Edward Yancey poses on his property with wind turbines from the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in background, in Harrisburg, N.Y. Heather Ainsworth / Associated Press
Opinions vary about turbines in N.Y. town
By HELEN O’NEILL Associated Press
p
The Tug Hill plateau sits high above this village of about 4,000, a remote wilderness where steady winds whip down from Lake Ontario and winter snowfalls are the heaviest in the state.
For decades dairy farmers have wrested a living from the Tug — accepting lives of wind-swept hardship with little prospect of much change.
Then, a few years ago, change roared onto Tug Hill. Overnight it seemed, caravans of trucks trundled onto the plateau and for a couple of years the village was ablaze with activity.
Today, 195 turbines soar above Tug Hill, 400 feet high, their 130-foot long blades spinning at 14 revolutions per minute.
The $400 million Maple Ridge wind project, the largest in New York state, brought money and jobs and a wondrous sense of prosperity. But the windmills also came with a price — and not just the visual impact.
“Is it worth destroying families, pitting neighbor against neighbor, father against son?” asks John Yancey, whose family has farmed Tug Hill for generations. “Is it worth destroying a whole way of life?”
Similar questions are being asked across the country as more small towns grapple with big money and big wind. For many, the changes are worth it. With rising oil and gas prices and growing concerns about global warming, wind is becoming an attractive alternative.
The Maple Ridge project produces enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes. Other wind projects are going up all over the state. T. Boone Pickens is talking about building a $10 billion wind project in the Texas panhandle. Everyone, it seems, is talking about wind.
Yancey understands its seduction. An electrician, he knows as much about the turbines as anyone. He helped build and install the ones on Tug Hill.
Turbines have their place, Yancey says, just not where people live.
And he accuses the wind company of preying on vulnerable old-timers like his father.
p
In the front room of the little house where he moved after retiring from farming, Ed Yancey, 92, says he doesn’t feel preyed upon. He feels lucky.
“It’s better than a nuclear plant,” Ed Yancey says. “And it brings in good money.”
MACHINERY & TOOLS SAFES- Large & small, Forklifts, extra forks, Pallet Jacks, air compressors, (1-20HP), complete torch sets, welding gass...>MORE
"WE NEED LAND!" Paying top prices for farms or acreage in OH, W. Virginia and PA. Call Bruner Land Co. at (740) 685-8138....>MORE
BUYING JUNK VEHICLES WE PAY SCRAP OR BETTER Budget Auto Parts, 6015 Woodman Ave. 992-1111...>MORE
WANTED TO BUY Immediate Cash for unwanted items. Call for details 440-319-4274...>MORE
CARPET & MATTRESS SALE Carpet with pad installation $12.77 yd. FACTORY DIRECT Mattress sets $100 & up. BARTER HOUSE (440)964-7770...>MORE
Hayward pump (1-1/2 hp) & D.E. Filter for swimming pool, misc. pool access. $300 obo. 576-1585...>MORE
SEASONED FIREWOOD FOR SALE Mixed Hardwoods. Cut & split approx 16” $225.00 cord (+) or Slab wood, cut $150.00 cord(+). Delivered within 15 miles of...>MORE
Cemetery Lots 2-lots Garden of Christus, Greenlawn. $400/both. 440-391-3795...>MORE
Large Townhouse for Rent Large 3BR townhouse LR, DR w/FP, sunporch, full bsmt & gar., Bunkerhill $600/mo+ sec. No pets. 998-2332 or 969-1246 ...>MORE
House for Rent - Ashtabula Rent (Rent to Own) 1136 E. 16th, 3BR, lg yrd $800/mo. 228-2969...>MORE
RENTALS GENEVA ON THE LAKE Furnished 3BR Spectacular Lake View; Also 2BR avail. Exceptionally clean. A must see. Util. incl. 440-466-54...>MORE
Ashtabula Apartments 1-2- beds/1bath-Fridge & Stove Tenant pays Elect. - Main Ave./ West 50th $350-$450 (440)994-9185 ...>MORE
Remodeled Apartment in Ashtabula Ash. Remodeled 2BR/1.5bath laundry $350 +dep. Some utils.pd. OPEN: 1-4 Fri./Sat. 519 W. 38th or call for an appt. (440)...>MORE
House for Rent Ash Twp cute 2BR ranch, gar. $550 1st/last & sec. 440-275-3385...>MORE
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
