When our family was approached by wind developers and asked to lease our land in Steuben County, we initially thought it was a great idea. However, it didn't take long to learn that not only would the turbines be a blight on the landscape, they have been shown to have a significant effect on the health and safety of nearby residents.

The steady humming noise from the turbines interferes with the lives of neighbors who are within 2,500 feet and more of the towers, which are actually 400 feet tall when the blades are extended.

Blade and ice throw are serious problems with the turbines, which have foundations that go 30 to 60 feet deep and can interfere with ground water. Then there are the health problems from the flicker effect created when the blades spin in front of the setting or rising sun and the strobe lights that go day and night.

If someone in state government does not step up to stop these projects before they destroy the most pristine areas of the state, 10 years down the road New York will be that much poorer without any reduction in emissions.