Statement on Wind Farms

Several large windfarms have been proposed for Prattsburgh in northern Steuben County. The Steuben County Green Party supports the development of wind energy, but calls for small, locally-owned projects.

Comments on Wind Farm Draft Public Scoping Documents

We filed comments on the Ecogen and Windfarm Prattsburgh draft scoping documents. Click here for the Windfarm Prattsburgh scoping document. Click here for maps of the proposed Ecogen turbine locations.

Comments of the Steuben County Green Party

May 17, 2004

The ten key principles of the Green Party are what distinguishes it from other political parties. One of the ten key principles of the Green Party is ecological responsibility. Another principle is community economics.

With the planning of wind farms in the area of Prattsburgh, we sadly find a deviation from those two concepts both in method and equipment. Considering the landscape of the area, the Green Party of Steuben County finds that the wind turbines are much too large for effective use and planned for spaces that can disrupt both human and animal life. The selection and construction of these turbines are overseen by a corporation that has no historical link to the community, and will use the energy produced for uses outside of the Prattsburgh area for their own profit. There is no direct benefit to the community outside of creating clean energy.

Therefore, it behooves the Steuben County Green Party to offer an alternative to this building project. We propose that smaller wind turbines and solar panels be constructed using local businesses as much as possible. This equipment would then be connected directly to individual homes that are connected to each other by a power grid. All excess energy would be placed back into the gird and be used by the community. This project would be managed by a local energy cooperative that would oversee construction and maintenence. Any profit made would be directly shared by members of the community, and the equipment would be properly scaled to the environment. Also, a proportion of any profit from the cooperative could be allocated for a purchasing assistance program for others interested in wind power that would establish uniformity among the equipment used.

The Green Party stands by the effectiveness and efficiency of wind power, but understands that the most proper method must be directly linked to the community and those who would use that energy. In this case of environmental stewardship, one size does not fit all.

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