“The RAPID Act [Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act] streamlines the process while protecting local input and the environment.” – NY Public Service Commission.

The assertion that New York’s energy policy is “protecting the environment” is false.

The opportunity for sending public comments to the New York Public Service Commission continues until March 18. Following the public comment period, the PSC may rubber stamp the RAPID Act – the latest scam to accelerate the installation of Wind, Solar, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in western New York. A politically driven energy policy that threatens our quality of life is worth commenting on.

The installation of “renewables” is destroying the environment in Western New York and will continue to do so until it is scrapped.

The materials (lithium, cobalt, copper, neodymium, graphite, silica, rare earth metals, etc) mined using slave labor, the refining process polluting immense quantities of water, the manufacturing of components, the component transportation from around the world – all using fossil fuel – are not recognized. Wind, solar and battery energy storage facilities are not green and not clean nor are they zero as the emissions far away are never calculated.

The evidence that carbon dioxide is a problem has never been proven.

The entire energy policy of New York is based on a lie that does not recognise the facts: carbon dioxide does not accumulate, rather it circulates into the atmosphere, the oceans, and the plants – which can only prosper when there is a lot of carbon dioxide. Plants use CO2 for food to produce the carbon that becomes wood and potatoes and apples – every fruit and vegetable. CO2 is .04% of the atmosphere – a vital trace element. So how can a state energy policy be based on the false idea that carbon dioxide is a problem?

The waste and destruction in Chautauqua County alone by solar and wind is unacceptable. It continues to destroy hundreds of acres of forests, wetlands, agricultural land, recreational land – jeopardizing the livelihoods of all farmers and especially the Amish.

Western New York has adequate electricity. Hydro power from Niagara and modernizing the power lines to prevent the loss of approximately 25% of power produced is sufficient without destroying the quality of life of the pristine, beautiful area that is known as Chautauqua.

The RAPID Act and Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) should be dismantled and a rational energy production must replace it using more hydro, dual cycle gas and advanced nuclear power – all of which are nearly emission free but do not destroy forests, wetlands, farmland, and waterways. In the long run such a common sense policy would cost far less, be far less materials intensive and have a far greater power density. This would ensure that the Energy Returned on the Energy Invested (EROI) would be positive rather than negative.

Public Comment period ends March 18. (email Case 24-M-0433 comment form or mail their comments to the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission, Empire State Plaza, P-1 South, J Dock, Albany, NY 12242, and reference Case 24-M-0433.

Karen Harvey is a Mayville resident.