It’s one of the most visible sights in Madison County; one of the blades on the Fenner Wind Turbines broke in mid-November, and is still not fixed.

A representative for General Electric, who built the huge turbines, says the weather has been too snowy, too cold, and too windy to get up and fix the blade. As soon as they get a stretch of more-mild weather, they say they'll be up there as soon as possible to make the fix.

Windmills could be spinning in nearly half of Madison County’s towns by next summer if two major developments get off the ground this winter.

West Hill Windpower hopes to plant 25 windmills in Stockbridge and Smithfield and connect to a transmission line in Lincoln. Construction on the $40 million to $60 million project is slated to start in the spring, said Todd Hopper, project manager.

It’s the second project in the planning stages. Citizens Airtricity Energy is working on a 3,500-acre wind farm spanning Eaton, Madison and Stockbridge as well as Augusta, in Oneida County. The 23-turbine project has been under discussion since spring 2005.

10/28/04
Dear Friends,

My husband and I own a home in the township of Fenner, NY and it is located in the middle of the Madison wind farm. I am not and never have been against windpower but I want people to be well aware of the negative side of these giant windmills before you allow them to be built in your neighborhoods. We have always believed that our neighbors had the right to use their property as they feel appropriate, in fact we were even somewhat supportive of the project in our area. Our home sits well away from the setback distances called for by zoning.