DOCSLIB.ORG

Janice Pease

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

JANICE PEASE March 15, 2018 Via Email Honorable Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary to the PSC Re: Case 16-F-0268, Application of Atlantic Wind LLC for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need Pursuant to Article 10 for Construction of the North Wind Energy Project in the Towns of Parishville and Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County. Dear Secretary Burgess: Please add the attached pdf compilation of various questions which have not been fully answered by the corporation Avangrid/Atlantic Wind/Iberdrola. We, the “stakeholders” in the North Ridge Wind Project Zone do not feel that this process is in any way transparent. There are many details which the public are not privy to that fall under the categories “trade secret” and “proprietary Information”. I have emailed the representatives of this company in an effort to better understand some of those details. My emails have not been answered. I posted these questions in the local paper, North Country This Week, in the hopes that others would understand that we as a community can not enter into a venture with such an entity until we have the answers to all of these questions. The specifics of these questions effect the compatibility of this project. The stakeholders have a right to understand all of the contracts that are being signed within the project zone and how those contracts effect the community. The stakeholders deserve to know the extent to which the variables effect the actual calculations of financial incentives that are being advertised. As it stands now residents within the project zone have signed numerous contracts without all of the facts, many did not know to ask these questions. I would hope that officials would recognize the moral implications of binding a community in such contracts and as such would further investigate this issue. 130 Beebe Rd Potsdam, NY 13676 (315)328-5793 [email protected] Page 1: Is an email to Scott McDonald with 15 questions relating to the North Ridge Project. Pages 2 & 3: Is a North Country This Week letter to the editor with 40 questions that most stakeholders do not have the answers to. Page 4-27: Is a huge list of questions from another project, some of the questions may not apply directly however it demonstrates the real lack of understanding that most people have of the full scope of a wind farm project. We share many of these concerns and the questions transfer over easily to the North Ridge Wind Project. Page 28: Is a notice by Concerned Citizens For Rural Preservation which is asking questions relating to an ad posted by Avangrid into the North Country This Week Paper. Sincerely, ' 1.”I .. J rjgnaz .4‘ :.€.a._ Janice R. Pease Party to Case No. 16-F-0268 janis pease <[email protected]:> Feb 15 at 5:15 PM To [email protected], Susan Wood, Kelly Puiiano, Douglas Withereii, Sandy Maine, and 6 more... The stakeholders in the Hopkinton North Ridge Wind Facility Project have many questions we need and deserve to have answered. Being that there is an upcoming vote our board needs all of this information to accurately make a detennination as to the proper stipulations in the wind law. Things we do not know about the North Flidge wind Facility... 1. Where is the possible location of the substation in Hopkinton? 2. What is this "newest technology‘ Paul Coleman keeps stating in the papers? Vilhat model, size, individual MW turbine? 3. Will the transmissions lines he underground or transmission towers? 4. Will the transmission lines go down the current transmission route that exists in Hopkinton {it runs through the Beebe rd 8. Santamont}? 5. How many Ieaseholders are currently signed up? Will that number decrease as the project footprint decreases? 6. Where are "Good Neighbor‘ agreements flied? is the a memorandum filed with the state? 7. How many "Good Neighbor" Agreements have been signed for the North Ridge Wind Facility so far? 3. when will the next question.u‘Answer public meeting be in Hopkinton for the stakeholders? 9. How will we be compensated ifiwhen wells are compromised? 10. How long will Ieaseholders continue to get 5 after the Panshvilie project has been terminated‘? 11. What is the fire suppression equipment that will be installed at the turbines? 12. How will our fire department be trained to deal with tires relating to the turbines? vrrrr they have jurisdiction? 13. Where is the projected location for the sound monitoring station? 14. How will complaints be handled? A hot line? An onslte person? 