March 8, 2008
New York
New York
Herkimer, N.Y. – Wind energy is the wave of the future and with more and more potential wind projects popping up in Herkimer County, the Herkimer-Oneida Counties Comprehensive Planning Program, is sponsoring a wind energy conference.
The conference is taking place April 5 from 1-4 p.m. in the Robert McLaughlin College Center, Room 282/283 at Herkimer County Community College.
The conference is being offered through a grant received by the program.
Kristen Campbell works with the Herkimer-Oneida Counties Comprehensive Planning Program and is the one who secured the grant for the Herkimer County area in order to offer such a conference.
“There were two goals we are hoping to accomplish with this conference,” Campbell said. “We want to provide educational opportunities for local municipalities and we want to explain municipal regulation of wind facilities, the impact to local communities and to help municipalities address the impact of these facilities on local laws.”
One of those laws is the State Environmental Quality Review Act, also known as SEQRA. Land used for such wind projects need to undergo a study using the SEQRA policy.
This is the second wind energy conference to be held in Herkimer County.
Campbell says the first was held in February 2007 and was more of a general discussion on the wind energy topic.
“Wind energy isn’t that unknown anymore,” Campbell said. This time we’re trying to give communities information about the topic and planning information.”
Topics to be covered include:
• The municipal regulation of wind energy facilities, presented by Linda King, Land Use Training Manager, New York State Department of State.
• State Environmental Quality Review Act and Public Participation, presented by John Hecklau, principal, and Benjamin Brazell, Project Manager, Environmental Design and Research, PC.
Each presenter will also take questions from those in attendance at the conference.
Admission to the conference is $5 and will include educational materials and refreshments between sessions. Those interested must register by March 26.
For questions or to obtain a conference registration, contact Courtney Taurisano-Sprague, Research Analyst, Herkimer-Oneida Counties Comprehensive Planning Program, 798-5710 or by e-mail csprague@ocgov.net.
By Kim Dunne
7 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/08/wind-energy-conference-slated-in-april/