On Tuesday, the Legislature of Jefferson County unanimously voted down a New York Power Authority (NYPA) proposal for a 500-megawatt wind power installation in Lake Ontario.

NYPA will have to look elsewhere in order to go forward with a Great Lakes wind project.NYPA President and CEO Richard Kessel presented the benefits to the Legislature. He predicted thousands of manufacturing, storage, staging and construction jobs from the project and mentioned that they could ease unemployment after local layoffs from Alcoa and GM.

Legislators countered that jobs would be temporary, lasting one or two years, that installation would cause damage to Lake Ontario and that past endeavors, such as the project of the seaway, did not ease local power bills.

To that, Mr. Kessel replied, "I would not allow a project to go forward without a community benefit package, including the possibility of a payment in lieu of taxes."

Jefferson and Oswego county legislators have formed the Joint Commission for the Preservation of Lake Ontario Communities, a group opposed to the possible offshore development. However, other Great Lakes communities, including Niagara County, said they would welcome the project.

For additional coverage of this story, check out the Watertown Daily Times.