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ROTTERDAM
Towns consider wind farm law
Proposal prompts discussion of regulation
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Wind farm projects may be some time away in Schenectady County, but planners in both Princetown and Rotterdam are considering regulations for them now.
    Officials from both municipalities are planning talks about potential regulations for wind energy development projects. The topic came up last month when Reunion Power, a Vermont-based project development service, proposed building a 197-foot temporary meteorological tower in Pattersonville.
    Company officials indicated the proposed tower would monitor wind at a 1,300-foot elevation near an existing cellular tower off Crawford Road. At its widest point, the tower would be 8 inches in diameter. It would relay wind data to the company via satellite connection, town officials said.
    Reunion executive Steve Eisenburg said the proposed monitoring station is only the first step in a very long process that may or may not yield a project. He said determining the level of wind in an area is a key elements before any project advances.
    “We’re just cracking this open to see if it’s feasible,” he said this week.
    Even if the Rotterdam Planning Board approves the test tower, Eisenburg said, Reunion wouldn’t build it until the spring. He said the company would then monitor data and trends at the site for at least a year before making a determination whether to proceed with any project.
    But the concept of a wind farm on the outskirts of town prompted Rotterdam officials to investigate a local law regulating these. And because the area proposed for the monitoring station is near the border with Princetown, Rotterdam officials invited those officials into the discussion.
    Wind tower regulations are also being explored in Duanesburg. Supervisor Rene Merrihew said the town will likely adopt regulations patterned after several towns in New York already contending with large wind farm proposals. She said the time seemed right, considering the town is already reviewing its comprehensive plan.
    “It’s a good time to get something on the books,” she said Thursday. “We’re in a rural area conducive to wind.”
    Though no formal wind farm is proposed in Schoharie County, Reunion Power is studying possible sites in the towns of Fulton, Jefferson and Richmondville. All three towns are in the process of developing ordinances to regulate commercial wind projects.
    Proposed regulations in Richmondville have been met with significant criticism; opponents argue the towers should be built thousands of feet away from residential areas. Reunion has suggested building 28 wind turbines on the Warnerville hills between Richmondville and Fulton.
    Reunion has already helped develop a pair of large wind farm projects in Minnesota and Iowa, according to the company’s Web site. The company operates 147 turbines in Lake Benton, Minn., which generate roughly 107 megawatts of energy; in Storm Lake, Iowa, Reunion generates about 80 megawatts at a farm with 107 turbines.
    In New York, the company is a partner in a project that would erect 10 wind turbines on Gore and Pete Gay mountains in Warren County. Reunion was also attempting a 24-turbine project in the town of Cherry Valley in Otsego County; setback rules imposed by the town effectively blocked the project as originally planned.
    Rotterdam Town Planner Pete Comenzo said commercial wind tower development brings with it issues including performance standards and setbacks. He said the only local ordinance now governing wind turbines is the town’s cellular tower law.
    This ordinance allows the development of towers in the town’s agricultural and industrial zones. Though there is no maximum size in the ordinance, towers cannot be located any closer to an adjacent property than the distance equal to the tower’s height.
    “It’s something that has come up recently and it’s certainly become a hot topic not only in the Capital Region, but in New York and the country as a whole,” he said.
Reach Gazette reporter
Justin Mason at 395-3113 or
jmason@dailygazette.net.

I'm a little surprised that no one had any comments on this topic.  This is an issue that should be watched carefully going forward.  The potential impacts from this initiative could make the Wal-mart supercenter thing pale by comparison.  

Development of appropriate performance standards and setbacks, as our Planner points out, are critical to proper regulation.

I am heartened to see coordination with surrounding communities being considered and it appears Duanesburg may be out in front already.

We are in the process of reviewing regulations from several towns.  No sense in reinventing the wheel, we need to pick and choose the parts of the regulations that are appropriate for Duanesburg.  It isn't as easy as it sounds.  There are many other things to consider besides the obvious.  I am anxious to have this done and embarassed that I haven't gotten to it already.  I am 100% in favor of residential windmills located where it is appropriate.  I'm not so sure about commercial windfarms I need to do more research.  Talk to more towns.  It is possible they may be considered a "public utility" which has there own special set of rules and regulations when applied to municipalities.  My husband had wanted to put one up 20 years ago and I laughed at him and told him he was crazy.  He's the one laughing now and helping out with research for me without even knowing it!!!!  Works for me.  If you drive about an hour or so west of Duanesburg on Route 20there are several of them on a ridge off to the right.  They are pretty cool looking.  Surreal is a better word.