15. if a personfpersons have a complaint and the personal go to the site (possibly days later] how will the next compiaim be handled? who pays for this "service'? We look forward to your response. Thank you, Janice Pease NORTH COUNTRY Opinion: Questions for Hopkinton wind farm developer before vote To the Editor: The stakeholders in the North Ridge Wind Farm have many questions we need and deserve to have answered. With the upcoming vote, our board needs more information to accurately determine what are proper wind law stipulations. 1. What is this "newest technology" Paul Coleman states? What model, size, individual MW turbine? 2. Will the transmissions lines be underground or towers? 3. Will the transmission lines go down the current transmission route that exists in Hopkinton? 4. How many leaseholders are currently signed up? 5. Where are "Good Neighbor" agreements filed? Is the memorandum filed with the state? 6. How many "Good Neighbor" Agreements have been signed for the North Ridge Wind Facility so far? 7. When will the next question/answer public meeting be in Hopkinton for the stakeholders? 8. How will we be compensated if/when wells are compromised from piledriving (as in Whitelee, Scotland & Chatham-Kent, Ontario)? 9. What is the fire-suppression-equipment that will be installed at the turbines? 10. How will our fire department be trained to deal with fires relating to the turbines? Will they have jurisdiction? 11. If a forest fire occurs (Iberdrola’s- Pedregal Mountains-1 hectare burned, Tule Wind California-367 acres) on the edge of the Adirondacks and crews are not large/quick enough to fight it, how will the fire be dealt with? 12. Since turbines do catch fire will the insurance be enough to cover damage/cost to town/county if it gets out of control? 13. If the estimated road cost after the project is completed is large, will the company baulk at the cost (as Iberdrola did Providence Heights Wind Farm, Indiana) 14. Where is the projected location for the sound monitoring station? 15. How will complaints be handled? A ho line? An on-site person? 16. If a person/persons have a complaint and the personal go to the site and finds the sound to be in compliance at that moment (possibly days later) how will the next complaint be handled? Who pays for this service? 17. Is it true that if the company comes out to listen/ check if the sound is out of compliance and they wait too long (and therefore the sound is different) the next visit will cost the person who complained? 18. If the World Health Organization states that health issues occur above 30-40dBA why is the town considering 40-45 dBA for the sound limit? Shouldn’t it be 30? 19. Why is the sound measurement not done for the full spectrum? Shouldn’t the sound be measured in dBL, dBC,dBG, dBA, etc. and readings accounting for fast peak pressure changes? 20. Why is yearly averaging of sound allowed? If there are many days where the turbine stands still (no sound) and then large spikes that occur on other (72dBA for example) days then the sound could be averaged out and equal compliance despite the turbines being loud. 21. Will the Wind Company sue our town if the town has more protective setbacks and sound limits? 22. If 2 miles has been the limit some scientists have suggested for a setback to properties why do we only get 2500 feet? 23. Since the project is being seen as “unreasonably burdensome” by many land owners in Hopkinton shouldn’t there be some form of compensation for such a drastic change, especially for non-participating land owners? 24. If infrasound is not attenuated inside/outside a building and can actually increase in homes, how will a reading 10 feet from the residence protect those who are affected? Wouldn’t a reading at the property line and inside the home would be more accurate for measuring the noise? 25. If Hopkinton has issues, as residents within the Hardscrabble Wind Farm have, and they cannot afford an attorney how will their problem be resolved? Will the town set up an account? Will a state agency step in to force compliance? 26 With the documented issues in other “projects” shouldn’t there be more discussion on trespass zoning? 27. Being that everyone who signed a lease agreement, easement agreement, transmission line agreement, and “Good Neighbor” agreements signed a private contract with confidentiality clauses, how many residents can actually file a complaint if the turbines are too loud? 28. What protections do the agreement signees have with provisions such as Non-interference and quiet enjoyment provisions & automatic renewal clauses -- which seem to give unlimited scope of powers over the property to the wind company? 29. Is the $350 fine going to be enough motivation for the multibillion dollar company to fix non-compliance issues they are fined for? 30. When will phase 2 begin? (Maple Ridge has seen a major increase in turbine #’s) 31.
Recommended publications
  • 1St and 2Nd Reports of the Advisory C

