Adirondack Wind Energy Park, Warren County, NY - Consensus ...

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Adirondack Wind Energy Park
Warren County, NY
I. Location and Project Overview
Adirondack Wind Partners, LLC have proposed putting a wind project, called the Adirondack Wind
Energy Project, in Warren County, New York. The wind energy facility would be located in the town of
Johnsburg, i on private land adjacent to a state-­‐owned and operated ski facility, Gore Mountain. ii The
proposed site is located within the Adirondack Park, about 80 miles north of Albany. The Adirondack
Park is “the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, greater in size than
Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Park combined. The boundary of the Park
encompasses approximately 6 million acres, nearly half of which belongs to all of the people of New
York State and is constitutionally protected to remain “forever wild” forest preserve.” iii The remaining
half of the Adirondack Park is owned privately. All development in the park is under the jurisdiction of
the Adirondack Park Agency.
The company has proposed putting a maximum of 10 turbines on a 1700 acre site iv of privately owned
land within the park. The project would generate up to 30 megawatts of power, and has the potential
to supply around 14,000 homes in Warren County with electricity. v The height of each of the proposed
turbines for the wind project is approximately 279 feet. vi The current status of the project is that is
purportedly in progress with opposition, vii but there has been little recent activity on the part of the
developers. The last documented action on their part was in March 2010, when they requested
extension of a permit. According to James McAndrew, Vice President of Strategic Projects at Barton
Mines, the “project is paused pending a return of energy prices to pre-­‐recession levels or an increase in
incentives” (email).
II.
Demographics
Map of Warren County viii

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The Adirondack Park supports a year-­‐round population of about 130,000 people; there are also a
number of seasonal residents. ix “The Adirondack Park is the largest park in the contiguous United States.
It contains six million acres, covers one-­‐fifth of New York State and is equal in size to neighboring
Vermont. The Adirondack Park is nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park. The Park is
home for 130,000 permanent and 110,000 seasonal residents, and hosts ten million visitors yearly.” x
Approximately half of the year-­‐round population of the Adirondack Park resides in Warren County which
has a population around 66,000 people, the majority of whom live in southern Warren County. The
northern part of Warren County, like most of the Adirondack Park, is sparsely populated.
The demographics of Warren County are: 23 percent of population has bachelor’s degree or higher,
there are about 38,000 housing units as of 2009, and 19.2 percent of these housing units are in multi-­unit
structures. The median household income as of 2000 is 48,376, the percent of persons below
poverty level is about 10.5 as of 2008, and the land area is 869 square miles with an average density of
72.8 people per square mile. xi
III.
Project Background
a. Who
Adirondack Wind Partners LLC (AWP) was established in 2004 as a joint venture between the Barton
Group and Reunion Power LLC; it was created for the sole purpose of developing the Adirondack Wind
Energy Park. The Barton Group (Barton) is the parent company of Barton Mines Company, LLC, Virginia
Abrasives Corporation, and Barton International Incorporated. Currently, Barton employs an estimated
90 people in Warren County for its operations in North Creek and Lake George. Reunion Power LLC
“specializes in the planning, development, and management of wind energy projects and provides
professional services for owners and financiers of power projects.” Reunion has offices in Vermont and
New Jersey. It appears to be a privately held company specializing in financial arrangements. Of the five
executives listed on their website, three hold MBAs, one holds a BS, and the other holds a BFA. xii
According to Reunion Power’s portfolio, they are participating in the development of four wind farms,
including the Adirondack Wind Energy Park. There was little information available on the status of two
of the other three projects on the internet; it appears all four Reunion wind projects are still in the early
stages. xiii Bernard Melewski, an attorney and former employee of the Adirondack Council, a not-­‐for-­profit
environmental group whose mission is to preserve the Adirondack Park xiv , provides legal
representation for AWP. xv
b. Why this site
The site proposed for the wind facility used to be a garnet mine. The site and the mine are owned by
Barton Mines Co., “a five-­‐generation family business that has mined garnets for industrial use since
1878.” xvi According to AWP, the site is a good choice for the turbines for the following reasons. First, in
general the Adirondacks are thought to have good potential for wind generation, xvii and the AWP’s
studies have shown that this site has an “excellent” wind resource. Second, the proposed site was
already an industrially zoned area within the Adirondack Park, and is located next to the Gore Mountain
ski area, “which is an extensively developed property according to the AWP’s website” xviii However, it is
important to mention that being “extensively developed” is subjective. Gore Mountain is a large ski

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mountain, but unlike other ski areas, it is not a resort. Its access road is not lined with restaurants,
lodges, or stores. There are no buildings on the access road; it is all forested with the exception of the
parking areas.
The AWP has also stated that the area is easily accessible due to pre-­‐existing road networks and
transmission lines. xix According to the development company, minimal land alterations would be
needed to construct the wind project. However, others have argued that trying to put in extremely large
turbines at set locations in a 1700 acre site in the Adirondacks would require more than minimal
changes. According to an overview of wind energy technology by Global Energy Concepts, “Access roads
to each turbine location are typically 18 to 20 ft wide and consist of compacted crushed rock. In hilly of
complex terrain, access roads are constructed to specified slopes and turning radii that are necessary to
allow delivery of large components such as blades and tower sections. During the construction phase of
a project, ‘crane pads’ are installed along the access road.” xx
View from Gore Mountain xxi
c. Financing
The project is still in its early stages. However, project cost is estimated to be about 40 million dollars
(email from McAndrew). “Capital costs for the construction and long-­‐term ownership of the Project
would be funded from a variety of sources, including Partnership equity, institutional or commercial
debt, and other investor tax and yield oriented equity sources.” xxii In regards to tax credits, according to
James McAndrew, “the federal PTC and New York State RPS are both necessary for financing and to
make the project economics work.” Last, when asked how many turbines are needed to break even on

