Windmill noise unbelievable' by Robyn Rime

Posted with the permission of The Naples Record, originally published Wednesday April 22, 2009

Property owners say company promised noise no louder than a refrigerator

In an effort to make the Naples Town Board aware of the possible impact of Prattsburgh's wind turbines, two local residents were invited to present information about the Cohocton and Prattsburgh wind farms to the board during its April 13 meeting. The reports from Hal Graham and John Servo raised perennial questions about the hazards of wind turbines and the abrogation of property rights.

Graham, whose Cohocton property has a wind turbine on it, reported that noise from the turbines was beyond anything turbine leaseholders had been expecting. Told the 400-foot towers would produce only a sound equivalent to the hum of a refrigerator, property owners instead call the noise "unbelievable."

"It sounds like a jet engine trying to take off in the back yard," Graham said.

Regulations allow turbines to produce up to 50 decibels; Graham estimates the noise in his back yard at 80 to 110 db. More than 20 property owners in the surrounding area are experiencing the same noise difficulties, he added, with all reporting difficulty in sleeping.

"The sound goes completely through the house," he said.

At a meeting between First Wind and leaseholders, the wind developer was told the noise level was unacceptable and needed to be fixed. Graham says the company's response has been to stall and evade.

"At first we were told they didn't hear anything unusual," he said. "Now they say they're looking into it, but no one has contacted us. They feel they're in compliance."

In addition to the noise, which Graham says is the major problem, other concerns include the red lights, which owners were told would not be installed, and a phenomenon called shadow flickers, which Graham describes as an effect like that of a strobe light going on and off for 30 to 45 minutes at a time.

"I'm not trying to influence the town board, Fm just telling you what to expect with these windmills," he explained. They have a drastic effect on their neighbors."

Graham cited studies that identified deleterious effects to residents within a six- to ten-mile radius of wind turbines.

John Servo's wife's property on the Naples/Prattsburgh bor-der has interested wind developers for years. He presented the board with a map dated October 2008 of the EcoGen project area in Prattsburgh, highlighting the areas on the Steuben and Ontario County lines. The map indicates that the project pushes 1,300 feet into Ontario County, absorbing approximately 270 acres into the Prattsburgh wind project area.

"They have declared that they own you and have the right to say what happens in your town," Servo told the board.

The abrogation of property rights for Naples residents has concerned the town board for many months. Naples residents whose property borders Cohocton wind turbine properties are not, for safety setback reasons, allowed to build on their property between their houses and their property lines, and they are receiving no compensation from First Wind for that loss.

In New York State, a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), or environmental impact assessment, is required by most projects or activities proposed by a state agency or unit of local government, such as the Cohocton wind farm. A SEQR requires the sponsoring or approving governmental body to identify and mitigate the significant environmental impacts of the activity it is proposing or permitting.

"Naples was not involved in the SEQR process at all, and this does have a negative impact on Naples property owners," said Duserick.

The issue has been brought to the attention of Rep. Eric Massa, who delivered a letter from the town board to State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Duserick said both Massa and Cuomo understood and empathized with the issue but that it had yet to get picked up as a hot button issue by the AG.

The board agreed to follow up with the Public Service Commission and with Ontario County, which will receive a copy of the EcoGen project area map.

"This impacts Ontario County, and we hope they get involved in helping us," said Duserick.

Representatives from First Wind have not yet responded to an invitation to address the board; Duserick said the board wants to give equal opportunity to both sides to speak their positions.

"It sounds like a jet engine trying
to take off in the backyard. The sound goes
completely through the house."
Hal Graham, who has a wind turbine on his land