    1St and 2Nd Reports of the Advisory C

    Conference – Michigan’s Future – Energy, Economy, Environment November 1-3, 2013, Thompsonville, Michigan, http://www.futuremichigan.org/ Friday, November 1 Foss, Nicole & Boomert, Laurence - A Century of Challenges International experts Foss (Canada) and Boomert (NZ) describe unprecedented challenges the 21st century brings and appropriate responses. Climate change, natural resource depletion and fragile economic systems present a very different future. We can either be reactive or proactive. The new system conditions mandate personal and societal responses beyond those of the 20th century. Foss is Senior Editor of The Automatic Earth, and international speaker on global finance, energy and environmental issues. Boomert has a long history in contingency planning, green business development and community solutions. In the early 1990s, he founded the 500 member Environmental Business Network. He currently runs the Bank of Real Solutions. Nicole discussed cycles of boom and bust through time as purchasing power stimulates demand, activity and credit (inflation), limits are reached and contraction or deflation then begins as promises are broken, liquidity crunches and economics depression begins. Inflation results as a result of currency inflation cuts and more money is printed or credit expansion, excess claims. In our future, liquidity will be more important as values of assets and consumer prices fall and value of cash rises. Liquidity represents uncommitted choices, preserves freedom of action. During a contraction phase (contagion), prices fall but purchasing power falls faster, unemployment and taxes rise. Affordability becomes the issue. De-globalization expected, local circumstances will matter much more, international and national institutions will become stranded assets from trust perspective. Exploding demand calls for local, community, pooling of resources, social capital and self-sufficiency.
  • Wind Energy in NY State

    Wind Energy in NY State

    2010 New York State Wind Energy Study Final Report Source: Milian, Chris; www.photosfromonhigh.com Submitted by: Christina Hoerig Kimballe Campbell Daniel Grew Nicole Gumbs Happiness Munedzimwe Sandeep George Jun Wan Timothy Komsa Karl Smolenski Tyler Coatney Cornell University II Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................II List of Figures .................................................................................................................... VI List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... VII 1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................. VIII 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................10 3 New York State Present Energy Supply/Demand ....................................................14 3.1 New York Energy Background ............................................................................14 3.2 Current NYS Wind Power ...................................................................................16 3.3 Near Term Growth of New York State Wind Power .............................................17 3.4 Progress of Other Renewables in New York State ..............................................19 3.5 Power Demand in Tompkins County ...................................................................19
  • Bridge Duel Continues Between State, Moroun

    Bridge Duel Continues Between State, Moroun

    20090202-NEWS--0001-NAT-CCI-CD_-- 1/30/2009 6:04 PM Page 1 ® www.crainsdetroit.com Vol. 25, No. 5 FEBRUARY 2 – 8, 2009 $2 a copy; $59 a year ©Entire contents copyright 2009 by Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved Inside State’s UI debt could Bridge duel continues mean higher taxes, Page 3 between state, Moroun Government gives nod for Rehab agency on the road both spans to fiscal recovery, NATHAN SKID/CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS BY BILL SHEA Page 3 Christos Moisides (left) and Michael CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Sinanis of 23rd Street Studios have a studio site at 23rd and Michigan. The high-stakes standoff be- This Just In tween Manuel Moroun and an international coalition of gov- ernments continues as both Comerica economist: make incremental progress to- Recession is widening Motown ward competing billion-dollar Detroit River crossings. Dana Johnson, the chief The situation got fresh impe- economist for Comerica Bank, tus in recent weeks, thanks to a NATHAN SKID/CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS said the current recession is movies pair of U.S. Department of Trans- Matthew Moroun, vice president of the Detroit International Bridge Co., stands in front of construction of the new bridge span, which will run next to the almost certain to become the portation approvals for the si- current bridge. longest since the 16-month multaneous bridge projects — downturns of 1973 and 1981, 2 groups shooting which include Michigan jointly four-lane structure. tion of infrastructure work on a which would make it the funding infrastructure at one Moroun’s Detroit International new highway interchange serving longest since the Great De- while seeking to build the other Bridge Co.
  • Wind Powering America Fy08 Activities Summary

