Bruce Blakeman goes to upstate farm to criticize solar energy projects, Hochul

WRIGHT — Republican Bruce Blakeman took his campaign to an upstate farm Thursday to figuratively lock arms with local officials in opposition to large-scale solar developments and promised to take steps to halt green energy projects if elected governor.

Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, said big solar projects intrude on local landscapes and “don’t make sense” upstate because the region doesn’t get enough regular sunlight throughout the year.

“Here in New York, it just doesn’t make any sense,” Blakeman said near the gravel road running in front of Hessian Hill Farm, with a herd of sheep providing a steady background “baa”-ing to the many speakers at the news conference.

It was the latest instance of Blakeman emphasizing energy development and rising energy prices in his campaign against Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat. Not only does Blakeman oppose the green energy projects, but said his policy would be “Drill Baby, Drill,” meaning he would end New York’s ban on natural gas fracking in upstate communities.

“[Hochul] ignores the science," Blakeman said.

The Hochul campaign fired back, tying Blakeman to President Donald Trump’s blocking of wind power and other renewables, saying it's shortsighted and that green projects will save money over time and protect the environment.

“While Governor Hochul is putting money back in New Yorkers’ pockets and standing up every day to Trump’s attacks, Blakeman has opposed renewable energy projects that would save New Yorkers $77 million a month,” Ryan Radulovacki, a Hochul campaign spokesman, said in an email.

Radulovacki also noted, in regard to rising home utility costs, that Blakeman has been “silent” about Trump’s move to eliminate home heating grants used by almost 2 million low-income New York families.

Blakeman was joined by several Republicans from the state Assembly, including Minority Leader Edward Ra (R-Garden City South). Also on hand were members of the Goblet family, who own the farm in Schoharie County and contend the state isn’t doing enough to help farmers, who sometimes give in to economic pressures and make deals with solar developers.

In Schoharie County, southwest of Albany, the spread of solar development has led to acrimony and lawsuits.

Blakeman compared upstate solar to offshore wind power projects near Long Island, saying "putting up these windmills in the middle of the ocean" doesn't make sense.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy