Even before President Donald Trump took back the White House and signed an Executive Order stopping offshore wind energy projects, people around the country and in New York State have been working against wind turbines in their lakes, oceans, and on land.
Governor Kathy Hochul and the Democrat-led launched a statewide Green New Deal initiative to make 70% of New York’s energy green by 2030. One proposal would see close to 50 turbines spread out across the shoreline in Erie County from Lackawanna to Dunkirk and a bill was introduced in 2023 that would establish a wind turbine pilot project in Lake Erie.
Advocates in Buffalo have joined those in Long Island opposing offshore wind projects citing environmental hazards to both Lake Erie and the Atlantic Ocean. Advocates are not opposed to wind energy, but do have concerns about pollutants. New York’s far-left elected officials are so devoted to the New Green Deal concept that they are not paying adequate attention to important concerns ranging from dredging up pollutants in the lake to oil dripping into the water from the turbine gearbox.
Residents of western New York formed an organization called Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie (CAWTILE) to keep the pressure up against turbines in the lake. CAWTILE was formed about 15 years ago when the first projects were proposed. CAWTILE has a diverse group of Facebook 6000 members and continues its growth.
Patty Meckes from CAWTILE says the main reason they oppose wind turbines in Lake Erie are related to “preserving and protecting Lake Erie and our drinking water”.
“First of all, when they would have to put those wind turbines out in the water and they would be going anywhere from two to 10 miles out. They would have to dredge from the shoreline to the transmission lines disrupting the heavy metal toxins that have been settled in the lake for years,” Meckes says.
Councilman Joe Golombek submitted a resolution to the Buffalo Common Council opposing wind turbines in Lake Erie. If the resolution passes, Buffalo will be one of the last major cities along the Lake Erie shoreline to support a region-wide ban. Over 90% of towns in Erie and Chautauqua counties have passed resolutions opposing offshore turbines. The Southtowns Walleye Association is also onboard.
Golombek told The South Shore Press in an interview that he is not opposed to wind energy, but doesn’t want it to be done at the expense of polluting the water for fish, birds, and plants or the drinking water of Buffalo, Erie County, and beyond.
“And with our westerly winds, that would flow right down into our water intakes. Eleven million people get their drinking water from Lake Erie,” Meckes added.
“Once I looked at all of this, I said, ‘This is not a good thing for the region,’” said Golombek. “I just think it sends a clear message to the powers that be that there are legitimate concerns that cross party lines.” Golombek and CAWTILE both stressed that clean water is not a political issue – it is an “everyone” issue.
Meanwhile, a study by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said that wind turbines should not be located in the Great Lakes anytime soon due to high costs and questions about their environmental effects.
Even though the NYSERDA report recommends against offshore turbines for now, that could change. The radical Green New Deal movement is strong and vocal and they will keep pushing. CAWTILE wants to work toward a permanent ban.
Meckes said, “We have to be ever vigilant. We can't assume these agencies aren't going grant a permit so we can’t stop paying attention. We need to stay on this for as long as the turbine companies do.”
A resolution recently passed in Chautauqua County and is waiting for a vote in the Erie County Legislature and Buffalo Common Council.