News from the office of Congressman John E. Sweeney
May 08, 2006
Clifton Park, NY --
Representative John Sweeney (R-Clifton Park), Senator Betty Little (R-Queensbury) and Assemblywoman Teresa
Sayward (R-Willsboro) today said they are urging the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) Board of Commissioners to
overturn a staff determination that is blocking approval of a second test instrument mast on Barton Mines
Company property. The three representatives said the temporary wind monitoring mast is needed to provide
data that is critical to determine the feasibility of siting windmills on Barton Mines property just north
of Gore Mountain.
The APA Board will consider an appeal at their monthly meeting May 11, 2006, at Paul Smiths College and May 12,
2006, at the APA's Raybrook headquarters.
Rep. Sweeney stated, "My constituents who live, work and do business in the Adirondack Park have spoken to me
regarding this wind energy park concept and the trade-offs of wind mills at the former Barton Mines garnet mine,
in my opinion, are well worth the benefits.
Energy costs, historically, have been significantly worse within the Adirondacks and are a very important
component for doing business and staying competitive in the global economy.
I believe this project is not "precedent setting" and the fine folks at Barton Mines have been environmentally
conscious since the formation of the company in the 1800's.
This will not solve all of our energy problems, but it is clearly another step down the road to energy independence.
The skyrocketing costs of energy should be a wake up call for us to invest in new sources of energy. Now is the time
to act on this project. We cannot afford to pass up an opportunity to generate new, clean energy for the Adirondacks."
"If we're going to be successful in reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy resources, especially foreign oil, we need
to carefully examine all available opportunities," said Senator Little. "A second test mast is needed to collect data so
Adirondack Wind Partners and Barton Mines can make an informed decision. This is a reasonable request and I am hopeful that
the APA board will see the merit and realize the benefit in allowing this process to move forward."
Assemblywoman Sayward said, "At a time when every American is facing critical lifestyle changes due to the ever-increasing
cost of energy, the residents of our region, already overburdened by strict APA regulations, deserve to see the results of
adequate testing of potential wind energy in North Creek. The APA staff decision, based on promotional materials rather than
hard evidence, should be overturned and the testing should continue."
Adirondack Wind Partners installed wind-measuring equipment in October 2003 with APA approval but a second measurement
point is needed to take into account differences over a large geographic area. The second test site is classified as
'Industrial Use' and is also at the former garnet mine.
Adirondack Wind Partners LLC has appealed an Adirondack Park Agency staff decision from this past March. The APA contends
the entire project must be submitted to the Agency before they will consider another temporary data collection mast.
Sweeney, Little and Sayward said the request is unreasonable, potentially costing several hundred thousand dollars. They said
the second test tower is for preliminary fieldwork and is necessary to determine the economic viability of a wind energy park
project.
The wind energy park concept is supported by the Boards of Supervisors of Warren, Hamilton, and Essex Counties and from
seventeen individual Town Boards in these Counties. Washington County approved a resolution of support on April 21, 2006.
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