OSWEGO, NY. - The Town of Oswego approved it’s first alternative power solution with the erection of a windmill owned by Perry & Sue Bertsch on County Route 20.
The Bertsch’s windmill installation was completed in May of 2010 and started generating electricity shortly thereafter.
Alternative Power Solutions of NY, LLC, installed the 120 foot windmill on the Bertsch property.
Owen Pugh, owner of APS and Mr. Bertsch first approached the town of Oswego in 2009 for a building permit for the project and after working together with the town board, which included rewriting old laws regarding “bonds” for towers, the project was approved.
The old laws stated that any tower (radio antenna, radio tower or wind turbines) required a bond. The laws were re-written in April of 2010 to accommodate different towers on private property and now allow homeowners to erect towers by getting the proper building permits and paperwork completed, simplifying the overall process.
Part of the process of getting a windmill on your property involves contacting neighbors and having them sign a petition.
“The neighbors were all very supportive and positive throughout the process.” said Bertsch. “We gained a lot of local support and some of our neighbors even volunteered to rally behind the project at the Oswego town meeting.” commented Bertsch.
“It’s wonderful when a community comes together to help make a positive impact on the environment. The town board, the community and the Bertsch’s supported the project. It was a great experience.” said Pugh.
According to Bertsch, every step of the APS windmill installation process was professional. “From the cement pouring to the crane operation, everyone was very professional and everything went really well. The crew wasn’t intrusive to my property and Owen’s team was very respectful.” he said. Blowing Away Myths : The Availability of Low Cost Wind Power
The total cost of installation of the Bertsch’s windmill was about $60,000, but New York State and the federal government offer large tax rebates that help offset these costs. In their case the actual cost of the windmill after rebates was roughly $12,000. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) also offered a low-interest loan with a 3% interest rate and allow you to borrow up to $20,000 and pay it back over 10 years.
The savings don’t stop there. By law, the electric company is obligated to hook a windmill into the owner’s electric meter and required to pay the owner for the electricity the windmill generates. The Bertsch’s hope to generate a surplus electricity most months, so they’ll completely pay for the project in an estimated five years.
“Making my own electricity, saving money and saving the environment are all very important to me.” said Bertsch. “I’d recommend everyone to put a windmill on their property.”
“Whenever you see the windmill spinning, it is generating pollution-free electricity.” Pugh said.
Latest News For Alternative Power Solutions
Sunpower Solar
