participating. Horns from passing cars approved the action and chanting, signs were available for those that may have not brought their own and news media videoed the activity too.

Eventually, the protesters moved several blocks to the meeting location at the CV

community recreation center - a nice new building. Seating for 200 people was available but those arriving late found standing room only. As this was designed to be a workshop meeting – the boards would NOT be taking questions or comments from the floor and this was well understood beforehand.

Richard Chandler, British Petroleum’s project manager for the proposed wind project in the town, represented BP. Chandler was the only one seated at the table reserved for BP and appeared to be young, clean cut, well spoken, knowledgeable college grad type.

Richard Chandler

There were at least 3 dozen wind supporters attending as they came dressed in their bright green t-shirts and they all sat together in one part of the room.

Wind supporters in green shirts

 The police were outside in the parking lot if needed but fortunately there was no call for them as everyone was civil in contrast to past CV wind meetings where behavior sometimes was anything but civil.

Protesters outside

Following Chandler’s comments – each TB and PB member from both towns was individually allowed to make their own comments on this project and virtually none of them supported the project. (note – the town of Lyme would be where the turbine transmission line would pass through but no turbines are planned to be located there in this project) Chandler was reminded that BP officials and wind supporters were given numerous chances to come before numerous CV public meetings on the wind issue under the new TB – but not one person supporting wind ever did attend even one of the meetings – especially the meetings developing the zoning laws. One CV TB member made the best comments of the evening – that NYS elected officials failed the state and its people. (meaning the taking away of home rule from the people of NYS)

After all comments were given – questions from the TB and PB members were asked of Chandler. Some questions he answered but many he gave no answer or an evasive answer, which elicited a negative response from many in the crowd. The change in NYS law last year, creating a new Article X, was monumental as it took away home rule and the way the law was passed is so very disgusting and defines Gov. Cuomo as the scoundrel he is. Chandler did everything but take the Fifth Amendment. The whole 2-hour meeting was video recorded and is available to view at Steve Weed productions - http://www.steveweedproductions.com/ right now.

 Both CV and Lyme town boards & zoning boards left no doubt in anyone's mind, especially Chandler's mind,  they would pursue the town zoning laws as far as necessary - the zoning laws prevent BP’s wind factory. Lyme would host the transmission line but no turbines yet. I interpret this attitude to mean that both towns will pursue the matter through the NYS courts system to the highest level, if necessary, to keep the wind factory from being developed – and this is what should happen. This whole matter is extremely important as its likely to become the first case considered by the unelected 5 bureaucrats in Albany to decide yea or nay for BP's wind factory in CV as a result of the disgusting Article X section of the Power NY Law of 2011.

I have attached a few photos from the day’s activities – Chandler is in the blue shirt, no tie. Please note many people at the meeting holding up BP GO HOME signs. People in neon-green shirts are the greedy wind zealots.

I’ll end this with a little BP history. BP blowout in Gulf of Mexico, Deep Horizon; 11 workers killed. BP officials said they expect the company to pay out approximately $7.8 billion as a settlement with more than 100,000 plaintiffs who are suing the oil giant and others for their role in the spill. This does not include the settlement with the US government which is expected to be between $18B and $21B. BP’s board appears to be the stubborn ones; they want a $15 billion settlement. BP may be very worst polluter in history - with a record like this who could possibly want them doing business in their community?

 Al Isselhard 

Wolcott, New York

Great Lakes Concerned Citizens

Great Lakes Wind Truth

Coalition On Article X

BP ~ Quietly ~ announces Cape Vincent Wind Farm Project Open House

Please join the BP Team to learn more about the Cape Vincent Wind Farm project at an open house on Saturday, November 10, 2012 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Cape Vincent Recreational Park

Story Published: Nov 2, 2012 at 2:55 PM EST

Event Details

Date(s) & Time(s)::

November 10, 2012

Location: Cape Vincent Recreational Park 602 South James St. Cape Vincent, NY

Phone: 315-654-2181

Event Description

Please join the BP Team to learn more about the Cape Vincent Wind Farm project at an open house on Saturday, November 10, 2012 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Cape Vincent Recreational Park

Link here to original source

In the Video below ~  BP Project Developer Chandler  announced October 23  that BP will have a project website established next week , and that the file containing the project map will be available for download .  Check out this link  Site address ~ capevincentwindfarm.com 

BP/ PIP~ Advertisements:   advertisements describing the Cape Vincent Wind Farm(CVWF) and the benefits to the local and regional stakeholders will be placed in the Watertown Daily Times and the thousand Islands Sun (the most widely circulated local publications) on a periodic basis during the pre-application process.

