Alternative energy, jobs and NYRI among the hot topics at Lobsterfest
NORWICH – On Sunday, the Canasawacta Country Club pavilion was filled with politicians and local residents wanting to discuss the issues most important to them.
Among the crowd at the county Republican committee’s annual Lobsterfest fundraiser were Assemblyman Cliff Crouch (R-Guilford), Assemblyman Peter Lopez (R-Schoharie), Assemblyman William Magee (D-Nelson), and Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton).
Topics of discussion this year included agricultural issues, business incentives and the fight against NYRI’s power line.
Local Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers discussed some of the potential agricultural issues with some of the politicians who were on hand. Vickers has been looking for support for his plan to place a methane digester near the Chenango County Correctional Facility. The digester would be able to heat and provide electricity for the jail using manure from local farms. He also wants the county to explore sources of alternative energy, such as ethanol aspects, using rapeseed, grasses and willows that can be grown on a marginal amount of land.
Vickers seemed to find support with Lopez. “The district I serve, the 127th, is rural. In my mind, agriculture is a vital part of it,” Lopez said. The assemblyman explained his opinion that alternative energy sources needed to be examined on the national, state and regional level.
Lopez said because the banking industry is leery of investing in alternative energy, rural development needs to help to get projects up and running.
“We need to build a process of vertical integration. The community will produce the feed stock that feeds the process; we need to have processors locally, and tie that into local distribution. As we do that, every time value is added to the product, it will stay in the community,” Lopez explained.
Magee, whose district includes Madison County, and parts of Oneida and Otsego, said bio-diesel and ethanol production were big issues in his district as well. He pointed to a big project at SUNY Morrisville as an example of the importance of alternative energy. “It’s an opportunity to produce cheaper, alternative fuels, and it offers farmers the opportunity to grow crops they can sell,” Magee said.
While some politicians discussed bio-fuels and ethanol, others looked at wind power as possible sources of alternative energy. Assemblyman Crouch said wind power on Lake Ontario was one suggestion he had made. “Right now, we’re waiting to see leadership in the Governor’s office,” Crouch said. “We’ve made suggestions, but nothing’s gotten off the ground yet.”
Crouch explained there have been many issues to focus on. “We’ve discussed budget reform, civil confinement, tax payer relief, which are all good things, but other issues have taken a back seat,” he said.
Crouch also discussed NYRI’s plan to build a 200 mile-long 400,000 volt transmission line from Marcy to New Windsor. Crouch said that while NYRI has still not re-filed its Article VII application, concerned citizens still need to be vigilant. “If the state had a better energy policy, this wouldn’t be an issue,” Crouch said, explaining that 8 to 9 years ago, the Power Authority suggested placing low mega-watt generators in areas where they were needed to help during high energy usage times.
Libous agreed vigilance is important in the fight against NYRI. “A lot is in the hands of the feds at this point,” said Libous, “but we’re doing everything we can.”
Libous also discussed issues such as the need to entice industries to bring jobs into upstate New York and Chenango County. “Cutting taxes is the first thing to get businesses to come in,” he said, explaining that attracting industry is a problem for much of New York. “The senate has a ‘Jobs Now’ plan, that includes reducing utility rates, property taxes and providing incentive opportunities through technology,” Libous said. “It’s a comprehensive plan to create opportunity.”
Local politicians, like Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano, didn’t miss the opportunity to discuss issues with the legislators on hand dining on seafood. The mayor said he would be discussing the upgrades needed at the waste water and water treatment facilities. “The more money we can get for the project, the better it will be for the city. The upgrades need to be done, and we need to do it as cheaply as possible,” he said.
Maiurano also discussed ways the city was attempting to bring more jobs into the area, saying businesses were actively being recruited, but it is up to individuals to invest in them.
Among the crowd at the county Republican committee’s annual Lobsterfest fundraiser were Assemblyman Cliff Crouch (R-Guilford), Assemblyman Peter Lopez (R-Schoharie), Assemblyman William Magee (D-Nelson), and Senator Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton).
Topics of discussion this year included agricultural issues, business incentives and the fight against NYRI’s power line.
Local Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers discussed some of the potential agricultural issues with some of the politicians who were on hand. Vickers has been looking for support for his plan to place a methane digester near the Chenango County Correctional Facility. The digester would be able to heat and provide electricity for the jail using manure from local farms. He also wants the county to explore sources of alternative energy, such as ethanol aspects, using rapeseed, grasses and willows that can be grown on a marginal amount of land.
Vickers seemed to find support with Lopez. “The district I serve, the 127th, is rural. In my mind, agriculture is a vital part of it,” Lopez said. The assemblyman explained his opinion that alternative energy sources needed to be examined on the national, state and regional level.
Lopez said because the banking industry is leery of investing in alternative energy, rural development needs to help to get projects up and running.
“We need to build a process of vertical integration. The community will produce the feed stock that feeds the process; we need to have processors locally, and tie that into local distribution. As we do that, every time value is added to the product, it will stay in the community,” Lopez explained.
Magee, whose district includes Madison County, and parts of Oneida and Otsego, said bio-diesel and ethanol production were big issues in his district as well. He pointed to a big project at SUNY Morrisville as an example of the importance of alternative energy. “It’s an opportunity to produce cheaper, alternative fuels, and it offers farmers the opportunity to grow crops they can sell,” Magee said.
While some politicians discussed bio-fuels and ethanol, others looked at wind power as possible sources of alternative energy. Assemblyman Crouch said wind power on Lake Ontario was one suggestion he had made. “Right now, we’re waiting to see leadership in the Governor’s office,” Crouch said. “We’ve made suggestions, but nothing’s gotten off the ground yet.”
Crouch explained there have been many issues to focus on. “We’ve discussed budget reform, civil confinement, tax payer relief, which are all good things, but other issues have taken a back seat,” he said.
Crouch also discussed NYRI’s plan to build a 200 mile-long 400,000 volt transmission line from Marcy to New Windsor. Crouch said that while NYRI has still not re-filed its Article VII application, concerned citizens still need to be vigilant. “If the state had a better energy policy, this wouldn’t be an issue,” Crouch said, explaining that 8 to 9 years ago, the Power Authority suggested placing low mega-watt generators in areas where they were needed to help during high energy usage times.
Libous agreed vigilance is important in the fight against NYRI. “A lot is in the hands of the feds at this point,” said Libous, “but we’re doing everything we can.”
Libous also discussed issues such as the need to entice industries to bring jobs into upstate New York and Chenango County. “Cutting taxes is the first thing to get businesses to come in,” he said, explaining that attracting industry is a problem for much of New York. “The senate has a ‘Jobs Now’ plan, that includes reducing utility rates, property taxes and providing incentive opportunities through technology,” Libous said. “It’s a comprehensive plan to create opportunity.”
Local politicians, like Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano, didn’t miss the opportunity to discuss issues with the legislators on hand dining on seafood. The mayor said he would be discussing the upgrades needed at the waste water and water treatment facilities. “The more money we can get for the project, the better it will be for the city. The upgrades need to be done, and we need to do it as cheaply as possible,” he said.
Maiurano also discussed ways the city was attempting to bring more jobs into the area, saying businesses were actively being recruited, but it is up to individuals to invest in them.
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