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Exploring wind power as renewable energy for Buffalo

Wind turnbines in Wyoming County
WBFO News file photo by Eileen Buckley
Wind turnbines in Wyoming County

By Eileen Buckley

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-894733.mp3

Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Common Council is exploring the world of wind power. Wind energy experts appeared at Tuesday's Council Legislation Committee meeting.

Click the audio player above to hear Eileen Buckley's full story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.

South District Council member Michael Kearns is leading the charge to explore the possibility of wind turbines in the City.

"We have the wind, but do we have the will to do this," said Kearns.

Lawmaker Kearns is encouraging his colleagues to consider his wind power resolution. It calls on the City to begin explore possibility of wind turbines in Buffalo. Kearns says many communities are already in the process of investing in wind mills as a renewable energy source.

Pros and cons of wind energy were shared with City lawmakers from economic development and energy leaders.

Attorney Robert Knoer is with the Wind Action Group. He was involved with the Steel Winds turbine project in Lackawanna.

Knoer says if lawmakers create a turbine ordinance, they must consider residents living nearby a potential site. He also recommends the City strongly consider using windmills to power one of its own facility's.

But the City's deputy director of buildings Dan Connors warned lawmakers building a wind mill infrastructure to would be too expensive.

A south Buffalo business owner spoke out against wind turbines on the waterfront. He referred to them as ugly monstrosities that make a humming noise.