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Residents raise safety, health and property concerns over proposed industrial wind projects in public comments
Summary
Multiple residents and local groups told the legislature they oppose proposed 600‑foot industrial wind turbines in several towns, citing health, fire, blade‑failures and threats to tourism and farmland; speakers urged municipalities and the county to adopt protective local laws.
At the meeting’s public comment period several residents and advocates raised concerns about proposed industrial wind turbine projects and asked the county to support local protections.
Speakers and claims Luke Wagard, who said he represents the Concerned Citizens of the North Harmony Wind Project, described solicitations to property owners on his road and said the developer (identified as Buttercup Wind/Bedrock Renewables) proposed turbines “over 600 feet in height” near homes. Wagard cited a Board of Health memo (12/09/2019) urging towns to adopt protective local laws and referenced a National Library of Medicine study summarizing reported wind‑turbine accidents; he asked what the county can do to stop projects and protect communities.
Karen Engstrom, representing Chautauqua Energy Watch, said multiple townships had proposals or inquiries and urged the legislature to share and promote local protective measures. Engstrom listed towns where 600‑foot industrial turbines had been proposed or discussed and said the county’s existing no‑pilot resolution (adopted in 2018) and a town drinking‑water source protection law could serve as additional protections. She said the IDA’s support for pilot programs needs review and urged the county to coordinate with towns on height limits and other safeguards.
No formal county action recorded Comments were made during public comment; no county ordinance, moratorium or formal vote on wind or energy siting occurred during the session. Speakers asked county leaders to disseminate model local laws and to coordinate municipal responses.