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the project, McAndrew responded that the site only has room for ten or eleven turbines, which is
enough.
d. Electricity in New York State
New York has one of the highest average electricity rates in the United States. xxiii According to
McAndrew, the projected cost of electricity from the wind facility would be “level” at various points in
the future, but he will not know exactly what the price will be until the AWP buys equipment.
McAndrew also noted that, “the power from this project would not be directly available to the
community, but sold into the NY Wholesale Grid.”
In New York State, the Public Service Commission (PSC) regulates most electric utilities. “The
Department of Public Service has a broad mandate to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to reliable and
low-­‐cost utility services. The Department is the staff arm of the Public Service Commission. The Commission
regulates the state's electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water utilities.” xxiv
National Grid is the utility that services Warren County. xxv In regard to end-­‐user (residential and
business), according to National Grid, prices for electricity vary depending upon a number of factors, and
fluctuate on a monthly basis by load zone and wholesale cost. The constant is that the price cannot
exceed the maximum rate structure set by the Public Service Commission. Johnsburg is located in the
Capital load zone; xxvi the current price listed on the website is about .08 per kilowatt hour. xxvii In addition
to the supply cost, there are also delivery charges and fees. However, the price referenced above is only
accurate if the supply is purchased from National Grid; there are numerous other choices of suppliers,
so the price can vary significantly. The cost of obtaining a higher percentage of one’s energy from green
power sources, according to PSC, is on average .5 to 2.5 cents higher per kilowatt hour. xxviii In summary,
the current cost for electricity in Johnsburg, based on today's costs, is somewhere between 14 and 16
per kilowatt hour, depending on the variables one chooses, and assuming no additional cost for green
power.
IV.
Controversy
The choice to site this project inside the Adirondack Park is the largest point of contention, but there
are also concerns about the turbines’ potential effects on wildlife, especially on birds and bats
(McGrath). Though the project is supported by a number of local politicians and residents, there has
been a great deal of dissent. Local environmental groups, and many local residents and vacationers to
the Adirondacks have protested the idea of putting a wind farm in the Park. At this time, noise does not
appear to be considered to be as much of an issue as aesthetic concerns.
a. Who is For Wind Project and Why
On the state level, New York is officially supportive of renewable energy. According to the Cornell
University New York State Wind Study Final Report, the state is facing economic, environmental, and
political pressure to develop sources of renewable, clean energy. Some of those pressures include the
fact that New York’s overall electricity demand is expected to rise in the next decade by as much as 20%,
and energy prices in the state are already relatively expensive. Furthermore, New York’s renewable
energy portfolio standards (RPS), also known as renewable energy purchase mandates, are helping to
drive the demand for renewable energy resources in general, and wind energy in particular. “The

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current New York State RPS calls for an increase in renewable energy used in the state from the current
level of about 19% to 25% by the year 2013.” xxix
Those who have publicly endorsed this project include the Warren County Conservative Party, the
Warren County Democratic Party, the Warren County Independence Party, the Warren County
Republican Party, Democracy for the Greater Glens Falls Area, Warren County Board of Supervisors,
town of Johnsburg, the Supervisor of the Town of Johnsburg, the Town of Chester, the Town of
Thurman, the Town of Stony Creek, the Town of Lake Luzerne, the Town of Queensbury, the Town of
Lake George, the Town of Hague, the Town of Horicon, the Town of Warrensburg, Gore Mountain
Chamber of Commerce, the Warren County Soil and Water Conservation, the Warren County Economic
Development Corporation, Gore Mountain, Front Street Mountain development, Essex County Board
Supervisors, the Town of Schroon, the Town of Minerva, the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, the
Town of Long Lake, the Town of Indian Lake, the Town of Wells, the Town of Inlet, the Washington
County Board of Supervisors, the Town of Putnam, the Adirondack Park Local Government review Board,
the Business Council of New York State, the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages, and the Town
of Newcomb. xxx As seen by this extensive list, a number of local community governments have been
supportive of the wind project. Greenpeace and Kirsten Gillibrand, xxxi a United States Senator for New
York, have also indicated their support for the project. xxxii
Supporters of the wind project state several reasons for their endorsements. First, their main point is
that the project is promoting the use of green, renewable energy. They claim that the wind project’s
environmental contribution will be equal to taking 11,000 cars off of the road. Using more renewable
energy helps to reduce acid rain, improve air quality, and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Acid rain is a
huge issue in northern New York – the Adirondack Park has been adversely affected by acid rain. xxxiii
AWP has also said that the project is expected to produce significant tax revenue, and help New York
State meet its renewable energy goals (About). The project will create jobs in the local community; AWP
has said it could employ about 75 construction workers for six to ten months. In addition, running the
wind facility would require two to three permanent full time project technicians. xxxiv The AWP holds that
aesthetic concerns are largely unfounded, as the visual impact of the wind turbines is not going to
present a significant problem. The turbines’ siting is in the context of the Gore Mountain Ski Resort, and
Barton has also said that the wind turbines “would barely be visible from surrounding roads and hiking
areas. The Adirondack Council vehemently disputes this” (McGrath)
Furthermore, AWP claims that, “the current transmission will be affected in two positive ways. First,
generation imported to the project region from outside the park will be reduced on a direct basis from
the wind farm. The composition of the net generation substituted for the imported generation will be
100% green renewable energy generated by the wind farm. Second, in general terms, power generated
closest to the local load is more reliable and sustains fewer transmission losses. From a system
performance standpoint, the power is more efficient and stable.” xxxv However, this statement from
AWP, which indicates their intent to use the electricity locally, is contradicted by McAndrew’s more
recent statement that the power would be sold to the wholesale grid.
b. Who is Against Wind Project and Why
A number of local residents and environmental groups, and lovers of the Adirondack Park in general,
have come out against the wind turbines. Judging by posts on the Adirondack Museum’s questionnaire
about the proposed project, there is a significant percentage of people against the wind farm; it is a very
divisive issue. “Two Adirondack-­‐based environmental groups have come out against the installation of
windmills atop Gore Mountain. The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks and the

