George Borrello

State Senator George Borrello has introduced legislation that would prohibit the use of fossil fuels in the manufacturing of renewable energy equipment.

Borrello said emission-producing energy sources are often used to manufacture green energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels and electric cars.

He gave the examples of coal used to create steel for wind turbines and the extraction of rare earth minerals for solar panels.

Borrello said the environmental toll of production and delivery is at odds with the state’s climate agenda goals.

He also noted that the mining of rare earth minerals used in the manufacturing of renewable energy equipment sometimes involves child and slave labor.

Borrello’s legislation would require that the manufacture and distribution of electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar collectors and infrastructure to upgrade the power grid is conducted using only wind and solar energy and does not use any power derived from fossil fuels, nuclear energy or any form of combustion.

It is currently in the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee for review.

23rd Congressional District Rep. Nick Langworthy, while visiting Dunkirk, NY, announced legislation he’s introduced that would eliminate Federal tax credits for the construction of wind turbines in the Great Lakes.

Nick Langworthy

Rep. Nick Langworthy with County Legislator Marty Proctor speaking about wind turbine legislation in Dunkirk (January 18, 2023)

Congressman Nick Langworthy has introduced legislation that aims to prevent the development of wind turbines in the Great Lakes.

Speaking in Dunkirk, Langworthy said the Lakes Before Turbines Act would strip part of the tax code from 1986 that gives tax credits for wind projects in the Great Lakes, “Any developer who chooses to pursue wind farm production on our beautiful Lake Erie will no longer have access to Federal investment tax credits for those projects. And due to the massive capital that’s necessary to construct these turbines, if developers do not have the Federal tax credits to subsidize it, it would like prove far too costly for them to move forward with any project like this.”

Langworthy said Lake Erie is a gem for the area and the need to protect and restore it is greater than ever, “It’s a resource for fresh drinking water that the entire country envies, the fresh drinking water that we have available to us as a Great Lakes state. It’s a place for many species of birds and fish to call home. It’s a place for sport and recreation. A lot of memories have been made on this lake. It’s a place to watch a beautiful, world class, million dollar sunrise and sunset. But more importantly, though, our local economies depend on this lake.”

When asked what kind of support there might be for the bill, Langworthy said he plans to contact representatives with districts around the Great Lakes to gain their support.

The report on the study, released by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, noted that,”Great Lakes Wind currently does not offer a unique, critical or cost-effective contribution toward the achievement of New York State’s Climate Act goals beyond what more cost-competitive programs are expected to deliver.”

This report said the conclusion is based on, “a fulsome analysis of the resource development costs, ratepayer impacts, expected State benefits, transmission and interconnection limitations, infrastructure and supply chain constraints, visual impacts, and potential environmental impacts of Great Lakes Wind.”

State Senator George Borrello heralded the report, saying, “I am encouraged that after nearly two years of intense study and stakeholder engagement on the environmental, economic and social issues surrounding the potential siting of wind turbines in Lakes Erie and Ontario, the commission members came to essentially the same assessment that opponents of this effort have advanced all along: the risks, costs and uncertainties are too great and the possible benefits too little to make a compelling case for these projects.

Borrello added that the study proves that, “Not all forms of renewable energy are worthwhile or make sense.”

To read the report, visit https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/great-lakes-wind-feasibility-study

The bill would require developers of industrial solar and wind farms to provide a reclamation bond to ensure the proper decommissioning, reclamation, or recycling of wind turbines and solar panels once they have reached the end of their useful life.

Senator Borrello said the legislation is about “protecting landowners, taxpayers, and the environment. Wind turbines and solar panels are made from toxic materials that are notoriously difficult to recycle. In fact, they typically bury or grind up the huge turbine blades because there is no way to separate the thermoplastic and carbon fiber used in their construction. A bond to cover these costs should be posted at the beginning of these projects.”

The bill will require applicants for permits from the Public Service Commission and from the Office of Renewable Energy Siting for solar and wind projects to provide bonds “in an amount sufficient to ensure proper reclamation of the solar or wind project at the end of its useful life.”

In a post on social media, Borrello claims the idea that wind turbines are ‘clean and green’ renewable energy is a myth, adding that the reality is that the intermittent nature of industrial wind turbines requires them to be backed up by fossil fuel.

“New York is now importing power from the dirtiest coal plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania creating a net negative impact on greenhouse emissions and pollution. Yet, the State continues to support and subsidize these projects with taxpayer dollars,” he said.

Borrello also said he is a fierce opponent of wind farms, including the latest proposal by Diamond Offshore Winds, which would place up to 50 turbines in Lake Erie.

“Serious environmental concerns have been raised, including potential harm to water quality (11 million people rely on Lake Erie for their drinking water!) as well as the spread of toxic algae from changing wind patterns. That is why I am co-sponsoring a bill with my Western New York colleague, Senator Chris Jacobs, that would establish a moratorium on the construction or placement of wind turbines in any New York State freshwater body,” Borrello wrote.

