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Thank you for visiting the Springwater Preservation Committee’s website

We believe the great natural beauty of Springwater is our town’s greatest asset for future residential and recreational development. Please join us in our effort to preserve and improve the future of Springwater, New York.  

We have been quiet lately, but we are still here!  New developments are happening all around us, and we will be watchful and respond appropriately as conditions warrant. New content will be added periodically.

Important New Development - Proposed wind farm canceled

(courtesy of Messenger Post Newspapers http://www.mpnnow.com/)
December 27, 2006 - PPM Atlantic Renewable has dropped its plans to build 14 wind turbines in Springwater. PPM spokeswoman Jan Johnson said Tuesday that the company’s options on property in the town have expired. “We decided to focus our efforts on the development of wind projects in other parts of New York,” Johnson said. In early 2005, PPM — owned by a Scottish parent company — proposed building the 397 foot windmills along two miles of ridge east of Strutt Street. Informally called the Bishop wind farm, it would have been visible from parts of Canadice in Ontario County. The project raised objections in Springwater and prompted officials in Canadice to start working on wind-farm regulations in the event that an energy company started looking for turbine sites there. Canadice will hold a hearing on that law as early as February. Earlier this year, PPM Energy opened the Maple Ridge Wind Farm on the Tug Hill Plateau in Lewis County — 120 turbines, each 320 feet tall.

What was the Bishop Wind Farm Proposal?
The Scottish owned company, PPM Atlantic Renewable had plans to lease farmland from three local landowners and erect giant industrial wind turbines on the hills of Springwater, NY. The first phase included the construction of 14 giant towers almost 400 feet tall, visible for up to 50 miles. (In comparison, the Xerox tower in downtown Rochester NY is 443 feet tall.)  The site of the previously proposed turbines is surrounded by residential homes, as our most of the hilltop locations in our town. It was estimated that PPM Atlantic Renewable would have received $20M of taxpayer funds (in the form of federal and state tax subsidies) for constructing these huge wind turbines. The three landowners would have received a fee for leasing their land, and the Town of Springwater would have received only $5,000 per generator. The town residents and visitors would most likely have received nothing from this proposal but a destruction of their scenic landscapes, a bombardment of strobe lights, unwanted noise, and a drop in their property values.

Even though the project plans for the Bishop Wind Farm have been cancelled, the SPC continues to remain vigilant and ready to oppose any new proposals that diminish our quality of life or endanger the safety of Springwater residents. We are also concerned about a number of other Town issues and have been become actively concerned with the quality of our general Town government.

But isn’t wind power a good thing?

Perhaps when wind turbines are placed in appropriate industrial zones away from residential locations, wind powered electricity may someday make economic and environmental sense.  But the reality today is that wind power is NOT a reliable energy source and is not economical (you pay more for so called “green” electricity in spite of the massive federal and state subsidies). Even the U.S. Department of Energy forecasts predict less than 1% of electricity will be produced by wind in 2025!

What can I do to help?

You can make a difference in preserving the beauty and economic future of Springwater.  Take the time to get informed on the important issues facing our town and region. We hope you find this website useful in that pursuit. Then contact the Springwater Town Board members and our other elected officials to voice your concerns enabling them to make informed decisions on your behalf. Do your own research and get the facts! Then talk to your neighbors and friends to make them aware of this proposal, as well as how it will negatively impact the quality of our lives and community.

You can also lend valuable financial support. Donations in any amount are welcomed and greatly appreciated.  For further information on contributing to the Springwater preservation committee, please click here.  

For additional information and to lend support please contact:

Springwater Preservation Committee

P.O. Box 128

Springwater, NY  14560

info@springwaterpreservation.org