Two separate but similar "wind farms" are being developed in the area by EcoGen and Global Winds Harvest, Inc. The lead agency promoting the turbines is the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, with the help of a state chartered corporation, NYSERDA, created in 1975 to facilitate energy development in the state.
EcoGen has won approval for it's project in Prattsburg. Global Wind Harvest is filing a final environmental impact study soon for it's Prattsburg project, and is involved in a broader array of similar projects across in the region. Some of these others are more ambitious in overall scope than the company's plans in Prattsburg.
Opponents show NYSERDA, SCIDA and others promoting wind power are not bound by state environmental and other regulations pertaining to energy production. Wind power generation was nonexistent when such regulations were drawn, therefore wind farms are not required to be located in industrial zones as are all other means of energy production such as by coal or oil.
Opponents also assert environmental impact studies are flawed at best, but given the lack of regulation this fact may be legally moot.
Nonetheless, many negative environmental impacts have been glossed over by developers of wind farms wherever they are proposed.
EcoGen's approved turbines are approximately 370 feet tall in total, combining the 235 foot tower height and 135 foot blade length. Between EcoGen and Global Wind Harvest, over 100 such turbines are slated for Prattsburg and the surrounding area. Such densities of wind turbines have been shown to kill substantial numbers of migratory birds.
Global Wind Harvest plans to use taller units in it's plans elsewhere in the region.
The turbine blades also throw ice which builds up in winter, demonstrably as far as 1600 feet from the structure. Opponents say the property rights issue is "tricky," especially as there is no zoning in the project area. But they assert some property owners have been somehow convinced to sign waivers allowing the placement of turbines in close enough proximity to homes and roads that an ice related incident will be simply a matter of time.
The turbines are also noisier than developers claim, are subject to lightning strikes and fires, and beside being an eyesore cause a disconcerting "flicker effect" for those living in their shadows. Other concerns are that blades themselves are sometimes thrown off, and impacts to water tables from construction of the massive bases required to hold the turbines.
Details of finances surrounding the project have also not been forthcoming from local officials, when questioned on who the project's ultimate beneficiaries will be.
Opponents quickly found approaching local elected officials with their concerns to be fruitless. They have since organized the Advocates For Prattsburg (AFP) to focus their efforts.
The first order of business for AFP was to insure all property owners in the effected area were even aware of the project. AFP notes some 35% of landholders are "absentee;" not residing permanently within the area. It is unknown what percentage of absentees had been aware of the project before AFP contacted them.
Last year AFP petitioned for a moratorium on the project until legitimate studies of economic and environmental impacts could address their concerns. The petition was summarily ignored by local officials.
In March of this year, a broad coalition of opponents to wind power provided comment to the New York Assembly Committee on Energy. Mentioning the lack of regulation and questionable practices of NYSERDA, they added "Due to federal and state tax credits... accelerated depreciation and relief from property taxes through PILOTs, (payment in lieu of taxes) an irresistible enticement has been created, attracting wind developers to New York State."
SCIDA stands to gain over $300,000 from PILOTS related to the Prattsburg project.
The commentary continued "In their pitch to potential investors, developers routinely suggest that double-digit returns can be predicted over the 15-year period from a project's inception through the final expiration of its tax exemption. Wind farms are considered nothing but short-term investments by firms like Goldman Sachs and J. P. Morgan Chase," suggesting finance and construction are the prime motive behind such projects.
AFP says it can't be about power, citing existing, landlocked wind farms are typically "out of phase" with peak power demands, meaning they typically do not add power to the grid at times when it is especially needed. Promoters also use maximum potential power output in their calculations of bottom lines, but AFP has shown existing wind farms in similar locations operate only at 10% efficiency on average.
AFP has recently initiated a so called "article 78" action in the attempt to stop the approved EcoGen project. This law allows people to challenge their government when a final decision does not appear to be supported by available data.
Original Investigative Journalism from the
Columnist Guild News Bureau
1 comment:
Donna, I just had to share my thoughts after seeing the new map and loosing another nights sleep.
