Welcome to Schoharie Valley Watch


A not-for-profit citizen's advocacy group dedicated to working for open local government that is responsive to the residents of the Valley. SVW is a 501(C) non-profit corporation.

Legal Defense Fund Established



SVW has issued an urgent request for donations to the Schoharie Valley Watch Legal Defense Fund established in preparation for a potential Article 78 legal challenge of local laws passed to accommodate industrial wind developers.

The fund will be used exclusively for legal actions. Contributions are absolutely vital but because of applicable regulations, are not tax deductible. The fund will be carefully managed, issue monthly statements and be subject to quarterly audits by an independent accounting firm.

Please mail your contributions to:

Schoharie Valley Watch Legal Defense Fund
PO Box 193
Richmondville, NY 12149

or call 518-294-6066


You can now contribute to the SVW Legal Defense
Fund electronically and securely using PayPal.




Our Email: SchoharieValleyWatch@gmail.com
SVW appreciates the very generous donations it has received to date.



Download, print and sign the petition:
"Richmondville Community Against Industrial Wind Turbines"

Download PDF File Download Petition (18KB)



TO OBTAIN A "NO INDUSTRIAL WIND TURBINES" SIGN FOR YOUR LAWN EMAIL US WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

Call for Volunteers



SVW is increasingly being approached by individuals seeking guidance on issues such as a failure to enforce local laws and regulations, secretive local government process that exclude residents and conflicts of interest that impair the ability of elected officials to govern fairly and effectively. SVW has been providing that assistance and making referrals where appropriate, within the limitations of our resources.

We desperately need volunteers with legal, environmental, zoning and planning expertise willing to help their neighbors. If you can donate a few hours a month or more to being part of community outreach and assistance initiatives please contact us as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Important Updates



July 18, 2008

PRO-WIND GROUP ATTEMPTS TO USE POLICE TO PREVENT SVW FROM DISTRIBUTING INDUSTRIAL WIND INFORMATION.

A wind "info-mercial" presented at SUNY Cobleskill last evening by a group called Citizen's Campaign for the Environment (CCE) featured a presentation by group representative Emmett Pepper in which he essentially rehashed outdated wind-industry propaganda and, at one point, bizarrely stated that turbine flicker does not exist and is a simply a myth originating with a "Pokeman Cartoon." Even the pro-wind members of the audience feel silent at that assertion.

Representatives of Reunion Power and CCE attempted to prevent SVW supporters from distributing a brochure prepared for the event and aggressively attempted to prevent SVW from entering the auditorium for the public meeting. SUNY Police arrived and reminded the event sponsors that the SVW had a right to both attend the meeting and to distribute literature. Assemblyman Pete Lopez also intervened on behalf of SVW and encouraged the event sponsors to allow SVW to participate in the public dialog. SVW appreciates Assemblyman Lopez' support.

Citizen's Campaign for the Environment is heavily supported by the industrial wind industry and has connections to wind developers including Reunion Power. CCE lists among their alliances a relationship with the Wind Action Group whose finance Director is Loren Pruzkowski. Mr. Pruzkowsi is a partner in Heldeberg Community Wind along with Sandy Gordon of Reunion Power.

July 7, 2008

The following press release was issued today by SVW:

SVW encourages all area landowners as well as the Four Partners and other groups to proceed cautiously with any decisions related to gas and oil drilling leases. SVW has met with representatives of a company pursuing leases in the area and has researched similar activity in other areas of the country. While we understand the interest being expressed by some landowners and the potential for financial return we are also aware of potential environmental and quality of life impacts that have been documented as a result of similar gas and oil drilling elsewhere in the country. SVW is particularly concerned about protecting the quality of aquifers and local drinking water supplies as well as the possible effect of large-scale oil and gas exploration activates on the rural quality of life in the Schoharie Valley.

While SVW does not endorse the candidacy of Donald Barber or any other political candidate, we do support his proposal for a twelve month moratorium on gas and oil drilling in the area, to allow a careful study of the potential impacts of such activity. Given that the process of hydraulic fracturing customarily used to extract gas from shale has been associated with ground water contamination in multiple states from Colorado to Alabama, a temporary delay in drilling is necessary to conduct the type of comprehensive environmental assessment required to reduce the risk of such occurrences in our area. The gas and oil deposits are not going anywhere and the demand for such resources is not likely to diminish. It is unlikely landowners would be harmed by such a delay but without such a prudent step, the rush to drill may preclude the kinds of reasonable controls and protections necessary to avoid irreparable harm to our Valley’s drinking water supply and overall environmental quality.

