NILES - Two certified organic farmers are expanding their philosophy of farming by installing a wind turbine at their farm to meet up to 75 percent of their energy needs.
Rose and Doug Ryan, who own Harvest Home Organics in Niles, are planning to install the green energy source at their vegetable, flower and herb farm to "work in tandem with the natural world and have the opportunity to improve the natural environment we are farming," Rose Ryan said.
Wind projects prevent air pollution from electricity generators using fossil fuels, relieve the peak use loads on generators and eliminate the costs associated with transmitting electricity over a distance, including the expense of electricity bottlenecking in transmission lines, said Mitchell Khosrova, an associate counsel for the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority, which is helping to fund the turbine. NYSERDA will become the lead government agency reviewing the project.
As part of the process of bringing the wind turbine to the Ryans' farm, the town board and planning boards of Niles met Wednesday with Khosrova, the Ryans and other interested community members.
The town of Niles does not have legal jurisdiction over the turbine, said Richard Zwirn, the town's attorney. Despite Niles' lack of jurisdiction, Khosrova said he met with the town officials to address their concerns.
"Our biggest concern was that we didn't understand (the project) because it's the first wind project in Niles," said town Supervisor Dick DeWitt.
Legally, "we've got to dot our 'i's' and cross our 't's'," DeWitt said.
Niles town officials expressed concern about the turbine's ability to withstand the weather conditions in Niles, which has one of the highest elevations in the county.
Kevin Schulte, consulting director for Sustainable Energy Developments Inc., the firm that will be installing the wind turbine, said in response that the wind turbine is overengineered to withstand local wind and winter conditions.
Town officials also expressed concern about the noise level of the windmill. Schulte said the sound of the windmill will be similar to the noise level of a refrigerator or an air conditioner.
Another worry for the town is the wind turbine could lead to the development of a large, commercial wind farm in Niles. But the typical amount of wind in Niles puts the town in a class below the class of wind needed to power commercial-style windfarms, Schulte said.
The wind turbine's tower will rise 120 feet in the air, and with its propeller will reach 131 feet. A total of nine cables, spreading 70 feet in every direction, will anchor the turbine to the ground. The tower will sit at a 1,460-foot elevation.
All the property owners whose properties abut the Ryans gave their blessing to the wind turbine, Khosrova and Ryan said.
The next step to bringing the turbine to the Ryans' farm will be for Khosrova to complete and publish NYSERDA's status as the lead agency on the project and to note the project's lack of environmental impact in a state Department of Environmental Conservation publication.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Wind projects prevent air pollution from electricity generators using fossil fuels, relieve the peak use loads on generators and eliminate the costs associated with transmitting electricity over a distance, including the expense of electricity bottlenecking in transmission lines, said Mitchell Khosrova, an associate counsel for the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority, which is helping to fund the turbine. NYSERDA will become the lead government agency reviewing the project.
As part of the process of bringing the wind turbine to the Ryans' farm, the town board and planning boards of Niles met Wednesday with Khosrova, the Ryans and other interested community members.
The town of Niles does not have legal jurisdiction over the turbine, said Richard Zwirn, the town's attorney. Despite Niles' lack of jurisdiction, Khosrova said he met with the town officials to address their concerns.
"Our biggest concern was that we didn't understand (the project) because it's the first wind project in Niles," said town Supervisor Dick DeWitt.
Legally, "we've got to dot our 'i's' and cross our 't's'," DeWitt said.
Niles town officials expressed concern about the turbine's ability to withstand the weather conditions in Niles, which has one of the highest elevations in the county.
Kevin Schulte, consulting director for Sustainable Energy Developments Inc., the firm that will be installing the wind turbine, said in response that the wind turbine is overengineered to withstand local wind and winter conditions.
Town officials also expressed concern about the noise level of the windmill. Schulte said the sound of the windmill will be similar to the noise level of a refrigerator or an air conditioner.
Another worry for the town is the wind turbine could lead to the development of a large, commercial wind farm in Niles. But the typical amount of wind in Niles puts the town in a class below the class of wind needed to power commercial-style windfarms, Schulte said.
The wind turbine's tower will rise 120 feet in the air, and with its propeller will reach 131 feet. A total of nine cables, spreading 70 feet in every direction, will anchor the turbine to the ground. The tower will sit at a 1,460-foot elevation.
All the property owners whose properties abut the Ryans gave their blessing to the wind turbine, Khosrova and Ryan said.
The next step to bringing the turbine to the Ryans' farm will be for Khosrova to complete and publish NYSERDA's status as the lead agency on the project and to note the project's lack of environmental impact in a state Department of Environmental Conservation publication.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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