 Link here to BP/PIP

                                                                                                                                                       

Government at its best ~ Protecting our communities

Tuesday evening, Oct. 23, in Cape Vincent, at the municipal hall offered an opportunity for north country voters to see some of the best that local elected officials from the towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme, along with their appointed planning boards, have to offer residents in the north country.

The occasion coincided with British Petroleum’s (BP) pursuing an approval process under Article X allowing a state siting board to overrule what it (the siting board) considers to be unreasonable local laws as pertains to siting of industrial wind projects. BP has chosen to expedite the siting process by going to Article X as opposed to dealing with the locally effected municipalities directly.

What is important in my opinion is that these elected and appointed board members were articulate, incredibly well informed, and doggedly consistent in their concern for protecting the health and safety of their constituents and the communities they represent. In an era when it appears that government officials are shameless, and that any behavior that is not illegal is acceptable, Tuesday night’s performance was a true exception. It was a shining example of how local municipal government, when it has representatives who have integrity and are striving to do what is in the best interest of their communities, speak in a common voice. Any municipal government would welcome the level of participation and professionalism these individuals portrayed on Tuesday evening. They serve their communities well.

Residents of Cape Vincent and Lyme should be proud of each and every one of them. County legislators should take note of the example set. State representatives should recognize the caliber of constituents these folks represent. Their ethical and contemplative responses make a strong argument for keeping local siting authority with the municipalities affected by proposed developments.

The state’s efforts to grab that responsibility, arguing that local municipalities are unable to make such decisions, or worse, that local municipalities are for sale, appears to be motivated by a willingness, not only to streamline the process, but far more cynically, to allow industry to drive the state policy and control the siting process for their own financial gain. Sadly, it is presented as a “green energy policy” but it is not green, and it is driven by production tax credits. Ultimately it has removed all critical siting responsibilities from the municipalities that will be at ground zero, and has put those decisions in the hands of an unelected board in Albany.

The Cape Vincent and Lyme boards showed an informed professionalism that calls into question the state’s claim to decide local siting criteria for industrial wind facilities. These board members are far more capable than Albany to make those evaluations. They are not for sale. They are at ground zero.

David Duff

Macomb

Cape Vincent sends a letter to the Public Service Commission Re: Oct. Public work session

 Below is a rendering of the letter and below that is the letter as it was downloaded from the Public Service Commission website.

Ms. Katrina Landis                                                        October 30, 2012

Chief Executive Officer

BP Alternative Energy

501 Westlake Park Blvd.

Houston, TX 77079

Reference: BP Cape Vincent Wind Power project

 Dear Ms. Landis,

On Tuesday evening, October 23, a public work session of the Town Council and the Planning Board of the Town of Cape Vincent, NY was held for the purpose of considering the proposed British Petroleum wind power project in our town.

Present before us to inform us about the project and to respond to our questions was BP Wind Power Development Director, Richard Chandler.

It has become the norm in Cape Vincent for meetings of our Town Council and Planning Board to be recorded. Enclosed for your reference is a video disc recording of the full length of Tuesday's meeting.

We provide you with this recording in the hope that you will view it and thereby better inform yourself about the receptivity of our people and their town government to the proposed BP project. More than once Mr. Chandler asserted his confidence that the BP project enjoys our community support and that BP is not prepared to move forward in communities where such support is lacking. We found it hard to believe our ears. The great majority of our residents do not want your project in our town and they want any future development to be compatible with our zoning laws.

To be frank, Ms. Landis, we were astonished and taken aback by Mr. Chandler's persistent unwillingness to respond to very straightforward and pertinent questions respectfully asked of him by each of the undersigned town officials. What happened Tuesday evening was anything but a candid and open discussion with us regarding the

aspects, implications and history of your wind project here. Mr. Chandler simply refused to have that conversation, answering our questions only in the narrowest fashion possible often to the point of being completely unresponsive and patently evasive. To say this was a frustrating evening for the government of the Town of Cape Vincent would be an understatement.

Again, we ask you to view the enclosed recording and make every other effort to understand what has obviously escaped Mr. Chandler, Cape Vincent values its small- town roots and does not want what we consider the industrial blight that will accompany your project. We also ask that you re-evaluate your company's plans, because what you propose for Cape Vincent is not only incompatible with our community's vision, but is also incompatible with BP's wind projects elsewhere, since there are many more people here and we are committed to protecting their health, safety and general welfare.

Thank you for your close attention to this and we would very much welcome your response.

