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Malloy Tilts At Windmills—But Not In The Sound

by marcia chambers | Jul 6, 2010 3:52 pm

(8) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Environment

Marcia Chambers Photo Dan Malloy, the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for governor, said he supports clean energy. But he drew the line at windmills in Long Island Sound.

He drew that line while campaigning Tuesday in a town on the Sound.

Under sweltering skies, Malloy, who faces Ned Lamont in an Aug. 10 Democratic gubernatorial primary, rolled out his environmental policy plans at Branford High School, the site of the state’s first tri-generational energy plant. He said he chose Branford to unveil his policy plans because the town is an environmental leader.

Malloy emphasized the need for different forms of rail commuting, including trolley service. He said Connecticut needs to prepare for electric cars. He said he would revisit the loading and unloading of cargo at the tristate area’s ports, a move that could reduce truck traffic along I-95. And he pledged to turn Connecticut into a green state, a place that will attract environmental companies.

He said he and state Comptroller Nancy Wyman, his running mate, believe “we need to refocus people’s attention on the environment ... This is our fifth major policy piece since June 2. And it a comprehensive document of what I have done in the past and that which I want to do.” Click here to read it.

Malloy described himself “as a guy who believes in windmill technology.” But he said he wanted to make it “very clear that I am absolutely against the installation of windmills, turbine structures, in Long Island Sound.

Malloy said he believes in wind energy, but putting large windmills, towers, he called them, makes no sense in the Sound. “…The danger they would impose is not worth the energy that would be generated by them, particularly when you build those on adjoining land on either side of the Sound.”

“I know that Ned Lamont said he is open to that concept. I want you to understand I am not. It is a relatively small, highly navigable waterway. There are places for windmills either along the New York shore or the Connecticut shore, but not in that body of navigable water.”

Lamont campaign spokeswoman Justine Sessions said Malloy’s right—Lamont would consider positioning windmills in Long Island Sound.

“If putting turbines somewhere in the Sound is proven to be a viable option, that’s something he would consider,” Sessions said.

“Like anyone who is serious about reducing energy costs and making Connecticut a leader in the field of alternative energy, Ned understands that we need to explore every opportunity that offers our families relief from crushing energy costs. We’re already behind our neighboring states when it comes to exploring clean energy sources like offshore wind, and we owe it to Connecticut’s families and businesses to leave no stone unturned.”

The Lamont camp was certain to get a precise record of the Malloy press conference because it sent a political operative to cover it—as it has done throughout the campaign (as Melissa Bailey reported last month).

Marcia Chambers Photo He videotaped the entire 30-minute event, standing a foot away from Malloy. Asked his position, Steven Winter told the Eagle he was a “political assistant.” Malloy greeted him with a smile.

Malloy criticized Gov. M. Jodi Rell for cutting conservation funds in order to cover the current operating budget. “I think taking conservation money out of the budget is going in the wrong direction. I know the democrats were forced into this. I think it is wrong, it is a step backwards; it’s a step I want to undo as soon as soon as that is practicable with respect to the state budget.”

He also said that as governor, “I will engage our partners in New York to make sure they are doing their fair share. And if they are not, and by the way I believe they are not at the moment, we will put pressure on New York to clean up its sewage treatment plants stretching from New York City to Montauk. We are also want to rejuvenate the efforts in our own state to make sure that we modernize our sewage treatment plants.”

Malloy said state leaders are talking about a $500 million fund to clean up brownfields. “It is not enough. Brownfields scar our state from one end of the state to the other. They are particularly concentrated in urban areas. I want to see those urban areas returned to the tax rolls. I want those areas cleaned up; I want those factories put back into use for solar generation as well as manufacturing as we see the re-industrialization of the United States. I believe that Connecticut could play a role, but only if we start to clean up those brown filed sites. Those are some of the high points of our plan.”

Marcia Chambers Photo Malloy praised First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos, State Rep. Lonnie Reed (D-102nd) and State Rep Pat Widlitz (D-98th) for their roles in stopping Islander East and Broadwater from erecting liqufied natural gas terminals in the Sound. They along with Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Kiki Kennedy, a Branford resident, led the long legal challenge. State Sen. Ed Meyer did not attend the event; he is a Lamont supporter. Malloy has been endorsed by the Branford Democratic Town Committee.

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Comments

posted by: robn on July 6, 2010 5:45pm

If you’re such a fool that you can’t spot a 200 foot tall lighted turbine (the least of possible obstructions in these waters), then you shouldn’t be captaining a boat in Long Island Sound.

If you think that wind turbines are just like LNG, you’ve outfooled the fool who can’t spot the turbine.

posted by: Kelly Monaghan on July 6, 2010 9:40pm

Ahem.

Both of your photographs tend to disprove your rather bizarre assertion that Lamont’s “tracker” was “standing a foot away from Malloy.”

Close, maybe. A foot?? Gimme a break.

posted by: anon on July 7, 2010 4:05am

In terms of energy security and job growth, cleaning up those hundreds of urban brownfields is far more important than the windmills.

Glad to see the campaigns are making it a priority, though $500 million won’t go nearly far enough.

posted by: Bruce on July 7, 2010 9:01am

Sounds like Mr. Malloy is putting the cart before the horse, or offering a red herring, or some other suitable cliche. Is there legislation in the works to fill the sound with wind turbines? Such a proposal would require extensive research to balance a wind speeds matrix, transmission infrastructure, shipping routes/restrictions, etc. The sound doesn’t seem like a great place to me, but it’s a little presumptuous to just say NO to ANY turbines without any data or studies at all. Not even one? This demonstrates poor leadership, in my opinion.

BTW, “mills” are used for grinding grain. “Turbines” generate electricity.

posted by: William Kurtz on July 7, 2010 10:07am

One wonders why this firm stand, especially since as Bruce pointed out there doesn’t seem to be any plan in place to put turbines in the Sound, nor any kind of impact study by which to determine whether they will be a problem.

Perhaps the suitable cliche is “putting the artistic vision of the real-estate tycoon ahead of the progressive energy policy.”

posted by: Phil on July 7, 2010 1:48pm

Well he had my vote until he made this NIMBY position.

posted by: BranFlake on July 7, 2010 5:09pm

Oh Danny Boy. Why not? Faulkners Island should have at least 6. Why not? That baby inside NH harbor just keeps clicking away.Wish it were mine. It’s a beautiful thing. We need to harness more wind energy. Lots of it. We need to harness solar energy. Some twirling blades sure beats an oil puke in the Gulfonly to be over heated and squashed by an oil soaked crabon foot print. Face the fact face the future DAnny boy it’s a new dawn and wind will need ot be a big big part of it. CT shold lead the way. That’s novel.Without cheap juice CT will be nothing more than a museum tour with a few gaming tables. Danny we need a visionary of the future not a protector of the past. Build them and build them smartly. Cheap juice will attract industry. Industry means real meat on the bones jobs. If this is your view my vote’s for Ned Lamont.

posted by: Kattima on July 14, 2010 1:33am

WE are also want to rejuvenate the efforts in our own state to make sure that we modernize our sewage treatment plants.

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