Apex Ethics

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ASTROTURFING ALLEGATIONS

Astroturfing is a deceptive effort to give the impression of a legitimate grassroots movement or opinion by neutral parties. Apex has been named twice in astroturfing complaints in just the Lighthouse Wind project (see below). One of those complaints brought to light that Apex is allegedly conducting an astroturfing campaign in Barre as well. Read the complaint filed with DPS here. 

• Should support or opposition be submitted by minor children (or, using their name) to DPS? This is a question of ethics that residents of Barre should consider. What would doing so say to the siting board and your community about your ethics? This can also be considered as astroturfing. 

• Should postcards submitted to DPS identify if a party is a leaseholder or related party? Yes. If you stand to gain financially, it is ethical to disclose that information when communicating with DPS. Likewise, if you're a non-participating resident, feel free to make that clear as well. 

Of the 244 individuals who filed postcards with DPS as of 12/31/19, an overwhelming 77% oppose Heritage Wind. Only 21% are in support of the project, and of those in support of the project, 68% of the support postcards were sent by leaseholders themselves or their family members (just that we're aware of the relation - there could be more). None of the postcards sent by people in support of the project identified if they were a project participant. 2% of individuals noted that they were undecided. 

-Note that when calculating, we removed duplicate submissions. For example, a supporter sent in 9 postcards. We counted that individual as 1 person.

-Note that we included the minor children whose names were on postcards sent in by their relatives, but will run the same calculations with them excluded in the future. 

-Note that we did remove the people who we know do not reside in Barre. 

"The omission of any information about the financial interests of project participants in these postcards creates a sense of project support by the proposed host towns’ residents that does not exist. It gives the appearance that the submissions were made by neutral parties. However, project participants—those who have been paid for signing leases or good neighbor contracts with Apex—have a personal

financial interest in filing postcards ad in soliciting others to do so on behalf of the project."

"Apex Clean Energy promised that local people would have the chance to build the Isabella Windfarm, but once they received their permits Apex broke that promise and shipped in crews of out-of-state workers. Shame on Apex for turning their back on the community that welcomed them." 

Learn more from the Michigan Laborers District Council's Facebook page here. 

Construction Workers say Apex has broken promise to hire local

Why should we trust Apex when they tell us that Heritage Wind would bring jobs and income to Barre residents, Orleans County residents, or even New York State residents who are qualified and in need of work? We shouldn't. Apex has a proven track record of misleading communities just to get their project approved. 

In nearby Somerset, NY, town officials believe that Apex created a false sense of project support by engaging in deceptive public relations strategies and lobbying to improperly influence decision makers. 

In short, Apex hired a public relations firm to attend town meetings and pose as project supporters. The website of this PR firm states that it's purpose is to "influence legislative decisions, land use approvals, and ballot measure campaigns." Town officials also state that they believe Apex engaged in deceptive "astroturfing," which is the practice of making a message appear as if it's written by a neutral party, when in reality it's not, by flooding the DPS website with comments of public support which were not legitimate. 

"Such conduct can have a devastating impact on community relations, can turn neighbor against neighbor, family against family, and negatively impact the quality of life for the Town as a whole."

Sound familiar?

Apex has a history of using questionable tactics to sway opinions and divide communities. Read more about their Lighthouse Wind tactics here. Look closely at what has been happening in Barre and ask yourself what they are doing here to divide our community? 

Although it is a proven fact that that Industrial Wind Turbines have a negative impact on radar and weather systems, Apex pushed to build an industrial wind facility on Galloo Island that is within a 40-mile radius of Fort Drum and even closer to radar and communications facilities. Interfering with these systems puts soldiers' ability to train and safety at risk, as well as the future of the army base. As the largest single-site employer in NYS, Fort Drum is the most important economic driver in the North Country. Apex was willing to risk the base being forced to close due to turbine interference, which would hurt soldiers and their families, for it's own profit. 

Two bills to prohibit the location of wind turbine facilities near military facilities were brought to the The New York State Senate. Apex hired a lobbyist to lobby against the two bills, essentially lobbying against the safety and economic well-being of our soldiers. 

A complaint was filed with the FAA after a helicopter, flying low and erratically over private land, spooked cattle which resulted in livestock injuries, deaths and property damage. When questioned, those on the helicopter, including a representative from Apex, denied flying low in that area, but the flight plan showed that they did. When presented with this proof, they admitted to looking for eagles' nests in the area but denied seeing any livestock. However, there were roughly 1,000 head of cattle in the field, which would be impossible to miss. 

While flying a helicopter over cattle may be poor judgement and not necessarily unethical, lying is unethical.