Thursday, April 27, 2006

Dear Supervisor Duserick and Naples Town Board Members and All Interested Parties,

Please act now by contacting Cohocton Town Supervisor Jack Zigenfus and Cohocton Board and Steuben County and Steuben County IDA in regards to the cumulative impact their windfarm will have on Naples tourism and property values and fish and wildlife.

Windfarms proposed for Prattsburgh and Italy will also impact the Town of Naples & Village of Naples. Extensive construction and associated vehicles crossing streams, logging & clearing acres of forests required for the huge turbines and access through wetland areas will have gross impact on Finger Lakes ecosystem our roads enjoyment of our homes and properties. Too many questions remain unanswered in regards not only to the construction phase of these projects but the overall affect long term to the area.

The response to Ecogen's DGEIS by the Steuben County Chapter of the Sierra Club encourages caution (see statement below) and requires more answers before letting developers run with minimal restriction with the large scale windfarms being proposed throughout the area.

Green money should not replace green power and good sense. More time for study and guidance will only benefit.

The Steuben County IDA and developers give little or no response to potential negative affects on property values and tourism- citing studies having little relation to our unique area. Desert windfarms and plains are far from the Finger Lakes and our rich and diverse elements and recreational & residential concentration.

You only have days to respond before Cohocton approves their UPC Global Wind windfarm of 42 + 17- 2 megawatt turbines and a 50 db noise allowance. Setback from Naples and Ontario County and neighboring properties is only 100 feet over the tower height (400 to 500 feet tall depending on manufacture)

Background noise for rural areas recommended by the PSC is 40 db. The PSC does not currently have jurisdiction over wind energy. Let your county and state representatives know that you require more information before Steuben County and it's bordering towns force a potentially negative change on the character on Naples and it's property values. We are not against green energy or windfarms - we are FOR safe siting and sufficient set-backs, limited height and number of turbines from neighboring properties/towns and cautious consideration to people and wildlife.

Sincerely,

Richard & Cynthia Cole
Riders' Rest - Guest Lodging
Naples - Prattsburgh Rd. 6154 Rte 53 N.
Prattsburgh, NY 14873
(607) 522-6100 home

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