Citizens for Responsible Energy

Front GroupAstroturf OperatorHigh activity

Template group replicated in 11 counties

Fredonia, NYFirst tracked June 11, 2019

One organization presented as eleven. Each county chapter uses the same logo, the same three admins, and the same setback ordinance draft; only the town name changes.

Free-market absolutistsGenuine NIMBYs

Recommended engagement strategy

Map the group's real membership geography and brief local press on the out-of-county admin overlap.

Astroturf Operator profile: Manufactures the appearance of local consensus. Expose the out-of-town infrastructure.

Open counter-measure playbook

Hearing appearances

Logged in minutes

Counties active

Chautauqua, Seneca

Projects opposed

Solar & storage dockets

Funding received

$700K

2 traced inbound edges

Funding given

$96K

3 traced outbound edges

Arguments logged

117

Top: Property Value Claims

Where They OperateCounties with a tracked filing, appearance, or monitored channel, and the specific project dockets involved.Counties with a tracked filing, appearance, or monitored channel, and the specific project dockets involved.

Counties

Chautauqua8 ev.
Seneca7 ev.
Cayuga8 ev.
Yates7 ev.
Niagara12 ev.
Steuben11 ev.
Wayne5 ev.

Project dockets

Silver Creek SolarChautauqua Co.
Junius Ponds SolarSeneca Co.NO DOSSIER
Cato SolarCayuga Co.NO DOSSIER
Benton SolarYates Co.NO DOSSIER
Lyons SolarWayne Co.NO DOSSIER

View on county map

What They ArgueArgument classification from filings, testimony transcripts, and monitored posts. Counts are statements, not documents.Argument classification from filings, testimony transcripts, and monitored posts. Counts are statements, not documents.

Property Value Claims34 · 29.1%
Home Rule / Preemption28 · 23.9%
Ratepayer Cost23 · 19.7%
Fire / Battery Safety19 · 16.2%
Visual / Aesthetic13 · 11.1%

Most-repeated claim

“Homes within two miles lose 30% of their value.”

Who They FundTraced grants, dues, contractor payments, and campaign contributions. Amounts come from 990 filings, grant letters, and NYS BOE data.Traced grants, dues, contractor payments, and campaign contributions. Amounts come from 990 filings, grant letters, and NYS BOE data.

Inbound

Outbound

Open in funding network

Activity Log7 entriesChronological record assembled from hearing minutes, local law filings, 990 disclosures, and monitored channels.Chronological record assembled from hearing minutes, local law filings, 990 disclosures, and monitored channels.

Hearing appearanceMay 28, 2025Spoke for 9 minutes against Silver Creek Solar at the Hanover planning board.
Written comment filedMay 21, 2025Submitted a comment package on Junius Ponds Solar citing ratepayer cost and setback adequacy.
Mobilization detectedMay 9, 2025Turnout post shared 187 times across Chautauqua and Seneca County groups.
Local law draftedApr 24, 2025Circulated setback overlay text to the Hanover board; matches model legislation distributed statewide.
Op-ed placedApr 2, 2025Near-identical op-ed ran in two Chautauqua County weeklies within four days.
Channel monitoredMar 18, 2025Linked Chautauqua County group added to the monitor; 2133 members in its first month.
First tracked activityJun 11, 2019Entered the monitor via a Chautauqua County record referencing Junius Ponds Solar.

Aliases & AffiliationsAlternate names seen in filings and the organizations this actor is formally or functionally tied to.Alternate names seen in filings and the organizations this actor is formally or functionally tied to.

Known aliases and filing names

CRE
Citizens for Responsible Energy — Chautauqua Chapter

Affiliations

Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce
Americans for Prosperity – NY
Sheila Ostrander

Network position

Classified as a front group in the three-tier model, with 5 traced funding edges.