HAMLIN, N.Y. -- In Hamlin you'll see supporters and opponents of wind farms.
"I think New York State has to find other ways to leading the way in green energy,” said Paul Lapinski, Hamlin Preservation Group.
Hamlin Preservation Group member Paul Lapinski opposes renewable energy company Iberdrola acquiring Energy East, a deal assuring the Spanish company's wind projects throughout the state.
"I'm more against the acquisitions with the wind farms,” said Lapinski.
"I feel very very comfortable with the vote that the PSC gave in support of the Iberdrola efforts,” said Ed Evans, Hamlin Conservation Board.
Hamlin Conservation Board member Ed Evans believes the deal is good for the town both economically and environmentally.
"The host agreement and the pilot agreement that comes with the windmills moving into the area will offset what everybody else is seeing as an increase as a cost of living in their towns and not in Hamlin,” said Evans.
When the acquisition is official, Iberdrola along with New York State will commit about $200 million to wind farms in hopes that wind mills will begin to pop up in fields like these.
"My real concern is that that's going to happen in small towns through New York State that Iberdrola is going to come in and they're going to point blank tell the towns what they want and if the towns don't want or like what they want. They're just going to say well if you don't take what we want we're going to leave,” said Lapinski.
The Public Service Commission says the agreement put forth protections that should ease concerns for ratepayers like Lapinski.
"All designed with the intent to insure that ratepayers are not dually hurt by such projects,” said Energy East Sale James Denn, PSC.
Iberdrola plans to put windmills in 70 percent of Hamlin. The PSC expects a written order to go through by this upcoming week.
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