Being given lead agency status as to pilot programs for the subject(s) named above and thereby would acquired title to or leaseholder interest if approval is granted by your agency, many questions remain unanswered for the public to have full confidence that a fair and thorough review has been made by your agency of this matter, especially if SCIDA is serious about “advancing the opportunities, general prosperity and economic welfare of the people for the county of Steuben and to improve their standing of living” as your mission statement proclaims to do. It is stated that a priority and major issue for your agency is the need to reduce electric utility cost in the region. With a wind power charge already now increasing the electric rate on all our bills, it hardly seems that these well deserved goals are being met. With turbines being erected as we speak, one could argue there is little concern by Canandaigua Power Partners, that the pilot has already been decided on to their satisfaction and this hearing is merely another political but necessary step as seen in times past with the project, leading up to the ultimate approval at the appropriate time.
Most people realize the wind issue is all about excessive money made on the backs of the US taxpayer to benefit investors both foreign and domestic. This certainly brings to mind, with no coincidence, the Enron scandal, its ultimate collapse, which was also involved in the wind power industry. Producing abundant clean wind energy or ridding the nation of its dependency of foreign oil is simply their bumper sticker. . Now it seems all over western and central New York State are companies such as UPC converging on rural areas, using money , secrecy and political influence to promote their interest with little resistance and any expense accrued in comparison will mean in a return of millions of dollars for years to come. Silently as they first came, they gladly leave with millions in their bank accounts for their deceiving efforts, leaving in its wake destruction of a way of life, plummeting property values and no longer the pristine environment it once was all driven and produced by greed alone.
Questions previously asked of SCIDA or UPC to give documented account of total labor force vs. local labor employed, pay scale, number of permanent jobs to be retained on completion of the project, extent of economic infusion to the local economy from outside labor to justify a pilot has gone mostly unanswered. Like most every other effort to get the facts about the proposed pilot from the very beginning, it has been purposely and politically kept vague or unavailable.. Could it be the local economic benefit has been dismal with no facts or figures to warrant having a pilot program in the first place? When one considers what the total monetary gain would be from this multimillion dollar project if taxed accordingly, it certainly would create a positive balance line for tax relief for the ordinary Steuben Co. taxpayer. Why then would SCIDA want to see Canandaigua Power Partners be on the verge of making millions of dollars at the expense of every taxpayer if this pilot is knowingly and intentionally approved ? What is being hidden ?. With this comparison of the bottom line, it is quite obvious who gets the real gold mine and who gets only the shaft !
For some time now we have known about the improper turbine placement in Steuben Co. effecting other counties, towns and school system’s bottom line and are now contemplating legal action against Steuben Co political entities and UPC. This issue had been previously addressed locally at numerous town and planning board meetings by concerned citizens for necessary change to protect the taxpayer and home owner to no avail. Cohocton Board members without exception failed to act in a responsible manner siding in the interest of UPC. Currently SCIDA is part of this circumstance and needs to recognize and decide if it will be part of the solution by denying the pilot or be part of the existing problem. Bottom line ? More necessary lawsuits looming if the wrong decision is made, with the courts deciding the ultimate outcome who is right and who is wrong!
With the decision by Acting Steuben County Supreme Court Judge Marianne Furfure on January 9, 2008 that petitioners in the matter of Cohocton Wind Watch and James Hall et al. against Canandaigua Power Partners et. al. do have standing and can proceed with their actions and denied respondent’s motion to dismiss the cases. SCIDA is now well aware that court action will be pursued if necessary . I am confident Cohocton Wind Watch arguments will all be upheld in court causing a reversal of events not favorable for Canandaigua Power Partners LLC and Canandaigua Power Partners 11 LLC.
Therefore any SCIDA immediate involvement at this time to consider or approve a pilot for Cohocton is unrealistic, a bad business decision and certainly not in the best interest of the taxpayer of Steuben County. Request this letter be on record and part of these proceedings that I am not in favor of the pilot program for Cohocton/UPC for reasons stated.
Sincerely,
Don E. Sandford
No comments:
Post a Comment