Little Valley board members hope to follow the wind
Tests to see if wind power is a viable energy source in the Little Valley could begin as soon as this fall.
At Monday night’s Little Valley Town Board meeting, William Farnham, town supervisor, informed the board a major wind energy company hopes to move forward in developing wind energy within the town.
“A gentleman from Florida Power and Light talked to me, and said the company is trying to sign one-year land leases with people in the town,” Farnham said. “Once they get enough people signed up, the company is hoping to begin tests to see if wind energy is feasible for the town.”
Typically, wind currents are monitored in a town for approximately 18 to 24 months. However, according to the FPL representative, one year of monitoring would be sufficient in Little Valley to determine if wind energy could be a reality, Farnham said.
Florida Power and Light, is one of the biggest renewable energy firms in the United States. The company has it sights set on the wind corridor from Salamanca to Napoli, Farnham said.
As of 2008, the company’s wind energy facilities generate more than 15,000 megawatts of electricity in the country. FPL hopes to help the American Wind Energy Association achieve its goal of six percent of electricity in the country being generated by wind energy. According to Powernaturally.org, by 2013, New York is anticipated to have 25 percent of its power generated by renewable resources, as per the Renewable Portfolio Standard Act.
With developments in technology for wind energy, the national Energy Department hopes the country can rely on 20 percent of its power being generated by the wind.
“I’m all for wind power in Little Valley, especially with the benefits for the town” Farnham said. “ In the Town of Eagle, there is no town tax because of the wind mills in it. The representative from Florida Power and Light said the profits from wind power could offset school taxes in the town for the next 25 years.”
Susan Koch, town clerk, was optimistic about the potential wind energy coming to the town.
“This should be a good thing for the town, and why can’t we (Little Valley) jump on the bandwagon now, since wind energy is coming one way or another,” Koch said.
A representative from FPL will be attending the next board meeting, held on Oct. 13.
By Christopher Michel
Staff Writer
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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