BUFFALO, N.Y. — At the end of 2022, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a feasibility study focused on wind turbine energy production in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The 136-page study and 51-page white paper concluded that offshore wind production on the lakes isn't cost effective, nor a unique and critical contribution to the states climate goals.
But Citizens Against Wind Turbines In Lake Erie (CAWTILE) are still fighting for their cause because the study does leave room for development down the road if technology improves.
"The concern is that they will come back," said Patti Meckes, one of the CAWTILE advocates. "New York doesn't stop at anything, they will circle back and try again."
Meckes and CAWTILE have been fighting this fight for 15 years, and they want it to end.
"We want a permanent law that says no wind turbines in Lake Erie, not now, not ever," Meckes said.
This direct message in response to a bill being proposed in the New York State Senate that would allow NYSERDA to issue 200Mw licenses to wind developers looking to build in Lake Erie or Ontario.
The bill is sponsored by Westchester and Hudson Valley senator Pete Harkham. His district is more than 360 miles away from Lake Erie.
"They cannot destroy any freshwater," Meckes said. "Not Lake Erie, Ontario, Michigan, Huron Superior, none of it."
U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy is echoing the sentiments of CAWTILE advocates and calling on the governor to block any offshore wind turbines in Lake Erie and Ontario.
"Today, I am calling on governor hopeful to place a moratorium on Great Lakes wind projects and all proposals," Langworthy said. "If she's really still a western New Yorker, she will understand this helps no one in this community, this will not help them achieve their agenda."
A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul reiterated a previous statement sent to WGRZ in February that states in part "at present, Great Lakes wind does not offer a unique, critical, or cost-effective contribution toward the achievement of New York’s Climate Act goals. There has been no other update since the whitepaper was filed with the PSC."
Langworthy has taken the issue to Washington, proposing a bill that would strip federal tax credits from any project.
"They're not profitable, organically, only through the giveaways of taxpayer dollars," Langworthy said. "So if we stripped the federal tax credits, they would all die natural deaths."