Every vote counted in the 8-7 decision to approve the Galloo Island PILOT agreement, the close vote signaling to Jefferson County Chairman Ken Blankenbush how important this issue was to the entire North Country.

"We received hundreds of back and forth comments from both the pro-wind and the anti-wind groups...some legislators received more than others."

The last minute offers by the project developers amounted to $3 million in a community grant fund to benefit Jefferson County residents through charities, $500,000 in scholarships for high school seniors, employment promises and an alternative route for the transmission line through the Coffeen Street sub-station.

Blankenbush said that when the legislature originally asked the developers what kind of corporate neighbors they would be, they stated they were willing to putting money in a community fund, but did not say how much they were committing.

And despite the monetary amount being revealed at the last moment, drawing criticism from some, Blankenbush says that it was in the plan all along.

"Over the weekend and Monday, they said okay, we'll put it in a formal agreement.  It's not new money for them, it's money they had in their project that they were going to do all along.  We just wanted it in a more formal commitment."