Big wind farm to go online soon

FLORIDA, Mass. (WWLP) - The state's largest wind farm is nearing completion and could start powering homes in the next couple weeks.

Like most projects of its size, it has its critics.    

The 19 wind turbines in Berkshire County will be producing power soon, of course some people were hoping to put a stop to it at the last minute.

Governor Deval Patrick was greeted by protesters who, in a last-ditch effort, are trying to prevent the activation of Giant wind turbines.

"I'm worried about these keeping me up at night, there's problems with dizziness, nausia, headaches," said Forida's Michael Fairneny.

The $90M Hoosac Wind Project in the towns of Monroe and Florida is expected to produce power for ten thousand homes and businesses.

"When you put it all together If you can get up to 250 megawatts, that's a big coal plant, oil plant or natural gas plant that doesn't have to go online," said Secretary Richard Sullivan, Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

The turbines may look small from far away but up close, they're massive. To give some perspective, they'll taller than the statue of liberty, the blades alone, longer than a blue whale.   

Governor Patrick says wind farms don't belong everywhere, but, despite the project's critics, he stands behind this one.

"We've made tremendous progress and as we have the world is becoming our customer, it's creating new companies, jobs, one of the fastest growing sectors in the Commonwealth and we need to keep that going," Patrick said.

While some people are still hoping to stop the project, others look forward to seeing the turbines in their back yard, turn on.

"I'm very thrilled to see them and I will be thrilled when they start spinning and producing power," said Florida's Stanley Brown.

Northeast Utilities won the bid to buy the power produced when the turbines turn on.