Peru starts process for wind ordinance  

Credit:  By Erin Cox, Staff Writer, Sun Journal, www.sunjournal.com 17 November 2011 ~~

PERU — The Wind Ordinance Committee on Wednesday night discussed having experts help draft regulations for developing wind energy projects.

Members said they would like to invite experts from the state Department of Environmental Protection, Friends of Maine Mountains, and members of the Sumner town wind ordinance committee to discuss legal and energy aspects.

Chairman Bill Hine said he believes it’s time to take steps toward an ordinance even though no permits exist for a wind project in Peru.

A permit was approved through the town office to allow one wind test tower on Black Mountain in Peru near the Sumner town line.

Last week, voters passed a six-month moratorium on wind power projects, 466-129.

Opinions on the need for wind farms were brought up by members of the committee, including Warren Oldham. He said he didn’t believe Maine needed wind power.

“All that power is going to someone in Massachusetts,” he said. “Why should we destroy our mountains for someone else?”

Steve Fuller said he is for green energy but didn’t want to see wind turbines everywhere.

“I think we need to get away from fossil fuels, so I support regulation and not banning them,” he said.

One concern Hine expressed was seeing wind debates and ordinances tear communities apart.

“I want Peru to do it a little differently,” he said. “I want this to be a community building exercise and not something that tears us apart.”

The committee agreed to meet every two weeks and assigned research duties to each member on topics such as noise standards and tangible benefits. They also agreed to research other town ordinances, including Rumford’s, which was passed Nov. 8.

Other members of the committee are Warren MacFawn, David Gammon, Skip Campbell and Tim Placey.