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Health, Safety, and Natural Beauty of our Prattsburgh Home
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ORES Hears Issues Regarding Prattsburgh Wind Project
Four issues were heard by Judges MacKillop-Soller and McEneney Chan last week on April 16. The issues concern whether the project permit should include 1) a site-specific condition that would ensure noise on a cumulative basis from surrounding projects is modeled; 2) conditions related to endangered species of birds recently discovered in the project area; 3) application of setback and noise constraints to partially-built structures in Prattsburgh; and 4) a waiver of the Town’s allowed setbacks for four turbines planned to be sited in Prattsburgh.
In the case of the first question, Terra-Gen argued that they should only be responsible for cumulative noise when their additional turbines cause a noise violation, at which point they would implement noise mitigation software. Alice Sokolow and Marty Oehlbeck countered by pointing out the difficulties involved in accurate modeling and measurement of new noise over the existing ambient, and that the wind energy companies have a history of ignoring feedback about noise from residents and neglecting to apply mitigations. Download and read Marty Oehlbeck’s argument here.
To the second question, the attorney for the wind energy company denied that the project would pose a threat to endangered species due to adequate distance between the turbines and nesting areas, and in any case a certain number of birds is allowed to be killed under the regulations of the Fish and Wildlife Service before Terra-Gen would be required to mitigate. The ORES attorney argued for additional studies and monitoring as an ongoing mitigation both before and after turbine construction.
The issue of compliance to residential setback and noise requirements for partially-constructed buildings in Prattsburgh was negated by Terra-Gen and ORES, stating that unless structures are fully constructed they should not be considered residences, and don’t qualify for health and safety consideration. The attorneys further argued that part-time residents should not receive the same consideration as full-time, since they would not be as consistently exposed to dangers and irritants posed by proximity to the turbines. The Town’s attorney argued that the structures would be inhabited, even if intermittently, and the inhabitants would be subjected to noise and ice and blade throw risk whenever they were staying there. He mentioned that 15% of the Town’s residents are part-time and contribute heavily to the tax base, another reason they deserve fair consideration. Further, one of the structures is planned as an air-bnb rental, and the risk would inhibit the business potential of the enterprise.
On the issue of setback waivers to four of the eight Prattsburgh turbines, Terra-Gen stated that the turbines do not comply with the Town’s setbacks but that they were sited for minimum impact while still meeting the wind company’s energy production goals. ORES agreed that the turbine placements are legal as the state can make any site-specific waivers they deem necessary, and which serve to meet the state’s stated ambitious political green-energy agenda. The Town’s attorney argued that the setbacks were designed principally to safeguard residents’ adequate health and safety, and that their rights were being sidelined.
Here’s the complete transcript of the hearing.
Judges MacKillop-Soller and McEneney Chan committed to a ruling on these four issues by May 2. We are waiting to hear what they say. The PPA’s course of action going forward depends on their decision. We will keep you posted, so stay tuned. More to come.
Project Has a Draft Permit . . .
Gather Information to Go Forward
ORES issued a draft permit to Prattsburgh Wind Farm on Friday, December 29, kicking off a 60-day Public Comment period which closed on March 1. Whether we live near where the turbines are planned or anywhere in the area, our lives are going to be changed by this project. We have the right to have our questions answered and our concerns heard at any time. But first, take the time to gather together the facts of your situation. Make a of note your “receptor” number, which is how your residence is identified.
How Will You be Impacted?
Click on the links below to get more information. They might take a few minutes to load – please be patient!
Do you live within 2000 ft. of the Project Area?
Does a turbine setback fall on your property?
Find your receptor number(s) next to the little red “receptor” dots on your property
Look up your receptor number(s) on these noise tables and make a note of the estimated readings
Are you in the shadow flicker zone (write to ORES if your receptor is listed on this document)
Be sure to write to ORES (instructions below) if:
+ You are unsure whether your residence is outside the safe setback distance from a turbine;
+ You don’t see a receptor on your property (by law, your residence has to be counted as a receptor if you live within 2 miles of the project);
+ You have receptor number(s) and any of them come in over 45 dBA Leq (8-hour) on the noise tables;
+ Your receptor is on the list of residences expected to receive > 30 hours of shadow flicker annually;
+ Even if none of the conditions above apply to you, it’s still vitally important that you write about your concerns living in the area of the wind farm.
How to Post a Comment on the ORES Website
1) Go to the ORES website;
2) Click on the Permit Applications link in the banner at the top of the page;
3) Scroll down to Complete Applications Under Review and click on the link for 21-00749 (Prattsburgh Wind); [you now have access to the application and all documents and Comments on the DPS website]
4) Click the Post Comments button;
5) Fill out the form, add attachments if you want to, and click the Post Comment button.
Your comments go live on the NYS Department of Public Service website a short time later after they are screened, and will be read by ORES.
Thank you for taking the time to make a difference!
Write Emails and Letters
Another good way to let your voice be heard is to send emails, or even better, take the time to write an old-fashioned letter. Tell state officials how you expect living with wind turbines will impact you, your family, and your community. Let them know our basic rights to health and safety are being side-lined. We need their advocacy to preserve and protect our homes and land in rural New York.
Write an email, copying in these ORES officials:
meave.tooher@ores.ny.gov
James McClymonds, Administrative Law Judge
james.mcclymonds@ores.ny.gov
Nathan Stone, Public Information Officer
nathan.stone@ores.ny.gov
Hayley Carlock, Deputy Counsel
hayley.carlock@ores.ny.gov
Dawn MacKillop-Soller, Administrative Law Judge
dawn.mackillop-soller@ores.ny.gov
Christopher McEneney-Chan, Administrative Law Judge
christopher.mceneneychan@ores.ny.gov
For maximum impact, address a letter directly to this ORES attorney:
Meave Tooher
General Counsel, Office of Renewable Energy Siting
c/o: OGS Mailroom
Empire State Plaza
240 State Street
P-1 South, J Dock
Albany, N.Y. 12242
Write to Your Local, State, and US Representatives
If you are moved to go to the next level, write to any of your elected representatives. State Senator Thomas O’Mara in particular has expressed opposition to the state’s spending on renewable energy projects. Click here for where to write.
Join PPA and volunteer to help with an email or a phone call to:
prattsburghpreservation@gmail.com
(585) 683-7521
And finally, be sure to browse the extensive selection of articles and documentary videos we offer here to help you learn more about wind turbines and how they affect people’s lives.