GUILFORD – At a town meeting on Wednesday night, local residents of Guilford came to the town hall to discuss potential impacts of a wind turbine project with town officials and a company representative.

At the meeting officials heard concerns about the effects the turbines would have on wildlife, human health, and local aesthetics. Although other individuals supported the project stating that it would bring notoriety, economic development, and a renewable energy source to the town.

According to the Calpine Corporation, the project is called “High Bridge Wind Farm.” The farm would be a 100 megawatt, utility-scale energy project that is proposed for eastern Chenango County in the Town of Guilford.

In a statement, Calpine said they would build between 25-30 wind turbines in the Town of Guilford. They added that each turbine requires 18 acres of land for the area containing its foundation and the turbines stand at approximately 650 feet tall, or more than 13 times the size of the Chenango County Courthouse.

Officials took no action related to the wind project at the meeting, but did discuss a comprehensive plan update that would include changes to regulate forms of renewable energy, with the town attorney present.

Town of Guilford Supervisor George Seneck read from the plan, which called for additional information a variety of topics including community setbacks, noise, vibration, and safety features, impacts on scenic views, wildlife impacts, especially birds and bats near wind facilities, existing communication systems that could be effected, and information on chemical use that may be associated with the facility, if any, and any spill response.

When describing certain expectations from the plan, such as a requirement that wind turbines won't be placed within approximately 975 feet of a non-participating individual's property line, Calpine Corporation Development Director Alec Jarvis said restrictions like that would have a significant impact on the success of the project.

Jarvis said with those property restrictions, the company would only be able to build four of the 20-plus proposed turbines.

Though the proposed turbines will be some of the tallest in New York State, Calpine Company officials ask Guilford officials to consider letting the company build larger ones, which had been recently developed with new technology.

A currently proposed requirement, limits wind turbines to 675 feet in height.

"We have a model turbine that is 676 feet tall, is there any way we can account for that in the comprehensive plan?" asked Jarvis.

Seneck responded, "Dig a foot deeper hole when you install the turbine."

He also addressed concerns that information was being purposefully withheld by the company, stating the organization is doing its best to provide the citizens of Guilford with the information as it can.

He said Calpine is discussing putting an office in the area and holding a third education seminar, but this one would have the information from its article 10 application.

When asked about what the Town of Guilford stands to lose if this project falls through, Seneck said besides the cost of attorney and other research associated fees, he was unsure at this point because all of the information about the project is still being collected.

He said he wants to keep local residents as informed as possible, and will continue to research comments made by residents throughout the meeting.

Throughout the meeting, individuals spoke about the turbines, some in favor and others opposed.

Arguments in Favor

Paul Knowles, a local business owner and resident of Guilford spoke at the event and said, "Each town in Chenango County is known for something, why not make Guilford known for renewable energy?"

"We have the opportunity in Guilford to be known for something other than vacant farms and farmers leaving, and fairly high taxes," said Knowles. "I think this is a good opportunity to put Guilford on the map for something other than farmers leaving."

Another self proclaimed lifelong resident of the southern tier Michael Dunnin said the project is needed to revitalize the economy in this region.

"I’ve been a lifelong resident of the Southern Tier, and from what I’ve seen there is no more manufacturing, there is no more farms, jobs are either retail or you can’t make a living," said Dunnin. "The jobs are needed, the energy is need, this project is needed, and the science is there – you can’t just go off of google and take the first thing you read as viable science against a project like this."

Arguments Opposed

Guilford resident Kenneth Hill Pratt spoke at the meeting, and asked officials, "What exactly is this project going to bring, long-term, to Guilford?"

"We’ve heard a lot of stuff, general terms like economic growth, and I want to address that and ask what is the measurable criteria in Guilford for economic development and economic growth," said Pratt. "If we can’t define the criteria, how can we say for sure that one of the benefits of this project is going to be economic development for Guilford.

"The pie in the sky promises that we’ve been hearing really don’t apply, I would like to hear specifics, what it means for people – for the residents in Guilford."

Guilford resident Justin Conforte said while he lives in the center of the proposed wind turbine project, he was never informed by Calpine or local government about the size of the project.

"I’m just learning about the magnitude of this project," said Conforte. "Where we live appears to be in the heart of the project, and I’m really concerned about the things that other people have said here.

“Property value impact, the fact that these types of turbines haven’t been tested or used on land; I can appreciate that jobs need to be made, but it can’t be at the expense of everyone in the area without all the voices being heard, and I have concerns about the ecological impacts of this project as well.

Guilford resident Loretta Trufferson said people in favor of the wind turbine project are all about numbers, and said a project like this hasn't been attempted anywhere else on the Earth.

"I think right now the people for the wind turbine project are all about numbers, and numbers are important but growing up here and still living here – raising my family here, I’m very concerned for the people that still live here," said Trufferson. "This is an unprecedented project, this hasn’t happened anywhere else on the Earth, and the Town of Guilford has the power to say what it is we want from Calpine.

"We should be as stringent as possible, and we should make an unprecedented wind law if we’re going to have wind power."

Pictured: The Guilford Town Board met on Wednesday and heard concerns from local residents about the pending wind turbine project. (Zachary Meseck photo)