This is pictorial evidence that the proposed wind turbines are truly monumental
standing a good 30% taller than the Statue of Liberty, measured from its
base at water level. The proposed turbines are actually 3 times as high
as Miss Liberty alone. Note that 40 people can stand inside her head, about a busload, which
makes sense when you remember that each turbine nacelle is the size of a
school bus.
3) Much larger than most
man-made objects
![](images/lentsim.jpg)
The key to making wind turbines look like they fit
modestly into the environment is to depict them without any surrounding
perspective. This is the only simulated picture out of the 16
provided by UPC Wind in April 2006 that shows the placement of one of their proposed
turbines fairly close up. The view is along Lent Hill Road
looking northwest. Notice that there's nothing human in the picture to
provide any kind of scale - no people, houses, barns, silos, tractors, or
animals, only a pretty blanket of snow up front and trees and sky behind.
However, one of our close neighbors has a substantial farm is just down the road off the picture to the
left. The following simulation only begins to reveal that these wind turbines are each
5-6 times taller than the tallest silos in Steuben County. If you really
want to know how big they are, isn't it more informative to see how a
couple of the units will look in their proposed positions behind our
neighbor's farm? (see Notes below)
![](images/wolmills.jpg)
We're concerned about what it will be like at night
trying to sleep near turbines this size.
* Notes:
1) Please accept
my apologies for an earlier version of this simulation that made the
towers look too tall. I created the picture myself one evening by eyeball
using simple computer tools, and I'm no graphic designer... Since then,
I've redone it after spending some time working out the proportions with a
contour map and graph paper. Wouldn't it have been easier if UPC had just
asked its professionals to do some simulations like this for us first?
2) In November
2006, UPC published another round of simulations that are more revealing.
Follow the links at the bottom of this page for some real eye-openers.
4) Completely out of all familiar
proportion
To get people to accept structures of this size, you need
to start smaller and work your way up. First, you invite people to visit the Fenner area where about 20 GE
1.5 MW wind turbines are set up, each about 328 feet high. After everyone
has caught their breath, tell them that this
is approximately what things will look like in Cohocton. Then propose the erection of more
than
twice as many (44) similar towers in Cohocton. Then submit information
indicating that your proposal is not for GE turbines but for 44 Gamesa 2.0
MW units, each 392-405 feet tall, nearly 20% taller than the ones they've
been shown. After folks have started to get a little comfortable with this
notion, you can then mention in passing that this is Phase I and you
really have about 62 towers in mind, not counting the 100+ you're
proposing to erect in the neighboring Town of Prattsburg immediately to
the east (see
map). Then move quietly behind the scenes to substitute
even larger units, like Clipper 2.5 MW
Liberty wind turbines, each one standing 425 feet high, higher than
all the skyscrapers in Rochester but one - the Xerox tower rises 440 feet. Can
we get any bigger or go any higher? Just consider, the Cohocton Town Board
passed a zoning law in 2006 at the request of the developer that allows
windmills up to 500 feet tall - what's to keep them from going for the truly
colossal 3.6 MW turbines?
There's a name for this process in sales circles - it's known as the "bait
and switch" technique.