Yates councilman says Apex should leave and let community heal
Editor
DPS Comments Assessment Regarding the Lighthouse Wind Project (14-F-0485) for Q3-2018
The table below shows the results of an empirical assessment 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.
All comments made to the DPS site regarding the Lighthouse Wind Project were included in the assessment and cover the time period from January 1, 2015 through September 30, 2018. All comments were read fully in order to ascertain position regarding the industrial wind turbine project. The positions were tabulated as in favor of or opposed to the project.
The results are as follows:
| Quarter | Support | Opposed | % Support | % 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% |
| Q1-2018 | 35 | 69 | 34% | 66% |
| Q2-2018 | 11 | 91 | 11% | 89% |
| Q3-2018 | 56 | 170 | 25% | 75% |
| Total | 289 | 1194 | 19% | 81% |
The overall results for the time-period January 2015 to June 30, 2018 are as follows:
Comments in favor of Lighthouse Wind Project = 289
Comments opposed to Lighthouse Wind Project = 1194
Percent of comments in favor of Lighthouse Wind Project = 19%
Percent of comments opposed to Lighthouse Wind Project = 81%
Q3-2018 saw receipt of form letters in support of Lighthouse Wind. A significant number of form letters were from outside of the Yates and Somerset area. To assist in understanding, the following assessment of local vs. non-local Q3 comments follows:
| Local vs Non-local | In favor | % | Opposed | % |
| Local | 22 | 39% | 153 | 91% |
| Non-Local | 33 | 59% | 16 | 9% |
Q3-2018 results show that 39% of total comments in favor of Lighthouse Wind were written by residents. However, 91% of opposition comments were submitted by residents.
The nearly four-year opposition to Lighthouse Wind remains overwhelming.
Apex Clean Energy needs to pack up their Lighthouse Wind Project and leave Yates and Somerset. Our towns desperately need to heal the wounds inflicted on us by Apex Clean Energy and Governor Cuomo’s Article 10 Process.
Thank you,
John B. Riggi
Councilman, Town of Yates
