September 14, 2006
New York
New York
By Patricia Breakey
Delhi News Bureau
A wind-farm developer presented a plan Monday to erect 34 wind turbines on the Moresville Range in Roxbury and Stamford.
Eric Miller, Invenergy Wind LLC project manager, said the proposed towers will be 262 feet high with 148-foot blades for a total tip height of 410 feet.
Miller gave a presentation about the project at the Roxbury Town Board meeting Monday and said a similar presentation will be done by David Groberg, an Invenergy project manager, at the Hobart Fire Hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Roxbury Supervisor Tom Hynes said about 45 people attended the meeting, many of them from other towns and counties. Hynes said he didn’t open the meeting for discussion.
“There will be time for discussion if and when the (State Environmental Quality Review) is done,” Hynes said.
Miller said the medium-size wind farm will be on a north-south ridge west of Route 23 between Stamford and Grand Gorge, which allows the turbines to be located relatively close together. He said that about half of the turbines would be located in Roxbury and the other half in Stamford along a six-mile stretch of ridgeline.
Hynes said Roxbury was the first town in Delaware County to establish a wind-tower local law, which was adopted four years ago.
He added that when Invenergy is ready to go ahead with the project, the application would go before the Roxbury Planning Board.
According to a media release issued by Invenergy, the 3-megawatt turbines collectively have the capacity to generate clean electricity for up to 45,000 homes per year.
The wind farm is expected to generate up to 102 megawatts, producing 268 million kilowatt hours per year, according to the media release.
In addition, the project could pay about $800,000 to local government entities every year. If approved, construction of the wind farm could begin in 2008.
Miller said plans for the project tentatively began in November 2003, when Invenergy installed a temporary tower to test wind speed in Roxbury to determine if the area would be suitable.
“We’ve taken the time to thoroughly review our proposal and make sure that it is the best project that we can present to this community,” Miller said.
Miller said there are two power lines that cross the ridge that can be used to transport the electricity. He added that the company intends to use existing roads, including logging roads and all-terrain vehicle trails, in the construction and operation of the wind farm.
Studies are being conducted to determine what effect the turbines would have on the view shed, Miller said, adding that “it’s surprising how little visibility the ridge has.”
Miller said a local office is being established in Stamford at 42 Main St., but office hours have not been set.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/14/developer-proposes-34-wind-turbines-in-roxbury-stamford/