Wind Farm at Gore Posed
Post Star by James McCord
February 12, 2005
NORTH CREEK -- The north side of Gore Mountain could be the future home of seven to 10 wind turbines.
Barton Mines Co., a family-owned business that has mined garnet from the area for more than a century, is planning a small wind farm on 1,700 acres adjacent to the Gore Mountain ski area.
While still in the preliminary stage, the wind turbines could be up and running in just a few years if they get the necessary approvals, project manager James McAndrew said Friday.
Wind tests over the last 15 months have shown the area is as good or better than sites for current wind farms in western New York, McAndrew said.
The industrial property also had roads and a transmission line because it was mined for garnet for more than a century.
“That is extremely rare. You won't find many places where a line and roads are already there. It’s half-built,” McAndrew said.
That’s also why McAndrew doesn“t believe the project will open the floodgates for other wind farms throughout the Adirondacks.
“There’s no use creating electricity if you have no place to transmit it,” McAndrew said.
The turbines could produce as much as 30 megawatts of power. That’s enough energy to power about half of the households in Warren County, McAndrew said.
The wind turbines are proposed at approximately 2,900 feet, or about the same height as Gore Mountain’s saddle lodge. A typical turbine tower is 213 feet tall, McAndrew said. The three blades are about 114 feet long, spinning at about 15 rotations per minutes, a slower rate than older models so they don’t injure birds.
Despite the height, McAndrew said, they would only be visible from Route 28 from two spots. The state DEC transmission tower will remain the highest structure on the mountain, he said.
They would also be visible to skiers on Gore Mountain's north slopes. Gore Mountain general manager Michael Pratt said Friday project would provide “an important environmental education opporunity while promoting pollution-free energy.”
The project cost could run as much as $30 million. While it would create only one or two jobs, it would secure Barton Mines‣ “bottom line,” helping to ensure the company can keep its other active mine, McAndrew said.
“Fast-growing” idea
Tom Collins, spokesman for the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority, said the agency had no specific comment about the project.
But given the state’s push to have at least 25 percent of the energy New Yorkers purchase be from renewable energies by 2013, he wasn’t surprised.
“Wind is the fastest-growing segment of the renewable energies,” Collins said. “There are a lot of developers looking at sites.”
There are currently three major wind farms in New York, all in western New York. The electricity they produce is purchased by energy companies like Niagara Mohawk and fed into the regional power grid.
Keith McKeever, a spokesman for the Adirondack Park Agency, said the agency has had initial discussions with Barton Mines about the proposal but hasn’t received an application yet. Until that occurs, the APA has no comment, McKeever said.
But given the project’s scope, McKeever said it would require APA approval.
Reaction positive
Johnsburg Supervisor William Thomas said he “loves” the project, particularly because it would help ensure Barton Mines stays in the community.
Barton Mines has mined garnet in the area since 1878, Thomas said, and currently employs more than 50 local residents.
“They’ve done a lot of great things for the community,” Thomas said.
Given the existing infrastructure and the active ski resort, Thomas didn’t see any negatives to the proposal.
“It’s a great location as far as I’m concerned because you’re not disturbing the Adirondacks,” Thomas said.
Pat Cunningham, owner of Cunningham’s Ski Barn, also liked the idea, even though he will be able to see it from his spot on Route 28.
“It should look nice and should blend in with the ski resort,” Cunningham said. “The towers of the windmill would not be much different that the ski towers.”
Peter Bauer, executive director of the Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, applauded Barton Mines for its proactive approach to inform the public.
Bauer called the idea "an interesting project."
“The challenge for the project will be to blend these wind towers in with the historic, wild Adirondack landscape that New Yorkers rely upon for genuine wilderness experiences,” Bauer said.
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