Fish & Wildlife Service recommended no turbines within 3 miles of shore

Editor:

I attended an informational meeting on Jan. 10 sponsored by Apex Clean Energy at the Yates-Carlton Sportsman’s Club in Lyndonville. After their presentation the three Apex spokesmen opened up the floor for questions.

One questioner asked Apex rep Dave Phillips (Apex’s environmental permitting director) about a US Fish & Wildlife Service letter that had advised Apex that any wind project be no closer than three miles from the shore of the Great Lakes. Mr. Phillips countered the questioner by insisting that this USFWS correspondence was old (“from 2009” he said) and furthermore, related to a project in Michigan.

It turns out that there is a USFWS letter on the NYS Department of Public Service (case 14-F-0485) addressed specifically to Mr. Phillips dated May 6, 2015 that discusses Yates/Somerset Lighthouse Wind project.  On page 5 of this letter it reads, “The Service has recommended that wind energy projects be constructed at least three miles from the shoreline of the Great lakes to reduce this risk.” [to current wildlife]

This denial (or convenient memory lapse) by Mr. Phillips seems to be indicative of the way Apex Clean Energy deals with their public outreach.

For anyone interested in reading the entire five-page letter sent to Mr. Phillips by the USFWS with their concerns about Lighthouse Wind, click here and go to “Filed Documents,” No. 321, dated May 13, 2015.

Sincerely,

Christine Bronson

Barker