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Adirondack Council say their reasons for opposing the windmills range from aesthetic concerns to
setting a poor precedent.” xxxvi
These groups have expressed a number of concerns about the project. First, the Adirondack Park and
its scenic views are beloved by many people. “The wind turbines will be visible along an exposed ridge,
compromising the wild forest character of the Adirondacks” (Adirondack Voices). A document prepared
for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority lists areas in the state that have
good wind energy potential. Warren County is not on this list; it was left off because the authors
assumed protected areas within the Adirondacks were exempt from wind energy development. xxxvii
A number of the comments on the Adirondack Museum site mentioned the limited capabilities of
wind power, including energy storage, cost, and failure to remove coal plants from the grid. Joanie
Simmons of Canandaigua, NY stated that “Conventional plants need to keep running to back up variable
wind output -­‐ so wind is duplicating, not replacing, electricity generation.” Furthermore, this project has
raised some questions about how green wind energy is. According to Simmons, “The process of
manufacturing, transporting and on-­‐site construction of the turbines adds to the environmental
problems. The clearing of thousands of acres of trees for access roads and siting destroys a natural
method of taking CO2 from the air.” Also, “John Sheehan, a spokesman for the Adirondack Council, said
that if one wind energy project is admitted to the park, it will open the door to others. “In this case, the
cost of developing wind power would be too high to justify on any scale except Barton/Reunion’s
financial calculations. If it is approved, it won’t be the last one in the Adirondacks"’ (McGrath).
There are concerns about the effect of the turbines’ rotating blades on birds, particularly Bicknell's
thrush, and on bats, whose numbers are already dwindling due to a fungal disease. xxxviii “It may not be
wilderness, but bird lovers say the Barton mountaintop could well be a nesting place for the Bicknell’s
thrush” (McGrath). Bicknell’s thrush is a songbird that lives in the high altitudes of the Adirondacks and
has been given a “special concern” status by New York State xxxix due to its limited range and relatively
small population. xl In regards to the bats, “according to the Christian Science Monitor, bat populations
in the Northeast have declined an average of 73 percent each year since the discovery of the fungus in a
cave near Albany, N.Y.” xli This disease is known as the white-­‐nose syndrome, and “infection makes bats
restless during the winter, causing them to stir when they should be hibernating and to use up their fat
reserves.” xlii Those advocating against the wind farm have suggested making existing systems more
efficient, such as upgrading old buildings, rather than supporting and investing in the Barton Mines
project.
According to the Adirondack Council, “The arguments [against the wind turbines] are not a "Not In
My Back Yard," or NIMBY, statements. More than half of the 6 million acre park is for the public. "It's
everybody's back yard, that's what concerns us," Sheehan said. "It is not in character of the community"’
(Fiegl). Last, one of the big arguments used by AWP is that the wind facility is good for the local
community. However, the power from the wind farm would not necessarily be used locally; it would be
sent out to the state grid where all of the power is all pooled. xliii
At this point, no lawsuit has been filed to try to stop the wind project, but the Adirondack Council has
threatened to take legal action (McAndrew email).
Other comments made by those against the wind farm included on the Adirondack Museum website
were:
Joanie Simmons Canandaigua, NY: “The treasure of New York’s natural beauty, once destroyed, is not
renewable.” And “Industrial wind is a multi-­‐billion dollar business. Why Follow the money. Tax credits,
subsidies, and high rates make a profit for developers. Wind companies use this money, which comes
from taxpayers and consumers, to influence our politicians. Then they sell carbon offsets to polluters.
How does this help the environment”

