Two members of the Oswego County Legislature’s Economic Development and Planning Committee opposed moving a resolution to the full floor in opposition of an offshore wind tower project proposed by the New York Power authority.

NYPA has issued a request for proposals for the construction, sitting and operation of wind turbine facilities in Lake Erie and/or Lake Ontario’s eastern basin that would include inland transmission lines. The project is said to be the first freshwater offshore wind project in the nation.

At the Feb. 23 meeting, legislators Doug Malone and Jacob Mulcahey voted against the resolution, however, it gained enough support to be moved to the floor for consideration at the March 11 meeting.


Community Development and Planning Director David Turner said that all of the communication received by his office has been in opposition of the proposed project, which legislators said would encompass the county’s most scenic as well as economically and environmentally sensitive areas of the lake shoreline.

Legislator Shawn Doyle, who has been working with other impacted counties, gave the committee an overview of the proposed project. He said he had attended a meeting in Henderson last week with other county leaders.


“There is no economic benefit to us,” Doyle said.

Legislator Doug Malone asked what state agency prohibits the taxing of the wind tower service.


“The Office of General Services owns the lake so far out,” Doyle responded.

Malone then asked if a resolution could go to the state to determine if it can be taxed.

Doyle said while he too would support taxation of the wind towers, it is unlikely to occur.


“I won’t be supporting this resolution. I think it’s too quick,” Malone said, adding that he felt there needed to be more public input.

Legislator Jack Proud said he had attended an informational meeting at the Oswego City Hall recently. “They have put this on a fast forward schedule,” Proud said of NYPA. “Decisions will be made on (it) this summer. That’s how fast this thing is going.”


Proud said if the legislature has any concerns, now is the time to get its foot in the door.


Mulcahey said it is something that hasn’t been done in the United States. “This could put us on the map,” he said.


Legislator Morris Sorbello asked if the area around the turbines would be fenced off.


Turner said there will be an exclusion zone. “Fishing or access would be prohibited for safety reasons,” he said.


Doyle said the proposal is a large project with many “if’s.”



“I hate to see a natural resource that is a steady source of income for tourism and our communities disrupted,” said Doyle. He also noted that there are not going to be any jobs for the community.


Following a lengthy discussion, Malone said he felt people would come to see the windmills. “I think this is the future and I think we have to accept it,” Malone said.

Proud said the legislature needs to examine the economic benefits to the community.

“There are virtually no permanent jobs coming out of this for our area,” he said, adding that the power is going to be produced for downstate. “We need to be very, very careful about this. In the long run, it’s going to victimize us.”