Changes to Alabama wind farm

ALABAMA - A public session was held Wednesday to discuss the changes made to the Alabama Ledge Wind Farm Project.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that studies the effect the wind turbines might have on the area has already been prepared, but since project developer Horizon LLC is proposing changes to the project, the Town Board has required the company to complete a supplemental DEIS.

The public meeting was held to establish what town residents would like the supplemental DEIS to include, based on the changes proposed to the project.

Project manager for Horizon, Gary Davidson explained that in a nutshell, the changes have made the project smaller.

"Basically, we expect the new studies to show an overall reduction in environmental impacts because the project is smaller," he said.

In 2008, the wind farm was to include 56 turbines that ranged anywhere from 80 megawatts to 117 megawatts. Now, there will be a no more than 40 turbines with a maximum capacity of 80 megawatts of power.

The number of overhead collection power lines will also be reduced, and Davidson said that most if not all lines can be run underground now. The project will call for less access roads, about 18.7 miles total. Originally, 23 miles were requested.

Besides a reduction in the number of turbines, the locations of the turbines that remain will be shifted to accomodate the environment, agricultural impacts, and surrounding landowners, said Davidson.

The location of the substation is proposed to be south of White Road and Judge Road.

After Davidson explained the proposed changes to the project, Andrew Reilly spoke to the public about where the town is in regard to the overall project.

Reilly is a consultant from Wendel Duchscherer Architects and Engineers. He was hired by the town to oversee the process and to help board members and residents of the town to understand how SEQR works.

Reilly said, "Tonight is all about generating enough information to make a rational decision about this project. After comments from this evening, the Town Board can direct the applicant (Horizon) to answer to these concerns in the supplemental DEIS."

Dave Bencic, a resident of Batavia-Oakfield Town Line Road, took the opportunity to air his concerns. He mentioned that geese and other birds are always in the sky around where the turbines are proposed to be.

He said that the DEIS estimates that 166 birds will be killed a year, but the document claims that there are so many birds in the area, that number won't make a significant impact. Bencic also mentioned that there are bald eagles in the area.

Bencic wondered what would happen once there are dead birds laying around the bases of the turbines. He assumed that they would attract coyotes, wild dogs, and turkey vultures. The turkey vultures drawn to the carcasses could easily be killed by the turbines as well.

He went on to ask questions about television reception near turbines, wondering if the new digital signals were studied in the DEIS and requesting that it be revisited in the supplemental DEIS.

Bencic also asked about the possiblity of well water loss, and demanded that Horizon be forced to incur expenses to provide acceptable water if their project causes a loss in well water to surrounding homes and farms.

He pointed out that in the DEIS, as a solution to "shadow flicker" in homes, it suggests that homeowners close their shades or install shutters. Bencic says that his house on Town Line Road will experience flickering sunlight through the blades of five different turbines at different times during the day. He asked that the Town Board not accept the installation of shades as a remedy for shadow flicker.

As he concluded his list of concerns, Bencic insinuated that Horizon has attempted to, "... glaze over liability and danger to make (the project) appear safe and risk free."

He pleaded with the Town Board to review the DEIS, the supplemental and the final impact statement (once they are completed) and to just say no to the project altogether for the safety of Alabama.

A few residents of the town questioned whether or not Horizon was going to take their comments seriously. Davidson said that they would address all issues in the supplemental, but it will be up to the Town Board to decide what issues are included.

Board member Max Maerten said he planned to make the supplemental DEIS as detailed as possible.

"I can't ask a single person in this town to put something up in their backyard that I wouldn't want to put up in mine," he said. He said he has been taking the project very seriously and has been going over all information with a fine-toothed comb.

"We don't take any of your comments lightly," he assured residents. "We just want to know what it is that needs further study so we can make sure Horizon takes care of it in the supplemental DEIS."

Residents of Alabama have until May 15 to submit written comments regarding the proposed wind farm and it's impacts to the environment to the town hall.