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John Droz, jr. Brantingham Lake, NY: “Many of the comments here appear to be from good, well-­intentioned
people who have been duped by the industrial wind profiteers’ aggressive Madison Avenue
campaign.”
V. Where the Project is Now
In general, there are six steps in the lifecycle of a wind energy project – wind resource assessment
and site selection, permitting, financing, construction, operation decommissioning. At this point, the
project appears to be on the first step. In 2010, the Adirondack Park Agency renewed AWP’s permit for
the second time for a 50-­‐meter wind monitoring tower, xliv called a MET Tower, to record wind speed,
direction, and temperature at the proposed site. According to McAndrew, the MET Tower was first
installed in the fall of 2003, and began collecting data at that time. “A second monitoring tower had
been located on the site but was "felled by ice" and removed. The 50-­‐meter tower is only visible from
an area called the Vly in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area, APA planner Leigh Walrath told the
committee. The renewed permit allows the company to continue collecting wind data for another two
years to fine tune its commercial wind farm proposal. The company initially planned to submit a permit
for the wind farm in early 2009, but the economic downturn and a drop in electricity prices combined to
put the development on hold, according to the draft permit for the monitoring tower. Adirondack Wind
Partners has advised agency staff that it plans to submit an application for a commercial wind farm
within the next two years," the permit says.” xlv
If, and when, the permitting process takes place, the wind project will be subject to APA regulations,
which are stringent.
“Planning for development within the Adirondack Park combines the cooperation of local
governments and the Adirondack Park Agency (APA). Although local government focuses on local
development, the APA oversees development that affects the entire Park. The New York State
Legislature created the APA in 1971 for the purpose of developing a long-­‐range master plan for
management of State lands and for the preparation of a land use and development plan for private
lands within the Adirondack Park. The Adirondack Park Agency Act, along with the Rules and
Regulations and the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan were written to protect the public and
private resources of the Park. The permitting process will require the APA to act as lead agency to
Adirondack Wind Energy Park and the Project will be required to adhere to all permitting
requirements.” xlvi
“The Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan applies to both public and private lands
within the park. The Plan is designed to conserve the Park’s natural resources and open-­‐space character
by directing and clustering development so as to minimize its impact on the Park. Under the Plan, all
private lands are mapped into six land use classifications: hamlet, moderate intensity use, low intensity
use, rural use, resource management, and industrial use. Guidelines are specified for the intensity of
development within each category, based on number of buildings per square mile. Projects of regional
significance usually require a permit from the Adirondack Park Agency” (More).
Noise levels are another consideration. “The State of New York does not have regulations that set
community noise exposure criteria. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Regulations 6NYCRR implements the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR).
These regulations have established policy and guidance for comprehensive environmental impact
assessment. These regulations do not include specific noise impact criteria but constitute guidance on
impact assessment procedures. Individual communities can also establish noise regulations through

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community by-­‐laws and some local communities have additional noise regulations.” xlvii Johnsburg
zoning law does set noise standards that apply to all uses requiring Site Plan Approval. These standards
include noise level limits. “Sound levels exceeding 55 dBA between the hours of 7 AM and 11 PM, or
exceeding 45 dBA between the hours of 11 PM and 7 AM, as measured at the property line, shall be
avoided.” However, the introduction to the land use document states that “nothing in this Local Law
shall be deemed to supersede….the jurisdiction of the Adirondack Park Agency.” xlviii
According to the Adirondack Wind Energy Project website, “The permitting process for Adirondack
Wind Energy Park will be extensive and will require Adirondack Wind Partners to perform impact
analysis. The studies will include visual, flora, fauna, bird, bat, soil erosion, and geological surveys.” As
of February 2009, some of these studies have already been completed, according to McAndrew. “The
bird and bat study is complete. Visual Impact, Logistics/Transportation and Historical/Archeological
studies are partially done” (McAndrew email). The purpose of the bird and bat study was to determine
whether migration patterns exist in the area at the height of the wind turbines. This study’s results have
indicated that the wind turbines should not pose a threat to migrating birds. The micrositing of the
turbines has also been completed. However, there appears to be a significant amount of work to be
done before the AWP submits its application and seeks approval for the wind project from the APA. “An
APA permit review supersedes the State Environmental Impact Review for projects in the Adirondack
Park” (McAndrew email). At this point, AWP has not yet submitted their application because not all of
the studies are complete.
One of the biggest challenges the wind project will have to overcome is the height of the turbines,
which greatly exceed heights normally allowed within the park. The Adirondack Park Agency has set
stringent height regulations. In fact, APA policy seeks to ensure that towers within the park are
“substantially invisible.” xlix “Under the Adirondack Park Agency Act, all new structures in excess of forty
feet in height require an Agency permit as a Class A regional project. Where a structure is supported by
fill, height is general measured from the highest point of the structure t the original grade beneath the
structure. (In certain circumstances height is measured from the top of the structure to the bottom of
the slope of the supporting fill.”) l
The turbines would also be located at an elevation of over 2500 feet, making their height impact
more significant. According to the Summary of Adirondack Park Authority over Land Use and
Development and Subdivisions, if a location is over 2500 feet, then it appears to have automatic
designation as a critical environmental area, and needs an APA permit. li Last, the proposed site for the
wind project is adjacent to the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, which is an area of over 175 square miles
encompassing mountains, streams, ponds, forests, and wildlife. lii
More relevant information from the APA website:
1. “How does the Agency decide whether to grant a permit”
“Agency staff evaluates the ability of the development site or building to accommodate the proposed
activity without significant environmental effects. The proposed activities, site development features,
character of the area, and other factors will be used to determine if the project is appropriate as
proposed or if the proposal will need to be modified. The Agency is required to determine whether a

