Sunday, January 17, 2010

Genesee Co. Planners Say "NO" to NYS Thruway Turbines

It didn’t take long for Genesee County planners to understand Gov. Paterson’s horrible plans for gigantic turbines placed along the NYS Thruway at the interchanges. By NYS suggesting that it might erect just one turbine as a possibility at the Batavia interchange - caused a unanimous reaction from the planners as published in Batavia’s Daily News newspaper - please read:

Genesee Planners Oppose Windmills Near Thruway Exit
by Paul Mrozek of the Batavia Daily News

Friday, January 15, 2010 6:27 PM EST
Members of the Genesee County Planning Board said Thursday they want no part of a state proposal to erect commercial windmills by Exit 48 of the Thruway in Batavia.

The board voted 9-0 to inform the Thruway Authority it is not in favor of the plan. The reason for the opposition is that windmills would pose a potential safety hazard for planes that use the County Airport.

Planning Director Jim Duval said the airport, on Saile Drive in the town of Batavia, is about 4,500 feet from the Thruway’s Batavia interchange.

Duval said county Highway Superintendent Tim Hens received a letter this week from the Thruway Authority that asked for local input on the proposal. Proximity to the airport was an issue raised by Hens.
Thruway officials  “don’t share the same concerns that Tim Hens does,” Duval said.

The planning director said it seems as if the state “is fishing a little bit,” to try to take measure of the responses to the windmill plan unveiled this week. The proposal calls for installation of electricity-generating turbines along the Thruway in Batavia and sections of the interstate highway that parallel the shore of Lake Erie in Erie and Chautauqua counties.

Duval said there is no local control over Thruway Authority policy or plans. The state agency “can pretty much do what they want,” he said.

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