Community wind project urged for Sullivan County

Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development unveils new SEED initiative

By FRITZ MAYER

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — There is a whole lot of wind in Sullivan County. Activist Dick Riseling knows this better than anyone. He was instrumental in pushing through a study of the county, showing that wind resources available in Sullivan County are worth as much as $500,000,000 a year. Riseling said that just one wind farm could result in a profit of $1,500,000 every year. If a county power authority owned the wind farm, the profits could be used to lower real estate taxes by five percent for every household.

Municipal ownership of a wind turbine may seem like an unusual arrangement, but according to the American Wind Energy Association, some 100 community wind projects have been built across the country and are benefiting local taxpayers.

In Hull, MA, for instance, the town’s first wind turbine, called Hull Wind 1, produces enough electricity to serve about 250 homes and saves taxpayers a total of $128,850 per year. A second turbine will soon go on line with the ability to serve 900 homes per year and generate even greater savings.

Riseling’s plans are more ambitious than providing energy for 900 homes. He wants the community to tap into the wind potential here in a big way. To reach that goal, he is holding “teach- ins” about alternative energy with lawmakers Rodney Gaebel and Ron Hiatt. Also, he will soon address the town supervisors to try to build support among them.

Riseling is certain that significant wind projects will be developed here in the not-too-distant future. With the soaring cost of oil and the growing demand from countries such as India and China, Riseling said that the only real question is whether such projects will be built by huge corporations that will siphon off the profits and take them away from the area, or whether local governments or other local groups will be able to tap into the wind before the big players move in.

The SEED project

Community-owned wind energy is just one of the goals being pursued by Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development (SASD) and the groups’ new initiative, Sullivan Energy and Environment Design (SEED) project. SEED also proposes a revolving loan fund be established by the county, specifically to allow small business owners and families of all income groups to install renewable energy technology in their homes and business. SASD would ultimately like to see 500 sites in the county, including municipal, industrial, agricultural, educational and residential buildings outfitted with solar installations.

Other elements of the SEED project deal with green building materials, a green building training program, construction of a bio-fuel refinery and an education campaign directed at residents and businesses.

Do any of these projects have a real chance of getting off the ground?

Legislator Ron Hiatt said several county lawmakers are taking a hard look, especially at the wind- and solar-power proposals. He said with the serious budget problems facing the county, the legislature is eager to consider projects that might bring more revenue to the county.