Friday, April 18, 2008

The Reality of Industrial Wind Turbines in Cohocton, NY

1) Intermittent and unpredictable wind to produce reliability electric generation.

2) PSC - Iberdrola Energy East acquisition hearings: "As a result, energy from these wind projects cannot reasonably be sold in NYISO's day-ahead market, in which the substantial majority of New York electricity is bought and sold," Iberdrola's brief states.

3) Clipper Wind C26, 2.5MW turbines used at Steelwinds have gear box and blade failures, requiring replacement. Cohocton turbines blades need re-engineering.

4) SEQR disclosures claim transmission lines less than 10 miles. Reality is over that limit which requires more rigorous PSC regulations for projects.

5) Industrial turbine siting from residents vastly inadequate. Smaller Vestas turbine safety regulations warn of a danger zone.

6) Low frequency noise UPC claims vastly underestimate the reality at Tug Hill.

7) Significant farm land area taken out of production, contrary to UPC claims.

8) Road damage from construction severe and restoration not funded by UPC.

9) Decommissioning letter of credit on a foreign bank for $1,084,000. Cost to take down a single turbine is well in excess of $1,000,000 each.

10) PILOT tax exemption wholly inadequate as fair compensation from an industrial project that alters the fundamental character of the community.

11) UPC HOST Agreement is not enforceable and developer can void terms with no penalties. Contract can be terminated by 9/1/08 with no additional payments.

12) Planning Board members and family now employed by contractor and suppliers.

13) Transmission leases lacking to complete the project, as construction proceeds.

14) Proper permitting, insurances & guarantees lacking, as construction proceeds.

15) Active legal actions pending in court that may require abandonment of project.

16) Family turmoil and neighbor discontent among Cohocton citizens.

17) Significant reduction in property values as a consequence of industrial spot zoning has already occurred with specific documentation from sales.

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