SOS
Save Ontario Shores, Inc.
Save Ontario Shores, Inc. is a grassroots citizens group
formed in January 2015 to address the health, safety and welfare of the Town of Yates and Town of Somerset taxpayers and residents regarding the issue of permitting Apex Clean Energy, Inc. to build 45 to 70 industrial wind turbines in these rural towns. Concerns include sound emitting from the turbines 24 hours a day, change to the rural nature of the area with the addition of industrial wind turbines, potential health risks, and the effect on wildlife, local businesses, property values and tourism.
Apex’s proposed Lighthouse Wind turbine placement maps:
LIGHTHOUSE WIND TURBINE PLACEMENTS, LAND LEASES AND EASEMENTS
Click on the brackets on the upper right hand side of the window below to get a larger map. This map is interactive and works like Google maps. You can zoom in using the +/- buttons on the lower left. You can double click on the turbine icons or on a leased parcel to see who the owner is. For an alphabetical list of signers in both towns, go to our “Leases and Easements” tab.
Power Coalition unites to block Lighthouse Wind Project
A diverse group of organizations have joined forces to stop the Lighthouse Wind project. See the press release announcing the formation of the POWER Coalition
Birding in and around Somerset and Yates 2020
Participate in local bird counts from the comfort of your home or a location nearby. Become a citizen scientist! Birding in the Towns of Yates and Somerset
The American Bird Conservancy published the “Top 10 Myths About Wind Energy and Birds” on December 6, 2017 – https://abcbirds.org/top-10-myths-wind-energy-birds. They also published a March 2016 report that lists the Lighthouse Wind project in: “10 of the Worst-Sited Wind Energy Projects for Birds” – https://abcbirds.org/10-worst-wind-energy-sites-for-birds
The Rochester Birding Association says the “Apex Lighthouse Wind Project Poses Significant Threat to Birds”: https://rochesterbirding.com/rba-apex-lighthouse-wind-project-poses-significant-threat-to-birds/
LATEST NEWS!
It’s time to stop the Lighthouse Wind Project once and for all!
Call Gov. Cuomo and tell him to pull the plug on the Lighthouse Wind Project: 518-474-8390. You can also contact the governor through his website: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form.
READ MORE
The Cuomo Administration is proposing to remove local taxing authority over large-scale renewable energy projects from municipalities.
SOS has written a position paper.
READ MORE
On December 4, 2020, SOS submitted several documents to the Office of Renewable Energy Siting to address the Draft Regulations and Uniform Standards and Conditions being proposed by the Office.
Included was a cover letter signed by several additional stakeholders across upstate and western New York, expressing their support for these comments. Additionally, 8 appendices were included addressing various topics of concern. READ MORE
On December 4, 2020, SOS sent a news release to the media entitled “Save Ontario Shores calls on state to extend deadline for implementation of draft regulations”.
SOS Vice President Kate Kremer states that “these hearings are part of a fundamentally flawed process.” READ MORE
On October 27, 2020, SOS released the results of a survey which showed a dramatic increase in local opposition to proposed industrial wind turbines in Somerset and Yates. “After five years, any lingering doubts about the level of opposition to this project has evaporated,” said SOS President Pam Atwater.
READ MORE
On September 28, 2020, Niagara County Legislators Godfrey and Syracuse wrote an editorial in response to a piece by the Buffalo News editorial board. “Your recent editorial that New Yorkers need to learn to live with solar and wind power unfortunately continues to perpetuate the myth that there are only two positions on the renewable energy issues: either being for it or against it. This is wrong.”
READ MORE
On September 22, 2020, Chautauqua Updates posted a video of local union workers picketing the Cassadaga Wind project site.
It’s called “Hey, Cuomo: What about those local jobs?”
VIEW HERE
On September 5, 2020, the Buffalo News ran an article called “As New York pushes green energy, localities bristle at loss of control”.
A new law gives New York State government more authority than ever over approvals for large-scale wind and solar energy projects.
READ MORE
On September 2, 2020, a video posted on Chautauqua Updates featured Dr. Mark Twichell discussing wind turbine noise and an overview of the current wind turbine situation in NYS.
“New York State regulatory agencies … are permitting a facility that they know is going to be highly annoying to 10% of the population and have the recourse of filing the nuisance lawsuit based on the fact they can no longer can enjoy the full use and valued of their property.”
VIEW HERE
On August 28, 2020, Niagara County Legislators Wydysh, Syracuse, Godfrey and Myers sent a letter to Secretary Phillips of the NYS Public Service Commission.
In this letter, they expressed their opposition to the Great Lakes Wind Feasibility Study.
What you can do to Participate
- Become familiar with the issues and stay informed. See the Talking Points here.
- Bookmark our website and visit often.
- Like us on Facebook and join the conversation.
- Sign up for our newsletter to keep informed.
- Post a sign in your front yard, porch or front window. Contact us for more information.
- Download Instructions for making DPS Comments (pdf)
- Contact elected officials, State agencies, the developer.
- Join us at Town Board Meetings! Meeting Calendar
Sign up for our email newsletter
For Save Ontario Shores, Inc. News
*If you aren’t receiving our newsletter, please make sure to check all email folders including junk mail*
We need volunteers!
If you can help us, please send us a message with your name, phone number and email address! We’d love to have you on our team.
SOS is 100% funded by generous local individuals.
Please consider joining this work by giving what you can. Monthly donations are welcome. SOS is a not for profit corporation and it is not a tax exempt organization, so donations are not deductible for tax purposes. Checks can be sent to:
Save Ontario Shores, Inc.
PO Box 382
Lyndonville, NY 14098
SOS Yard Signs
Contact Us for Yard Signs or use one of the graphics below.
No Wind Turbines
Too Big Too Close
Window Sign
Surveys Say: Apex Go Home
Gov. Cuomo: Return Local Control
Gov. Cuomo: We'll Keep Fighting!
