March 6, 2008
New York
New York
Canisteo officials want to know how the town could benefit from a wind mill project.
With talk of a possible wind project in the works for the Canisteo and Jasper area, the board unanimously passed a motion to have an Invenergy representative come to a town board meeting to discuss how the town could benefit financially.
During Wednesday night’s town board meeting, it was noted the town received a letter concerning the state Legislature’s review of Article X of the state Public Service Law, which could establish a new site and permit process for energy facilities.
“I don’t know why we’re not doing something,” said Councilman Robert Scott.
Town Supervisor John Peisher said Article X would allow the state to overrule local laws dealing with wind farms.
“It’s the state government again trying to tell us what we can do in our town, and it’s wrong,” he said.
Councilman Tom Ryan noted the Town of Canisteo currently does not have any town laws regarding wind mill projects. He said under Article X, the state could change the wording in existing laws to fit its needs.
“If they rewrite this (Article X), it will take the home rule aspect out of it,” he said.
Peisher said any revisions to Article X would basically only benefit the state and wind mill manufacturers, allowing both to overrule local municipalities.
“They can place a turbine right in the center of Canisteo if they want to,” he said.
Todd Mitchell, a local consultant for Invenergy, previously said the company is looking into building a total of 40 turbines between Jasper and Canisteo. He said the turbines would be placed on Jackson Hill and Marsh Hill north of Jasper, and along the Swale Road northeast of South Canisteo.
Mitchell said approval by the Canisteo and Jasper town and planning boards, as well as landowners, electric utility companies and others, would be necessary for a project to take shape.
Mitchell said the company has been collecting data from meteorological towers in the area for several years. He said he has not heard much criticism about the possibility of a project.
By Jen Carpenter
6 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/06/invenergy-invited-to-explain-wind-project-benefits/