This is a home next door to the so-called Maple Ridge Windfarm (generally known as the "Tug Hill" site), near Watertown, NY. Maple Ridge Windfarm is going through the finishing stages of completion. This photo was published in the Watertown Daily Times on 10-9-05 accompanying an article by staff writer John Golden titled, "Winds of Change: Lewis County's new 'farming' venture comes at a high cost."

I am told the Pennysaver and E-Bay are currently advertising Tug Hill area homes for sale at disastrously low prices. I see why. Oh, by the way, Maple Ridge Windfarm is installing something on the order of 160 of these monsters in this, Phase I. Phase II will add a few hundred more, and so on. For those of you who are not familiar with the North Country of New York State, I live to the east of this Tug Hill site -- maybe 200 miles east. Maybe 150 miles east. My region is slated for 551 of these monsters, within a 40 mile stretch (Brandon, NY to Altona, NY). The wind salesmen assure us these are beautiful, wonderful, soundless, have no negative impact on property values (in fact, might even raise them), will contribute all sorts of revenues to local coffers (taxes, PILOT money, etc.), create numerous jobs. Etc. The wind salesmen think we should build a Visitor Center so tourists can come gawk at this freak show. Sell T-shirts, coffee mugs. Keychains. The wind salesmen never, ever, build these in their backyards. Never. Only my backyard.

These turbines went into operation in December of 2005 and phase 2 is in progress now.