Lawmakers back ADK Wind Energy Park
WNBZ AM 1240
May, 9 2006
The area's lawmakers are urging the Adirondack Park Agency to approve plans for a second wind monitoring mast for
a company seeking to build a wind farm near Gore Mountain.
Adirondack Wind Partners wants to put as many as 10 wind turbines on the Barton Mines property in the
Town of Johnsburg. But their application for a second monitoring station was deemed incomplete by the
agency, which wants to see plans for the full project before approving another test site. The company is
appealing the incompletion notice.
Congressman John Sweeney, Senator Betty Little, and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward issued a joint statement
on Monday saying the second monitoring site is needed to provide data that is critical to the project.
Sweeney said he's received feedback on the project from his constituents who live, work and do business in the
Adirondack Park. "The trade-offs of wind mills at the former Barton Mines garnet mine, in my opinion, are well
worth the benefits," he said.
Senator Little said now more than ever is the time to give groups like Adirondack Wind Partners the flexibility
they need. "If we're going to reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy resources, especially foreign oil, we
need to carefully examine all available opportunities," said Senator Little.
In its decision to deem the company's application for another monitoring station incomplete, APA staff said the
group didn't justify the need for a second mast. They also said the visual analysis for the proposed mast was
unacceptable because it didn't follow requested procedures or provide requested information in "an understandable manner."
But project manager Jim McAndrew said last month that the agency's request for a full application was "putting the
cart before the horse." He said the process would involve a very lengthy and extensive environmental study.
And Sweeney, Little and Sayward said the request is unreasonable and would potentially cost several hundred thousand
dollars. "The APA staff decision, based on promotional materials rather than hard evidence, should be overturned and
the testing should continue," Sayward said.
The APA will consider an appeal from the company at their scheduled meeting this week.
Adirondack Wind Partners is a joint venture between the Barton Group and Reunion Energy.
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