December 9, 2015
New York

Wind turbine debate in Somerset

Andrea Marvin | WGRZ | December 8, 2015 | www.wgrz.com

A proposal to set up wind turbines in two communities along the shore of Lake Ontario has many residents concerned. A developer is interested in land throughout the towns of Yates and Somerset.

Signs along route 18 show the division the debate is causing , with some reading “no wind turbines” and other signs saying “harvest the power of the wind.”

Lyndaker, a farmer, says he would get paid a certain amount a year and profit a percentage of the amount of energy the turbines produce.

A U.S. Energy Department report predicts wind energy will produce 10 percent of the nation’s electricity by 2020. Because of the potential, Apex Clean Energy is looking at installing 70 wind turbines in the towns of Yates and Somerset.

Tuesday, those in opposition filed into a public meeting to discuss concerns ranging from the wind turbines causing too much noise, to the negative impact on wildlife, including birds, with the blade tip of the tallest tower reaching 570 feet.

Home rule would not apply to the project, meaning the towns would not have the final say. Instead, under law, a panel will make the decision, dominated by agency officials from Albany.

A recent town survey showed about 67 percent of residents in Somorset opposed the project.

The proposed project could generate enough electricity to power 53-thousand homes.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/09/wind-turbine-debate-in-somerset/