Editor:

To all of the windmill opponents, if you don’t like windmills or want to see them, I can respect that. Although some of the reasons for being against them are totally irrational.

Apex Energy hasn’t forced or coerced anyone into signing a lease agreement. People need to respect their neighbor’s decision to participate if they want to.

A landowner who pays their taxes should be able to utilize their land as they see fit.

People need to look at the tax base and realize the benefit to everyone.

Kirk Mathes

Barre

Editor:

I have serious concerns about a dangerous and dire message that is being circulated publically to college students – our future leaders of tomorrow. In the months following this year’s presidential election, a movement to establish “sanctuary campuses” has erupted among several private and public institutions. And, as a member of the state Senate Committee on Higher Education, I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening.

I recently voiced my frustration in a letter to the SUNY Board of Trustees urging them to reject such a reckless policy and consider the potentially devastating long-term ramifications for our universities and students.

The movement supports undocumented students. It calls for campuses to continue components of President Obama’s unilateral 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) ahead of – and in spite of – the new President and Congress in 2017.

Bottom line – sanctuary campuses are a blatant disregard of federal law, and send the wrong message to students that violating the law is acceptable. University staff would be able to refuse to assist federal authorities in deporting illegal immigrants. Having a free pass in committing a flagrant violation of our laws at the expense of law-abiding New Yorkers is an outrage and downright offensive to our hard-working families.

Adopting sanctuary campuses would have disastrous outcomes. Billions of dollars in federal education aid could be at risk. That federal aid is what an overwhelming majority of hard-working college students rely on to afford their education. Moreover, many of these students are already struggling to pay their way due to the rising cost of college tuition. The move would only further burden students and families, causing many to reconsider if a college education is worth it.

Instead of becoming entangled in unnecessary partisan posturing, the SUNY system should take a hard stance on opposing sanctuary campuses. We need to shift our focus on expanding financial and career opportunities for our students and helping them to achieve the American dream.

Robert Ortt

(Ortt’s 62nd Senate District encompasses all of Niagara County, all of Orleans County, and the towns of Sweden and Ogden in Monroe County.)

Editor:

While wrapping up another Whitetail Hunting Season in Orleans County, I had occasion recently to chew on some controversial issues associated with private property hunting in our fair county.

Why was I lingering on my stand these last days? My buddies and I had a very successful season, highlighted by camaraderie in the lodge, challenge in the field and the gratitude we felt in our surroundings. I lingered because I enjoy hunter habitat and experience as well as eating stew and antler shopping. This reflective time is invaluable to me, invariably leading to pondering the instinct of hunting enjoyment, time in nature and habitat, habitat, habit. You get it if you’ve been there.

Wildlife Management class in college and any subsequent discussion of the future of hunting involves primarily the enhancement and preservation of habitat and dynamics (i.e. travel corridors) in constantly changing cover types. Change in private property management has left Orleans hunters in a crunch for hunting rights and quality hunting experience opportunity. Either pay taxes, lease, post up and police your piece or travel to state land and take your chances who’s trespassing on your land back home. Long way from knocking on someone’s door (be careful anymore) asking for permission and having 90% of the people you ask say hey, or even a resounding OK.

My opinion (everybody has one) is there is more to be lost than gained in allowing center fire rifle hunting for Whitetails at this time. My concern isn’t with safety so much. (Thank God we haven’t had a shooting fatality while hunting county wide in a long time).

Mike VanDurme’s expertise in ballistics and firearm safety speaks for itself. (Published author on subject.) He incidentally represents the last and most proactive thing D.E.C has ever accomplished in Orleans County by busting the Albion landfill operator with the aid of a birdhouse camera in a hedgerow. How ironic!

Dedicated hunters who form clubs have earned their stripes through safe, ethical hunting and positive interaction with private woodlot owners, and corporate farmers alike. Anything that an ordinance approves applies to all hunters. It seems at this time more emphasis should be on fence mending, habitat improvement and rekindling the residual commonality that hunters, private property owners and corporate farmers share.

If this ordinance is approved at this time, we must be mindful of the responsibility and vigilance that another freedom entails. The D.E.C. hotline (although an effective tool) is dependent on heads up public scrutiny and is burdened by the bureaucratic nature of the agency itself. Are we as ethical sportsmen prepared to be “fun cops” for out of area or out of poaching option road hunters that have no vested interest in our county? More responsibility must then fall on overburdened D.E.C.