Sincerely yours,

Urban Hirschey - Supervisor

Brooks of Bragdon – Deputy Supervisor

John Byrne – Town Board

Clif Schneider – Town Board

Richard Macsherry – Planning Board Chair

Robert Brown – Planning Board

Cyril Cullen – Planning Board

Paul Docteur – Planning Board

Cc:

Mr. John Graham                                                 Mr. Omar Aboudaher

President                                                              Vice President, Business Development           

BP Wind Energy                                                   BP Wind Energy

501 W. Lake Park Blvd.                                       700 Louisiana St., 33rd floor

Houston Texas 7709                                             Houston Texas 7709

Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling

Sec., N Y S Public Service Commission

Three Empire State Plaza

Albany, NY    12223 – 1350 

 ~~~~ 

Letter below

Link here to the Public Service Commission Website to download letter

Turbines & Radar ~ A letter to the Public Service Commission

Honorable Jaclyn A Brilling, Secretary
 NYS Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment
Three Empire Plaza
Albany NY 12223

RE: Case 12-F - 0410: Application of Cape Vincent Wind Power, LLC for
          Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to
                Construct an approximately 200-285MW Wind Electric
 Generating Facility in the Town of Cape Vincent, NY


Honorable Secretary Brilling:

September 28, 2012, I submitted a comment letter for the above file. I have a
 supplemental comment to add to the file for the Cape Vincent Wind Power Application.

I was reviewing the BP Public Involvement Program and I noted that the list of
stakeholders did not include the Fort Drum Military instillation.

 As the crow flies this military base is approximately 30 miles from BP†proposed Cape
Vincent wind project.  Fort Drum is being considered for a possible missile
interceptor site, additionally Fort Drum may also become home to a predator
 drone program.  Issues with wind turbines and radar are a well-documented
phenomenon.  Large wind turbine blades reflect radar signals creating unwanted
echoes in radar systems (clutter).This clutter poses the challenge of
distinguishing wind farm signatures from airplanes.  Additionally Cape Vincent
 shares a border with Canada; radar interference caused by wind turbines has the
 potential to critically influence our border security.

Respectfully,

Kathryn A. Hludzenski

Town officials asserted home rule at meeting

Hester Chase 

 Sunday October 28,2012

On Oct. 23 the towns of Lyme and Cape Vincent met BP Project Manager Richard Chandler for the very first time.

I write to thank the town and planning boards from both towns.

As a citizen who has been concerned about the unethical development of wind, this was a night to remember.

Seventeen town officials from two towns made it very clear to Mr. Chandler, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the world that they were elected to serve the people and to be guided in their decision-making process by the health, safety and welfare of the community as proscribed by our local zoning laws.

They demonstrated the intellect, courage and conviction necessary to defend our laws and indirectly our capability to govern ourselves with home rule.

For those who missed this historic meeting, it was recorded by Steve Weed Productions at this link — 

 http://www.steveweedproductions.com/counter/TOCV.aspx.

I am incredibly proud of each and every one of these men and women.

Hester Chase

Cape Vincent

Cape Vincent Town Board Member Clif Schneider addresses Richard Chandler, BP project developer.

At the Special meeting at Recreation Park, Tuesday evening Town Board Member  Clif Schneider addressed Richard Chandler, BP project developer.

Clif Schneider: I'm not going to take very long. I just, I want to get an idea, of ah ---how BP decided to come here. And ---they mentioned the comprehensive plan; my question really has to do with the comprehensive plan.

 I think it's important to know ah, back in 2003.  You've heard about the plan--it’s a master plan.  I'm sure you're familiar with that whether you're in Texas or, no matter where you live; it’s kind of a common thing. The intent of that is --- sort of describe the community, what the community interests are, and that kind of thing. Back in 2003, the town and village adopted a comprehensive plan; a master plan for the community-- had to do with the economic growth at that time. It-- actually got started in process in 2000, took a number of years, and by 2003 --- they formally adopted it, they just didn't accept it, but they formally adopted it, it gave it more traction. The interesting thing is in 2003, when they started to do that that was long before ah, wind came around town, long before we had --- even before leases were signed and that type of thing. 

I just want -- I just want to point out, to give you a feel for the kind of community this is.  It’s, ah-- I'm thinking in terms of if BP were going to come here they would be wanting to say, okay, the first thing I wanted to do is see their master plan, and of course I want to talk to some officials. The vision statement for-- in that 2003 plan, was to protect the integrity of Cape Vincent’s small town atmosphere, while allowing for compatible residential growth, econ- commercial growth. So, you can see it was geared toward a small community, a rural community, that type of thing. It went through various parts of ah, the town, and describing the breaking out into different zones. There is an internal section called the agricultural residential section where actually most of your project is scheduled to be developed. And what that plan said back in 2003, before you both came to town, was what they wanted to enhance and, ah -- support was agriculture in that section and it said to develop-- development that has minimum impact on ah, the important resources such as scenic view, vistas, working landscapes and tourism assets, now this is before you guys came to town. It also said what to discourage and it said location of towers, prisons and utility facilities where the facility--- where the impact would have a negative   impact on scenic vistas and tourism assets.  So, I mean you-- it's a quite clear statement.

