Ashby investigates Ashburnham's wind-turbine plans
ASHBY — Planning Board members are looking at possibly adopting zoning regulations to govern wind turbines.
Planning Board Member Andy Leonard said the effort comes in light of a movement in Ashburnham to build a 1.5- or 2-megawatt wind turbine on Blood Hill, near the Ashby town line.
“The line between Ashburnham and Ashby is an invisible line,” Leonard said.
Board members reviewed Ashburnham’s proposed zoning bylaw to regulate commercial wind turbines to see what can apply to Ashby.
“It’s important for us to know what Ashburnham is doing,” Leonard said.
Ashburnham’s regulations require wind turbines to be restricted specific heights and distances from existing buildings. Wind turbines can be no more than 400-feet to the top of one of the blades fully extended.
The turbines must be at least 400-feet from any existing building and 100-feet from any public road.
Wind turbine owners must also provide proof of liability insurance.
The Blood Hill project would produce enough energy to supply 20 percent of the electricity for the Ashburnham. Ashburnham is also drafting a proposed zoning bylaw to regulate smaller wind turbines.
Ashby currently allows small wind turbines that will supply power to one home, though there are few of those turbines.
By Damien Fisher
28 August 2008
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