The future of this sport in our county is in defining the resource (or nuisance) as it exists and moving forward cooperatively with local, state and federal agencies. An eagle nest in a hedgerow represents not so coincidentally another perfect dynamic for our county to make a statement about what our “freedom” priorities should be in coveting this National symbol of the very same.

Anyone in Orleans in it to make our county more independently ours? Orleans County is at a crossroads in resource management sustainability. From our fish, forests, and farms – even to the keeping of your young hunters. How we effect the stewardship of our habit is of utmost priority now. (See N.Y. Sportsman November Issue, The 11th Commandment)

Still in it for the Hunt,

Kevin Kent

Albion

Editor:

I read, with great interest, the Hub Article posted December 20, 2016 titled: “Orleans Expected to Press Congressional Action to Ban Turbines within 40 Miles of NF Air Base.”

It is extremely important to clear up some misinformation being communicated on the part of APEX.

1. APEX has indicated their desire to place 70 turbines in Yates and Somerset that will be at the height of 600 feet. Actually, APEX has clearly stated that they expect to use the tallest turbines in existence at the time of the Application to the New York Department of Public Service Siting Board.  Currently, the tallest turbines in existence are manufactured by General Electric and are 700 feet in height.  These turbines, in fact, could be even taller than 700 feet, if at the time of application, larger turbines come into existence.

So let’s all be clear.

APEX is planning on erecting 70 Industrial Wind Turbines in the Towns of Yates and Somerset.  Each of these 70 Industrial Wind Turbines will be at a minimum height of 700 feet.

700 feet is roughly equivalent to the height of a 70 story building.  Will the project encroach on the people, wildlife, environment and quality of life in Orleans County?  YOU BET IT WILL!!

2. Speaking of encroachment, the article also reported on APEX’s work on ensuring that any issue regarding their project and encroachment on the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS). Very interesting indeed.  APEX again quotes the following:

“Apex Clean Energy said the turbines would be more than 25 miles from the Air Reserve Station. Their proximity is a “non-issue,” the company said.

“Apex Clean Energy takes the safety and readiness of our military very seriously, and we work closely with the Department of Defense and its services to ensure our wind energy facilities do not adversely impact military missions,” Cat Strumlauf, Public Affairs Associate for Apex Clean Energy, said on Nov. 29 after Collins issued his news release.

Apex has been consulting with the Department of Defense and Niagara Falls Air Force Reserve Station regularly “to ensure that any concerns regarding the base’s operations are resolved before the project is built,” Strumlauf said.

My concern is that APEX, in quote after quote to the media, continues to indicate that they are working with NFARS base personnel and the Department of Defense to ensure resolution of concerns surrounding Industrial Wind Turbine encroachment on the base due to the Lighthouse Wind Project.  What APEX is not saying is that neither NFARS base personnel nor Department of Defense have any input on the decision to close NFARS.

Only the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) has the decision.

BRAC’s independence is critical to the realignment and closure process, as it ensures BRAC’s complete objectivity when assessing questions on the future of any military base.

APEX needs to come clean on this misdirection, as they are required by the Code of Conduct, and clearly state that they have no impact on the decision to close NFARS.

It is safe to assume that the very specter of APEX’s Lighthouse Wind Project does not strengthen probabilities for ongoing operations at NFARS via the BRAC assessment process.  This should be enough for all Western New Yorkers to join US Representative Collins, Legislatures of Erie, Niagara and Orleans Counties as well as the Western New York State Legislators’ delegation to oppose the APEX’s Lighthouse Wind Project.

John B. Riggi

Councilman, Town of Yates

Editor:

My brother (Gary Kent) attended the Orleans County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs meeting on November 15. He was disheartened at the apparent indifference to loss of wildlife habitat in Orleans County by a group that should be all over it. We are losing it faster than we are creating it as the fate of hedgerows indicates.

The meeting was attended by County Legislator John DeFillipps, whose attention to his legislator duties, according to my brother, is refreshing. Those in attendance, however, seemed determined that allowing rifle hinting of deer in Orleans County was advisable.

Forty years of hunting deer in Orleans County convinces me that it is unnecessary and unwise. Many of my deer-hunting friends see it as not much more than an act of defiance against Cuomo and a statement of frustration with the S.A.F.E. Act.

There is no need for rifle hunting here. I doubt most serious ballistics experts would say that it is just as safe as shotgun hunting. Hunters who are determined to hunt with a rifle can hunt coyotes, fox and whistle pigs and go the short distance to Genesee County and hunt deer there if they need to. Allowing rifles to be used to take deer will encourage more outsiders, less likely to have an interest in our wildlife resources, to flock to Orleans County. Besides, there are more than enough options for taking deer now.

