The Windmills of Madison County
By SusieQ42
I was raised on a dairy farm in Richfield Springs, New York, just 20 some miles from a small village called Madison. It is said that a stockbroker from New York City purchased 200 acres of farm land high up on a hill just outside of Madison and built 7 turbine windmills for use as an alternative source of energy for area farmers and other residents of the area, although I've received information saying that this did not happen. This anonymous reader said that the landowners continue to own the land where the windmills are built. At one time I lived just down the road from where they are located.
Madison isn't the only place where you'll find windmills and not everyone loves them like I do. The town of Fenner, also located in Madison County, not far outside of Cazenovia, is also the home to 20 windmills. The 30 mega-watt Fenner Wind Farm provides over 7000 homes with electricity. The Fenner Wind Farm claims that they are the largest source of wind energy on the East coast. One of the Fenner windmills fell to the ground throwing ice in all directions during a particularly harsh winter only a few years ago. Many folk in the area think they are dangerous, although they didn't cause any damage to a nearby home. I guess we have to look at both sides of the use of windmills...the good and the bad.
Madison County is ranked 8th in the state for dairy farming. Northern Madison County is known for its large potato, cabbage, and onion farms. Horse raising is also popular in Madison County with 2 colleges known for their Equine programs. Cazenovia College is a private college located in the beautiful lakeside village of Cazenovia, and the State University of New York (SUNY) is located in Morrisville. Both are located on Route 20, which runs east and west across the state of New York.
The FREE (Fenner Renewable Energy Education) Center is located on the Fenner Wind Farm. This is a grass roots organization that built it's center in 2001 to educate people, both students and adults, about the importance of having clean energy. They are also interested in sharing their experience with windmills with the public. If you love to see windmills in action, check out the video below and see hundreds of them that are used as alternative energy sources in Southern California.
Windmills Located in Southern California
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Comments
They are a beautiful site aren't they? The windmills outside of Madison can be seen for miles and miles because they sit on top of a high hill.
On the outskirts of Las Vegas there is huge area with windmills for the airforce and they are saving a bundle of money on their engery use.
Really? I've not heard of them. Did you notice that the above reader, Deborah, has driven past the windmills in the video? I love looking at them!
Yes, I remember seeing them around Palm Springs.
We've been away from California for about 12 years now. I quess Palm springs was one of the first to get the windmills because they're also in quite a number of them in deserts areas in California.
There are some in Indiana and Ohio too. I came across that in my research.
I have been by those California windmills. They inspire me to know people still care and are acting. Thanks Susie!
Well, at least it's clean and doesn't go with dependence on Colonel Ghaddafi, or whoever the leader of Libya, etc. is now. Blessings.
Yes, a very great way to help people be more self sufficient! Thanks for visiting, F.
I would like to correct that no stockbroker purchased any land where the 7 original windmills in Madison NY are located. The land is still owned by the family that has owned it for 50+ years.
I'm sorry for the mistake. I found that information in my research. What does the land owner do, rent the land where they are built?
Deborah-Diane 9 months ago
We often drive past the windmills in Southern California, near Palm Springs. They are an awesome sight, and I love knowing they generate some of our electricity!