HAMBURG, N.Y. (WBEN)....Using Hamburg and Lake Erie as the backdrop, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman blasted Gov. Kathy Hochul and her green energy policies as driving up costs for consumers and discouraging economic development.
Blakeman, who was joined by Rep. Nick Langworthy, deliberately used Hamburg as the site for his Tuesday afternoon press conference because Hochul got her political start in the southern Erie County town.
Hochul's green energy policies have become one of the major talking points between the governor and her challenger.
Critics say Hochul's policies are not either consumer or business friendly and are driven by special interests.
"This insanity has to stop," Langworthy said.
Langworthy is championing an energy choice act in Washington that will allow consumers to make their own energy selections.
Hochul and her supporters say just the opposite. Her goal is reduce the carbon footprint across New York.
New York is one of the leading states when it comes to pushing for new green energy initiatives.
Blakeman counters that energy bills in New York state are 70% higher than the national average.
"We are encouraging what I call 'science projects' that produce little energy," Blakeman said.
At he center of Blakeman's appearance was to criticize plans to allow the development of wind turbines in Lake Erie or other bodies of water across New York.
"It is going to be an eyesore," Blakeman said. 'It is the worst possible place to do it."
However, even Hochul has been cool towards allowing wind turbines to developed in Lake Erie or any other body of water in New York.
Three years ago, Hochul vetoed the Planned OffShore Wind Transmission Act that would have, potentially, allow for the development of wind turbines in any body of water in the state.
Hamburg and 75 other communities have gone on record opposing developing off shore wind turbines. The Erie County Legislature also opposed the development of off shore wind turbines.
"Wind turbines do not belong in Lake Erie," Langworthy said. "They could do ecological damage that we may never be able to reverse."
Bruce Blakeman questions Hochul's green energy policies
Bruce Blakeman questions Hochul's green energy policies
