James M. Barbour Letter to Tom Pelton of the Baltimore Sun

Wind farms hit opposition

Tom, a friend forwarded your article on wind and I commend and agree with your efforts. The real dark side of wind energy, at least here in New York State are the Industrial Development Agencies (IDA's) that court the wind folks with a tantalizing mix of private funds, "Tax Payer Investment" monies (wonderful euphemism, yes?) and PILOTs that will insure success and profit. The dogs are loose.

I arrived at this conversation via attending a local Board of Education meeting where the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA) was informing the board of a proposed PILOT. The SCIDA chairman, James Sherron and the representative of the Wind Project, Rick Towner displayed an arrogance was as breathtaking as it was puzzling. Why would these men appear before a School Board asking for financial relief and yet be so rude and condescending? I decided to do a little research.

In a letter dated March 28, 2007 the New York State Comptrollers Office informed SCIDA that they had 90 days to respond to the Comptroller's audit and file their plan of remediation in 90 days. A copy of this plan was to be available in SCIDA's office in Bath, New York.

On January 21, 2008 I attended a hearing in Atlanta, New York where the SCIDA board was supposed to take comments from the public concerning the Dutch Hill Wind Project. James Sherron and one other board member were on hand. Neither took any notes during the 90 minute meeting where a number of very astute and eloquent people had their say.

At the close of the meeting I asked the woman who sat at the table and was apparently the recording secretary. When asked when the minutes of this meeting would be available she said, "Oh, I'm not the secretary, I 'm a friend of the town clerk who has a dentist appointment today."

Mr. Sherron then said the minutes would be available before the SCIDA board vote on the PILOT for Dutch Hill on Thursday January 24, 2008. Legally they cannot vote on a PILOT but what do they care?

At that meeting I again requested a copy of the minutes of the hearing on the 21st and got a blank stare. A request for SCIDA's response to the 10 month old audit was once again met with a puzzled look.

At the above meeting (24th) two armed guards were stationed in the doorway. Even though the public may not comment they are by law and choice, not decree. Some of the 16 or so visitors present were very disturbed by this "show of force". In response I wrote the following letter to Randy Kuhl Jr our "representative" in Washington.