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project will result in “undue” environmental impacts taking into account the project’s potential
economic and other benefits.”
2. “What other permits may be required”
“The Adirondack Park Agency is not the only regulatory agency with responsibilities in the Adirondack
Park. Many local governments have zoning and subdivision requirements which should be investigated.
In addition, air and water discharge, solid waste disposal and other permits may be required from the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and sanitary or other permits may be
required from the State Department of Health.” liii
VI.
Responses
a. The Times Union
The Times Union is a local newspaper serving New York’s capital region. It had a number of articles
about the Adirondack Wind Energy Project. The vast majority of articles pertaining to the wind project
were published in 2005 and 2006. There were several news articles covering the wind project at
various times when new information developed. There were also a number of editorials both for and
against the wind project.
Opinion columns in favor of the wind project were written by people associated with the AWP, and
by some local residents. These columns promoted the project largely because of its encouragement of
green energy. These articles cited acid rain and global warming, and some supported the AWP’s belief
that the proposed site is a good location for a wind farm. Some stated that this project would show
that New York is serious about its renewable energy initiative, and disparaged using “not in my
backyard” arguments. There was also the idea that the area could turn into an ecotourism destination if
the wind project were to be successful. Last, several articles, both for and against the wind project,
cited former Governor Pataki’s support of renewable energy initiatives.
According to one of the editorials that was written in response to another column against the wind
farm,
“Lastly, it is disappointing that LeBrun disregards the larger context in which AWEP has been
proposed. Ignored are serious environmental concerns about acid rain, mercury in our lakes and the
looming effects of global warming. Overlooked is our national addiction to fossil fuels and the
enormous cost of securing and protecting its overseas sources. The wind turbines of AWEP will not
"trump the natural world around them," as LeBrun writes, in fact they will help preserve it.” liv
There were also a number of articles against the wind project written by people associated with the
Adirondack Council, the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks, Fred LeBrun (a columnist for
the Times Union), NYSERDA president Peter Smith and local area residents. They expressed their beliefs
that the United States needs to use greener sources of energy, but not at the expense of the Park and
wilderness preservation.

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According to one of the editorials,
“Visibility is no small matter in the Adirondacks. More than 10 million people a year come here to
enjoy the unspoiled vistas and wild beauty so lacking back home. As every other corner of the
Northeast is cluttered with ridgeline development and towers, the Adirondacks remain an ocean of
green, where nearly all development is concealed beneath the treetops. Ironically, we could save
more than 30 megawatts of power in the Adirondack Park through simple, proven conservation
methods in homes and businesses. “Wind power has environmental consequences, too. If the
Barton project goes forward, construction noise will affect the adjacent Siamese Ponds
Wilderness. Muddy runoff will flow into local streams. And 10 acres or more of a forested
mountaintop will be permanently denuded, and filled with steel and concrete. Bird and bat
deaths are fewer with newer turbines, but are still a problem.” lv – John Sheehan
Some other examples of articles from the Times Union:
1. Bureaucracy Holds Back Wind Power
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=8080440
2. Infrastructure exists for wind power project
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6418617
3. LeBrun missed an opportunity to promote benefits of wind energy park
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6415677
4. LeBrun right about bad impact of wind turbines.
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6415676
5. This Wind Blows Ill for Wilderness
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6415049
6. Opposition to building wind turbines dismaying
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6414290
7. Wind turbines plan sweeping forward
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6413433
8. Other regions of New York offer more potential than Adirondacks
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6377651
9. Barton Mines is Right Site for Wind Turbines
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6301198
b. The PostStar
The Post Star is based in Glens Falls, New York. According to their website, “they are the dominant
news source in the Adirondack region of New York.” lvi Below are examples of some of the articles –
They are a mixture of news reports and editorials, largely in 2005 -­‐ 2008. The news articles cover the
project’s progress and controversy surrounding the wind project. Many of the editorials, both for and
against the park, discuss whether the benefits of the facility outweigh the costs of the choice of site, and
some of the editorials also discuss the role of humans, and human action, within the Park.
1. Tilting at Windmills – written by Will Doolittle who is the projects editor at the Post Star -­‐
editorial in favor of wind farm http://poststar.com/news/columns/wdoolittle/article_94879a66-­‐
95a0-­‐52ef-­‐b91c-­‐26f280f8a751.html