Another than that baffles my brother and people like me was none of the sportspersons at the meeting took him up on his offer to supply them with the turkey oak acorns I gathered earlier this Fall. There seems to be a disconnect between interest in hunting and maintaining the conditions and habitat required to make it a viable activity. For example, if wildlife has fewer and fewer hedgerows, less cover and less food, there will be less of it to enjoy seeing and hunting.

All this was combined with an apparent attitude on the part of many that resistance to the wind farms is futile. I agree with my brother that bringing those things in here will further destroy woodland habitat. Once that happens, it is well on the way to being over. There will be no turning back. Gary told me that he felt like attending the meeting may have been a waste of time. If organizations created to advocate for outdoorspeople don’t get stuff like this, who can we count on to get it? Woodland habitat for turkey, deer, birds of prey, cavity nesters like wood ducks and pileated woodpeckers, and other songbirds will be a casualty of falling for wind farms.

But what do I know? I’m just a stiff who cares about a good thing.

Yours in the woods,

Kevin Kent

Albion

Editor:

We have heard a great deal about the “200 mW Lighthouse Wind” facility proposed for Niagara and Orleans counties. I have several issues with this unrealistic statement of power to be provided.

First, the installed 1,749 megawatts (mW) of wind capacity currently installed in New York State generated an average of 455 mW in 2015, or 26 percent of installed capacity. (US Dept of Energy)

For the Lighthouse Wind project, an installed capacity of 200 mW will therefore yield an average of 52 mW. Confirming this number is Lighthouse Wind’s own statement that “up to 53,000 households” will be served.  Using data from the US Energy Information Administration for average household electrical consumption per month in New York State, average output of 46 mW from Lighthouse Wind may be calculated. This significant reduction from installed capacity is largely due to wind speeds which average below the speed necessary to generate a turbine’s full rated capacity.

In fact, if the wind speed is one-half of the turbine’s speed at rated capacity (typically 22 to 25 MPH), the output is one-eighth of the rated capacity. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Second, the average output of 46 to 52 mW expected from the Lighthouse Wind project is gross output; we need to deduct from that output the power consumed by the wind turbines for yaw control, blade pitch control, blade de-icing, power consumed to start the blades spinning (at about 7 MPH wind speed), computers, nacelle heating and dehumidification, oil pumps, etc.

How much should this deduction be? The wind industry won’t divulge these numbers. “Trade secrets”, we are told. Governor Cuomo is asking us to endure tremendous devastation to our area for the sake of a measly 50 mW or so of power.

Third, the “Capacity Credit” – the percent of rated capacity which can be relied on without causing disruption to the electrical grid – is historically in the neighborhood of 10 percent to 15 percent of installed capacity, largely due to the variability of wind. (Midcontinent Independent System Operator)

In other words, we can depend on 20 to 30 mW of output reliably from the 200 mW Lighthouse Wind project, again minus that secret internal power consumption. This means that 170 to 180 mW or more of fossil-fuel capacity must be sitting idling, with all its necessary employees, ready to be placed into action when the wind dies down.

You can’t just decide to start up a fossil fuel plant from a cold condition when needed, so it sits idling at less than peak efficiency, cycling up and down as the variable electrical output from wind turbines changes, pumping out CO2 at a rate much higher than it would if it were allowed to run at a fixed or nearly fixed rate.

AWEA’s statistics on the amount of CO2 emissions reduced by wind turbines do not take into account the increased CO2 emissions resulting from inefficient use of fossil fuel power generation caused by reliance on wind power.  On Christmas Eve of 2004 in Germany, the system operators had to scramble to keep the grid from crashing when power generated from wind dropped from 6,000 mW to 2,000 mW in ten hours, at one point dropping by 16mW per minute. Soon after this experience, the operator announced plans to add 26 new coal-fired electric generating stations to ensure grid stability, calculating a capacity credit of only 8 percent from wind.  (German grid operator E.ON-Netz)

Germany’s experience shows that wind power will never replace generation facilities using fossil fuels, only supplement them when the wind is available.

Steve Royce

Appleton

Editor:

Apex Lighthouse Wind Project Application should be denied, with objectors compensated for this farce.

Scarce taxpayer funds in local governments are being wasted opposing a scheme that is becoming more impossible to implement on each passing day.

