Project Report Submitted to the Faculty of the Bard Center for Environmental Policy..in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Policy

Editor's Note: There are two recurring themes in this study: (1) the results are applicable only to Fenner and (2) much more research is needed.

What is clearly missing is a ‘sense of place’, a variable acknowledged by the author as important but left unaddressed. What we’re told is that Fenner is a ‘rural farming community’. We have no sense of what drives residents/prospective residents to live in (or, for that matter, to leave) Fenner. We have no sense of ‘public attitudes’, another variable the author clearly ties to property values but leaves unaddressed. What is noticeably missing are house sales within 0.75 miles of the wind plant, i.e. those that would presumably be most impacted by noise and shadow flicker.

In the absence of more authoritative studies, we know from press reports associated with wind plants and wind plant applications that ‘opposition’ appears to be lowest in ‘farming’ communities in which farmers view the turbines as a ‘cash crop’ and local municipalities covet the related taxes. We also know from these sources that opposition is greatest in communities that have something to ‘protect’, i.e. treasured/scenic natural assets (ridgelines, shorelines, unique/sensitive habitats), tourist/second home based economies and/or wildlife. Where these are issues, it is hardly a ‘leap of faith’ to surmise that property values will fare comparatively worse than in communities where these issues don’t exist and that properties specifically impacted by the turbines (view/noise/shadow flicker, etc) will fare the worst. As the author readily concedes, ‘public attitudes’ is an important determinant of property values and the opposition within these communities often reflects the prevailing public attitude towards wind turbines. After all, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is what real estate is all about.

Lastly, Hoen offers a useful critique (available below) of the REPP report that is often pointed to by wind turbine developers as evidence that wind plants do not adversely affect property values.

But we must go one step further in order to fully and properly put in place essential safeguards necessary for the protection of rural communities everywhere in New York State. We need a moratorium on wind development projects now.

Meredith resident Dr. Kenneth Jaffe's presentation to the Town of Meredith Planning Board on the proposed industrial scale wind plant (=> 100 wind turbines, each over 400 feet tall) within the framework of Meredith's recently adopted vision statement that reads:

We must preserve and maintain the Town of Meredith’s historic, agricultural and rural character. We must guide development to meet the economic, social and recreational needs of all residents. We must foster a unified community while maintaining the ambiance of a small rural town with the uniqueness that is Meredith. We must realize this vision in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

Editor's Note: Dr. Jaffe's report on the safely issues related to ice throws is available via the link below.

Senator Kevin Parker's (et al) bill calls for a siting process for wind production facilities and seeks a report with recommendations for an overall sitings plan. The bill was introduced on 1/27/05 and is currently (1/4/06) before the Energy & Telecommunications Committee.

In this report we discuss some recent studies that have occurred in the United States since our previous work [2, 3]. The key objectives of these studies were to quantify the physical impacts and costs of wind generation on grid operations and the associated costs. Examples of these costs are (a) committing unneeded generation, (b) allocating more load-following capability to account for wind variability, and (c) allocating more regulation capacity. These are referred to as “ancillary service” costs, and are based on the physical system and operating characteristics and procedures. This topic is covered in more detail by Zavadil et al. [4].

This report is the first draft RNA prepared by the New York Independent System Operator. This document represents the first in a series of annual CRPP plans designed to address the long-term reliability of the New York State bulk power system. This RNA consists of this document and the supporting documents and appendices attached hereto. Just as important as the electric system plan is the process of planning itself. Electric system planning is an ongoing process of evaluating, monitoring and updating as conditions warrant. In addition to addressing reliability, the CRPP is also designed to provide information that is both informative and of value to the New York wholesale electricity marketplace. A full description of the Comprehensive Reliability Planning Process is contained in Section 2 of the Supporting Document.

The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), as lead agency in the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process, is considering potential impacts from construction of 53 wind energy turbines which would generate approximately 79 megawatts of power. Turbine structures are anticipated to be approximately 389 feet tall from the ground to the highest blade tip. Structures such as a substation, 4.8 miles of buried cable, an unspecified amount of overhead transmission lines, and 3.4 miles of access roads must also be built in the 33,000 acre project area. This project is situated at the southern end of the Finger Lakes, near the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Hi Tor Wildlife Management Area, the Hi Tor Bird Conservation Area, and generally along a north-south oriented ridge.

This Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) has been prepared for the Ecogen, LLC (Ecogen) Prattsburgh/Italy Wind Farm Project (Project) on the behalf of the Lead Agency, the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA). The FGEIS is prepared pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), Environmental Conservation Law, Article 8, 6NYCRR Part 617, and its implementing regulations.