CWW letter 9/11/06 to the Cohocton Planning Board

September 11, 2006

Cohocton Planning Board
15 South Main Street
Cohocton New York 14826

Dear Mr. Fox and Planning Board Members:

At the Cohocton Planning Board special meeting of September 7, 2006, Town Councilman Wayne Hunt made the announcement that 2.5 MW industrial wind turbines for the UPC project will now be used. This is the second extreme change from the original 1.5 MW proposal, the first being an increase to 2.0 MW and now 2.5 MW. The Cohocton Planning Board must recognize that the current DEIS report prepared and submitted by UPC is based upon 1.5 MW turbines.

Since this fact clearly demonstrates that these increases in size impose a crucial need for greater setbacks, it is imperative that the Cohocton Planning Board rejects the regretful suggestion from the sole Town Councilman, Jeff Wise, to modify the CPB recommendation on the proposed Windmill Local Law #2.

Note that the Cohocton Town Board did not vote on Mr. Wise’s suggestion.

As stated in the Cohocton Wind Watch letter of September 7, 2006, the proposed 500 foot limit for tower height allows for additional increase in turbine size and capacity. Which is an obvious move to accommodate the new UPC plans. It is self evident that reverting to a mere 500 foot setback from public roads offers even less public safety protection, now that it has been disclosed that 2.5 MW units are proposed for installation.

This incident illustrates the inconsistency, dishonesty and deceitful nature of the UPC proposal. The CPB should be an independent board. It is time to act with conviction. If the Cohocton Town Board chooses to disregard your recommendations, force them to vote against them.

Cohocton Wind Watch is most disappointed with the lack of courage coming out of the Cohocton Planning Board. In order to prove that the CPB is not a mere tool of UPC manipulation, in the strongest terms, CWW urges your board to resist the irrational and imprudent pressure from the Town of Cohocton Councilmen. In order to invalidate a recommendation, demonstrated evidence must be supplied for the basis of that reversal. Just what would be such a determining factor?

Supervisor Zigenfus, made known that the 2007 budget will include a bond issuance for $50,000 to finance litigation. Such added legal expenses for the town can certainly be mitigated if not avoided altogether with the passage of coherent and balanced legislation. The record is most clear, without a sincere effort and commitment to resolve the profound harmful effects from the UPC project, the town should be prepared to increase such a bond resolution by several multiples.

As lead agency, the Cohocton Planning Board has the authority to impose a moratorium on the UPC project. Especially since an entirely new DEIS study must be required (or risk additional legal actions) that is based upon 2.5 MW units. Also a competing developer, Empire State Wind Energy has announced intentions for a community-based project for Cohocton. Now is the time to let the marketplace work. Windmill Local Law #2 should be put on hold. The entire Cohocton community deserves to know all the options.

Cordially,

Cohocton Wind Watch