Herkimer County Legislature Meeting

Chairman Hendrix,

As a matter of Health and Safety for the residents of Herkimer County, I am requesting that the Legislature order a Health Impact Study to be carried out in the Townships that have proposed sites for the “wind factories”.

My 34 acre piece of property is situated just about in the middle of the development in Fairfield, approximately 1600’ from the nearest turbine. And yes I’m very concerned about having turbines all around me.

I am presenting the Legislature with just a small package of data I’ve compiled. Many of the articles are written by Dr. Nina Pierpont of Malone, New York. She has studied the effects of “Wind Turbine Syndrome” on residents in close proximity to the turbines. There are also some articles about residents that have suffered as a result of living too close to the turbines. We should learn from other Town’s mistakes on siting turbines too close to residential structures. If only 25% of what I’ve read is accurate, it’s still too much. Please read these articles.

I’m presenting the Legislature with a copy of the proposed “Top Notch Wind Power Project” turbine layout for the Towns of Fairfield and Norway which I received from an Atlantic Renewables representative. There are approximately 120 dwellings within a 3000’ foot distance from the turbines. That is a lot of people that are in close proximity to these 390’ tall turbines.

There are issues with noise, vibration and shadow flicker all having detrimental effects on people and animals.

I feel that it is the County’s responsibility to initiate a Study since there are a few projects being proposed in the County. The Town of Fairfield Board knows little about the project proposed for their Town and has no intentions of looking into the matter. Dr. O’Keefe, our Public Health Officer should perhaps contact Dr. Pierpont and have her look into this matter. She has conducted a number of studies and written many papers about the health effects of living near the turbines. If there is a potential for any negative health issues even for one person, than this surely merits a more in depth look.

I am not against “wind energy development”, but I am against it being developed in a residential area. On the hillsides or deserts of California where there are few dwellings I see no problem, but they should not be built between peoples houses.

As more is learned about the negative effects of the turbines, recommendations for setbacks of 1 – 2 miles are now being considered as a standard. This should be addressed now.

The County should have a more active role in the oversight of these projects. The Town boards only seem to know what the “windmill salesman” wants them to know. Jeff Roche who is the lead negotiator for Fairfield and Norway has contracts for “two” windmills on his property. Doesn’t this make him an Agent for Atlantic Renewables since he now has a vested interest in the completion of the project so that he can start receiving his checks?