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2. Grabbing at Nothing but Air – written Erin DeMuth Judd – news report illustrates how difficult it
is to put any towers up in Adirondack Park http://poststar.com/news/local/article_829aa432-­‐
4405-­‐5fd7-­‐81bd-­‐60c729a12ae6.html
3. Group Updates Turbine Plan – news report written by Bonnie Naumann -­‐ The article quotes
McAndrew saying that “the wind project began because he was asked by company officials to
cut energy costs for the company.” http://poststar.com/news/local/article_4a67bbf4-­‐5460-­‐
5873-­‐98ce-­‐bc66a2218fdc.html
4. A Better Way Exists to Tackle Wind Power – written by David Gibson of the Association for the
Protection of the Adirondacks against the proposed wind facility
http://poststar.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_571d6117-­‐fe55-­‐5a3e-­‐83ed-­‐
9e3f9569e51a.html
c. The Adirondack Daily Enterprise – “The only daily newspaper published in the Adirondack Park”
After looking through the archives of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, it appears that they have
relatively few articles covering the wind project. A couple of the articles are recent. One is a letter to
the editor by AWP attorney Bernard Melewski in favor of wind turbines in the park.
On another note, a 2009 article discussed an APA commissioner’s desire to put wind turbines on
Whiteface, another ski resort in the Adirondacks. “The idea of wind turbines on state-­‐owned ski resorts
in the Adirondack Park has not gained much public support, or even consideration, but state Adirondack
Park Agency commissioner Art Lussi wants to change that.” lvii
d. The New York Times
The New York Times published at least two editorials referring to the Adirondack Wind Project:
1. An editorial in the New York Times in favor of the wind project by Bill McKibben.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.htmlres=9C02E7D6123AF935A25751C0A9639C8B63&scp=2&sq
=adirondack%20wind%20energy%20park&st=cse
2. An editorial in the New York Times against the wind project in response to Bill McKibben by Cheryl
Long.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.htmlres=9403E7DB1F3AF931A15751C0A9639C8B63&scp=7&sq
=adirondack%20wind%20energy%20park&st=cse
VII.
Food for Thought
a. Can the obstacles presented by the proposed siting of this wind project be overcome
According to James McAndrew, Vice President of Strategic Projects at Barton Mines, if the wind project
is to go ahead, the biggest obstacles that need to be overcome are:

12
“Energy prices and/or incentives must increase sufficiently to bring the projected economics
back to profitable levels and a change in top level leadership at the Adirondack Park Agency is
needed.”
b. Questions
1. Is the “green energy” argument sufficient to overrule other concerns regarding wind
projects
c. Other Thoughts
Wind is starting to get a bad reputation in some parts of New York. The two articles referenced
below illustrate concerns that wind power is more of a financial success than an environmental success.
Some New Yorkers have started to associate wind farms with corruption and greed.
A New York Times article titled, “In Rural New York, Windmills Can Bring Whiff of Corruption,”
discussed claims by New York residents that wind farms had torn communities apart, largely as a result
of leasing arrangements with locals supposedly acquired through corruption, intimidation, and greed.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and former state attorney general, at one point investigated claims
that wind companies had been engaging in illegal activities, including improperly influencing local
officials, and that “different companies [had] colluded to divide up territory and avoid bidding against
one another for the same land.” lviii
An editorial originally published in The Empire Page, stated that
“It becomes clear that the extreme variability of wind power makes it totally unsuitable for baseload power.
On the financial front, the northern New York wind projects are yielding a very low return on their
investment, averaging less than 4% before expenses, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission. We have to ask, Why would a wind developer spend (roughly) $3 million per turbine in an area
with winds less than the minimum recommended by NYSERDA (NYS Energy Research & Development
Authority) The answer appears to be that the real goal of NY wind projects is not cheap renewable power,
but the sale of tax credits and green credits. The inescapable question becomes, Is wind power just an
elaborate tax break Ostensibly created to allow struggling wind companies to lower their tax burden, tax
credits are sold to corporations and investors because wind company write-­‐offs — particularly double
declining balance depreciation — are so lucrative. Bear in mind that while NYS is cutting funds to hospitals,
nursing homes and schools, it continues to subsidize wind power. Is wind power really a clean, effective
means of reducing global warming While wind turbines are non-­‐polluting once they are up and running, the
manufacture, transport and construction of a wind turbine produces thousands of tons of carbon-­‐based
emissions. Every step — from mining the ore to making the steel, moving parts by ship or overland,
constructing access roads, and operating giant cranes and excavators — creates emissions. Building the
access roads alone produces nearly ten thousand tons of emissions. The problem of mercury pollution
associated with wind projects is rarely mentioned, yet significant… Since NYS has relatively low winds (only
1/50th of some western states), a wind project may never pay back its carbon debt. In many areas of NYS,
hydro-­‐power would have to be shut down to balance wind power suddenly gusting onto the grid. All the
above is just part of the picture. Wind power has been shown to affect property value (devaluing it), create
scenic blight, kill birds and bats, fragment wildlife habitat, and, not least, damage human health as revealed
by recent clinical studies on Wind Turbine Syndrome. There is also the danger from turbines built too close
to roads or homes, threatening ice throw (as happened recently in the UK, where people dove for cover) or
blade disintegration. Another question, of course, is whether there is too much risk of unethical business

