Residents react to 40 turbines 

JORDANVILLE – Public comments are being accepted until Dec. 1 on the Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement of the scaled-down Jordanville Wind energy proposal, which was presented to the community at a town of Warren public hearing Monday, Nov. 10.

Another standing-room-only crowd of more than 70 people packed the town of Warren meeting hall, presenting comments supporting and opposing the latest revisions to the wind farm project. In 2004, the project presented as many as 75 turbines for the Jordanville area. The 2006 revision presented 68 turbines to be considered for the area

This most recent proposal presents a 40-wind-turbine project with windmills removed from the south to mitigate Glimmerglass Historic District concerns and additional turbines removed from the west to mitigate concerns regarding the Holy Trinity Monastery.

Approximately 35 residents signed up to address the town board. Some praised the council for its hard work and others pleaded with them to do right by the community.

Other people spoke in support of and against windmills in general. A graduate of Owen D. Young Central School and former resident of the area, Brian Hugick, brought his son to the hearing, with both of them presenting comments in support of using wind turbines for alternative energy.

Both Hugicks spoke about weaning the United States off its “addiction of foreign oil.” The elder Hugick noted that the project will help local residents and the tax base.

Stephen Karboski, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 43 in Syracuse, pointed out that the project would provide jobs to the area.

Herkimer County Legislator Robert Hyde also appeared before the board, lending his comments in support of the proposal, noting that it will financially benefit the community, the towns of Warren and Stark and the county.

A letter was read on behalf of the Advocates of Stark, with comments from President Harry Levine suggesting they consider 20-30 turbines as another alternative.

One resident, a nurse, spoke of medical concerns resulting from the placement of turbines in the area and asked if provisions could be included to provide relief to people who may experience health problems after the turbines are completed.

She urged proponents to explore other forms of alternative energy.

Another resident spoke of how her family had moved here from New York City seeking haven in the country side and voiced concerns that the turbines would destroy this haven.

Janice Whipple explained a chart hanging around half the meeting room, depicting drawings of the appearance of windmills in measurement of inches, depending on how many miles away the viewpoint was located. For example, at one-quarter mile away, it will appear to stand 12 inches tall. From a mile’s distance, it will appear to stand three inches in height. And from 3.5 miles, it will appear to stand three-quarters of an inch tall.

Farmers who lost turbines spoke up in favor of the project, even though they would not be benefiting financially from the proposal.

Local farmer Ed Mower spoke about the brutal wind that blows continually over his farm in Jordanville and how for years he tried to figure out how he could benefit from the wind. “People would tell me to make the wind work for me, and I finally thought I had found a way,” Mower said.
Each year, he continued, he cuts down thousands of trees on his property to be used by his family and sold as income. “Not one tree will be cut down with this windmill project,” he said.

Comments on the Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement can be submitted to Bernard Melewski, Special Counsel; c/o The LA Group, PC; 40 Long Alley; Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 until the close of the business day Monday, Dec. 1.