September 28, 2006
New York
New York
Village and town officials will meet next month with representatives of a company interested in developing wind power in the area.
The Town Board last night agreed to meet with Empire State Wind Energy, the same company whose CEO, Keith Pitman, spoke Sept. 18 at the Ohmann Theater. Pitman said then that his company would be willing to invest here if local residents and governments were interested in pursuing alternative energy.
The Town and Village Boards plan to hold a workshop session with the Oneida-based company Oct. 11 to discuss its proposals and business model, which calls for returning profits to host communities.
In other business last night, the Town Board
“¢ WIND REGULATIONS – Tabled a proposed local law regulating wind turbine development after Town Attorney Anthony Villani suggested an addition to the permit process. Villani said developers should be required to agree to compensation packages to offset the environmental impact of having wind turbines in the town.
Code Enforcement Officer Tom Sawtelle said that could be a good idea, although it was not something he’d heard of before, and Villani said he would draft an addition to the proposed law.
Councilman Earl Buchanan asked if there was anything in the law that could hurt the town’s chances of negotiating a deal with Empire State Wind Energy.
Terry VanStean, chairman of the local Alternative Energy Task Force, said he saw nothing in the proposal that would derail talks with the company.
Town officials have said the law is designed to ensure that any wind energy development fits with the community’s desires.
By Jim Miller
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/28/lyons-board-to-meet-with-wind-energy-reps-next-month/