September 23, 2010
New York

Wind turbines, cell tower’s future uncertain

By Amanda Seef, staff writer, Messenger Post, www.greecepost.com 22 September 2010

Irondequoit, N.Y. – The Irondequoit Town Board has tabled two resolutions that are garnering a lot of talk in the town.

The regular meeting Tuesday night was expected to bring a decision on the proposed 120-foot cell tower at St. Paul Blvd. firehouse on Cooper Road. Verizon is seeking approval to build the tower, which they plan to camouflage. Residents, however, are concerned with health and safety aspects from the tower. Verizon has now postponed their application for a decision, giving them time to review the latest abstract from RIT that addresses resident’s health concerns. The resolution was tabled.

The board also voted to table the resolution concerning the opposition of wind turbines until next month. The New York Power Authority has proposed building wind turbines two miles off the shore of Lake Ontario. The Irondequoit Town Supervisor, Mary Joyce D’Aurizio, has expressed her concern with the turbines and has voiced her opposition to the project until residents and the town can have input on the current proposal.

“They will be off the waters of Lake Ontario towns and they’ll have to take all this heavy equipment and so forth and travel through the towns to do it,” she said. “My concern is at what detriment to the bay is this going to happen? We’re demanding that we get more information.”

She says the Lake Ontario proposal includes 440 foot wind turbines placed two miles off shore. A similar project is being proposed off Long Island, with turbines 13 miles off shore. There are not currently any wind turbines on water in the United States.

“It’s like we’re a guinea pig,” D’Aurizio said.

The board is expected to vote on the resolution to oppose the currently proposed wind turbine plan next month.

Webster and Greece have also voted to oppose the turbines.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/23/wind-turbines-cell-towers-future-uncertain/