Resident wants company to sign Wind Code of Ethics

ARKWRIGHT — Elizabeth Booth wants the Arkwright Town Board to “go no further” with the Horizon Wind Farm development until the company agrees to sign a Wind Code of Ethics.

At Monday’s town board meeting, Booth said two companies operating in Chautauqua County which she identified as Noble Environmental Power and First Wind, have signed this code developed by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. When she asked Horizon project manager Tom Stebbins if his company had signed this oath, his response was ‘no.’

“This code is important, and I applaud our attorney general for his leadership,” she said. She urged Arkwright residents to exhibit similar leadership and require Horizon “to show that they respect the importance of keeping the process open and honest by signing the Wind Energy Ethics Code.”

Furthermore, she said, “If you believe this transparency is important, do not let this project go any further before Horizon signs this ethics code.”

According to Booth, the code bans wind companies from hiring municipal employees or their relatives, giving gifts of more than $10 during a one-year time period, or providing any other form of compensation that is contingent on any action before a municipal agency. It also requires wind companies to establish and maintain a public Web site to disclose the names of all municipal officers or their relatives who have a financial stake in wind farm development. It requires wind companies to submit in writing to the municipal clerk for public inspection and to publish the nature and scope of the municipal officer’s financial interest.

Mandates that all wind easements and leases be in writing and filed with the county clerk.

Prevents wind companies from soliciting, using or knowingly receiving confidential information acquired by a municipal officer in the course of his or her official duties.

Town Supervisor Fred Norton said Horizon was in compliance and need not sign the code, but he said he would investigate further and report to the board at the July meeting.

When Stebbins said his company was not implicated by the attorney general, Booth said this was all the more reason to sign the Code of Ethics.

Councilman Jeff Dietrich agreed, saying it would set an example for other townships.

Stebbins further noted that Noble Environmental Power and First Wind are the only two companies operating in New York state who have signed this code.

“None of the other wind companies, including Horizon, were implicated by the attorney general’s study, and none other has signed the code,” he said.

Stebbins went on to say the wind energy companies are working through the Alliance for Clean Energy New York organization with the attorney general’s office to develop a code that would meet established standards.

Booth also asked about the status of the supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Study Horizon is required to file on the Arkwright wind project.

Norton said the DEIS has been approved by the board with recommendations from the attorney Daniel Spitzer and Conestoga-Rovers engineer Robert Adams. He said a public hearing on the final environmental statement will be scheduled.