Wind companies busy
A public meeting will be held later this month in the heart of the area being targeted by international energy giant AES Corporation for an industrial wind plant.

The grassroots citizens' group "Save God's Country" will make a presentation on Tuesday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ulysses Firehall.

Information on issues relating to the proposed construction of 79 wind turbines in that section of Potter County will be presented. Those who would like to have specific issues addressed are encouraged to share them in advance of the meeting, by email to savegodscountry@aol.com.

There's a split in public opinion over the wind plant. Supporters see the massive turbines as symbols of energy independence, as well as a source of tax revenue and modest employment. They are joined by landowners in Ulysses and Hector townships who stand to benefit economically.

On the other side are those who see the wind plant as an aesthetic and environmental nightmare being plotted by a company taking advantage of state and federal tax breaks and other government incentives.

Property owners in the vicinity of the proposed wind plant form the backbone of Save God's Country. They summarize their objections as follows: damaging health effects, noise pollution, negative impact on wildlife, declining property values, construction of new roads and underground transmission lines, shadow flicker, negative impact on tourism, visual intrusion on the landscape, and absence of any direct energy benefits for Potter County.

Members also warn of a broader strategy by AES and, potentially, other companies to exploit the northcentral Pennsylvania counties with dozens of additional turbines, each of which

measures wind speed and occupies a five-acre plot and

frequency at the site. Seneca extends more than 400 feet into

Resources will assess the the air.

findings to decide whether it's

A National Fuel Gas Corp.

financially feasible to locate subsidiary is studying sites in

wind turbines in that area. Cameron County for possible

Meanwhile, at least two location of wind turbines.

companies have approached Seneca Resources Corp. is

property owners in Tioga working with a Connecticut

County to discuss leasing consulting firm, Tamarack

acreage for construction of Group, to measure wind

wind turbines. Similar contacts conditions in Cameron County.

have been made with property

Initial assessments are taking

owners in Potter County's place in the county's northwest

Hebron Township and the corner, off Rt. 46 in Shippen

Dutch Hill area, between Township, between Emporium

Coudersport and Austin. and Smethport. Equipment

"There is growing concern extended high into the air that our entire region could be invaded by wind developers," said Herb Miller, spokesman for Save God's Country. "This is not a case of the farmers doing what they choose on their own property. What they would be doing would affect our roads, our environment, our waterways, our property values, our quality of life and our health."

That organization is calling for a county ordinance that would prohibit or strictly limit the erection of tall structures such as wind turbines. Save God's Country also wants a delay in the state permitting process so the wind plant's impact can be more thoroughly studied.