Windmills of Bliss, NYSteve Malloy Desormeaux

Windmills of Bliss, NY

Each time I round a bend, or crest one of the rolling hills surrounding Bliss, another set of windmills appears. Sometimes just a solitary tower behind a woodlot, sometimes a panorama of dozens along a ridge. The blowing snow and overcast skies give the blue-gray turbines an ethereal presence.

Bliss is a hamlet within the town of Eagle, New York, 60 miles southwest of Rochester. The population of Eagle is 1,194. The cow population is greater. Due to the elevation and a prevailing wind, the area is home to the Noble Bliss Wind Farm. The windmills are scattered over 50 square miles, sited in small clusters on land leased from dozens of family farmers.

The wind farm opened in 2008 with 67 turbines. Today there are 151 turbines in additional wind farms surrounding Bliss. The turbines stand on 262 feet towers, and reach to nearly 400 feet at the tip of the rotor. If you get close enough, say about 100 yards, and downwind, you can hear a light whooshing sound.

Steve Malloy DesormeauxDecember 2013

All photographs were taken between December 26, 2012 and March 4, 2013.

Images or text may not be duplicated for any purpose or by any means without consent of the author.

© 2013 Steve Malloy DesormeauxRochester, NY 14624stevemd11@gmail.com