Golisano told an audience Thursday night at a public meeting on wind farms that state officials are considering ways to help towns set up their own wind farm development corporations.
Delivery and construction of wind turbines that produce electricity are estimated at $3 million each, according to Golisano.
Plans by the state to help communities finance wind farm development could be firmed up within months, he said.
Mark Hanson, a spokesman for state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, said Golisano met with the senator Wednesday, adding Bruno “is very interested, very interested” in community-based wind farm development.
“Communities are at the crossroads,” Golisano said at the Arkport Central School. “Do you want wind farms or no? If yes, there are alternatives.”
The benefits to municipalities include total control of the development and initial annual profits estimated at $125,000 per turbine. After 10 years, with starting costs paid, profits would increase significantly, Golisano said.
Golisano's model calls for a community-based corporation - or authority - with a board of directors elected by residents. The authority would be independent of any town government and would qualify for existing federal and state incentives.
Revenues from the project would be distributed to residents at the end of the year and not affect municipal taxes, according to a plan being developed by the town of Perry, near Rochester.
The meeting was attended by a number of municipal officials who are considering wind farm development. Sites across the county include those in Cohocton, Hartsville, Hornby, Howard and Prattsburgh.
Golisano's representatives approached the Prattsburgh Town Board with a similar plan earlier this year. Prattsburgh is the site of proposals between two rival developers.
The projects have led to a bitter division in the town, where supporters claim the wind farms will increase town revenues, provide renewable energy and provide jobs.
Project opponents charge the turbines belong in an industrial park setting, do not produce significant energy, and endanger people and wild life.
“Golisano's ideas sounds very appealing,” said Harold McConnell, Prattsburgh town supervisor. “But I think there's a whole lot more than he brought up. We'll see what develops in the town of Perry and whether the state is going to come up with ways to finance it.”
McConnell said he doubts the plan will be considered by the town board, with one developer now close to completing the project.
But Al Wordingham, a spokesman for the Prattsburgh Advocates, a group opposing wind farm plans, said there is plenty of time for the board to act.
Construction and delivery of the towers could be delayed by as much as two years, due to the increased interest in wind development across the country, he said.
“And what this plan would do is make sure the turbines get placed where they won't hurt people,” Wordingham said. “I mean, if you've got to have them, let's at least get some control.”