A recent letter to the editor claimed that Alle-Catt will not fulfill clean energy goals and will fail to benefit our community. I disagree; Alle-Catt will provide clean, locally sourced energy, new jobs and economic investment.
First, the author contends that the Alle-Catt project would damage our natural ecosystem. However, before project approval, all renewable energy proposals in New York undergo a rigorous environmental review process. Wind turbines selected for Alle-Catt Wind comply with the Article 10 application for noise and height standards.
Further, Alle-Catt will provide our communities with $9.1 million in new annual revenue. This money can be used for vital local services, like improving our schools and making our roads safer. Alle-Catt will create 400 good-paying jobs with benefits during construction and a dozen permanent jobs upon completion. The hundreds of construction jobs will come to our community at a time when New York is facing unprecedented economic challenges and Buffalo’s unemployment rate has more than tripled due to the pandemic.
Alle-Catt will also create affordable, sustainable energy, which is critical for our climate and public health. There is evidence linking pollutants to common health problems, and if we want to create a healthy world for our children, we must invest in clean energy.
A Buffalo News editorial board piece stated that we can’t let our fear of change make us stand in the way of progress if we want our region to prosper. We need renewable energy projects to create a sustainable path to financial recovery.