August 27, 2011
New York

Residents meet about wind-project concerns

By Kate Day Sager, Olean Times Herald, www.oleantimesherald.com 26 August 2011

CARROLLTON – Olean Mayor Linda Witte said she believes Allegany Town Supervisor Patrick Eaton has “sold his soul” for the proposed wind turbine project that has caused turmoil in his community.

Mayor Witte’s comments were made during a meeting held Thursday at the American Legion in the town of Carrollton. The session was organized by Nichols Run resident Mike Lippert and attended by more than 60 area residents. Those at the gathering discussed concerns with the safety of the proposed Church Street/Nichols Run area through Limestone for trucks carrying materials to a proposed wind farm site in the town of Allegany. A number of residents from the town of Allegany who are against the wind farm project were also in attendance.

“It’s like a three-ring circus, you don’t know who the head monkey is,” Mayor Witte said of the Allegany Town Board and Mr. Eaton. “I’m sorry, but I think Pat … kind of sold his soul” for the project.

At issue is a 29-wind turbine farm, with each standing over 500 feet high, to be constructed by EverPower Wind Holdings Inc. in the Knapp Creek and Chipmonk areas. A special meeting has been scheduled by the Allegany Town Board for 7 p.m. Monday at the Allegany Senior Center on Birch Run Road to vote on a wind overlay district for the proposed wind farm. If the board votes “yes” on the proposal, the wind farm project will be approved for construction. The proposed project has caused upset in the community for the past several years for area residents who oppose the wind farm. Two rallies, consisting of large numbers of people against the project, were held in Allegany in the past week.

While no elected officials from the towns of Carrollton or Allegany attended Thursday’s meeting, Mayor Witte’s presence encouraged many in attendance. Mayor Witte had questioned EverPower’s earlier plans to transport 8,500 truckloads of wind turbine materials through Olean, saying the damage could be as high as $39.5 million to city streets.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/27/residents-meet-about-wind-project-concerns/