We will all impacted - negatively. Please read what J. Stopka has added to http://batr.net/cohoctonwindwatch/ the new site for Cohocton Windwatch. Siting and noise is very important. While Prattsburgh noise limit hovers tentatively at 40 decibels for the windfarm - UPC Global Winds has talked the Cohocton Town Board into setting 50 decibels. For those who don't understand - that is like hearing a helicopter in the distance coming in - only all the time. Cohocton's set back is only 100 feet more than tower height. While Prattsburgh and Italy turbine sizes are currently proposed for 1.5 Megawatt, Cohocton has ok'd 2 Megawatt. What started out as a 42 turbine project in Cohocton has grown without restriction - the developer just added 17 more. Town of Cohocton was mislead into writing their local law and zoning to the whims of the developer - not to the best interest of the towns. The map is out - Lent, Pine and Brown Including Knapp Hills - are covered. I suppose that the potato farmers whose wives attended the village meeting are satisfied. Rathbun Farms will make a lot of money.
Yesterday I was notified of their intent to retreat from the purchase of recreational land in the Ingleside area- now that they know they will be subjected to multiple Cohocton Turbines feet from their new land located in Prattsburgh and 50 db of noise as part of the package. (this according to the noise map provided - finally - by the town of Cohocton yesterday)
Naples Village board members who think you should just stay out of it - frankly are being naive and shortsighted. Once these projects break down - there will be no turning back. They need to be limited and sited with respect to other towns businesses, wildlife and residents. Property values will be negatively affected by blinking lights and noise. Ice throw is a risk. View is only part of the problem with these large windfarms. We are talking 100's near Naples without direct benefit to Naples.
Try this scenerio "May I show you some this lovely land or home for sale? I need to mention that free of charge you will be getting the constant hum, blinking lights and wirling blades of your neighbors turbines. No - please don't expect a dime - be happy for clean energy - even though the construction phase may foul the water and the clearcutting of the woods to accommodate the turbines can destroythe habitat that attracted you and create erosion to foul 12 mile creek as a trout stream. That is just an unfortuate byproduct of our obligation to clean energy. Doesn't sound too "clean"? We;; it will sure "clean" taxpayers wallets - but then again it will help feed our farmers. Just joking! You don't want to retire or recreate in an industrial park- you say? Sorry I can't help you. The towns around the Finger lakes didn't want to make waves. What happened to Naples main street - all the empty storefronts? Oh, we needed to keep the stream clean and won't allow use until the sewers come or you can foot a 10,000.00 + septic system. Ha, ha, - kind of sounds at odds with the environment - doesn't it? Well - if the state keeps squeezing these towns with regulations - the only industry will be wind. Tood bad they developers use our taxes and don't pay taxes. Now there is a quandary for our minds. Where do we go from here?" Exactly - Now, may I suggest this land and home near NYC or Albany? They don't apprear to be building windfarms near those places. Just look where our politicians live - your environment will be sure to stay pleasant there."
Hmmmmm- what should I do for a living in the future? move? apply to a wind farm? put up "closed signs?" No, I think I'll stay and fight another day.
If NY can give away millions of taxpayers money to wind developers to forever change the character of the Finger Lakes in the name of "clean energy" - please help me understand why Governor Pataki and the DEC will allow them to destroy our habitat and impact our fish and wildlife with these huge excavations - but not help a town/village like Naples survive by granting enough money for a sewer system to save property values in the Village. To your board member Grove who so callously remarked that "no one stops in Naples to spend money" - give away the beauty of Naples view - you can guarantee it. His remark was a terrible disrespect to those people managing B&B's, restaurants, wineries,golf courses and other viable tourist based business.
As an owner of a small guest lodging AND a local realtor - I attest to the viability of your town of village - unless you let the state ruin it with fanatical watershed restrictions and these industrial windfarms.
It almost seems that those newcomers and visitors care more about the village/town of Naples than its long time residents. It almost seems those like Village board member Grove would just as soon have windfarms rather than tourism and residential development. I know that can't possibly be true - it just seems that way after hearing his comments. We all need to remember that the PILOT programs the developers will pay to hosting towns will not be paying Naples. Residential taxpayers support our counties and create jobs - not windfarms. Please, get more active to preserve the wonderful potential of your lovely town. Steuben County IDA won't look out for you - if they did we wouldn't be writing and reading this stuff.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Cole
Resident since 1973 of Ingleside
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