January 21, 2008
New York
New York
With windmills a big topic of discussion among many Herkimer County municipalities, Frankfort Board of Trustee members want the public to know there is not yet a project under way in the village.
“I’ve been approached by many people who are under the impression that we have already started a project,” said board member John Spina. “We are in the middle of studies about the feasibility of such a project and either party can back out of the project at any time.”
The village of Frankfort Board of Trustees began discussions about a possible wind mill project last March. In July the board heard a presentation from a company that was hired, Empire Wind, who conducted a red flag analysis about the possibility of implementing a project. The analysis was used to determine if there were any aspects that would make wind power unfeasible in the village.
Keith Pitman, President and CEO of Empire Wind, explained to the village that after the red flag analysis was conducted, there was no reason a wind project couldn’t be conducted in the village, but the village should consider approaching the town of Frankfort about getting behind the project as well.
By December the village had the backing of the town to conduct studies on the feasibility of the wind turbines.
However, the town also pointed out that it supported the studies, but not necessarily the wind turbines.
With the backing of the town to continue with the studies, the village board plans on meeting with Pitman this week to review parcels of land where the wind turbines possibly could go. The village and Empire Wind will also start a study on wind velocity on those parcels of land.
“We are still very much in the preliminary stages,” said Public Works Superintendent Ron Vivacqua. “We’re still investigating the possibility of a project.”
The village of Frankfort is just one of many entities working on implementing a project or studying wind turbines and the benefits or downfalls that windmills could have.
Windmill projects are currently facing opposition in the Jordanville and Fairfield areas. There is also discussions about windmills being placed by Herkimer County Community College and even at the Herkimer Elementary School.
By Kim Dunne
Telegram Staff Writer
21 January 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/01/21/frankfort-no-windmill-project-under-way-in-village/