An interesting letter from Noble Environmental Power that suggests by implication that there must be some 'downside' to being the neighbor of a wind plant.

This map is updated weekly by Save Western NY. The current map is available via the link below.

In summary, it appears that extensive federal level review of the three Noble projects is still in the early stages. It would not be appropriate for the town boards, as the lead agencies, to issue building permits without certifying that the appropriate federal review processes have been completed and the required permits obtained, nor for Noble to proceed with construction without required federal permits.

It is not at all clear from the DEIS that state or federal law will be upheld in the Ellenburg Project with regard to wetlands. Because of the vagueness and apparent project dominance of decisions being made with regard to wetlands, on-site NYSDEC and federal (USACE) oversight will be critical to modify turbine placement decisions during the project planning phase, to oversee them (to prevent changes) during the construction phase, and to oversee other mitigation measures.

Because time seems to be running out on fossil fuels and the lure of non-polluting windpower is so seductive, some people are now promoting windpower initiatives at any cost, without investigating potential negative consequences-- and with no apparent knowledge of even recent environmental history......Throughout my experience, I could not substantiate a single claim developers made for industrial wind energy, including the one justifying its existence: that massive wind installations would meaningfully reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. When you understand this, you realize the wind business is not really that complex. But there are a lot of complicated issues swirling around it that obscure and distract from this main point, issues such as global warming, property values, the nature of wind leases, local revenues and taxes, wildlife, natural views, and a host of others. So how does one know the truth of it all? How does one go about separating the reality from spin?

Prepared for Horizon Wind Energy by Wind Engineers, Inc

Dr, Kenneth Jaffe's response to the health and safety content of a June 2006 presentation by the NY State Department of State (DOS) in Delware County, NY.

The DOS presentation, which included a discussion of the impact of industrial turbine projects on communities and individuals, is intended to guide local officials in the process of writing regulations. Dr. Jaffe's response addresses what he believes are substantive misstatements, mischaracterizations, biased emphasis and faulty data contained in the DOS presentation.

During a recent roundtable discussion concerning wind power projects at the Delaware County Historical Society a participant affiliated with two local wind development companies stated that there were three issues where the health and safety impacts were predictable and avoidable---- ice throws, noise, and flicker. Since the statement was made in the presence of planners who are advising towns in the process of writing regulations to protect the health and safety of residents, I felt that a fuller discussion of the known science of these issues was important, and have prepared this report to that end.

Editor's Note: Dr. Jaffe's presentation to the Town of Meredith Planning Board on the proposed industrial wind plant vis-a-vis Meredith's 'vision' is available via the link below.