Robert E. Knoer,
Chair, Wind Action Group
rknoer@knoergroup.com

Photo by: Douglas Levere, University at Buffalo

Message From the Chair

THE WIND ACTION GROUP
C/O BUFFALO'S GREEN GOLD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
PO BOX 865
BUFFALO, NY 14202
buffalowind.org


Message From The Chair ­ June 20th , 2003 ­ Given at the Launch Event for the Wind Action Group Website:

A century ago the Buffalo Niagara region stood at the forefront of a new era in energy production and delivery.

The renewable energy resource of hydropower put this region in the world spotlight as showcased in the 1901 Pan American Exposition. The harnessing and delivery of hydropower energized new industry in the region and brought new promise to our community.

As we look to the horizon of the 21st century another renewable resource of this region can once again energize new industry, and put Buffalo Niagara in the forefront of innovation and progress.

A unique combination of geography and meteorology combine to make this area of the country a prime spot for the development of wind power.

To our north in Toronto they have already begun to capture both the wind and the imagination. The demonstration turbine along that city’s waterfront is, right now, turning the winds blowing off of Lake Ontario into energy to power the city and light it’s future.

We need to explore and develop the winds off Lake Erie to generate not only clean, renewable energy, but also hope for a re-birth of Buffalo Niagara as an energy innovator leading to new wind related manufacturing.

Where others see roulette wheels spinning our region into the future we see spinning turbines empowering us with wind equipment manufacturing jobs and clean renewable energy bringing us back to prosperity.

In Europe over 75,000 people are employed in wind manufacturing jobs. Jobs that this region desperately needs and deserves. Over the last four years growth in wind turbine capacity has been near 20% in this country. There is a growing demand for wind related equipment in the US and the world. The Federal and State governments have acknowledged this demand and provided incentives to help generate turbine manufacturing and installation. Where better to make the equipment for this growing and promising industry than right here on the windy shores of Lake Erie.

The Wind Action Group hopes to help facilitate this exciting development by bringing together government, industry and importantly, the community, in a discussion of the promises and problems of wind power.

The Wind Action Group was one of the recommendations of a study by Dr Ernest Sternberg and his Masters of Urban Planning students at the University at Buffalo.

Buffalo’s Green Gold Development Corporation took up Dr Sternbergs challenge and brought together members of Government, industry and the community to begin a dialogue. In late 2002 that dialogue developed into a more formal committee structured group that is the Wind Action Group.

The Wind Energy Initiatives for Greater Buffalo study by Dr Sternberg’s group is available online at the Wind Action Group’s Website (buffalowind.org), along with other general information about wind power and specific information about the possibility for wind power development in this region.

The website is designed to be a source of information about wind energy, including information on the environmental and legal issues of siting a wind project in the Buffalo Niagara region. The site has many links to other sites of interest related to all facets of wind energy. More and more information will be added over the coming months, especially information specific to wind development in this area.

The website is hoped to be a forum for an informed and thoughtful discussion about the future of wind energy in our area. It has become apparent to the Wind Action Group that failed attempts to generate widespread wind energy in the past have left false impressions and misinformation on the public landscape.

Concerns with impacts on bird populations, unwanted noise and aesthetics are genuine and reasonable. But the folklore of widespread bird destruction, high decibel turbines and ugly towers has overshadowed the evidence of innovation in recent years and the great strides that have been made by thoughtful planning and proper design in bringing wind power in harmony with the surrounding community.

A specific goal of the Wind Action Group is to create a demonstration project in the urban environment of Buffalo. This will be an experiment with great promise for urban landscapes across the country. The Demonstration Committee of the Wind Action Group will seek out public input in the hope of creating a project that will allow the public a “hands on” experience with wind power.

We are not drawing a line in the sand and taking the side of development or opposition; we are drawing a circle that will encompass all those with an interest in wind power so that a thoughtful and informed discussion can lead to the right choice for our community.

We look forward to working alongside government, industry and people to bring the reality and vitality of wind energy to Buffalo Niagara.

Robert E. Knoer,
Chair, Wind Action Group
rknoer@knoergroup.com