March 29, 2012
Letters, New York

Resident concerned about information

Observer-Dispatch, www.uticaod.com 29 March 2012

I am deeply concerned about the misleading, inaccurate information being presented regarding the proposed site of the Rolling Upland Wind Farm with its 36, 492 ft. tall, industrial turbines.

From the original documents filed with the town of Madison by Horizon/EDP, to the single available copy of the project site map at the town offices, this project has been grossly misrepresented. These documents state, “Residences are located throughout the area. Most are associated with farms, although a few are for recreational purposes (e.g. second homes).” The project site map has an arbitrary red line delineating the project area. This map does not show all of the homes within that red line. In addition, it shows no homes outside the project area, even though there are many, many homes outside that arbitrary red line only a few thousand feet from proposed industrial turbines. There are even homes with a 1,000 foot setback for one of the turbines passing right through the property that are not on this map! This map also effectively ignores the existence of historic Nine Mile Swamp (bordering it) and Lake Moraine.

Unfortunately, there are also some local residents that harbor misconceptions of the project area. In a recent posting to the madisonmatters.org website, a long-time local resident characterized the project area closest to Lake Moraine as a “hill mass” that has been “largely abandoned” as unfit for farming. This “largely abandoned hill mass” consists of a thriving community of many, many homes nestled on hillsides and in woods, occupied by families and individuals who chose this serene environment for all that it has to offer. We hike, horseback ride, hunt, cross country ski, snowshoe, track with our dogs, garden, enjoy life with our children, other family members and friends, and yes, farm on this incredibly beautiful hill.

The portion of this “hill mass” with the wind farm test tower on it has been farmed annually for many years and provides a cash crop to one of our local Madison farmers. Immediately adjacent to that farm lot, are hunting preserves purchased specifically for that purpose, and maintained and enjoyed by their owners, friends and neighbors.

The community in and around this project area currently provides significant tax revenue to the towns of Madison and Hamilton, Madison and Hamilton school districts, and Madison County. The addition of an industrial wind complex will significantly reduce this revenue, as well as halt the growth in this community. It would be a shame for the town to succumb to the enticement of short term PILOT payments (payment in lieu of taxes) from Horizon/EDP and lose, forever, the healthy tax base that this community provides.

On behalf of our community, I invite you to visit Hill Road, McCormick Road, Purdy Road, Lake View Estates, Butternut Lane, Newton Road, Bonney Hill Road, Pickett Road(s), Abbert Road, East Lake Road, Robinson Hill Road and Center and Quarterline roads. We need everyone in this area to clearly understand the long-term, devastating, negative impact this industrial wind complex will have on our community.

Find us at madisonmatters.org

Sincerely,

Pamela Fuller

Town of Madison Resident


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/29/resident-concerned-about-information/