Facts on table below are from NYISO studies and actual wind speeds scattered across NYS:

2015 Wind “Capacity Factor” was 26%  (That means for 74% of 2015 in NYS turbines sat idle)

2015 Hydro “Capacity Factor” was 68%  (Transmission constraints restrict Niagara Hydro Power)

2015 Nuclear “Capacity Factor” was 94%  (Extremely reliable and economical)

Table below reflects on a high wind weather pattern that developed in NYS around November 20. Readers can see with average wind speeds 13-20 MPH there is still way too much idle MW. When average wind speeds drop to 6-8MPH idle MW becomes overwhelming unproductive.

NYS Real     NYS Wind       Wind            Wind               Low       Avg.       High

Time Load     Available      Generating       Idle               Wind     Wind       Wind

MW               MW              MW              MW               MPH    MPH       MPH

17,622            1754                1420              334                3            18            33              2 PM Sun Nov. 20

19,938            1754                1537              217                7            19            30               6 PM Sun Nov. 20

15,086            1754                1308              446                6             18           25             6AM Mon Nov.21

20,088            1754                1429              325                8             20           31              4 PM Mon Nov 21

16,044            1754                 1184             570                7             15          28               6 AM Tue Nov 22

20,524            1754                  794              960                5             13          25                5 PM Tue Nov 22

15,744             1754                 165              1589              3               8          17              6 AM Wed Nov 23

20,416             1754                   90              1664              3               6          12              6 PM Wed Nov 23

14,192             1754                  483              1271             3               7          14              6 AM Thu Nov 24

16,800             1754                  228              1526             3               6          10               6 PM Thu Nov 24

13,862             1754                  130              1624             3               6          10                6 AM Fri Nov 25

18,410             1754                  179              1575             3               6          13                7 PM Fri Nov 25

13,616             1754                  151              1603             3               6            9               6 AM Sat Nov 26

18,354             1754                  149              1605             3               7          20                 6 PM Sat Nov 26

Smart people at the PSC already know that generating power from wind cannot succeed no matter how many towers are erected and how many thousands of square miles they occupy. APEX and wind has no sustainable and reliable future in NY’s energy supply picture.

Gregory G. Woodrich

Williamsville

Editor:

I have been writing an outdoor column for the past 13 years, first for The Journal-Register in Medina and now The Lake Country Pennysaver.

I have a college education in wildlife management and forestry and have been a hunter, trapper, fisherman and nature photographer for over 65 years. I have built a number of rifles and have done a lot of long-range rifle shooting and have taken over a hundred deer in my lifetime.

Recently the Orleans Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs has started an effort to have the rifle legalized for deer hunting in Orleans County, the same as 41 out of the 62 counties in NYS have already done. I have long wondered why we have been shotgun-only for deer hunting in NYS because I have always known that the rifle is a safer weapon.

After many studies and much research by other states, including the U.S. Army, NYS is finally realizing that the rifle is safer and is allowing rifles to be use for deer hunting in a good portion of the State. The resolution to change over to rifles has been given to the individual counties.

The reasons the rifle is safer involves many things. First the shotgun slug is heavy and the large bullet is very prone to ricochets, something a rifle bullet is not. Yes, a rifle bullet will shoot farther than a shotgun slug if pointed in an elevated position but deer hunters shoot parallel with the ground and with much lesser chance of ricochets. The rifle bullet in reality will actually not travel as far as the shotgun slug.

Second most shotguns are semi-auto or pump guns which give them the ability to fire multiple shots rapidly. In the excitement of a fleeing deer many hunters “empty the gun” at them, often in their excitement not taking notice of what is in the background (an accident waiting to happen).

Rifles are usually bolt actions and the hunter knows he must make the first shot count – by the time he reloads the deer will probably be gone, therefore mostly eliminating that “empty that gun” attitude (much safer).

Third, center-fire rifles have been legal for fox, coyote and woodchuck hunting in Orleans County for many years with no instances. Hand guns have also been legal in our County for over 30 years for deer hunting and the most popular deer handgun calibers are center-fire like the .243, 30-30 and 7mm-08.  There has not been a single hunting accident involving them in our county.

All the counties (41) that have switched over to rifles for deer hunting have been pleased with the results and none have considered reversing that decision.

So, although it seems the shotgun slug is a safer weapon for deer hunting in reality it is not. On Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. the resolution to legalize rifles for Orleans County will be presented to our legislators at the the Orleans County Legislature Office at 3 South Main Street, Suite 2, Courthouse Square in Albion. It would be very helpful if you were able to attend this presentation to show your support and even make a statement either written or oral.

Douglas H. Domedion

Shelby

Editor:

Apex Clean Energy has hired Cassidy & Associates to lobby for its Lighthouse Wind project here in Western New York. Apex claims that 70 industrial wind turbines placed along 12 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline will not have an impact on the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS), since a base official indicated that with regards to the high-flying KC-135’s, it is a “non-issue.”

