OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Michael Dee, a Silver Creek resident, spoke to the Village Board on behalf of Citizens Against Turbines in Lake Erie (CAWTILE) asking the Village Board to denounce wind turbines in Lake Erie.

SILVER CREEK — A statewide issue was raised at a recent Village Board meeting.

After a pilot project for Lake Erie wind turbines was proposed last May, residents in Western New York have felt the need to stand up in opposition of such projects. The latest example of that came Monday night, as Silver Creek resident Michael Dee spoke to the Village Board on the matter.

Dee, a Silver Creek resident, spoke on behalf of Citizens Against Turbines in Lake Erie (CAWTILE) asking the Village Board to denounce wind turbines in Lake Erie. Dee highlighted a resolution that was passed by the Town of Hamburg denouncing the placement of wind turbines anywhere in Lake Erie. He asked for a similar resolution to be passed by the Village Board.

A recent rally was held in Hamburg, featuring Congressman Nick Langworthy, Assemblymen David DPietro and Joe Giglio, and members of CAWTILE to oppose the placement of wind turbines in Lake Erie.

“Wind turbines do not belong on the shorelines of our Great Lakes,” Langworthy said. “They are expensive, unreliable, and would harm the lake’s precious ecosystem while having a negligible impact on our energy supply. This is or not something that our community wants or needs — my constituents have been clear about that.”

Monday night, Dee referenced a bill making its rounds at the State level, originally proposed by State Senator Pete Harckham, a Westchester County Democrat, to support the State’s initiative toward zero-emission electricity and decarbonization.

The bill, listed as 2023-S7035, states, “In March 2023, the Biden White House announced its ambitious goal of harnessing the power of the Great Lakes. Without the wind resources of the Great Lakes, the United States will never meet its climate goals nor sever reliance on other countries’ traditional fossil fuel production. This legislation developed as a direct result of that goal.”

The goals are also geared toward the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which claims to be “protecting our State’s natural resources, creating economic opportunities, and ensuring a brighter future for us all.”

Dee stated regarding the proposed bill, “Through this legislation, the New York State Legislature absolves itself of all responsibility for adverse consequences of implementing this so called ‘renewable power’ and places all decision making power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats in the Executive Branch who conduct business without transparency and with unchecked power.”

The bill also highlights, “The National Renewable Energy Lab report concluded that New York Great Lakes offshore wind is technically and economically feasible and the cost is on par with offshore wind in the Atlantic. Similar size projects in Europe have already demonstrated no negative impacts on drinking water, and recreational and sports fishing.”

But Dee isn’t buying it.

Dee highlighted examples of various other countries moving away from wind and solar energy, including England, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, and Germany. Dee claims wind turbines are not sustainable energy sources because of the “massive resource requirements for backup, replacement, and continued operation.”

Dee added that he believes the cost for operation will indirectly be put on the consumers. “The economic reality is this: we can save our money and we can save our industry … by not installing wind and solar,” Dee said.

Dee highlighted concerns with a proposed pilot program, which would place approximately 40 wind turbines 3-4 miles off the shoreline. He believes the setback requirements for each turbine would render the area of the farm “off limits” to boaters, in addition to the disruption of wildlife in the area. “If you’re a walleye fisherman, you should be upset,” Dee said.

Dee noted that Chautauqua County’s tourism industry relies heavily on walleye fishing. “These turbines would inhibit or prevent fishermen from even getting to the walleye fishing grounds. It’s not a good thing for our tourism industry.”

The audience of the public and Board members totaling close to 20 people all chuckled at Dee’s point on aesthetics.

“Consider also the adverse aesthetic effects on Chautauqua County tourism. Nobody wants to stare at a wind farm, unless perhaps you just came back from a pot dispensary on the Res.,” Dee said.

Dee noted that a decade ago, plans to place wind turbines in Lake Erie were halted because of the work of CAWTILE. He hopes political pressure will make a difference at the State level once again. “The only power we have is the power to instill pain on the Governor. That’s the only way this will stop,” Dee said.

“I understand where you’re coming from. Speaking for myself, I agree with you,” Silver Creek Mayor Jeff Hornburg said after Dee finished speaking.

“I fully support no wind (turbines) in Lake Erie. We’ll do whatever we can do,” Village Trustee Kathy Tampio added.