A New York Power Authority representative scheduled to speak at a meeting of a fledgling community action committee has backed out of the engagement.
The Wednesday meeting at the H. Douglas Barclay Courthouse, Pulaski, still will take place, James H. McGowan said.
The Syracuse-based attorney said the group, while still without a name, has seven members from Oswego and Jefferson counties and aims to "defend the interests of the towns and counties confronted with the enormous challenges presented by the industrial wind complex" being proposed by NYPA.
NYPA has asked for developers to submit proposals on building towers for up to 500 megawatts of wind power in possible sites in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. In mid-February, the Jefferson County Board of Legislators' Planning and Development Committee passed a resolution opposing the authority's plan to put a wind farm in Lake Ontario.
Meanwhile, Jefferson County leaders are scheduling a date for a NYPA representative to make a presentation about the proposal.
"There's a lot at stake here," said Legislator Barry M. Ormsby, chairman of the county Planning and Development Committee. "They have made contact with the chairman that they would like to meet with our board. I believe he's still waiting for confirmation on that meeting."
Mr. Ormsby, R-Belleville, also is a member of the action committee.
"Between the boating and sport fishing and the potential for property values to plummet along the lakefront, there's a lot to discuss," he said. "It's a total desecration of the eastern basin of the lake, and I don't think I'm overstating that," Mr. Ormsby said. "This NYPA project would be sitting in the most pristine waters here in the north country."
A message left with NYPA late Friday was not returned.
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