WEB Renewable Energy USA LLC (WEB USA) is a team of renewable energy professionals who are passionate about community, the environment, and shared social values. WEB USA is a subsidiary of W.E.B, an Austrian, community-owned energy transition company. W.E.B operates a total of 284 wind farms and 53 solar farms at 134 locations throughout Europe and North America. These power plants have a total capacity of 744 megawatts.

WEB USA is proposing a 70 megawatt (MW) AC wind energy project in Jefferson County, New York that will consist of wind turbine generators, concrete foundations, access roads, and electrical equipment connecting the project to the utility’s grid.

In the State of New York, large-scale solar projects, which includes projects with a nameplate capacity of 25MW or more, are required to undergo a state-run permitting process. The permit will be submitted to and reviewed by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) which is a state agency that was established under New York State Executive Law Article VIII. The purpose of the ORES is to provide a single forum tasked with reviewing and siting large-scale renewable energy projects. The Worth Wind Project will undergo a rigorous permitting process that considers all pertinent social, economic, and environmental factors.

The project is planned to be built in the Town of Worth, New York.

Wind turbines work on a simple principle: instead of using electricity to make wind—like a fan—wind turbines use wind to make electricity. Wind turns the propeller-like blades of a turbine around a rotor, which spins a generator, which creates electricity. Larger wind turbines are more cost effective and are grouped together into wind plants, which provide bulk power to the electrical grid. ¹

Wind turbines have an excellent record of safety, and a significant body of research indicates that there is no direct relationship between human exposure to wind turbines and human health issues. Modern wind energy farms are reliable, safe, state-of-the-art power plants with well-tested technologies that meet approved standards and hundreds of thousands of hours of operating experience. ²  

Environmental impacts of wind turbines vary by location and species, but birds and bats are of high concern when it comes to wind energy development. Reducing impacts to area wildlife is an important part of responsible wind energy development. Project developers are required to screen the site for local wildlife and adjust plans to minimize impacts. During construction, activities may be paused, for example, during mating or breeding seasons for ground-nesting birds. For at least one year after a wind energy facility begins operations, the operator monitors the site to measure actual impacts to birds and bats and to determine whether additional conservation measures, such as curtailment and/or deterrents, are needed. ³

Our wind projects are designed and built to rigorous safety standards including fire safety standards in compliance with the Fire Code of New York State, the National Electrical Code (NEC), and local building codes.  

Wind turbines create two main types of noise, a mechanical hum from the generator and a whooshing noise from the blades moving through the air. While research is ongoing, a 2012 review of global peer-reviewed scientific data and independent studies came to the conclusion that sound from wind power plants does not pose a risk of hearing loss and has no direct impact on physical human health. ⁴

On average, land-based, utility-scale (large) wind turbines produce sounds that fall in the range of 35–45 dB when heard from 300 meters away (the closest distance a wind turbine is typically placed to a home or building). That means they are no louder than a typical refrigerator (50 dB) and create far less noise pollution than average city car traffic (70 dB). ⁵

As part of the permitting process, potential visual impacts and a viewshed analysis will be assessed from locations surrounding the site. WEB USA will elicit feedback from the community and explore mitigation possibilities to visual impacts.

Shadow flicker is when rotating wind turbine blades cast shadows as they pass in front of the sun. Throughout the permitting process, this is analyzed to ensure the least amount of shadow flicker, typically at most a few minutes per day.

Wind turbine projects are typically designed to last for 25-30 years, with manufacturers typically offering warranties for the first 25 years. The expected life of wind turbines can be extended through operation, maintenance, and careful monitoring. The Worth Wind Project will create and adhere to an Operations and Maintenance Plan based on industry best practices.

Part of the permitting process requires a site decommissioning and restoration plan. This plan will address the safety and removal of hazardous conditions, environmental impacts, aesthetics, recycling of materials, potential future uses for the site, funding and a decommissioning schedule. WEB will allocate financial security to ensure the Town and landowners are not responsible for the decommissioning and removal of the project equipment at the end of the project’s useful life.

WEB USA is committed to working with the local community to ensure that the Worth Wind Project benefits its host community. Feedback from the community is greatly encouraged. Please reach out to us by signing on as a supporter or providing feedback through our contact form.

Do you own a local business? We would love to know more about your business. WEB USA uses local labor, contractors, and service providers when possible. Please use the information provided in the CONTACT section of this website to provide information about your company.

The New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) Article VIII permitting process requires extensive surveys and studies to ensure a holistic assessment of the proposed Project. These studies include public health, safety, and security; noise and vibration; visual impacts; effects on cultural and agricultural resources; wetlands, water resources, and aquatic ecology; threatened and endangered species; effects on transportation, communication, and electric systems; geology and terrestrial ecology; socioeconomic effects and environmental justice; adherence to local laws; among others. These studies ensure a thorough and safe vetting of approved Projects.

The Worth Wind Project will provide significant tax revenues to the Town of Worth, as well as to the local school district and Jefferson County. The Project will also provide opportunities to bid for contracts for work or materials from business owners and residents and is expected to create approximately 200 jobs either directly or through supporting local businesses and economies. WEB USA will partner with local landowners for leases and easements for the project and return the site to agricultural use once the Project reaches the end of its useful life. WEB USA is also committed to forming a Host Community Benefit Program with the Town of Worth, which will provide additional financial support to the local community during the operation of the Worth Wind Project.