    Wind Powering America Fy08 Activities Summary

    WIND POWERING AMERICA FY08 ACTIVITIES SUMMARY Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Dear Wind Powering America Colleague, We are pleased to present the Wind Powering America FY08 Activities Summary, which reflects the accomplishments of our state Wind Working Groups, our programs at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and our partner organizations. The national WPA team remains a leading force for moving wind energy forward in the United States. At the beginning of 2008, there were more than 16,500 megawatts (MW) of wind power installed across the United States, with an additional 7,000 MW projected by year end, bringing the U.S. installed capacity to more than 23,000 MW by the end of 2008. When our partnership was launched in 2000, there were 2,500 MW of installed wind capacity in the United States. At that time, only four states had more than 100 MW of installed wind capacity. Twenty-two states now have more than 100 MW installed, compared to 17 at the end of 2007. We anticipate that four or five additional states will join the 100-MW club in 2009, and by the end of the decade, more than 30 states will have passed the 100-MW milestone. WPA celebrates the 100-MW milestones because the first 100 megawatts are always the most difficult and lead to significant experience, recognition of the wind energy’s benefits, and expansion of the vision of a more economically and environmentally secure and sustainable future. Of course, the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report (developed by AWEA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and other stakeholders) indicates that 44 states may be in the 100-MW club by 2030, and 33 states will have more than 1,000 MW installed (at the end of 2008, there were six states in that category).
  • Jacobson and Delucchi (2009) Electricity Transport Heat/Cool 100% WWS All New Energy: 2030

    Jacobson and Delucchi (2009) Electricity Transport Heat/Cool 100% WWS All New Energy: 2030

    Energy Policy 39 (2011) 1154–1169 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Energy Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol Providing all global energy with wind, water, and solar power, Part I: Technologies, energy resources, quantities and areas of infrastructure, and materials Mark Z. Jacobson a,n, Mark A. Delucchi b,1 a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4020, USA b Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA article info abstract Article history: Climate change, pollution, and energy insecurity are among the greatest problems of our time. Addressing Received 3 September 2010 them requires major changes in our energy infrastructure. Here, we analyze the feasibility of providing Accepted 22 November 2010 worldwide energy for all purposes (electric power, transportation, heating/cooling, etc.) from wind, Available online 30 December 2010 water, and sunlight (WWS). In Part I, we discuss WWS energy system characteristics, current and future Keywords: energy demand, availability of WWS resources, numbers of WWS devices, and area and material Wind power requirements. In Part II, we address variability, economics, and policy of WWS energy. We estimate that Solar power 3,800,000 5 MW wind turbines, 49,000 300 MW concentrated solar plants, 40,000 300 MW solar Water power PV power plants, 1.7 billion 3 kW rooftop PV systems, 5350 100 MW geothermal power plants, 270 new 1300 MW hydroelectric power plants, 720,000 0.75 MW wave devices, and 490,000 1 MW tidal turbines can power a 2030 WWS world that uses electricity and electrolytic hydrogen for all purposes.
  • Michigan Wind Vision

    Michigan Wind Vision

    A WIND VISION FOR NEW GROWTH IN MICHIGAN New research shows how expanding wind energy will benefit state economy A New Era for Wind Power in the United States wind energy under the Wind Vision U.S. Department of Energy scenario would result in Michigan Wind Vision report shows landowners receiving over $4.71 million dollars in annual payments potential benefits for Michigan by 2020, increasing to over $7.65 with continued expansion of million dollars annually by 2030. wind power in the state. Michigan farmers and A definitive new report recently families stand to benefit from released by the U.S. Department of significant freshwater savings Energy (DOE) shows huge potential and cleaner air by harvesting for wind power in Michigan and even more electricity from wind ENOUGH ELECTRICITY throughout the United States. The energy. DOE’s “Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States” Continuing to grow Michigan-made wind power offers tremendous water TO POWER finds wind energy could grow from supplying over 3.66% of the conservation and clean air benefits electricity generated in Michigan as well. Meeting the Wind Vision today to 4.8% by 2020 and more scenario would result in more than than 6.8% by 2030 – producing 616.33 million gallons of annual $ electricity for the equivalent of water savings by 2020, and by 2030 710,000 average American homes.* those savings grow to over 4.4 11.6 billion gallons a year. Generations Achieving the Wind Vision in of Michigan families also stand to Michigan would provide the state benefit from added clean air benefits with numerous benefits, including by harvesting more of the state’s MILLION electricity from wind energy.
  • Landowners' Guide to Wind Energy in Alberta

