LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Attorney discusses community concerns in Albion and Gaines 

New York is the windiest state east of the Mississippi River, according to Daniel Spitzer of the Buffalo law firm Hodgson Russ LLP.

To address the growing wind energy concerns of residents in the towns of Albion and Gaines, Spitzer, who represents municipalities and wind energy companies, spoke to members of the two communities Monday evening about windmills, zoning ordinances and other issues that may effect a town’s decision to allow wind farms.

“As a community I think you have a responsibility,” Spitzer said. “Once you decide to regulate you have two options – no and maybe. If you don’t want (windmills) don’t play cute.”

According to Spitzer, a town should say “no” if they have looked at all the options and decided windmills are not something they want, but to say “maybe” if the town does want them because it allows for the town to make the decisions.

Spitzer concentrates his practice in a variety of issues affecting municipalities, including environmental and land use law, Albion Town Councilwoman Jeannette Riley said.

“If you allow windmills they absolutely will change the landscape of the community for at least a generation,” Spitzer said.

For towns considering wind farms, Spitzer advises boards to have a number of ordinances in place because “a good law is one that will cause an investigation into the community values,” he said.

Zoning ordinances for things such as visual impact, noise levels, set backs, the type of allowable blades and shadow flicker are some of the examples Spitzer cited that town boards should look into when considering wind energy.

“What I think is important is that you study it,” he said.

According to Spitzer, the smallest setbacks from property lines that he is aware of is 700 feet while the largest is 1,500 feet.

Currently the Town of Gaines has a one year moratorium in place that expires in June, according to Supervisor Richard DeCarlo, Sr.

“We are looking to eventually extend it another year,” he said. “We have been approached by a wind energy company.”

Town of Albion officials also have plans to reinstate a recently expired moratorium, according to Councilman Timothy Neilans.

“Our biggest concern is what is in the best interest of the community,” he said.

By having a moratorium in place and a public hearing March 12 the town will be better able to come to an informed decision about wind energy, Neilans said.

Both Albion and Gaines town boards have been approached by Airtricity, a wind farm company, and is the reason the towns collaborated on Spitzer’s visit, DeCarlo said.

“The two town boards in the future will hopefully come together to share information,” he said.

By Miranda Vagg

journal-register.com

28 February 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
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon