Commenters on DPS website show opposition to Lighthouse Wind
Editor:
The table below shows the results of an empirical analysis of public comments made to the DPS website in relation to the Lighthouse Wind Project as proposed for the Towns of Yates and Somerset by APEX Clean Energy. A total of 1,051 comments submitted were assessed, tabulated and organized by support (in favor) and opposition (opposed) to the project.
All comments made to the DPS site regarding the Lighthouse Wind Project were included in the assessment and cover the time period from Q1-2015 through December 31, 2017. All comments were read fully in order to ascertain position regarding the wind project. The positions were tabulated as in favor or opposed to the project.
The results are as follows:
| Date | In Favor | Opposed | % In favor | % Opposed |
| Q1-2015 | 0 | 40 | 0% | 100% |
| Q2-2015 | 0 | 73 | 0% | 100% |
| Q3-2015 | 35 | 157 | 18% | 82% |
| Q4-2015 | 58 | 138 | 30% | 70% |
| Q1-2016 | 31 | 165 | 16% | 84% |
| Q2-2016 | 5 | 29 | 15% | 85% |
| Q3-2016 | 21 | 67 | 24% | 76% |
| Q4-2016 | 5 | 59 | 8% | 92% |
| Q1-2017 | 0 | 25 | 0% | 100% |
| Q2-2017 | 2 | 68 | 3% | 97% |
| Q3-2017 | 5 | 21 | 19% | 81% |
| Q4-2017 | 25 | 22 | 53% | 47% |
| Total | 187 | 864 | 18% | 82% |
The overall results for the time period January 2015 to December 31, 2017 are as follows:
Comments in favor of Lighthouse Wind Project = 187
Comments opposed to Lighthouse Wind Project = 864
% of Comments in favor of Lighthouse Wind Project = 18%
% of Comments opposed to Lighthouse Wind Project = 82%
Two additional assessments were performed as part of the year end analysis of comments.
Assessment of One-Time Submitters. This assessment determines Opposition/In-favor percentages for those who have only submitted once to NYSDPS Matter Number: 14-F-0485 (Lighthouse Wind). The results for Q1-2015 to December 31, 2017 are as follows:
| Total Comments | Percent | |
| Opposed | 414 | 74% |
| Support | 142 | 26% |
| Total | 556 |
The results show that, when submitters are counted only once, there remains overwhelming opposition to the Lighthouse Wind Project (74% opposed vs. 26% in favor). The significance of this statistic is that multiple submitters, regardless of opinion on this project, cannot unfairly weight the results. This statistic is the most telling of the assessments performed.
Lastly, an assessment was performed for multiple submitters to NYSDPS Matter Number 14-F-0485 (Lighthouse Wind). The results for Q1-2015 to December 31, 2017 are as follows:
| Total | Percent | |
| Opposed | 109 | 80% |
| Support | 28 | 20% |
| Total | 137 |
The results show that multiple-time submitters show as 80% opposed vs. 20% in favor. This statistic shows that there were multiple contributors on both sides of this issue and that the difference between this assessment and the one-time submitter statistic does not result in a statistically significant difference in opposition vs. in favor percentages.
As such, the results of the DPS comment analyses continue to show a clear, significant and ongoing opposition to the Lighthouse Wind Project.
The will of the people is clear. This project must not move forward. Article 10 must not be allowed to suppress Home Rule and the will of the people.
Governor Cuomo, are you listening?
Thank You.
John B. Riggi
Councilman, Town of Yates
