Prattsburgh delays wind farm moratorium

PRATTSBURGH — The topic of wind energy was hotly debated by the Prattsburgh town board last week, although no formal action was taken on concerns raised by board members last month.

With more than two dozen residents crowded into the town hall corridor and roughly 50 in the board room, the councilmen reviewed information and agreed to attend a public meeting hosted by wind developer EcoGen at 6 p.m. May 14.

EcoGen is looking to erect 16 wind turbines in the town.

Concerns about EcoGen's project were first raised in late February when residents from nearby Cohocton complained about excessive noise from the First Wind wind farm operating there since January.

EcoGen representatives countered the Prattsburgh project will use a quieter turbine model, manufactured by Siemens.

The board first considered a moratorium to develop a wind law, but voted to delay the moratorium pending further discussions with EcoGen.

The board also discussed a trip Councilwomen Stacey Bottoni and Sharon Quigley took to the Post Alma wind farm in Ontario, Canada.

The Post Alma wind farm uses Siemens turbines. Bottoni reported their observation was "generally favorable" with strong, 20-mph winds on the second day of the visit. She said the Siemens model has an exhaust fan designed to reduce the turbine noise.

However, Bottoni recommended the town hire an independent technician to test the exhaust fan's reliability, and the board unanimously supported her recommendation.

She said other issues, such as tower collapse and job creation, also were answered by EcoGen representatives. Bottoni claimed collapses are rare, and EcoGen has pledged to hire local, capable workers for unspecialized work if their rates are competitive.

Quigley said the concerns were answered satisfactorily.

But Councilman Steve Kula said information he received on wind speeds at Port Alma on the days Quigley and Bottoni were at the site indicated the speeds were 11-15 mph, with the turbines operating at reduced levels.

He claimed residents near Port Alma have filed complaints about the noise generated by the turbines.

Kula said studies from across the world show 40-60 percent of residents near wind farms are disturbed by the noise, including those with setbacks far greater than any in place in the U.S.

Councilman Chuck Schick said exhaust fans will not prevent the turbines' noise. "They will sound like jet engines because that's what they are," Schick said.

Board members received other input from those in attendance, including comments from acoustical engineer Rick James, of Michigan.

James told the board, based on the state Department of Environmental Conservation recommendations for decibel increases, the acceptable noise level for the region was 27-30 dBA. The current standard for wind farms in Steuben County is 50 dBA.

"Fifty decibels is based on the needs of the wind developers," he said. "It is not based on science ... it is a smokescreen."

James said he worked for 35 years setting up industrial sites before specializing in wind turbines for the past four years.

"And I will tell you this," he said. "Done properly, the problem goes away once the project is done. With the turbines, the problems always escalate."