Borrello is asking residents who agree with him to sign a petition in support of his proposed moratorium.

The opposition to the so called Green Light NY Act, which allows migrants to get a state drivers license despite not being U.S. citizens, was sponsored by Legislator Terry Niebel (R-Dunkirk). Prior to Wednesday’s vote, Neibel explained his concerns and opposition to the new state law before the vote on the motion took place.

“It puts a tremendous burden on local county clerks. It asks them to verify foreign birth certificates and foreign passports and documentations in dozens of different languages,” Neibel noted, adding, “According to election law, a driver’s license is still a form of identification used in voting. Really what we are doing is we are opening ourselves to potential voter fraud.”

The motion eventually was approved 18-0.

Lawmakers also approved a motions in opposition to construct wind turbine farms on Lake Erie – which was sponsored by both Democrat and Republican lawmakers from the Dunkirk area. One of those lawmakers was Kevin Muldowney (R-Dunkirk).

“We’re a lake front community. We’re in Chautauqua County. We have some beautiful, natural sunsets. I just think that somebody has the nerve to come along and put windmills along our beautiful, natural lake front is just something where we all should just stand up to and say no,” Muldowney said.

Although Muldowney’s concerns were focused on the lake front, some proposals for Wind Turbines call for the projects to be located several miles off shore in the open waters of the lake. Still, that didn’t prevent those in opposition to voice their concerns about possible contamination of water and disruption of bird and fish habitat. As a result, the motion was unanimously approved 18 to 0.

Both motions will be sent to state officials in Albany – including the Governor – to make them aware that the county government does not support either policy.

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One motion involves the recent passage of the the so-called Green Light NY legislation in Albany, which allows non U.S. residents to get a drivers license in New York State. The motion – sponsored by Republican Terry Neibel of Dunkirk – notes that Larry Barmore, county clerk, has expressed his opposition of the state Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act. Last month Barmore questioned its constitutionality and believes the law circumvents federal immigration laws.

In addition, a second motion is being proposed by several legislators who live near Lake Erie opposing the construction of any wind turbine farms on the great lake. The proposed motion notes that recently the state of Ohio has partnered with a business to construct wind turbine along the shore of Lake Erie, which has spawned discussion from lakeside communities in Chautauqua County. The resolution reads that the construction of wind turbines on the lake could negatively impact not just migratory birds, but also impact fishing waters through the destruction of spawning grounds.

If the proposed motions are approved by a majority of the legislature, they will be sent to state officials so they know the county is on record as being opposed to the two issues.

The legislature will also once again discuss the allocation of county bed tax money for the Chautauqua Lake Pops in Mayville. It had already been approved last month but there was an error in how the legislation was written so lawmakers will have to take it up again Wednesday.

Wednesday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the legislature chambers and is open to the public.

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Several residents from northern Chautauqua County appear at the Sept. 26, 2018 meeting of the county legislature to share their concerns and frustrations over three wind projects that are either operating or currently in development in their area.

A wind farm in Wyoming County, NY gives an idea of the size and scope of the turbines that may soon be put in place in Villenova and Hanover. (Photo from the Buffalo News)

The Chautauqua County IDA board and staff during the Jan. 23, 2018 IDA board meeting.

JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency has given its approval to a series tax breaks to a large wind farm project in the eastern and central portions of the county.

On Tuesday morning the IDA board unanimously approved a property tax abatement for Cassadaga Wind LLC project, set to be located in the towns of Arkwright, Cherry, Creek, Stockton, and Charlotte. Once built, the wind farm will include as many as 58 wind turbines, with a maximum height of 500 feet and which would have a maximum generating capacity of 126 megawatts (MW).

A wind farm in Wyoming County, NY gives an idea of the size and scope of the turbines that would be used in the Cassadaga Wind project (Photo from the Buffalo News)

Under terms of the PILOT plan, Cassadaga Wind LLC would not have to pay any property taxes, but would make an annual payment of $4,000 for each megawatt produced, on average, over the course of any tax year. If full capacity was achieved, the first year PILOT payment would be $504,000 and would be split up between the affected taxing jurisdictions. An annual escalator was also included.

Because the tax exemption would involve a deviation from policy, a deviation hearing on the matter also took place prior to the vote with representatives from each affected taxing jurisdiction allowed to address the board. The only officials present were from the Cassadaga School District and no one spoke against the PILOT plan.

With the abatement in place and with the state Siting Board giving the green light for the wind farm earlier this month, the project can now move forward.

Developers say the project would have a major positive economic impact on the host communities, including creating nearly 75 to 100 construction jobs. Once operations, another 7 to 10 jobs would be in place.

The majority of the wind farm will be located on private land and about 50 private property owners would also receive a payment from the company, with projections of those annual payments totaling $1,000,000.