July 14, 2011
New York

Road debate

By Kate Day Sager, Olean Times Herald, www.oleantimesherald.com 14 July 2011

LIMESTONE – The discussion became heated several times Wednesday when town of Carrollton officials reviewed a request for the transportation of materials through Limestone to a proposed wind farm site in the Chipmonk and Knapp Creek area.

During the meeting, Bill Spencer, project manager for EverPower Wind Holdings Inc., said the company would like to enter discussions for a road-use agreement on Main Street and Church Street/Nichols Run in Limestone. Such an agreement would allow the transport of 8,500 truckloads of wind turbine materials and equipment through the community to reach their destination in Chipmonk and Knapp Creek. A 29-turbine commercial wind farm proposed for that area has been under consideration and debate by town of Allegany officials and area residents for the past several years.

The company is considering truck travel through the hamlet of Limestone and the town of Carrollton after initial proposals to take trucks through the city of Olean were thwarted. Olean Mayor Linda Witte has stated that the potential road replacement costs for city streets damaged by the trucks could be as high as $39.5 million. EverPower is also considering another route that would take trucks from Route 86 to Route 219 and onto South Nine Mile Road. From there, the vehicles would turn on Chipmonk Road and drive up into the hillside.

Mr. Spencer said his company would make sure that it complies with the regulations and weight limits required by the town of Carrollton. He said trucks carrying concrete and aggregate would likely drive on Route 86 and take the Limestone/Bradford, Pa. exit to Route 219. The trucks would exit Route 219 to Main Street in Limestone and turn onto Church Street/Nichols Run for their ascent up the hill to reach Chipmonk and Knapp Creek. Mr. Spencer said trucks carrying the wind turbine components, which can be up to 107 feet long, would travel the same route, or north on Route 219 through Pennsylvania. The component loads would have state police escorts manned by off-duty troopers.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/14/road-debate/