Alternative Energy Production for Geddes
What does the public at large think of supplementing the local power grid with sources of alternative energy?
(hill above North Terry Rd. with added windmill tower)
Would this view above West Genesee St. bother you or encourage you? To me it looks like a vision of the future. To others, gaudy? Out of place?
Right now there are a large tower and water reservoir on the top of the hill. There is ample room for a solar panel array and/or a windmill generator, possibly enough to provide a fair portion (1/4? 1/2?) of our power needs in Geddes. This of course would be based on the initial investment made. Projects of this type are scalable, meaning that additional investments could expand the amount energy produced. NYS currently provides generous rebates to help encourage renewable energy production making it more and more competetive with traditional sources of energy.
The local production of renewable energy, would greatly improve the sustainability of the Town of Geddes, lead to lower energy rates for businesses and residents, and would transform Geddes into the model of a sustainable community in Central NY.
Thoughts?
posted by baloghblog at 4:17 PM
3 Comments:
I'm not sure if we have enough wind for that, though... and the noise issues, always contentious even in rural areas, would probably preclude such a project where you've envisioned it. Unfortunately, suitable undeveloped land in Solvay-Geddes-Fairmount doesn't really exist, except in the heights above Fairmount Hills.
How about putting it on the waste beds?
10:17 AM
Where are the waste beds? Near the lake? That was my only other thought of where something like this could be undertaken.
As this project would literally be in my back yard, I would have questions regarding noise pollution as well. I haven't heard a windmill up close, but hear many complaints about that. I wonder how loud the turbines actually are.
I would like to see our town more willing to look at outside-the-box solutions to our future energy needs, though.
It is too bad that no one, to date, has come up with a way to power homes by lake effect snow or radon. We'd be all set.
Solar is getting more efficient each year, perhaps advances in solar technology will allow us to produce energy in our (sometimes dim) level of light at a level that is cost-effective.
11:15 AM
i'm sure you're familiar with the controversy surrounding windmills in nantucket. (if not, a quick google search will yeild scores of articles) a grassroots group of wealthy people in the area has risen up to squelch the Cape Wind plan to put a wind farm in nantucket sound, citing reasons both valid and baseless (at one point they argued that whales would crash into them, which is clearly ridiculous.)
the argument that struck me was the contention that it would ruin the view from historic homes in the area. as a big fan of historic preservation, i can see their argument, and sympathize with it as we in the hudson valley cite the "viewshed" along with other arguments against the development of projects like the St. Lawrence Cement plant.
But I think, in the cases of the greater good, some of that historic integrety can be sacrficed to the cause of sustainable and environmentally sound development that would clearly benefit the greater good. I'm not saying it's okay to stick a windmill on the front lawn of Monticello or anything extreme, just that a well planned wind farm could become part of the historic fabric of our communities, and would be a new chapter of our history worth being proud of and worth remembering.
i think windmills are beautiful.
okay, that's my two cents! keep up the good work ;o)
Natalie from YorkStaters
here's a link to a rochester article on windmills
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051204/NEWS01/512040336/1002/NEWS
3:03 PM
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