| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Beekmantown approves wind-turbine facility; residents vow appeal
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
There is only small to moderate potential adverse effect.
Those were the words used Wednesday night that helped seal the approval of Windhorse Power LLC’s request for a conditional-use permit to build a wind-turbine facility.
The repeated phrase was used by both the Town of Beekmantown Zoning Board of Appeals and their consultants to the State Environmental Quality Review application, Saratoga Associates.
Environmental impact, air quality, wildlife, aesthetics, transportation, noise and open spaces for the more than 700-acre facility were discussed. Matters of historical heritage and health impacts were evaluated by Saratoga Associates as having no potential for adverse effects.
Windhorse Power was given their permit to build up to 13 wind turbines standing at no more than 80 meters at the hub of the turbine development.
The conditions to the firm were long and numerous, affirming that they are now committed to constructing what they had proposed and no more.
“Any change whatsoever is a new deal,” Zoning Board Chairperson Janice Marchut-Conrad said.
Earlier this year the Clinton County Planning Board decided against granting Windhorse Power’s application, requiring that the Zoning Board achieve a majority plus one vote from their five-member board.
The Beekmantown Zoning Board unanimously accepted the recommendations from Saratoga Associates, who were hired to independently examine Windhorse’s proposal. The Zoning Board considered Windhorse an essential service – giving them the only conditional way into this residentially zoned area.
“Obviously, we’re immensely pleased,” Windhorse partner John Warshow said after the decision. “They (the board) did a lot of work, a really thorough job.”
The Beekmantown High School Auditorium was quiet during the meeting, which was in stark contrast to prior public board meetings that have included loud outcries and conversations from the audience in opposition to the project.
Some residents mentioned before Wednesday’s meeting that they will be appealing the decision.
“We all know what the decision is going to be,” said Bill Hutton. “I guess the only thing to do is prepare for court.”
By: Lucas Blaise
Contributing Writer
February 01, 2007
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=2743 ]