 The thing I'm interested in, I think a lot of people are, is what, what prompted wind companies to come here when you know this is a small town --- small town atmosphere, you have very  Clear stuff which is saying hey what we really want to do with our agricultural area is leave it alone ,we don't want towers. How could you possibly come in here and ---at that time when you first came in you  had a project of hundred turbines, it was 95 at the time but it’s similar to what you have right now, the equivalent of 140 story buildings in our --in the town that wants to maintain a small atmosphere. How did you come to do that? I mean do you even think that, that really is compatible with the kind of community was described back there in 2003?

Chandler:  That’s--I mean, the question you're asking is of me personally, I-- I was not involved with the original siting of this project and this area.

Clif Schneider: okay, well, let's move ahead to now.

Chandler: Sure.

Clif Schneider: Now come in, you’ve got 100 and ah, 124, which is even more

(Unintelligible), turbines which is even more of an impact. And so, you still, we still have that same vision. That same vision of a small-town, small commercial industry, we also have the same sense about what we want to do with the interior so-- the project you are proposing really is, do you think that's compatible, to the   kind of description we had in that master plan?

Chandler: Ah.

Clif Schneider: Would you say the development you have right here is compatible with a community that wants to maintain a small-town atmosphere?

Chandler: Ah, I do, I do believe the project offers ah, the opportunity to be both compatible with ah, allowing for wind power generation as well as maintaining the ability to continue agricultural activities and a small town feel.
 Again, this is not the first project that we've pursued,  um, there are other small towns across the US  and in New York that have hosted wind turbines sites, ah, have not had ah,detrimental effects, that ah, some may have thought that might  be the case. Ah, we absolutely continue to believe that. Ah, there is great wind resource here in Cape Vincent as you know all too well, you live here; you know the power of wind.  Um, ah, we believe that we offer the opportunity to bring significant environmental and economic benefits to the town, both in the form of leasehold payments as well as ah, any kind ah, of payments we might make   in lieu of taxes.

Clif Schneider:  you know, you indicated – – – – – your discussion about you said you   looked at your own internal controls, you know we ah, took a look at the ----you’re ah, posted website, you’ve got 13 wind farms.

 We to took a look at that-- in terms of internal when I look at those, those wind farms that you have in other words, I found where they were in Colorado, and Texas and what have you.  I did the little Google Earth thing, I was flying over your, your ah, wind farms out there, and internally it looks as though you have the same notion about your plans, I mean internally ah, this, town and this set up and this plan, really is, is in contrast and incompatible with the kinds of things you’ve done everywhere else.

Chandler: UM,

Clif Schneider: I mean, this, this, and you don't have any other place. I've looked at all those things and, and you know you've got miles between turbines and, and ah, homes and residences, you don't have any wind farm where you have it right next to a tourism-based economy to a major area of the, a region in the state that draws tourism. You haven't got anything, so why did you come here?

Chandler: You, we can talk about setbacks that we've used in developing the layout here, from  looking at roadways, looking at ah, residences looking at a, ah, property lines, of parties who are or are not participating in the project. We can talk about all those kinds of details, all of which I again, I reiterate are either at or above our own internal standards and   certainly at or above industry standards for building wind turbine projects. This is both for proposed and operational projects.

Clif Schneider: Okay and I understand that.  You say in a sense that really is compatible but you've also said here, that you're trying to be responsive to what we are putting forward. From my personal point of view it's not compatible, what you propose is not compatible with what this community stands for.

 And I've got one last comment. The advertising, you mentioned the advertising you   know, we have seen these ads, I thought they weren’t very helpful. One thing in particular how can you be pushing the economic deal with the money that’s going to come back to the community?  In all essence that's all based on an assumption that you are going to get a ah, pilot agreement, that really was when we initially set it up--we have a legislator here right here that said in effect that this wasn't to be used in anything else other than Galloo. So you can't really  be talking about any kind of financial stuff particularly--- putting an ad in the paper, talking about financial stuff, when you really haven't even set-- begun the discussion of ah, the arrangements and agreements that are required from all the taxing jurisdictions to do that. So, my suggestion there would be you know lay low on the advertising don't stress anything on economics until you get to the point.  

The other thing is take home the message that this is a small community --- what you got up there is incompatible with what we stand for.