Town officials and community members from the Jefferson County towns of Cape Vincent and Lyme gave energy company BP a clear signal at a meeting last night in Cape Vincent: a wind farm isn't welcome there.
Hundreds turned out for the meeting, which represented the first contact that BP has had with the towns in months. Signs reading, "BP Go Home!" filled the town recreation hall parking lot.
BP gave a presentation about its proposed project, which would include 124 turbines in the town of Cape Vincent and a transmission line through the town of Lyme. Members of the two town's boards and Planning Boards then grilled the BP representative, project manager Richard Chandler, about the company's plans.
Wind power supporters were present as well, filling up half the room with green t-shirts that read, "I love wind power." But the board members were solidly anti-wind farm.
The most anger was directed at the company for opting for the state's Article X review process, which can overrule local laws if they're deemed "unreasonable."
The meeting ended with Cape Vincent Town Supervisor Urban Hirschey presenting Chandler with a "gift" of a mini wind turbine, and proclaiming, "May all your turbines be this size!"