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. Written Comment 4J: In an Appendix to this comment letter I have provided the results of independent analyses performed by the wind industry by the agencies that regulate the industry, and by other independent scientists and energy analysts. The Board should rely only on independent, published analyses that actually look under the hood for concrete benefits of wind farms. The sections of the DEIS on project benefits are highly misleading, are in important respects inaccurate, and are supported by little more than assertions from wind industry trade associations rather than independent sources. April 27, 2011 4.1 - 1 Allegany Wind Power Project Final Environmental Impact Statement Written Comment 4M: As has been frequently stated, the Everpower proposal would probably be the most intrusive project Allegany has experienced. It is my hope that the Board looks carefully at this letter and the others being submitted on behalf of CCCC to determine whether the location of industrial wind turbines in the town avoids unacceptable impacts, adequately mitigates those impacts that cannot be avoided, and provides benefits that clearly outweigh expected burdens will require an effort appropriate to the project’s size and potential effects [sic]. Written Comment 6A: For your information, I am opposed to wind turbines installation in our town. This is based not only on the impact of the beauty of our area, but also the lack of substantiated information on the benefits of said wind turbine. Written Comment 7A: Our family resides at 212 Hawthorn Lane in Allegany. We are strongly opposed to the Wind Farm proposal. We have looked at research for positives and negatives. We feel that the negatives far outweigh any positives. Written Comment 10MMMM: The residents of Allegany choose Allegany for its peace and quiet, its beauty, and its quality of life. I ask, how many Allegany residents/taxpayers lives are you willing to sacrifice for New York City Everpower and its British owner, Terra Firma? Written Comment 14A: I would like to let you, the members of the Town of Allegany Planning Board, [know] that the Town of Allegany may not be an appropriate location for the proposed Everpower wind turbine project. The character of the Town of Allegany will be deeply affected by this project and it is probable that the project benefits may not be great enough to offset the negative characteristics. Written Comment 16L: In conclusion, I see little if any benefit to the community and considerable personal and environmental detriment tied to the construction of this project. Additionally, I feel that the above mentioned local, state and federal entities have so far failed to protect and serve the public. Written Comment 24A: Please accept this letter as a formal request to disapprove the Everpower Allegany Wind Turbine project. I have attended the informational meetings and reviewed written and web provided data. After considering the data I feel that there is no legitimate justification for the turbine installations. April 27, 2011 4.1 - 2 Allegany Wind Power Project Final Environmental Impact Statement There does not seem to be any significant advantage to the Township, individual citizens, the environment, or the rural landscape which would be irrevocably altered. Information suggests that at best Western New York is a marginal choice for wind powered energy generation. The price we would pay is profoundly too high for the benefits that would accrue to us. Written Comment 29C: The idea of a wind farm in the town goes against all logic when you learn the facts about them. I am sure that all the board members have been informed by the wind farm company of all the positive reasons for having wind turbines. I hope that you have looked at all the negative reasons as well. I believe that allowing a wind farm in Allegany would be a mistake. The town and its residents would lose much more than they would gain. We are in tough economic times now, but with common sense spending and careful planning, we can get through these times without ruining the beauty of the hills and lands that surround us by allowing the wind farms to exist. Money is not the answer nor should it be the deciding factor in this wind farm proposal. Written Comment 33A: I am writing to urge you to vote no to the proposed wind turbine project in the town of Allegany. There are so many reasons this is not a good thing for our community, or for our region. There are not many, if any, reasons this would be good for us. There may be a few extra dollars seen for a while because of this project, but in the long run, it will cost us much more, both economically and at the expense of the quality of life we have come to take for granted. Unfortunately if it passes and becomes reality, what we take granted will be sorely missed and irreplaceable. At what cost do we sell our beautiful landscape? At what cost do we sell the birds bats and other wildlife that are a vital part of our natural resources? Written Comment 36C: Please assure us you will consider our best interest, rather than [sic] any temporary monetary gain, and say no to this project in this location or any location in Allegany where it might affect residents. I love this community, I want to raise my two young boys here, please do not take our peaceful quiet valley away from us. Written Comment 43B: The people of Chipmonk and Allegany have made it very clear that they are not in favor of these wind turbine farms. The residents of Chipmonk and Allegany depend upon each and every one of you to represent them when planning for a new business opportunities. This venture is clearly April 27, 2011 4.1 - 3 Allegany Wind Power Project Final Environmental Impact Statement not advantageous to anyone in Chipmonk or even in Allegany. The risks far outweigh the benefits. Please put an end to this potential nightmare for the families who reside in the area and deny the greedy corporation who wishes to gain financially from this venture, the ability to use our area for their gain. Written Comment 45A: The net gains and losses need to be assessed, impacts fairly evaluated and community feedback seriously considered. Losses include the following: 1. Industrial blight (static visual pollution) of our greatest resource – the landscape which attracts homeowners (tax payers). 2. Dynamic visual pollution resulting from low rpm turbine blade light interrupting shutter affect. 3. Acoustical pollution (constant background noise). This noise has at least two components – the audible aerodynamic wave produced by a blade passing through the air (the tip velocity of the blade exceed 1000 ft/sec) and the whine of the turbine/generator/rotor/bearing systems (this noise source will increase in dBA levels with time). 4. Power generated will be small (requiring and legitimizing need for more wind turbines) and will be exported from Allegany. 5. Tax benefits from government have a short life expectancy. Temporary additional funding to Allegany Township will not reduce taxes, but may justify spending that will not be maintainable. 6. Capital cost and installation cost – good for big business, but they are not in our community. 7. Equipment Functional Life (determined by other Green Power initiatives) and cost to dismantle (responsibility of landowner or town). 8. Potential for law suits. This is a very real possibility that is a source of good business for local lawyers, but places a time and monetary strain on the Town. Gains – could not come up with any that exhibited long term redeeming value. Written Comment 46F: You are here and were elected to protect all of the people of Allegany not just the rich, and not just the heavily populated areas of Allegany. We pay taxes just like everyone else in town.