Niagara County pushing to change state laws that help solar and wind developers

Legislators want the state to make changes to Article 10.

ALSO TONIGHT -- ACALL FOR NEW YORKTO STAY OUT OFCOUNTY BUSINESS.LEGALLY... THE STATEHAS CONTROL OVWHERE "WIND ANDSOLAR FARMS" CAN BEPLACED IN NIAGARACOUNTYJEFF RUSACK TELLSUS HOW COUNTYLEADERS ARE TRYINGTO TAKE THEIR POWERBACK.AT EVERY EVERYNIAGARA COUNTYLEGISLATIVE MEETINGOVER THE PASTYEAR... THE GROUPCAMBRIA OPPOSITIONTO INDUSTRIAL SOLARHAS MADE THEIRPRESENCE KNOWN.THE GROUP ISAGAINST A MASSIVESOLAR FACILITY INTHEIR COMMUNITYCALLED THE BEARRIDGE SOLARPROJECT.CYPRESS CREEKRENEWABLES SHOULDHAVE BEEN PACKINGTHEIR BAG'S BAC INMAY, MAY 9TH WHENTHE TOWN BOARDFILED THEIROPPOSITIONRESOLUTION.THE DEVELOPERSHAVE HELD PUBLICMEETINGS TO LISTTO NEIGHBORS..

BUTANY LARGEDEVELOPER PLANNINGA POWER PROVIDINGSERVICE ONLY HAS TLISTEN TO THECOMMUNITY SOMUCH..THAT'S THANKS TOSTATE LAW CALLEDARTICLE 10.IT BASICALLY MEANSDEVLOPERS CAN ASKTHE STATE TO BUILID APOWER PLANT ANDSKIP ASKING THETOWN OR COUNTY.IT'S DESIGNED TOMAKE IT EASIER FORRENEWABLE ENERGYCOMPANIES TO BUILDIN NEW YORK.AN IDEA THEOPPOSITION INCAMBRIA CANSUPPORT TO ANEXTENT.THE FACT THATHELPS STREAM LINETHE PROCESS FOR THEDEVELOPER ANDREMOVES SOME OFTHE RED TAPE.

WHAT IDON'T LIKE ABOUT ITTHAT IT TAKES AWAYTHE LOCAL COMMUNITYAND TOWN BOARD'SRIGHT TO TELL THEMWHERE IT CAN GO.TUEDAY NIGHT TLEGISLATURE VOTEDTO DENOUNCEARTICLE 10.THEY ALSO VOTED TOOPT OUT OF SECTION487 OF THE NEW YORKREAL PROPERTY TAXLAW.

IT PROVIDES TAXEXEMPTIONS FORSOLAR OR WINDPROJECTS.WE CRIPPLE THESEPROJECTS FROMMOVING FORWARDBECAUSE AS I'VEHEARD FROM VARIOUSDEVELOPERS.

THATWITHOUT THE CREDITS,THESE THINGS CAN'TOFF THE GROUND.WHILE THE NIAGARACOUNTY LEGISLATUREIS LOOKING TO TAKEACTION AGAINSTARTICLE 10 SO IS THEASSEMBLY THERE IS ABILL RIGHT NOW INALBANY THAT WOULDALLOW MORE LOCALCONTROL WHEN ITCOMES TO ARTICLE 10.IN LOCKPORT JEFFRUSACK 7 EWN.