The recent lawsuits charge UPC with violating their conditional Public Safety Commission permit. The action also challenges the issuance of special use permits by the Cohocton Planning Board. Opponents also claim certain turbines intrude upon the property in neighboring towns and Ontario County.
An antitrust complaint filed early this year by other Cohocton residents charges the wind industry as a whole violates the Sherman Antitrust Act by preventing competition and restraining trade.
Recent complaints by local labor unions put a halt to the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency's plan Sept. 27 to approve property tax breaks for the UPC project.
The unions say UPC is hiring out-of-state construction workers instead of using local labor resources. Encouraging local employment is a part of SCIDA's mandate.
But labor representatives said UPC also has hired firms from out of the area, including a downstate firm, Delaney Heavy Highway Construction, of Gloversville, for road work.
“We have no problem with them hiring supervisors. We have no problem with local people, whether it's union or nonunion,” said Mike Altonberg, business agent for The Ironworkers in Rochester.
The Ironworkers are now picketing UPC offices in Cohocton.
“And by local, we mean Steuben and the surrounding counties. But I don't know how many in the area are familiar with crane work. And putting up 60-ton towers takes some doing, I can tell you,” Altonberg said.
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