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The potential impacts from this initiative could make the Wal-mart supercenter thing pale by comparison.  

During the 90's (before my time on the board) there was a cell tower erected that raised more than just a stink.  It got pretty personal and nasty with a few residents calling the town board "baby killers" etc.  There is of course the aesthetics of a commercial sized windmill that we will need to address.  Just because I think they are cool looking doesn't mean everyone does.  We will have to see how it develops.  I've had a few calls about residential sized ones but nothing on commercial.  I should begin some random phone calls to residents to get their views....I love doing that, opens the door to many other conversations.

Here's an idea for you Rene, start putting up windmills that double as cell phone towers!

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The potential impacts from this initiative could make the Wal-mart supercenter thing pale by comparison.

Not really Mike. At least it won't be brining in the 'undesirables' like Walmart!!

Hey, we have to try something for our energy since we don't want to be dependent on foreign oil. And look at it this way....at least it's not a nuclear reactor in our back yards.  

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I'm a little surprised that no one had any comments on this topic.  This is an issue that should be watched carefully going forward.  The potential impacts from this initiative could make the Wal-mart supercenter thing pale by comparison.  

Development of appropriate performance standards and setbacks, as our Planner points out, are critical to proper regulation.

I am heartened to see coordination with surrounding communities being considered and it appears Duanesburg may be out in front already.

Isn't there a friend of a friend of a politician who has a company that was moved here??? And then all of a sudden- WHAMO- there ya go green energy----where is our buddy Al Gore for all the fanfare....

Now that they're not planning on selling town hall and moving somewhere else, how about an investment in some solar panels to take care of some of the energy costs?

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Here's an idea for you Rene, start putting up windmills that double as cell phone towers!

The following answer is to be considered as nothing more than tongue in cheek humor.......

Yea, thanks Kevin, then I can be in twice the trouble, I can be called a bably killer and a bird killer.....atleast it would be all at once and over quckly

I really don't know much about wind farms. But my "uninformed self" really doesn't find them that offensive. I do find the miles of power lines and power equipment offensive to look at. And like someone else stated, it would be better than a nuclear reactor in our towns. And I don't think there would be a health risk connected to wind farms either.

Again, this is my uninformed opinion only!

I am learning a great deal, I agree with you JoAnn I find the power lines to be very offensive aesthetically.  Necessary evil.  As for health risk?  If people JUST THINK it could be one it bcomes a reality.  As they say perception is reality.  These are all things that while you or most people don't think is a problem we as elected officials need to be ready to answer and deal with.  My moderately uninformed opinion.

I have a friend that would not buy a certain home because it was located near power lines.

I also had a boss that was an engineer that would not have cable TV in his house. He also made sure that all of the cables that connected to our desk computers were covered and that all backs of computers were not facing anyone.

I have a cousin that steps away from her microwave while it is running.

All for fear of cancer.

there was a family that I new that lived near power lines and the women all had cervical cancer---I dont know what the #level was(they gauge the cancer by #).....

power lines?
genetics?
power lines + genetics?
free radicals?
free radicals + power lines?
power lines + genetics + free radicals?

and we want to eat (or accept) cloned meat?????  what about the irradiated meat (used so stores can keep meat on shelves longer)????

anyhow--I'm off the subject,,,,wind is fine with me---after all, this is America and we come from a pioneering history.....

Do you guys see what I mean, so many beliefs from so many people..............Warranted and valid beliefs?  They are to those who believe

Just like all those "studies": drink wine-dont drink wine: take an aspirin a day-dont take an aspirin a day: give kids cold medicine-dont give kids cold medicine(the experiment is over) etc etc......

I say make bathtub gin put a hole in the wash tub,play a tune and call it a day....