In his role as a lobbyist hired to protect military installations, Barry Rhoads, chairman of Cassidy & Associates, dispensed the following advice during an address at the Defense Communities National Summit in Washington, D.C.:  “There are a lot of communities that are almost playing ostrich and they are hoping that this goes away and their military infrastructure stays there.  But they don’t proactively do things to protect themselves.”

Barry Rhoads gave some advice to base communities: “Don’t focus on what today is, but focus on what five years is and 10 years is because that is really what they’re looking at – ‘they’ being the Pentagon. If you say you are not encroached now but 10 years from now you know there is a housing development going up someplace or there is a road network going in there, you need to be thinking about what your base looks like 10 years from now, not what it looks like today.”

Cassidy & Associates says this to other military base communities, but they are not saying it here in Niagara County when it comes to 620 to 650-foot wind turbines, which would be the tallest in the United States. It would be to the advantage of Apex Clean Energy if our communities put their heads in the sand, but our elected officials and local citizens are doing the opposite – they are engaged.  This local community understands the difference between current missions which might have high elevation flights and the acquisition of future missions that may require low altitude operating ability.

It is to the advantage of Cassidy & Associates if we are inattentive to future encroachments for the base. Cassidy & Associates has been hired by the state of New Jersey to help protect several military installations located there. If New York air bases are less competitive that is a benefit to New Jersey bases. SOS has labeled this conflict of interest #CassidyGate.

We believe that their statements are more reason not to trust the “spin” by Apex or Cassidy & Associates. These 70 industrial wind turbines, taller than any building in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse or Albany, each with blade spin area larger than a football field, will very likely impact the future viability of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Remember to plan for “what your base looks like 10 years from now, not what it looks like today.”

You can watch Rhoads’ comments by clicking here.

Kate Kremer

Vice President

Save Ontario Shores

Editor:

Some believe Apex Project Lighthouse Wind will bring huge economic benefits to our area. “Lighthouse Wind will prevent our area from becoming a Ghost Town.” “Research the benefits,” they say.

What are the benefits? Research reveals that there are few facts and little information from Apex “Clean Energy” on the claimed economic benefits of Project Lighthouse Wind.  We are told of a planned  PILOT – A Payment In Lieu of Taxes that would generate 1.6 million dollars in revenue.

A PILOT is purely and simply a tax break. No mention that this figure would be divided among six taxing jurisdictions, thus watering down its possible effect. Further the fact that a PILOT is in the Apex plan at all indicates that Apex intends to pay as little as possible to our local communities and is intent on obtaining every conceivable tax break. Many vague promises are made. Nothing specific is given. A great deception is taking place.

The collateral damage to our community from project Lighthouse Wind, and the associated government policies that support it, will be severe and include not only a myriad of environmental issues but economic issues as well. It is the intention of our Governor to close all coal-burning power plants by the year 2020 and substitute renewable energy sources. This will include the closing of Somerset Station. Why? Because it uses as fuel, that evil substance and 11 letter word – HYDROCARBON.

A conversion of this plant to natural gas, a clean burning fuel, makes both economic and environmental sense. The loss of jobs, payroll and tax revenue as the result of a Somerset Station shutdown will be extremely devastating to our community. Even after going through  bankruptcy and a transfer of ownership, Somerset Station will in calendar year 2017, pay 4.6 million in local taxes, employ 99 people and have an annual payroll in excess of 11 million dollars. These are  facts, not vague blue sky speculation!

Why should we tolerate the demise of one of the areas largest taxpayers? There is nothing in project Lighthouse Wind that will come close to replacing this economic engine.

Further, current economic damage thrust upon our community by Project Lighthouse Wind is not difficult to find. Recently Apex, in a move showing contempt for the majority of our citizens and our public officials, has brought suit against the Somerset Planning Board relative to the siting of two meteorological towers. These towers would obtain wind information for Project Lighthouse Wind, a project our community has soundly rejected. Clearly a defense must be made and that will take precious Town funds and much human capital that would otherwise be directed at improving the quality of life in our community. Apex has demonstrated they will stop at nothing to impose their will on us.

Lighthouse Wind will drain our pocket books, raise our electric rates and bring on  environmental disasters that will leave our grandchildren with nothing but debt and devastation. The power it will produce is neither necessary nor clean.

Project Lighthouse Wind should be immediately terminated!

James C. Hoffman

Town of Somerset