    Landowners' Guide to Wind Energy in Alberta

    Landowners’ Guide to Wind Energy in Alberta Tim Weis $ Alex Doukas $ Kristi Anderson (Micro-generation appendix by Gordon Howell) September 2010 ORDER FORM Landowners’ Guide to Landowners’ Wind Energy in Alberta Guide to Wind Energy Format in Alberta :,20= B E * :0<10.> -9?8/ A4>3 ,::08/4.0= :<48> 19<7,> Tim Weis U Alex Doukas U Kristi Anderson Pricing (Appendix by Gordon Howell) -i«ÌiLiÀ 2010 Non-profit organizations and individuals ' '( Corporations :0< .9:C ' '( ,66 19< .9<:9<,>0 /4=.9?8>= 98 -?65 9</0<= %07-48, !8=>4>?>0 # &( Ordering information #,70 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ $<2,84D,>498 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ //<0== ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 4>C +++++++++++++++++++++++ %<[email protected] +++++++++++ %9=>,6 9/0 ++++++++++++++++++++++ %3980 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ,B ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 7,46 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Method of Payment 30;?0 7,/0 :,C,-60 >9 >30 %07-48, !8=>4>?>0 )!' ",=>0<,</ ,</ #?7-0< ++++++++++++++++++++++++ B:4<C ,>0 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ #,70 91 ,</396/0< ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ '428,>?<0 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ",46 :3980 1,B 9< 07,46 >9 >30 ,//<0== -069A (30 %07-48, !8=>4>?>0 9B <,C>98 ),660C
  • I Am a 33-Year Re

    I Am a 33-Year Re

    March 1, 2016 Villenova Town Board 1094 Butcher Road South Dayton, New York 14138 To the Villenova Town Board: I am a 33-year resident and the 6th generation of my family to live in the Town of Villenova, I am asking you as respected elected officials and as the SEQRA lead agency to take a conscientious review and question the mitigation of environmental and community impacts by the proposed Ball Hill Wind Turbine Project. I believe our community’s greatest asset and most valuable resource is our picturesque landscape. It helps define the self-image of our residents who chose to inhabit it and gives them a sense of place. Though the changing seasons it is the dynamic backdrop to people’s lives. I hope many of our residents, tourists and hunters value the aesthetic, unadulterated nature of our open, scenic, rolling hills with some views as far as Lake Erie. The decision on whether or not to have an industrial wind facility sited in a community resides within the locality, as New York is a home rule state. Building this industrial project would exploit and ruin our landscape, an irreplaceable asset. RES Americas, the BOP company in charge of constructing this project will request amendment of Villenova and Hanover’s wind laws 420 feet limitation on maximum turbine height increased to 498 feet. The year-round visual impact would be significant and cannot be mitigated due to the introduction of 36 500-foot turbines, the height of a 50 story building, the large area of our town involved with the project, the on- going movement of 108 massive rotor blades and the project’s total 7.5-mile view shed.
  • Gwec – Global Wind Report | Annual Market Update 2015

    Gwec – Global Wind Report | Annual Market Update 2015

    GLOBAL WIND REPORT ANNUAL MARKET UPDATE 2015 Opening up new markets for business “It’s expensive for emerging companies to enter new markets like China. The risk of failure is high leading to delays and high costs of sales. GWEC introduced us to the key people we needed to know, made the personal contacts on our behalf and laid the groundwork for us to come into the market. Their services were excellent and we are a terrific referenceable member and partner.” ED WARNER, CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER, SENTIENT SCIENCE Join GWEC today! www.gwec.net Global Report 213x303 FP advert v2.indd 2 8/04/16 8:37 pm TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword 4 Preface 6 Global Status of Wind Power in 2015 8 Market Forecast 2016-2020 20 Australia 26 Brazil 28 Canada 30 PR China 32 The European Union 36 Egypt 38 Finland 40 France 42 Germany 44 Offshore Wind 46 India 54 Japan 56 Mexico 58 Netherlands 60 Poland 62 South Africa 64 Turkey 66 Uruguay 68 United Kingdom 70 United States 72 About GWEC 74 GWEC – Global Wind 2015 Report 3 FOREWORD 015 was a stellar year for the wind industry and for Elsewhere in Asia, India is the main story, which has now the energy revolution, culminating with the landmark surpassed Spain to move into 4th place in the global 2Paris Agreement in December An all too rare triumph of cumulative installations ranking, and had the fifth largest multilateralism, 186 governments have finally agreed on market last year Pakistan, the Philippines, Viet Nam, where we need to get to in order to protect the climate Thailand, Mongolia and now Indonesia are all ripe
  • Manufacturing Climate Solutions Carbon-Reducing Technologies and U.S

