Monroe legislators asked to oppose offshore wind towers

A Monroe County legislator is recommending that his colleagues go on record opposing the possible location of wind turbines in the local waters of Lake Ontario.

Rick Antelli, a Republican lawmaker whose district includes the lakeshore in Greece, introduced a non-binding resolution Monday to oppose what he termed "an experimental project by the New York Power Authority."

The state-chartered Power Authority has been promoting construction of one or more wind farms in the near-shore waters of Lake Ontario or Lake Erie for more than a year. It received five proposals from wind energy developers in June. They won't say where developers want to build their turbines, which would tower more than 400 feet above the water.

"I'm responding to the request of the residents in my district's highly populated waterfront," Antelli said. At a meeting in his district last month, many residents expressed concern that offshore turbines would ruin their view of the lake, devalue their property and cause other problems.

The possible construction of wind farms two to five miles off the shore has been controversial in some areas. Opponents have been pressing Monroe lawmakers to condemn the project, as have their counterparts in four other shoreline counties — Wayne, Oswego, Jefferson and Chautauqua. Niagara County legislators have endorsed it.

Another Monroe County legislator, Vincent Esposito, said Wednesday that Antelli should have held back his resolution.

"I think it's incredibly premature to take any formal action opposing this project. We won't know what it means for our region until later this year," said Esposito, a Democrat whose district includes Irondequoit's Lake Ontario shoreline. He said he may introduce a counter-resolution.

Lawmakers won't formally vote on Antelli's resolution but can sign it before it's sent to the authority. He said he couldn't predict the reaction of other lawmakers. "A lot of them have expressed support, but we'll wait and see."

The authority hopes that private developers will erect one or more offshore wind farms, with turbines that could number from a few dozen to more than 100.

Though developers were free to choose their own locations, the Power Authority identified five general areas in the lakes it believed were technically suitable for wind turbines. One of them spanned the shoreline from Greece to Webster.

Authority officials have said no information about the proposals will be made public until they choose a project, perhaps by year's end.

The Democrat and Chronicle has filed a Freedom of Information Law request for material from the five proposals.

The authority turned down the request, and an administrative appeal is pending.

Esposito said he has been pressing the authority to release basic information about the five proposals, including the proposed locations and number of turbines.

Monroe lawmakers, he said, shouldn't take a position until learning more about location, job creation and possible payments by energy developers to local governments.

"These are all things I want to see play out before making a decision," Esposito said.

Antelli, however, sees no reason to hold back.

"I've waited months. I've done my research, and I'm responding to the requests of the residents," Antelli said.

"He has to answer to his constituents. I answer to mine."