Luke Waygood speaks at the Chautauqua County Board of Health meeting, expressing his concerns about a new wind turbine farm proposed near Ashville.

MAYVILLE – For more than 30 minutes, members of the Chautauqua County Board of Health heard from residents regarding concerns they have with wind turbines and Battery Energy Storage Systems, specifically on how they can affect the community’s health.

Following the conversation, Board of Health members said they’re going to look into the issues raised and possibly issue some guidance for local municipalities, which make the final decisions.

WIND TURBINES

Karen Engstrom of Mayville representing Chautauqua Energy Watch spoke first.

She noted that in 2019, the county Board of Health urged municipalities to pass a wind law that restricts industrial wind turbines to a minimum of 1.5 miles from any property line and 35 or fewer decibels in sound frequency. “None of that was ever done in the three (wind farms) that exist (in the count but in the future we are hoping you will advise the towns,” Engstrom stated.

In Chautauqua County, there are three functioning wind farms – Ball Hill, which sits in the towns of Hanover and Villenova; Cassadaga Wind, which sits in the towns of Charlotte and Cherry Creek; and Arkwright Summit, which is in the town of Arkwright.

Developer Bedrock Renewables is currently exploring the possibility of installing new wind farms in the towns of Ellery and Stockton, as well as Westfield and Ripley.

Joni Riggle of Sinclairville wrote a letter which was read aloud at the meeting. In it, she states that she has three 500 foot wind turbines located approximately 2,500 feet from her home.

“Under certain wind, humidity and icing conditions the turbines are extremely loud and bothersome – especially at night when we are trying to sleep,” she wrote. “The turbines also make a constant irritating hum all summer long, heard whenever we are outside.”

Riggle said she has complained many times, but gets little response.

Luke Waygood of Ashville said he is concerned about Bedrock Renewables’ proposal to build turbines that would be taller than the ones in Arkwright.

“I would argue that wind turbines increasing in size increase their impacts. Perhaps even one and a half miles is not sufficient,” he said, referring to the board’s recommendation from 2019.

BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS

Engstrom noted Battery Energy Storage Systems are being proposed throughout the county, including one in Dunkirk which would be a few blocks from the high school.

“We know of the hazards of death because of the lithium ion – ion thermal runaway fires, explosions, and hazardous toxic flumes,” she said.

One Ashville resident said a Battery Energy Storage System is being proposed near where she lives on Swede Road.

“We are hopeful that you (Board of Health) can make recommendations for not only people’s property values, but health more than anything. We know that these battery storage units have caught on fire. … They can’t even put them out. They have to burn out. What’s it doing to our air quality? What’s it doing to our water quality? We’re on well water,” she said.

RESPONSE

At the meeting, officials questioned what authority they have over wind turbines and Battery Energy Storage Systems.

“These are all zoning laws and practices that happen within the municipalities, and they have, as with anything in government, a home rule. We really don’t establish that,” county Public Health Director Lacey Wilson said.

Board member Tariq Khan said he was OK with the board making an advisory statement, but not making requirements.

“This is my personal opinion, but we can definitely issue – after research and looking at the documents – we can issue an advisory to the county and the towns, but it eventually goes down to the local governments,” he said.

Health Board President Elizabeth Kidder noted that while the Board of Health made a recommendation regarding wind turbines in 2019, they’ve never made a recommendation regarding Battery Energy Storage Systems.

Board member Erin Pender proposed board members review all of the comments and other letters submitted and look into making recommendations at their next meeting.

Others agreed and Wilson said she would have more information sent to board members.

The next Board of Health meeting is scheduled for March.