Clear Skies Above Barre still pressing for answers with local wind turbine project
Press Release, Clear Skies Above Barre
BARRE — Heritage Wind LLC stated earlier this year that tree clearing would begin on January 19, 2026. This announcement came without the required “notice to proceed” from the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting.
Back on December 9, 2024, the Orleans Hub reported that clearing was expected to begin in February 2025. Now, more than a year later, the timeline has shifted again with no public explanation. ORES has deemed the company’s notice to proceed application incomplete four times: February 18, 2025; May 13, 2025; October 20, 2025; and January 12, 2026.
Additionally, a fourth modification was just approved December 16, 2025; the project is significantly different from what was approved by the state January 13, 2022. The 4 modifications were individually deemed minor and thus required significantly less review than a major modification would have required.
The Heritage Wind project has been reduced by 27 percent in nameplate capacity (in the 4th modification) — from 173.6 MW to 126 MW — and our Host Community Agreement and payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) have been reduced by the same amount (HCA and PILOT are based on nameplate capacity and at the time the HCA and PILOT were signed the name plate capacity of the project was expected to be 201MW).
Yet the turbines themselves are virtually unchanged. A 16‑foot decrease in height does nothing to lessen the noise, shadow flicker, or visual intrusion residents will face (this is according to Heritage Wind, LLC own studies submitted to ORES).
When the Town of Barre raised its height limit from 500 feet to 700 feet (in the wind ordinance), the Town was told bigger turbines were needed to improve efficiency and produce more electricity. Now, after state approval on January 13, 2022, Heritage Wind has switched to a smaller-output turbine that is almost the same size, and uses older technology.
This is a major shift and worthy of a formal request for answers by the Barre Town Board. That request was put forward by George McKenna and seconded by Dave Waters — but shut down by Sean Pogue and Margaret Swan at their last 2 meetings in December. Their vote left residents without representation on an issue that deeply affects our community.
Residents should not accept the idea that “nothing can be done.” The project may be approved, but the process is not over. Clear Skies Above Barre, along with engaged residents and the Town Board, still have many ways to speak up for our community.
We invite everyone to our next Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc. meeting on February 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Hoag Library. Our meetings are open to the public, and we welcome your participation. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month. You can also email clearskiesabovebarre@gmail.com and request to be added to receive updates via email.
If you would like to follow what Heritage Wind LLC is proposing, or has submitted to the state you can find the proceedings by clicking here.
Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc.
Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc. is a grassroots group of citizens who are concerned about the proposed Heritage Wind Project, working to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Barre, N.Y. and surrounding communities that would be impacted by the proposed industrial wind turbines.
Clear Skies Above Barre, Inc. is a not for profit organization that was formed by residents of the Barre community and not by any other organization. We have not been funded by any other organization.
