Published August 28, 2007 09:30 pm - With the blades of the first of 121 wind turbines touching the sky in the Northern Tier there's excitement over the novel sight and the economic boom.
Wind towers boost economy
Construction of turbines injects bustle of enthusiasm
By SUZANNE MOORE
Staff Writer
CLINTON -- To passersby, the rolling landscape of the forested Adirondack foothills reveals but brief glimpses of the first six fully assembled wind turbines here; even so, their impact is visible all over the towns of Clinton and Ellenburg.
ECONOMIC BOOST
Noble Environmental Power has about 270 workers on the job daily, readying its 121 turbine sites and erecting the 265-foot-tall towers in its Clinton and Ellenburg wind parks, working on the substation at the far end of Ryan Road.
Jobs are contracted out for everything from materials handling to foundation work to underground- and overhead-collection-line installation.
"Hundreds of local trucks have been hauling materials," said Dick Decosse, owner of Dick's Country Store & Music Oasis, situated at the Ryan Road/Route 11 intersection.
His establishment has felt the local economic boost, too.
"Our lunch business has increased a lot," Decosse said. "We've increased our gas and fuel-oil business.
"It's been a little hectic at times, but we've adjusted to it."
Posted on bulletin boards at Dick's and other local stores is Noble's work schedule -- this week includes Ryan and County Line roads in Clinton and Harrigan, Sancomb and Tacey roads in Ellenburg.
Shawn Clark of Hannawah in St. Lawrence County advertised his need for housing with a flyer at Dick's.
"I found a place, but it took a while," he told the Press-Republican on Tuesday. "There are so many workers."
The 19-year-old electrician's apprentice jumped at the opportunity to work on the project for Colton firm S&L Electric; he expects his present job to run through December. Now in training, he'll be working at the very top of the turbines.
Does he have a fear of heights?
"Not that I know of," he chuckled. "But we'll see."
PARK ON HORIZON
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