Save The River, the leading grassroots advocacy organization working to protect the St. Lawrence River, submitted these comments to the Town of Cape Vincent, NY encouraging adoption of a one-year moratorium on all wind energy development.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape New York

Why do our town officials value the wind companies more than the citizens they represent? Furthermore, it's hard to understand why so many people are indifferent about the issue. Many people say, "I don't care one way or another because I won't see them from my house or from the village. They won't affect me." To me this translated to I don't care what happens to my neighbors or my community.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

At what point does it become a matter of personal responsibility to stand up and speak out to preserve the priceless beauty and health of a God-given resource that once irreversibly damaged by corporate and political greed can never be replaced? ...Now after the introduction of industrial-scale wind turbines and high voltage switchyards and transformers to Sheldon, and the dumping of thousands of tons of industrial waste from the 100 year-old industrial steel site into the agricultural fields where food is grown or cattle graze ... we choose to exercise our rights as a democratic society and therefore stand up and speak out as necessary to preserve this land that is the Orangeville that we love.

Pollution Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

Image of the High Sheldon wind facility taken from a farm in the town. The Invenergy facility consists of seventy-five 1.5 megawatt wind turbines (total 112.5 megawatts). The project went online in January 2009. Noise complaints have been filed by residents living within the shadows of the towers.

Impact on Views Noise Impact on Landscape New York

Image of the High Sheldon wind facility taken from a farm in the town. The Invenergy facility consists of seventy-five 1.5 megawatt wind turbines (total 112.5 megawatts). The project went online in January 2009. Noise complaints have been filed by residents living within the shadows of the towers.

Impact on Views Noise Impact on Landscape New York

Image of the High Sheldon wind facility taken from a farm in the town. The Invenergy facility consists of seventy-five 1.5 megawatt wind turbines (total 112.5 megawatts). The project went online in January 2009. Noise complaints have been filed by residents living within the shadows of the towers.

Impact on Views Noise Impact on Landscape New York

Comments on the proposed Galloo Island Wind Farm submitted to the state Department of Environmental Conservation criticize the project's effects on birds and animals and ask for public access. DEC collected 22 written comments on the draft environmental impact statement submitted by Galloo Island developer Upstate NY Power Corp. Oral comments were taken at two public hearings May 18. As lead agency, DEC collects comments and then determines whether the draft statement is complete.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape New York

My house and land is in Prattsburgh, across from turbine sites for the Ecogen wind project, and my wife owns adjacent property in Naples, Ontario County. I've heard some people say "what's happening in the hills with the wind turbines won't affect me." What these folks may not yet realize is that, if these turbines are allowed to damage the value of adjacent properties, their taxes will go up. And the first step in this one-two process has just started.

Impact on Views Property Values Impact on Landscape New York

Gov. David Paterson met with four other governors of Mid-Atlantic states who joined together to announce on Thursday, June 5 the formation of a bureaucracy that will serve as infrastructure for future conservation and alternative energy projects in the Atlantic Ocean. The newly created Governors Mid-Atlantic Council on Oceans has the dual focus of preserving the natural habitats in and around the Atlantic Ocean while promoting "offshore renewable energy."

Energy Policy Impact on Landscape New York

More than 90,000 households could be powered by the proposed Hounsfield Wind Farm on Galloo Island in Jefferson County. "This is a real opportunity for renewable energy in New York State. It's a very unique site. There are not too many islands that, I think, in the New York waters that would be suitable for a wind farm," said Jack Nasca, Department of Environmental Conservation.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape New York

This actual photograph shows the famous Tibbetts Point lighthouse in Cape Vincent, New York. The turbines visible in the background are sited between 3 and 5 miles away from the lighthouse, across the St. Lawrence River and on Wolfe Island in Ontario Canada. No telephoto setting was used on the camera.

Impact on Views Impact on Landscape Canada New York

This actual photograph shows the famous Tibbetts Point lighthouse in Cape Vincent, New York. The turbines visible in the background are sited between 3 and 5 miles away from the lighthouse, across the St. Lawrence River and on Wolfe Island in Ontario, Canada.

Impact on Views Impact on Landscape Canada New York

A wind turbine is seen from Hal Graham’s window on Lent Hill in Cohocton. Mr. Graham signed a lease agreement with First Wind (formerly UPC Wind) to permit turbines on his property. Since signing, Mr. Graham has been vocal in arguing First Wind was not forthcoming with how noisy the turbines would be. According to aerial photographs of Mr. Graham's property, two industrial-scale turbines are located at 1050 feet and 2000 feet of the wall of his home. In total there are six industrial scale turbines within one-mile of his house.

Noise Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

We have recently learned about the wind turbine projects proposed for construction along the shores of the majestic St. Lawrence River in Hammond. I implore those who want to preserve and protect a way of life to speak up and take action before it is too late. For those readers who have never visited the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York, go and see for yourself Mother Nature's gift to all of us who have been blessed to spend time in that beautiful environment.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

I reside in the center of the Maple Ridge Wind Farm on the Tug Hill Plateau. The part you don't see on a guided tour. When I look out my front door, I can count at least 151 405-foot turbines, thanks in part to Horizon Energy. This project has fragmented wildlife habitat, the community and our family along with several others that I know.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

Timothy Yancey's home sits within the footprint of the massive Maple Ridge wind energy facility in Lowville, NY. His, experience mirrors that of others living with industrial scale turbines.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

Timothy Yancey's home sits within the footprint of the massive Maple Ridge wind energy facility in Lowville, NY. His, experience mirrors that of others living with industrial scale turbines.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

Complaints by some regarding noise issues with the turbines have been brought to the town board's attention, most recently at the board's March 20 meeting. At least one resident reports that the noise is interrupting his sleep, which in turn is affecting his health. ...O'Connor, who attended the March meeting along with a neighbor, said that the company that did the study, Hessler Associates, is closely connected with Noble. "I had it reviewed by another guy," he said. O'Connor told the board that he videotapes the turbines and uses a sound meter to back up his claims. "My metering is honest and legitimate," he said, reporting that the sound level reaches over 50 decibels at times.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York

Balloon tests performed this week in Westfield gave residents their first real feel of the height of the proposed Ripley-Westfield wind farm. Babcock and Brown performed the test as part of their environmental impact study required by the state. "The balloon testing is performed in support of the visual impact assessment to be included in the DEIS," said Peter Gross of Babcock and Brown.

Impact on Views Impact on Landscape New York

My heart aches for the citizens of Hammond, both year-round and seasonal, for they are about to lose their entire way of life and the wildlife and peace and quiet of the area. The natural beauty will be gone. Friends and neighbors will be choosing camps, and lifelong grudges will be formed. Is it worth it just to pick up a few thousand bucks? Ask the people of Lowville what it has done to families and neighbors. I say to the turbine industry, go away and leave us alone. Stop appealing to people's sense of greed no matter what the cost.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape New York