Wind Power Ethics Group posts Web petition for governor

The Wind Power Ethics Group is taking its case to the Web.

Members of the Cape Vincent-based citizens organization's legal committee wrote and posted a petition online for Gov. David A. Paterson, which had more than 390 signatures as of Thursday evening. The group opposes large-scale wind power development.

Group member Arthur D. Pundt cited the governor's Jan. 11 visit to Watertown, when he told local residents that siting along the St. Lawrence River and other culturally sensitive areas should be done carefully.

The petition asks the governor "to take immediate action that will preserve these special places, and forever protect them from the rampant Klondike-like wind rush that is overtaking our state, and is poisoned with unethical behavior."


The petition lays out concerns about industrial wind development and conflicts of interest.

Then it asks for:

■ Enacting an immediate two-year moratorium on wind development.

■ Turning the attorney general's voluntary code of conduct for wind developers into a mandatory code.

■ Beginning an investigation into the conflicts of interest in Cape Vincent.

■ Banning industrial wind development near New York's "treasured places."

■ A meeting with the governor to discuss and clarify threats to communities and the environment from wind development.

John L. Byrne suggested using the online petition Web site to see if the group could get a wider response. The group posted the petition Monday.

"It's been phenomenal," Mr. Byrne said. "Nobody in Cape Vincent ever thought it would get this response."

The signatures have flooded in from Cape Vincent, Lyme, Watertown, Hammond and beyond. At least half have signed their names and hometowns publicly. For those who sign anonymously, Mr. Byrne has access to their Internet service protocol addresses and e-mails.

"If they're not legitimate, they can be deleted," he said.

He didn't want to say how long the petition will be available, but he will collect the data and send them to the governor and possibly other state officials.

"By doing it this way, a lot of people are joining on this bandwagon," Mr. Byrne said. "I have friends that would never consider joining WPEG, but they've signed the petition and I was surprised."

ON THE NET

Wind Power Ethics Group online petition:
www.gopetition.com/petitions/moratorium-on-wind-energy-development.html