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Alfred Community Wind Energy Meetings
Town Board member, Mary Stearns, reported that the board approved a preliminary wind energy law. It is now with the town's lawyer for review. It will come back to the board for changes and eventually a public hearing will be held. Currently the setback is 2640' (one-half mile) from non participating residences (those without an industrial wind turbine, IWT, on the property) and 1500' from a wetland. The town board would have to opt out of the IWT Corporation (Empire State Wind Energy in this case and at present time) being tax exempt.
A report on some economic considerations (study done in Texas rural land) was researched and presented by Bob Donius. A photo presentation with written commentary is available at: wind-watch.org
Bob's main points included:
- Property values within a larger area around a wind farm increase, but as you shrink the radius, they begin to decline.
- The negative impact area is within a two mile radius of the IWT.
- In Alfred, IWTs (2 Megawatt size, 400' high to tip of raised blade) would be located little more than one-half mile from Alfred village.
Presentation/discussion by Jim Hall of Cohocton (Hall was a key figure in establishing the website Cohocton Wind Watch. It provides information/news in opposition to industrial wind turbines in that area and the corporate-community process that transpired.)
Hall's main points included:
- There are 50 IWTs in Cohocton; 15 turbines are within one and on-half mile of his home.
- A recent appraisal of his home has dropped by nearly 50%.
- When property values decline there is less incentive to keep property up.
- Capacity factor (how much energy is produced compared to the turbine's maximum output) is not exceeding 12% up there.
- Current push by industry is linked to subsidies, tax breaks and green credit payments.
- Always ask what will happen when the wind energy corporation chooses to walk away. Who's responsible? Who will pick up the pieces?
- Taxes will not always go down.
- PILOTS were not forthcoming as arranged in Cohocton.
- First Wind (IWT corporation) spent $5 million to put up a single turbine.
- First Wind installed Clipper turbines, which are not working well. Some will have to come down.
- The financial arrangements established in their host agreements have not been met. There's bureaucratic deadlock and the people of the town cannot obtain the financial records.
- Noise is greatest in winter when wind is stronger.
- Sound can continue to be a problem at greater distances (e.g., one and one-half miles) as the sound is "thrown" well beyond the turbine location.
- Distance from roads in Cohocton law is 550'and the distance from center point of turbine to residence is 1563'
- Transparency is essential. People must know where the turbines will go.
- New York State Power Authority conference in relation to Lake Ontario placement of turbines advised two and one-half mile setback.
- As long as Article 10 (Home Rule) of the NYS Constitution is not revoked, a town my use it as legal tool to define the people's vision of their community.
The next meeting will take place at the Alfred Village Hall on May 20 at 7pm.
If you would like more information, you can contact Kim Donius, Vicky Westacott, or Peter McClain at alfred.wind.meetings@gmail.com |
