By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Several speakers urged Mayor Amy B. Sherburne and the Olean Common Council Tuesday to become involved with surrounding towns in challenging the proposed Hemlock Hollow wind farm.
Jeff Patch, representing Save Our Enchanted Mountain Ridges Alliance (SOEMRA), presented a petition signed by city residents to Council President Lawrence “JR” Bennion during the public comment section of the common council’s meeting.
He asked the city to write a letter opposing the project with its 650-foot-tall wind turbines. Twelve of the turbines are proposed to be located in the town of Allegany, five in the town of Olean and two in the town of Portville.
Patch said his concerns over Liberty Renewables’ 19-turbine plans include “alteration of groundwater and stormwater drainage patterns, unhealthy noise levels, shadow flicker and adverse aesthetic impacts.” The turbines would be visible from a large viewing shed across the three towns and city of Olean.
Patch urged the City of Olean, along with the Towns of Allegany and Portville to join the Town of Olean in challenging the Hemlock Hollow wind farm. On Sept. 9, the Olean Town Board agreed to hire attorney Benjamin Wisniewski, who currently represents Cattaraugus County in the Alle-Catt Wind Farm project.
“Our group requests that the city seek consolidated party status with the Town of Olean in the Hemlock Hollow Wind permit proceeding to defend the application of local laws before ORES (Office of Renewable Energy Siting),” said Patch.
“This strategy will maximize intervener funds, share non-reimbursible participation costs and allow towns to retain the Wieniewski Law Group as a consolidated municipal party in the Hemlock Hollow Wind permit proceeding,” Patch added.
It’s currently unclear how involved Cattaraugus County will be in the proposed Hemlock Hollow Wind project Wind Farm project.
The county hired Wieniewski to look after its interests in the Alle-Catt project. There are six county legislators who represent the three towns where the wind turbines would be located.
County officials first fought the project and a road use agreement, but under pressure from municipalities who feared losing host community benefits relented and negotiated additional host benefits for the county.
Another Olean resident, Barry Gan, also urged city officials to pursue consolidated party status with other municipalities to apply local laws to the Hemlock Hollow Wind Farm.
“I think there is much we need to learn about Liberty Renewables,” said Gan, a retired St. Bonaventure University professor.
“Their parent company, CIP, is a Danish company, a milti-billion dollar company that’s been in existence since 2012,” Gas said. “Liberty Renewables has been in existence for only five years. They are primarily investment companies. They are not public utilities. Their interest is in making money for their shareholders.”
He added: “We need to learn a lot more about what it means for us before they undertake a huge project that could affect us for decades and decades.”
Barbara Dyscant of Hinsdale also spoke on the proposed Hemlock Hollow project.
“Like Barry Gan, I’m concerned that a company far away that basically has interest in the money for its shareholders is trying to essentially steamroll into our neighborhoods when they will not be experiencing the consequences,” Dyscant said.
“I urge you to please come together with the towns of Portville, Olean and Allegany before it is too late,” she said. “Use your voice to preserve our community as it is.”
Allegany residents affected by the proposed wind farm also spoke at the Allegany Town Board Tuesday, asking the board to write a letter in opposition and join with other municipalities to fight it.
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