    Manufacturing Climate Solutions Carbon-Reducing Technologies and U.S

    Manufacturing Climate Solutions Carbon-Reducing Technologies and U.S. Jobs CHAPTER 11 Wind Power: Generating Electricity and Employment Gloria Ayee, Marcy Lowe and Gary Gereffi Contributing CGGC researchers: Tyler Hall, Eun Han Kim This research is an extension of the Manufacturing Climate Solutions report published in November 2008. It was prepared on behalf of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) (http://www.edf.org/home.cfm). Cover Photo Credits: 1. Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit – Iberdrola Renewables, Inc. (formerly PPM Energy, Inc.) 2. Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit – Iberdrola Renewables, Inc. (formerly PPM Energy, Inc.) 3. Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit – Reseburg, Amanda; Type A Images © September 22, 2009. Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness, Duke University The complete report is available electronically from: http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/climatesolutions/ As of September 22, 2009, Chapter 11 is not available in hardcopy. 2 Summary Wind power is a cost effective, renewable energy solution for electricity generation. Wind power can dramatically reduce the environmental impacts associated with power generated from fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). Electricity production is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States. Thus, adoption of wind power generating technologies has become a major way for the United States to diversify its energy portfolio and reach its expressed goal of 80% reduction in green house gas (GHG) emissions by the year 2050. The benefits of wind power plants include no fuel risk, no carbon dioxide emissions or air pollution, no hazardous waste production, and no need for mining, drilling or transportation of fuel (American Wind Energy Association, 2009a).
  • Understanding Wind Energy Questions Posed to the Experts

    Understanding Wind Energy Questions Posed to the Experts

    Understanding Wind Energy Questions Posed to the Experts Sound/Noise Level Noise issues—will they be addressed? How loud will it be? Will I be able to hear it? Can you describe the sound the turbines make? What does the turbines sound like from approximately 1400 feet away? 1000 feet? 1/2 mile? Is there an accurate recording? What do the turbines sound like when it interacts with a home or building? Are there recordings from inside a house at a specific distance? Describe how the pitch of the turbine blade affects the noise emitted from the turbines? Does ice on the turbine blades affect the sound? Are the people who will live near these windmills aware that there is considerable and constant noise associated with the spinning of the blades? Do they know that huge, heavy chunks of ice fall from the blades in the winter? Can you hear turbine sounds from inside a home? People who live near the Mackinaw City wind turbines complain about the noise they make and they cannot sleep. I have stood near them and a couple of blocks away and cannot hear anything except swishing sounds. What sounds do the make that are bothering people? Are noise ordinances that are in place considered for the noise factor these turbines create? What is the decibel they will be running at? Are we allowed to enact a noise ordinance that covers all industry? Can we require that an industrial wind turbine project does not raise our daytime and/or nighttime ambient levels of sound in our ordinance? Should a noise limit in an ordinance set two limits, night
  • Allegany Wind Power Project Final Environmental Impact Statement

    Allegany Wind Power Project Final Environmental Impact Statement

    Allegany Wind Power Project Final Environmental Impact Statement 4.1 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION 4.1.1 Project Purpose, Need, and Benefit Written Comment 4L: If, as CCCC strongly urges, the Board concludes that the benefits of this project are in reality limited to financial payments to the Town, and financial payments to a handful of private landowners, but there will be a few other benefits, then the Board look that much more closely at the environmental burdens and the risk of a decline in property values in and around the project area, burdening many more town residents and threatening financial benefits to the Town by eroding the town’s property tax base. If in other words, the benefits clearly fail to outweigh the burdens, the Board should exercise its discretion under SEQRA to deny approval. Response to Written Comment 4L: Comment noted. The benefits described in the DEIS and FEIS are not just financial. As discussed elsewhere in the DEIS and this FEIS, no negative property value impacts are anticipated. No New York Town hosting a wind farm has lost tax base value. Prior to making any decision the Board will balance the social, economic, and environmental impacts and benefits. The following comments are all related to general concerns regarding Project benefits, and the balance between potential impacts and benefits. Written Comment 4G: The remainder of the comments below address whether the DEIS demonstrates that the benefits of the project outweigh the project’s environmental and other burdens. The balance of burdens and benefits is a crucial requirement under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and its implementing regulations (SEQRA), and SEQRA gives the Town Board considerable discretion in determining whether the balance ultimately justifies approval of the project.