June 12, 2008

SVW has consulted with legal counsel is preparing to file a formal request for opinion with the NY State Committee on Open Government in response to the Town of Richmondville's continued efforts to keep the date, time and minutes of the Zoning Rewrite Committee secret. The Town has been sanctioned previously for failure to comply with the NY State Open Meetings Law. SVW believes this latest deceptive practice will also result in a sanction from the NY Department of State. SVW continues to consult with legal counsel and is exploring all options for addressing the failure of Richmondville officials to follow the law.

June 12, 2008

Reunion Power representative Sandy Gordon met recently with Richmondville Village Mayor Kevin Neary and Bruce Stevens, Superintendent of Richmondville Power and Light in an attempt to lobby for an agreement with the Village Power Company. In what appears to be an attempt by Reunion Power to counter the criticism that any electricity produced by an industrial wind facility in the area will not directly benefit Richmondville residents, Mr. Gordon offered to sell electricity directly to the Village. Mayor Neary informed Reunion that the Village already had agreements in place to purchase reduced rate hydroelectric and other power and that wind did likely not present a reliable electricity source for the Village because of the intermittent nature of wind production and the absence of a method to store electricity during periods of low or no production. Mayor Neary did agree to discuss the issue further, both with external parties and internally with the Village Board. SVW views Reunion's lobbying effort as nothing more than a public relations campaign in response to wide-spread public opposition to there proposal to site industrial wind facilities in Richmondville and Fulton.

June 6, 2008

The Town of Richmondville Supervisor, John Barlow has not responded to a certified letter send by SVW requesting the dates for future meetings of the Zoning Rewrite Committee. Town Attorney JR Parshall and Committee Chair Harold Loder have also failed to respond to copies of that letter. Apparently the Town continues to feel it necessary to block residents from observing this important process. SVW is consulting with legal counsel to determine what action is appropriate in response to the Town's insistence on yet more secret meetings.

June 6, 2008

The Schoharie County Planning Commission (CPC) met on Monday 6/2/08 to review a referral from the Town of Richmondville Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). They were asked to provide a recommendation relative to a request for a temporary building permit extension for a 197’ tall meteorological test tower by David Huse and Reunion Power. SVW attended as an interested party and requested that the CPC return the issue to the ZBA without a recommendation so that the ZBA could first address the outstanding issue of local zoning compliance. SVW contends that the original permit issued for the tower was invalid and inconsistent with local zoning requirements and any extension that that permit should also be deemed invalid. SVW further contends that any recommendation to extend the permit would be premature on the part of the CPC and potentially prejudice the ZBA process and the integrity of local zoning and home rule law.

Despite procedural guidance by the Schoharie County Planning and Development Agency facilitator the Commission extended discussion to issues outside of local zoning and the appropriateness of the original permit, making references to wind power and the potential for wind development in other municipalities. The CPC ultimately decided that the permit extension has county-wide impacts and voted to recommend approval of an extension.

SVW is disappointed that the CPC went beyond its charge and charter and failed to support home rule and the integrity of Richmondville zoning. SVW is also disappointed that there was not substantive debate and discussion by a committee that seemed predisposed to their decision, disregarding or unfamiliar with many of the facts presented.

SVW does look forward however, to moving the issue back to the ZBA and underscoring the need to uphold local zoning regulations designed to protect the interests of residents. SVW remains committed to availing itself of all processes, procedures and remedies available to ensure compliance with established zoning requirements.


May 28, 2008

Peter Barber of Murphy, Burns, Barber & Murphy, Albany, NY has joined the SVW Legal Defense Team. Mr. Barber is a leading litigator specializing in land use and zoning law. Mr. Barber will help SVW monitor the application and enforcement of local zoning laws in Schoharie County. Mr. Barber's expertise is made possible by the generous contribution of SVW supporters.

May 28, 2008

The Town of Richmondville continues to ignore the principles of open and responsive government by refusing to disclose to SVW or the general public when the Zoning Rewrite Committee will meet. Letters sent to Supervisor Barlow, Committee Chair Harold Loder and Town Attorney J.R. Parshall have gone unanswered. These "secret" meetings deny residents the opportunity of observing this working committee in its effort to align the local zoning law with the Comprehensive Plan, increasing the skepticism felt by many about the integrity of this process. SVW condemns this disregard for the rights of Richmondville residents and also calls for the resignation of David Huse from the Rewrite Committee. Mr. Huse's financial interest in a zoning law change favorable to the wind turbine lease he has been negotiating with Vermont-based Reunion Power represents an unacceptable conflict of interest. New zoning regulations have the potential of significantly impacting the quality of life and property values of Richmondville residents. The rewriting of those regulations is a process that should be conducted in the light of day and without the influence of special interests.

