Wind opposition swirling in Perry

PERRY -- As a public hearing approaches on the proposed Dairy Hill Wind Farm's environmental study, a group of residents is again raising concerns.

Their issue isn't so much with the project's Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, compared to the project itself.

They believe the planned wind farm would be inappropriate for the area, and that the town would ultimately be short-shrifted, despite any compensation sponsor Horizon Wind Energy is promising.

"Shadow flicker's a very annoying thing for the people that have to endure it, but people get off on these tangents with a specific impact on a locality," said Colleen Green, one of several residents who met last week at the home of Valary and Gerry Sahrle, who helped found Citizens for a Healthy Rural Neighborhood.

"The vast majority of people don't care so long as they're not affected," she continued. "So our major objection to these projects has always been financial."

The proposed Dairy Hills Wind Farm would include 38 wind turbines in Perry and Covington, which officials have said would produce up to 79.8 megawatts of electricity.

A public hearing on the project's supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be conducted 7 p.m. Monday at Perry High School Auditorium

The document outlines changes to the project representing a scaled-down version of what was originally proposed four years ago by Horizon Wind Energy. A total of 60 turbines had originally been proposed.

The SDEIS found that -- often through the project's physically reduced size -- anticipated noise, shadow flicker, and land impacts would be significantly reduced.

But the opponents last week maintain the town and its residents would still come up short.

Colleen and her husband, Dick Green, argue that the tax credits, subsidies and other incentives offered to wind developers such as Horizon far outweigh any financial compensation the host community and its residents will receive.

"Since our land is crucial to their project, shouldn't the town and its citizens get half of the revenue that is generated from the project?" Colleen Green said.

"Some people will allege this is greedy, but what is really greedy is a foreign-owned corporation exploiting a town for its own enrichment, and giving little in return for it," she continued. "In my opinion the Town Board is completely justified in turning down this project because Horizon and its foreign owners don't want to fairly compensate the town for hosting this project."

Horizon is a fully-owned subsidiary of Energias de Portugal, a major Portuguese utility.

She also alleges the Town Board has been treated unfairly, essentially being asked by the company to read massive documents in short periods of time. She maintains the smaller project is just a way for Horizon to "get its foot in the door" for future development of the original project goal of at least 120 megawatts.

She maintains allowing the reduced project would set a legal precedent for future proposals.

Dick Green said the couple was open-minded when it attended Horizon's first landowners meeting, but found the company's promises misleading, and questioned whether Payments-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes for such projects will ever end.

"To anybody who's not living in the area, the PILOT money sounds good," he said. "You can buy a new fire truck and whatever, but in reality, when these turbines are valued at something like $3 million apiece ..."

If a private property owner wanted to build a $3 million home but only wanted to pay a fraction of its taxes, the public would be upset, he said.

"I think people would be up in arms," he said. "But because of the magnitude of the project and the number of turbines involved, the money sounds good, and it's not. It's unfair, really, to the people.

"The devil is in the details," he continued. "I like the Wind Tamer turbine on Route 246. I like wind power. I don't like the industrial installations in a populated area. I think even (notable wind energy supporter) T. Boone Pickens has decided he's going to halt construction of his project."

Pickens has suspended his project, which was once much-publicized, noting a lack of transmission lines and a decrease in the price of natural gas as an energy source, not to mention ongoing economic slowdown.

But he has also noted his continued support for wind energy development, and is reportedly pursuing smaller projects.

Green noted the state -- despite its support for wind energy -- hasn't proposed such projects for public land, such as parks and otherwise.

He said he's likewise opposed aesthetically, noting the effect on landscapes such as near Sheldon and Wethersfield. He said he likes small turbines, solar arrays, and similar technology, believing the monetary benefits wouldn't be worth the visual pollution.

The other members object for similar reasons.

Resident Dennis Jason likewise favors arguably more-efficient and productive investments such as "clean coal" technology, as opposed to the proposed wind farm in a residential area.

He also noted the tax breaks and other subsidies such projects receive.

Valary Sahrle worries about the project's effect on property values. She said the few residents stuck in the project area who aren't receiving benefits could be stuck with the negative effects.

She said she and her husband's home represents their life's investment, and questions what would happen if they want to sell their home due to noise, flicker, or any other ill effects, but can't find a buyer.

"If Horizon can put up a project worth $160 million to $180 million, they can afford to insure or bond our homes for the present-day assessment value, so if we want to sell our home and we can't, let them pay," she said.

"If you had a choice of buying a home in the viewshed of a turbine, or the chance of buying a home in a town without the view of the turbines, which would you choose?" she continued. "It only makes common sense."

She and the other opponents worry about endless PILOTs, and the loss of income to local tax rolls.

They also cite the problems the town of Gainesville, village of Silver Springs and Letchworth Central School District encountered when Indeck's PILOT expired for its co-generation plant. The company then protested its assessment, setting up a long and frustrating legal process for the municipalities and school district.