Guilford windmills to stand at 650 feet tall
GUILFORD – The Guilford windmill project aims to build more than 20 massive windmills in the Town of Guilford. The construction of just a single wind turbine will take up 18 acres and be 13 times taller than the Chenango County Courthouse, standing at 650 feet.
The wind turbines will be discussed at tonight's Town of Guilford board meeting, as officials respond to public concerns.
According to the Calpine Corporation, the project is called "High Bridge Wind Farm." The company that would be building the wind turbines, the farm would be a 100 megawatt, utility-scale energy project that is proposed for eastern Chenango County in the Town of Guilford.
The company said they would build between 25-30 wind turbines. They added that each turbine requires 18 acres of land for the area containing its foundation and the turbines stand at 650 feet tall, or more than 13 times the size of the Chenango County Courthouse.
A representative of the company said once the project is fully approved it would take approximately two-to-three months to complete.
Town of Guilford Supervisor George Seneck spoke about the windmill project, stating there were pros and cons to the project, and the town's goal is to keep everyone informed.
Seneck said one of the cons was the effect it could have on local wildlife.
"The turbines decompress the air and if bats are in the vicinity it could decompress their lungs," he said. "Wind turbines will also kill birds, though I've been told that cats kill more birds than wind turbines do."
He said at the Guilford Town Board Meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday officials will host a public hearing on a preposed update to the town's comprehensive plan on the alternative energy section. He added that officials are planning on meeting with the town attorney to review a draft renewable energy law that will deal with wind and solar power.
According to the Special Town Board Meeting Minutes that Guilford Town Officials held on April 24, 2019, the town attorney found no issues with it, but required there to be a second public hearing on the draft.
"The first presentation that came to the town board was in August of 2017 was from a representative of Calpine," said Seneck. "They basically told us that they were interested in collecting some data."
He said since there several other presentations have taken place in the town, and the town wants people to be as educated on the pros and cons of the windmill project as possible.
"We have a pretty functional website, and we also have a town facebook page where individuals can find more information," said Seneck. "We are going to be doing a postcard mailing to help keep people informed as well."
In a statement Calpine said the project proposes to interconnect into an existing New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) transmission line that traverses the area, delivering power into the New York State power grid.
The company says wind energy represents a viable, long-term revenue stream for families in the form of land-lease and and easement-agreement payments during the development and operation of a wind farm. It added that rural communities also benefit from public road enhancements and increased tax revenues to fund local infrastructure and public services.
Pictured: Turbine size comparison to the Chenango County Courthouse. (Cindy Tiley graphic)
The wind turbines will be discussed at tonight's Town of Guilford board meeting, as officials respond to public concerns.
According to the Calpine Corporation, the project is called "High Bridge Wind Farm." The company that would be building the wind turbines, the farm would be a 100 megawatt, utility-scale energy project that is proposed for eastern Chenango County in the Town of Guilford.
The company said they would build between 25-30 wind turbines. They added that each turbine requires 18 acres of land for the area containing its foundation and the turbines stand at 650 feet tall, or more than 13 times the size of the Chenango County Courthouse.
A representative of the company said once the project is fully approved it would take approximately two-to-three months to complete.
Town of Guilford Supervisor George Seneck spoke about the windmill project, stating there were pros and cons to the project, and the town's goal is to keep everyone informed.
Seneck said one of the cons was the effect it could have on local wildlife.
"The turbines decompress the air and if bats are in the vicinity it could decompress their lungs," he said. "Wind turbines will also kill birds, though I've been told that cats kill more birds than wind turbines do."
He said at the Guilford Town Board Meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday officials will host a public hearing on a preposed update to the town's comprehensive plan on the alternative energy section. He added that officials are planning on meeting with the town attorney to review a draft renewable energy law that will deal with wind and solar power.
According to the Special Town Board Meeting Minutes that Guilford Town Officials held on April 24, 2019, the town attorney found no issues with it, but required there to be a second public hearing on the draft.
"The first presentation that came to the town board was in August of 2017 was from a representative of Calpine," said Seneck. "They basically told us that they were interested in collecting some data."
He said since there several other presentations have taken place in the town, and the town wants people to be as educated on the pros and cons of the windmill project as possible.
"We have a pretty functional website, and we also have a town facebook page where individuals can find more information," said Seneck. "We are going to be doing a postcard mailing to help keep people informed as well."
In a statement Calpine said the project proposes to interconnect into an existing New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) transmission line that traverses the area, delivering power into the New York State power grid.
The company says wind energy represents a viable, long-term revenue stream for families in the form of land-lease and and easement-agreement payments during the development and operation of a wind farm. It added that rural communities also benefit from public road enhancements and increased tax revenues to fund local infrastructure and public services.
Pictured: Turbine size comparison to the Chenango County Courthouse. (Cindy Tiley graphic)
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