CHURUBUSCO -- Like some northern Clinton County residents, Paul and Christine Boyea were initially hesitant about having windparks dotting the local landscape.

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But after two years of extensive research, the Ellenburg couple was in full support of the Noble Environmental Power projects and signed on to have two turbines erected on their property.

"And we're very pleased," Mr. Boyea said Saturday afternoon during the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at Noble Environmental Power's Churubusco office that marked the completion of the Clinton and Ellenburg windparks.

Noble Chief Executive Officer Charles Hinckley said there are now 122 fully commissioned 400-foot turbines between the two parks.

When the projects began about three years ago, many people feared they would bring adverse noise and environmental impacts.

But, Hinckley said, the final result has "quieted down" almost all of the dissent.

"There are still some people around here who don't support the project, but the vast majority do," he said.

"A lot of the issues really slowed down once they (the turbines) were up and people could see them for themselves. And I think there's a wide degree of acceptance now."

The $360 million investment has created jobs and will help to reduce taxes while generating enough clean energy to power 60,000 homes and bringing an estimated $231 million in revenue to the rural economy over the next 20 years.

Clinton Town Supervisor Michael Filion said the project has "been a long process, but well worth the effort. And now it's time to reap the benefits."

"It has to happen to protect us from global warming or at least slow it down," said David Manwell of Beekmantown, who has strongly advocated for turbines in his hometown, where the issue remains highly controversial.

"We are very lucky to have wind like this and we need to develop it more and more."

As in Clinton and Ellenburg, some Beekmantown residents are concerned about the potential noise impact.

"We've even heard people say they're going to drive them from their homes," Manwell said.