November 28, 2012
New York

Herkimer County residents sue Iberdrola over wind farm

By Tim Knauss, The Post-Standard | November 27, 2012 | www.syracuse.com

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – More than 60 residents of rural Herkimer County have sued the owners and developers of a 37-turbine wind farm there, claiming the turbines are bigger and noisier than developers promised and that they are causing health problems and depressing property values.

Hardscrabble Wind Power Project, owned by Spanish utility company Iberdrola, was built two years ago about 20 miles northeast of Utica. The lawsuit names Iberdrola and several consultants that worked on the development.

The wind farm consists of 37 American-made Gamesa windmills, which stand 476 high at the tips of their blades. According to the lawsuit, noise from the machines has been measured at times above 72 decibels, higher than allowed by local law.

Syracuse lawyers Jeff DeFrancisco and Melody Scalfone represent the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in state Supreme Court in Albany County.

Iberdrola Renewables, the parent company of which owns two utility companies in Upstate New York, is one of the world’s largest providers of wind power.

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/11/28/herkimer-county-residents-sue-iberdrola-over-wind-farm/