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Wind Resistance - Springwater residents want to squash plan to harness wind energy
From the Livingston County News, February 10, 2005
 By Elizabeth Simmons, Livingston County News

Residents concerned with the potential for construction of a wind farm in east Springwater appealed with Town Attor­ney David Morris Feb. 7 to tell them how to "squash" the project. A roadblock in squelching the wind farm proposal is the lack of planning and zoning currently in place by the town, because a moratorium cannot be placed on wind towers without affecting "everything else" in the town, said Mor­ris. Town officials would be taking on a very large task, virtually starting from scratch.

PPM Atlantic Renewable, a wind power developer and wholesaler, approached the Springwater Town Board last month and asked to meet with them to present their proposal of Bishop Wind Farm, said Supervisor Mark Walk­er. Walker wanted the public to be involved first and PPM Atlantic Renew­able held an open house at Punky Hol­low Lodge Jan. 20.

Seeking strength in numbers, a group of approximately 40 people met at the American Legion Post 905 Sunday evening, prior to the regular town meet­ing. These concerned citizens identify themselves as the Springwater Scenic Preservation Committee. Carolyn Tinney, a resident of east Springwater, spoke on behalf of the committee to the town board.

Tinney and her husband, who have recently retired, already pay extra on their electric bill for wind power. "I consider myself to be an environ­mentalist, and I support alternative ener­gy," said Tinney. "But I don’t think it belongs here." When asked where she thinks it belongs, she replied "away from residential areas."

Other residents echoed this worry over "visual pollution" of their scenic area Monday night. PPM Atlantic Renewable Project Manager Neil Habig cites the elevation and agricultural land on a hill-crest east of Strutt Street and southwest of Tabors Corners Road as the prime location for harvesting wind power. Property owner David Votypka, who has agreed to lease his land for turbine construction to the wind farm developers believes he has a right to do what he will with his land because the beautiful view they see is there primarily because he is paying taxes on the land. PPM spokesperson Jan Johnson points out that the wind farm is an alternative to housing development. "We're looking at the parcels for wind energy, but they're also attractive to real estate developers."

Tinney listed many specific concerns under four categories: devaluation of real property, health and safety of local residents and visitors, direct environ­mental impacts and economic issues. She claimed that residents have heard on a few different occasions recently of per­son looking to purchase land in east Springwater who changed their minds upon learning of the possibility of Bish­op Wind Farm. Safety concerns of the group included sleep deprivation due to lights and noise, as well as other technical impacts and alleged dangers of ice throws, or large chunks of ice which can be thrown from the wind turbine blades as far as 1800 feet at up to 170 miles per hour.

Johnson told the County News that no-one has ever been injured by an ice throw and she said it is highly unlikely large chunks of ice would ever travel that far at that speed. The turbines are manufactured to automatically shut down in very icy conditions.

The Springwater Committee is also worried about danger to migrating birds, such as bald eagles, and bats who visit the shores of Conesus and Hemlock Lakes for resting and nesting. Tinney also raised environmental concerns on the ground, including erosion and impact on ground water and runoff. An ornithologist study of Bishop Wind Farm has been completed and the County News is awaiting a copy of the report. Johnson said there have never been any bald eagle fatalities caused by their wind turbines. “We wouldn’t expect bald eagles to be coming into that area. Their behavior just doesn't put them at risk."

Under economic issues, Tinney addressed lost land sales and a decrease in property values. The SSPC requested that the town board place an immediate moratorium on all further construction of the Bishop Wind Farm or any other wind farm in the area for at least two years, which cannot not be done unless pending completion of a comprehensive plan or updating a plan, said Morris. The town board has known for two years about the interest in developing a wind farm here. Walker had told the crowd earlier in the meeting that most of them likely know more about wind power and the proposal as he does. "People have come here for a little guidance," said Karl Maxim of Springwater. "We want to know why you're not out there doing your jobs, instead of answering ‘I don't know’ to our ques­tions."

Though several people in the crowd expressed a desire to outlaw wind farms from the town, Morris said this isn't fea­sible. The Town of Conesus will be setting local ordinances in June and closing the two-year moratoria they had placed on wind towers, adult entertainment and cell towers. However, the town already had some zoning in place.

If the Town of Springwater wants to have any power over where certain busi­nesses can locate, they need to develop a comprehensive plan with specific zoning ordinances. Since they have no prior zoning, they would need to put a mora­toria on all building and business con­struction. "This is going to affect everybody, not just wind towers," said Morris.

PPM Atlantic Renewable will be invit­ed lo attend the board's next regular meeting Feb. 21 to present their proposal, said Walker.

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