Wind study hits a snag

PHILADELPHIA — Gaining approval to erect a meteorological tower to assess wind conditions has been tougher than Indian River Central School District officials expected. And the delays in the wind study stem from a lack of communication between the Federal Aviation Administration and Fort Drum about how erecting the tower could affect low-flying aircraft.

"We thought with FAA approval, we could just go ahead with the study," Superintendent James Kettrick said.

FAA officials didn't consult Fort Drum officials directly when they approved a 164-foot-tall meteorological tower to assess wind on district property, and Fort Drum officials have an issue with the tower because its chosen site is close to the flight path of aircraft approaching Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.

The tower was set to be erected in early June, and it's still not up because district officials were notified by Col. Kenneth H. Riddle, Fort Drum garrison commander, that the tower must have a strobe light on top so it's visible to aircraft. When the FAA approved the tower, district officials weren't told they needed to put a light on it.

Fort Drum officials are providing the school district with a strobe light so the district doesn't have to purchase one. The cost could be near $5,000, board member Peter D. Shue said.

District officials have been planning to go with a 350-foot wind turbine if the wind assessment comes back positive. The study will help district officials determine whether putting a wind turbine on district property would substantially decrease energy cost and consumption in the district.

Col. Riddle told district officials that even if the study came back positive, Fort Drum officials may have an issue with the district putting a large turbine in the planned location — a field between the district's transportation center and the middle school — off Route 11, Mr. Kettrick said.

"If a turbine comes to fruition, they're letting us know that it may be a problem with radar and approach," Mr. Kettrick said. "There could be some possible aircraft interference."

But that still leaves the district with some options.

"If we went with two 150-foot turbines, we could come up with around the same wattage as one big one," Mr. Shue said.

District officials also could change the site of the turbine to the Calcium Primary School campus, which isn't as close to Fort Drum and where there is a fair amount of wind, Mr. Shue said.

District officials are working with Sustainable Energy Developments Inc., Ontario, N.Y., to analyze the wind data the tower will produce. The district received a $42,500 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in March, which covers half of the cost of the wind feasibility study.

At Thursday's Board of Education meeting, the board also appointed officers for the 2010-11 school year. Frank J. Laverghetta and Thomas J. Lapp were appointed board president and vice president, respectively.