Wind plan right step ecologically
Originally Published 07/20/05 in the Albany Times Union
The Adirondack Wind Energy Park partners are baffled to read the exaggerations and just plain wrong statements about our
proposed project in Johnsburg, near Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks.
Like a good fishing story, the wind turbines just get bigger and bigger. For example, a recent commentary article in
the Times Union compared the height of the turbines in our project to the Corning Tower in Albany, which at 589 feet,
is well over 300 feet taller than the hub of the proposed turbines and about 200 feet taller than the tip of the
extended blade. Anyone who has made the trip to Fenner, Madison County, to see wind turbines firsthand would know
that using the Corning Tower as a comparison is ridiculous.
Detailed simulations of what the project will look like from the north slope of Gore Mountain, Blue Mountain and the
village of North Creek from Route 28 have been prepared. Simulations done to date show the visibility of the project
rapidly diminishes with distance, and has little impact on popular hiking areas. Based on this analysis, the project
will not be visible from the village of North Creek.
We encourage a factual analysis and are prepared to share all that we have with those interested in a serious review.
The Adirondack Wind Energy Park will require a permit from the Adirondack Park Agency, which will examine this project
closely. We fully expect that the agency will find that the significant benefits to the community and the environment
far outweigh its minimal impact on the view.
The scenic beauty of the Adirondacks is hard to protect when it is being destroyed by smog, acid rain, mercury and
climate change. Our proposed wind project at Barton Mines is a significant step toward energy independence and cleaning
up the pollution that is destroying the vegetation and waters that are the habitat for the wildlife within the Adirondack
Park, in the Catskills and throughout New York state.
Other comments insist that the wind project's impact on energy production would be barely noticed. We beg to differ.
Our project will supply the equivalent of more than half of the energy consumed by Warren County households annually.
That energy will become part of the state's power supply.
Moreover, the harmful results of fossil fuel plants are undeniable. Energy produced by Adirondack Wind Energy Park will
displace energy produced by polluting, conventional power plants. That is a step in the right direction for the Adirondack
Park.
A public educational center on our site will showcase the need to move from polluting sources to clean and green power
and it will inform thousands of what they can do to help. We foresee a possibility of supplying our neighbor, Gore Mountain,
and other locations in our community with some of the power from our project.
North Creek could stand out as an ecotourism destination. Think of the thousands of skiers who visit Gore Mountain each
year and the clean energy icon that they will see and appreciate.
Leadership is the key to a new energy future. Gov. George Pataki is leading New York into a clean and green future
using renewable energy. We appreciate the strong endorsements for this project voted by the elected representatives
of Warren, Hamilton and Essex counties and individually by 12 town boards in the surrounding area.
Adirondackers know a good thing when they see it.
Jim McAndrew is vice president of the Barton Group, partner for the Adirondack Wind Energy Park.
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