Contributed photo This is a drawing of a vertical shaft windmill of the sort that is proposed to be constructed at the green technology park at Sullivan County Community College.

Experimental windmill proposed for Sullivan

Project inches forward with lawmaker approval

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY—A video was used to introduce an experimental type of windmill to Sullivan County lawmakers who liked what they saw.

It’s called a vertical shaft windmill, and the blades spin around like a carousel rather than a Ferris wheel. Supporters say the vertical style beats the horizontal style because the part that produces electricity, the turbine, can be placed at or below ground level, which makes construction and maintenance much easier than the turbine of a horizontal windmill, which must be located more than 100 feet in the air.

Moreover, the vertical windmill is not nearly as tall, and the impact on migrating birds is less. Advocates also say the vertical windmill is much quieter than the horizontal.

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A little river fish is getting big time attention

Researchers hunt for the bridle shiner

By JOHN JOSE

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER—A seemingly insignificant little fish, the bridle shiner, is raising big concerns among scientists keeping tabs on the health of the Upper Delaware River. Once common in the mid-Atlantic states, a dramatic decline in bridle shiner populations has prompted Pennsylvania to classify the fish as endangered and New York and New Jersey to designate it as a species of concern.

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First annual Energy Fair

Innovative alternatives, eco-art and a festival atmosphere

By SANDY LONG

LACKAWAXEN, PA—Right near where the Lackawaxen River meets the mighty Delaware River, an event both entertaining and educational got off to a great start during the first annual Energy Fair held at the Lackawaxen Fire House on September 8.

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Other stories in this issue:

• Democrats vow to retain majority
• Upper Delaware Council awards 2007 Technical Assistance Grants
• Goodman questions landfill position
• Tusten board adopts new comprehensive plan
• Republican reaction
• Taking in the trash
• Fall webworms: an ‘aesthetic pest’
• Preparing our children for a flat world

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S