May 21, 2008

SVW is preparing a presentation to the Schoharie County Planning Commission (CPC) to be delivered to that body on June 2, 2008 in response to a referral from the Town of Richmondville Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). That referral requests a recommendation from the CPC on the request by David Huse/Reunion Power for an extension to a "temporary" building permit for a meteorological test tower on Warnerville Hill. SVW adamantly opposes any extension to a permit we believe was flawed from the start and inconsistent with local zoning regulations. SVW has retained legal counsel to assist with this effort. That legal counsel has been made possible by the many generous donations of local residents and concerned citizens who view the integrity of local zoning as a critical element of rural governance worth fighting for.

May 2, 2008

Reunion Power has request an extension to their permit for a 197' meteorological test tower in the R1 zone on Warnerville Hill in the Town of Richmondville. This follows the Town's rejection of SVW's complaint that the original permit issued to landowner David Huse on behalf of Reunion was not consistent with local zoning laws. SVW has retained environmental and open government attorney Peter Henner of Clarksville to challenge Reunion's request for an extension before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). A meeting to hear both Reunion's request and SVW's challenge is scheduled for May, 13, 2008 at the Radez Elementary School cafeteria at 5:30 PM. SVW is asking everyone to attend this very critical hearing to show support for the fight to prevent the industrialization of our rural residential areas.


April 22, 2008

SVW has submitted to the Town of Richmondville Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) a formal request to revoke the Building Permit for the Reunion Power "MET" tower on the Huse property on Warnerville Hill and a further request to issue a dismantling order for that tower, to be effective no later than May 1, 2008. SVW has reviewed the original application for the tower after obtaining the documents through the NY Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and has identified multiple areas in which we believe the tower violates local zoning law. SVW is currently awaiting a response from the CEO.

April 3, 2008

The Town of Richmondville Setback Committee has agreed to recommend wind turbine setbacks of 1500'from property lines, roads and wetlands. SVW has issued the following position statement in response to that recommendation:

Schoharie Valley Watch Position Statement and Update

April 2, 2008

The Town of Richmondville Setback Committee demonstrated at last evenings meeting that the more information becomes available the more obvious and troubling the potential impacts of industrial wind facilities on communities like Richmondville become. The Committee members should be commended for being receptive to a large volume of technically complex data and responding with a set of recommendations that departed substantially from those originally conceived by within the County sponsored model wind law. All residents of Richmondville should, however, resist the temptation to experience a sense of relief and instead should stop to consider the current realities:

Industrial wind turbines, regardless of setbacks, are inconsistent with the recommendations found in the Town of Richmondville's Comprehensive Plan.
The Town is still pursuing a wind law that, unlike current zoning requirements, would permit forty-story industrial towers in residential areas.
Setback Committee recommendations may not be adopted in full or in part by the Town Board.
Reunion Power or other wind energy companies may very well submit an application tomorrow, next week or next year to build industrial wind turbines on Warnerville Hill or elsewhere using a smaller scale development plan that would be possible despite the recommended 1500' setbacks.
Other areas in Town may more easily accommodate wind facility development, regardless of the proposed 1500' setbacks.
Multiple land owners may agree to waivers that would circumvent the proposed 1500' setbacks.
The Planning Board could waive wind law requirements in a way that would permit wind projects in one or more areas of the Town.
R-Ville has a Zoning Law that should be enforced, not circumvented. If we agree to this, we agree to accept a dangerous precedent.

At very least, we should ask the Town to finalize a Wind Law, only after further consideration of potential Health risks that include, but are not limited to, Wind Turbine Syndrome, Vibro-Acoustic Disorder, Sleep Disorders, etc, are fully addressed in terms of additional protections and remedies. These are complex issues that do not miraculously disappear because you make an educated guess on how far industrial turbines are setback from property lines. Much work remains to be done before residents can be expected to support a wind law.

It is absolutely critical that everyone remain vigilant and not lose sight of the fact that industrial wind development is made exponentially more likely with a passage of a wind law, even if the setbacks exceed the distances "preferred" by Reunion and other Wind Power Developers. If adopted, the recommendations of the Setback Committee may essentially preclude 40-60 Turbine projects in Town but they may, in conjunction with waivers and other circumstances, allow 10-12 tower projects. Smaller scale industrial wind projects still bring many of the environmental and economic impacts of larger projects, are expandable over time and remain entirely incompatible with our rural community.

SVW urges all residents to keep the pressure on your elected officials and remind them of the health, safety, economic, environmental and quality of life issues that are just as important now as they were when we started this fight to protect or home. That fight is far from over, it has only entered a new phase.

Bob Nied, Co-Director
Don Airey, Co-Director