13
dealings between public officials controlling wind projects and the wind developers.”
“Considering all the above — too little wind and too many people – it is small wonder that informed people
are increasingly questioning whether industrial wind turbines belong in New York State.” lix -­‐ Jack Sullivan
Other Thoughts:
1. The Adirondack Park Agency now appears to have a fast-­‐track approval process for small,
residential wind turbines of limited height that meet specific siting requirements. “General
Permit 2009-­‐2 for Installation of Certain New Small-­‐Scale Wind Turbines and Wind
Monitoring Masts: This general permit is issued pursuant to Section 809(13)(e) of the APA Act
(Executive Law Article 27) authorizing a simplified Agency approval process for installation of
one new small-­‐scale wind turbine or one wind-­‐monitoring mast for residential and small
business use where such structures are of a design, size, location and color to blend with
background vegetation, other landscape features or existing structures consistent with
Section 809(10) of the APA Act and the guidance in the Agency's "Policy on Agency Review of
Proposals for New Telecommunications Towers and Other Tall Structures in the Adirondack
Park."’ lx
2. The strength of the potential opposition to this project should not be underestimated. The
APA and the Adirondack Council are formidable. There are more environmental groups that
have not weighed in on this issue yet. These include the Nature Conservancy, which has been
actively involved in purchasing Adirondack lands and brokering deals for preservation. lxi
There are also numerous smaller environmental organizations in the area, such as Lake
George Waterkeeper, the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the Darren Fresh Water Institute.
i North Creek, New York. Worldnews. http://wn.com/North_Creek,_New_York
ii Karlin, Rick. State Ski Center Faces Big Chill. Times Union.com. January 3, 2011.
http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/State-­‐ski-­‐centers-­‐face-­‐big-­‐chill-­‐932184.php
iii The Adirondack Park. New York State Adirondack Park Agency. 2003.
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/about_park/index.html
iv Audio: Interview with the Project Manager from AWEP. 2006. Radio Interview fromWENU. Audio/Video.
Adirondack Wind Energy Park. http://www.adirondackwind.com/WENUinterview.htm
v About. Adirondack Wind Energy Park. http://www.adirondackwind.com/about.html
vi How Big is a Wind Turbine, How Much Space Do they Need Frequently Asked Questions. Adirondack Wind
Energy Park. http://www.adirondackwind.com/qa.html#qa9
vii Adirondack Wind Energy Park, Gore Mountain, Barton Group. U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
http://pnp.uschamber.com/2009/07/adirondack-­‐wind-­‐energy-­‐park-­‐gore-­‐mountain-­‐barton-­‐group.html
viii Welcome to Warren County, NY. Adirondack.net. http://www.adirondack.net/maps/countymaps/warren.cfm
ix More About the Adirondack Park…. New York State Adirondack Park Agency.
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/About_Park/more_park.html
x The Adirondack Park. Adirondack Council. December 31, 2008. http://www.adirondackcouncil.org/adkpark3.html
xi Warren County, New York. State and County Quickfacts. U.S. Census Bureau.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36113.html
xii Reunion Team. Reunion Power. http://www.reunionpower.com/reunionteam.html
xiii Development. Project Portfolio. Reunion Power. http://www.reunionpower.com/projectportfolio.html
xiv Who We Are. Adirondack Council: Defending the East’s Greatest Wilderness.
http://www.adirondackcouncil.org/aboutus3.html

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xv Knight, Chris. Mine Owners Looking at Constructing Wind Farm. Adirondack Daily Enterprise. September 29,
2009. http://adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/508878.html
xvi McGrath, Darryl. Wind Farm Plan Rocks the Adirondacks: Division Arises Over Protecting the Scenic Views.
November 27, 2005. The Boston Globe. Boston.com.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/11/27/wind_farm_plan_rocks_the_adirondacks/
xvii Hoerig et al. New York State Wind Energy Final Report. 2010. Cornell University.
http://www.cee.cornell.edu/manage/loader.cfmcsModule=security/getfile&pageid=45619
xviii Why is this Site Better than Others Frequently Asked Questions.
http://www.adirondackwind.com/qa.html#qa8
xix Site Selection. Building a Wind Farm. Adirondack Wind Energy Park.
http://www.adirondackwind.com/siteselection.html
xx Wind Turbines Technology. Overview. NYSERDA. Prepared by Global Energy Concepts. October 2005.
http://www.powernaturally.org/programs/wind/toolkit/9_windturbinetech.pdf
xxi Photo Album. More Gore. http://www.goremountain.com/multimedia/photos.cfmmode=archive
xxii Where is the funding source for the expected $30 million development costs Frequently Asked Questions.
Adirondack Wind Energy Farm. http://www.adirondackwind.com/qa.html#qa16
xxiii Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-­‐Use Sector, by State. Electric Power Monthly
with Data for October 2010. Report Released: January 14, 2011.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html
xxiv About the Department of Public Service. New York State Public Service Commission. January 12, 2011.
http://www.dps.state.ny.us/New_aboutdps.html
xxv New York Service Territory. National Grid.
http://www.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/about_us/serviceterr_map.asp
xxvi P.S.C. No. 220 Electricity. Superseding P.S.C. No. 207. National Grid Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid
Schedule for Electric Service Applicable in All Territory Served by this Company. Initial Effective Date: September
19, 2009. http://www.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/non_html/rates_psc220.pdf
xxvii Electric Supply Charge. National Grid.
http://www.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/business/rates/5_supp_charge.asp
xxviii NY’s Green Power Program. Ask PSC. New York State.
http://www.askpsc.com/askpsc/page/PageAction=renderPageById&PageId=a8022193f892947a1d26b675060051
83#servicecompanies
xxix Wind Energy in New York State: Market Drivers. New York State Wind Energy Toolkit. New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority.
http://www.powernaturally.org/programs/wind/Wind%20Energy%20Toolkit.pdf
xxx Project Endorsements. Adirondack Wind Energy Park. http://www.adirondackwind.com/endorsements.html
xxxi Thompson, Maury. Opponents Agree on Gore Wind Project. May 17, 2006. PostStar.com.
http://poststar.com/highlights/campaign_trail/article_672a686f-­‐8efd-­‐537c-­‐81df-­‐4324708b7572.html
xxxii Hornbeck, Leigh. Gore Wind Farm Plan Advances. Times Union.com. May 12, 2006.
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6398673
xxxiii Yes or No: The Barton Group Wind Turbines. Adirondack Voices. May 15, 2008. Adirondack Museum.
http://www.adkmuseum.org/discover_and_learn/adirondack_voices/question_archive/2008/yes-­‐or-­‐no-­‐the-­barton-­‐group-­‐wind-­‐turbines/
xxxiv How Many Jobs will be Created by the Adirondack Wind Energy Park Frequently Asked Questions.
http://www.adirondackwind.com/qa.html#qa6
xxxv How will the Current Transmission in the Park be Affected by the Wind Development Frequently Asked
Questions. Adirondack Wind Energy Park. http://www.adirondackwind.com/qa.html#qa10
xxxvi Fiegl, Charles. Adirondack Groups Oppose Windmills. February 20, 2008. The Post Star.
http://poststar.com/news/local/article_c6e1526f-­‐8a5e-­‐5bcc-­‐9943-­‐2cea7156ec1c.html
xxxvii Wind Energy Development: A Guide for Local Authorities in New York. October 2002. Prepared for New York
State Energy Research and Development Authority. Prepared by Global Energy Concepts, LLC.
http://text.nyserda.org/programs/pdfs/windguide.pdf

