Experimental windmill moves forward

By FRITZ MAYER

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — It may soon be known whether the vertical windmill can produce as promised.

A groundbreaking for the project took place in November 2008, but because of difficulties with the weather and delays in getting supplies, it has not gone up as quickly as had been anticipated. However, on December 21, workmen were busy at the site.

Because the windmill is experimental in nature, the county had sought a $300,000 bond from Environmental Technologies (ET), the company building the windmill, in case it didn’t work and the county had to pay to take it down. But ET’s insurance company wouldn’t provide the bond until the windmill was operational. So instead of requiring the bond, according to Tom Cawley, assistant Sullivan County attorney, the county agreed to accept a $150,000 lien on the company’s turbines until the project is up and running.

Ken Walter, whose mother’s home is located 500 feet from the windmill, has taken the county to court to prevent the construction, and still maintains that there are many issues to be resolved regarding permitting and other matters, but the project moves forward regardless.

Instead of spinning like a Ferris wheel in the air, this vertical windmill will spin like a merry-go-round. Sam Ikeda, the president of ET, has said that the windmill should be able to produce enough electricity to power about 400 homes.

The windmill will be the first full-sized model of the design developed by Ikeda.