Wind Farm in the Adirondacks? You;ve got to be kidding

[Becca]

We've got them here, along Tug Hill. They ruin the beauty of the area. I can't believe they would do this in the Adirondacks.

Here is the link:

http://www.pressrepublican.com/Archive/2006/05_2006/051220061.htm

[Adk Keith]

They ruin the beauty of the area.

So does acid rain, global warming and coal burning power plants.

Visual impact would be a greater issue if it wasn't in an area already zoned as industrial, dominated by huge piles of mining spoils and situated next to a mountain covered with ski trails, lift towers and a fire tower covered with antennas.

[Hugh]

Well said Keith and lets not forget those huge power transmission lines and right of way going up the side of the mountain a real eyesore if there ever was one,compliments of the state. Hugh

[qam1]

Screw the wind farms,

Wind is useless,

Instead there's a nice deserted Air force base (err I mean International Trade Parc) in Plattsburgh that would make a wonderful place for a Nuclear Power plant or two.

[redhawk]

Wind actually works quite well. I knew a few people in Colorado and South Dakota that used wind as an energy source.

It was cheap, efficient and the electric companies had to purchase the excess that was generated.

Lets face it, anything is better then fossil fuels, when you consider the overall harm to the envirnoment as well as the cost which just keeps going up.

We need renewable energy and unfortunately it's going to have to go in a lot of "backyards".

Overall, it won't do that much damage and it won't end up loacted in the middle of the wilderness either nless they clear cut.

So, some people views are going to be messed with, and if it was mine I would wish that it could be somewhere else but accept the fact that it was a necesary evil, benefitting the environment and humanity in general and be glad that there were alternatives to the mess we've put ourselves in.

[kwc]

... there's a nice deserted Air force base (err I mean International Trade Parc) in Plattsburgh that would make a wonderful place for ...

actually not a bad idea for a place for a wind farm ...

[kurtteej]

Out west the people that are using wind to the biggest advantage are the Apache's ( I think it's them, could be Navajo). They have set up several wind farms on reservation land and have done well with it. It works and generates quite a bit of electricity. I'd love to have some wind farms down here on Long Island, but there's just too damn many people, the only way to do it would be to put it a few miles off shore.

I also agree with the Air Force base use suggested above.

PS - I think that it's time to start getting really serious about some alternatives and put up with some 'inconveniences' like the sight of windmills otherwise the 70s are going to look like the good-old days.

[poconoron]

I also would hate to see these huge wind turbines along the ADK skyline and wish there was another alternative. I would like to think they could be placed outside the Blue Line and have the power that's generated transported to where it's needed. But I also recognize the need to to SOMETHING about our current energy problems and the impact on the environment.

I've also heard that the huge wind devices can be harmful to birds both during migrations and just in general, and that alot of environmentalists oppose them on those grounds. I wonder if that issue has been studied in any depth?

[Adk Keith]

actually not a bad idea for a place for a wind farm ...

There are lots of great places around the country for wind farms. The fuel is the problem. They need wind. More than most people realize. When I was in the industry in the late '70's and early '80's, we suggested at least an average of 11 mph for any kind of realistic pay back for residential units. That doesn't sound like much but it is. Inland, very few people in the east live were it's that windy.

[redhawk]

I've also heard that the huge wind devices can be harmful to birds both during migrations and just in general, and that alot of environmentalists oppose them on those grounds. I wonder if that issue has been studied in any depth?

The metal towers for electrical lines are also a danger Ron.

It boils down to wind, solar or hydraulic for clean energy compared to nuclear or fossil fuels. Wind and solar have less or an impact then hydraulic. Ethenal requires processing, so there is impact there.

Somewhere, somehow, we have to do something and the "not in my backyard" mentality has to change.

I wouldn't be crazy about seeing the wind machine in the dacks, but better that then the dead lakes and streams as well as loss of trees as a result of acid rain.

[Wldrns]

I've also heard that the huge wind devices can be harmful to birds both during migrations and just in general, and that alot of environmentalists oppose them on those grounds. I wonder if that issue has been studied in any depth?

Interesting article on CNN just today. Massive Wind Farm May Endanger Birds

[poconoron]

Yep, I've heard this issue raised a number of times and I hope some studies are done to see the effects on wildlife, birds in particular. What I don't want to see is headlong rushes into one "solution" or another before it is determined what we are getting ourselves into.

It just may be that these massive windfarms are fine, as long as they are not situated directly in the paths of bird migration flyways. Or, it may be the case that birds will eventually "learn" to avoid them. But I'm not sure if we know enough yet.

[Wldrns]

Yep, I've heard this issue raised a number of times and I hope some studies are done to see the effects on wildlife, birds in particular. What I don't want to see is headlong rushes into one "solution" or another before it is determined what we are getting ourselves into.

It just may be that these massive windfarms are fine, as long as they are not situated directly in the paths of bird migration flyways. Or, it may be the case that birds will eventually "learn" to avoid them. But I'm not sure if we know enough yet.

I'm still waiting for evolution to come up with a deer that has "learned" what a highway is and to judge a car's speed before lunging across. You'd think all the dumb ones would be dead by now.

[qam1]

actually not a bad idea for a place for a wind farm ...

Sure, As far as I know the Kennedy's don't own any property along Lake Champlain so it could be a go..

But seriously, the Air force base probably isn't good for a wind farm. There just isn't enough wind.

This thing is really not worth it, It's only going to put out 27 megawatts and only in ideal conditions. Meanwhile a nuclear power plant can put out 1200 megawatts no matter the weather.

Advantages are
1) More clean Power for more people
2) Fewer Dead birds
3) Fewer dead trees
4) Plattsburgh a'int in the blue line thus not as big an eye sore
5) More jobs
6) Great Fishing year around

But yeah, yeah I know, never happen with New York being the bluest of blue state. Since Bush's energy bill they will soon be building them in the south and we'll still be here watching people in droves continue to flee New York for there.

[Boreal Chickadee]

When neotropical birds cross the Gulf of Mexico they are absolutely stressed to their limit. Many thousands die whenever there is the slightest change in wind. They simply do not have the fat reserves for extra flight time. San Pedro Island and others along the Gulf coast are important for spring migration because the birds are totally exhausted and land literally in the first tree or bush they can...and then rest. Some are so tired and out of energy reserves that they land on the sand and sit there too tired to move. Some don't make it. Human development along the coast has seriously diminished many important migration landing areas.

You have to remember that a warbler is so light you could paste a first class stamp on it and stick him in the mail.

I doubt there are many places worse for wind turbines than along the Gulf coast shoreline.