15
xxxviii Nearing, Brian. Fatal Bat Disease Raging in State. November 11, 2010. Timesunion.com.
http://web.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.aspnewsdate=11/11/2010&navigation=nextprior&category=REGIO
N&storyID=989140
xxxix Bicknell’s Thrush Fact Sheet. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/59558.html
xl Bicknell’s Thrush. Guidance for Conservation. http://ny.audubon.org/PDFs/HRVC_BICKNELLSTHRUSH.pdf
xli Jock, Francis. Fungal Disease in Brown Bats: White Nose Syndrome. Helium.
http://www.helium.com/items/1959952-­‐brown-­‐bat-­‐white-­‐nose-­‐syndrome
xlii Gill, Victoria. Disease ‘Killed One Million Bats.’ BBC News: Science and Environment. August 5, 2010.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-­‐environment-­‐10882769
xliii Audio: Interview with the Project Manager from AWEP. 2006. Radio Interview with the Project Manager from
AWEP. http://www.adirondackwind.com/av.html
xliv Agenda. New York State Adirondack Park Agency. October 14, 2010.
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Mailing/2010/10/FullAgency/October2010Agenda.pdf
xlv Knight, Chris. APA Approves Jay Quarry’s Expansion. October 16, 2010. Adirondack Daily Enterprise.
http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/520913.html
xlvi Permitting Process. Building a Wind Farm. Adirondack Wind Energy Park.
http://www.adirondackwind.com/permitting.html
xlvii New York Noise Regulations. Air and Noise Compliance. http://www.airandnoise.com/NYNoiseRegs.html
xlviii Town of Johnsburg Zoning Law. September 1, 2007. Adopted August 7, 2007.
http://www.gratefuldesign.com/johnsburg/LLUP.pdf
xlix Adirondack Park Agency Issues Over Forty Telecommunications Permits Since Revision to Towers Policy.
Adirondack Park Agency. New Release. June 28, 2006.
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Press/pressrelease.cfmPressReleaseID=227
l Structure Height. New York State Adirondack Park Agency. Supplement to the Citizen’s Guide.
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/documents/flyers/structure%20height.pdf
li Summary of Adirondack Park Agency Authority over Land Use and Development and Subdivisions.
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Laws_Regs/HotalingTable.htm
lii Adirondacks State Park. GORP Great Outdoor Recreation Pages. http://www.gorp.com/parks-­‐guide/travel-­‐ta-­‐
adirondack-­‐park-­‐hiking-­‐adirondacks-­‐sidwcmdev_065615.html
liii Developing a Business in the Adirondack Park. Commonly Asked Questions. New York State Adirondack Park
Agency. http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Economy/BusinessFAQs.html
liv Conboy, Tim. LeBrun Missed an Opportunity to Promote benefits of Wind Energy Park. Times Union.com Archive.
August 28, 2006. http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6415677
lv Sheehan, John. Adirondack Park No Site for Wind Power. Timesunion.com. Archives. June 7, 2005.
http://albarchive.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.requestoneimage&imageid=6341225
lvi About Us. The Post Star. PostStar.com http://poststar.com/app/marketplace/psjobs/
lvii Lynch, Mike. Lussi Pushes for Turbines on Whiteface. PostStar.com. November 28, 2009.
http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/509913/Lussi-­‐pushes-­‐for-­‐turbines-­on-­‐Whiteface.html
lviii Confessore, Nicholas. In Rural New York, Windmills Can Bring Whiff of Corruption. The New York Times. August
17, 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/nyregion/18windmills.htmlpagewanted=1&_r=2
lix Sullivan, Jack. Industrial Wind Turbines for New York December 16, 2008. RiverCityMalone.com
http://www.rivercitymalone.com/p=1396
lx APA Forms by Need. New York State Adirondack Park Agency.
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Forms/Forms_by_Need.html
lxi Navarro, Mireya. 92,000 Acres Sold in the Adirondacks, With Protection Pledge. The New York Times. March 30,
2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/science/earth/31adirondacks.html