August 11, 2010
New York

Litchfield wind farm moratorium could be extended

By JENNIFER BOGDAN, Observer-Dispatch, www.uticaod.com 10 August 2010

LITCHFIELD – The Town Council will vote tonight on whether to extend a moratorium on wind farms in the town of Litchfield.

The current moratorium is in effect until September. If another moratorium is approved, it would extend until March 2011.

An extended moratorium is being considered because the council hasn’t decided what rules should govern wind farm projects in the town, officials said.

“This would keep the same suspension we’ve had in place for a little longer until the council makes some decisions,” town Supervisor Wayne Casler said.

Albany-based NorthWind and Power LLC has talked about building a 20-megawatt farm on Dry Hill. Last year, the company received approval from the Town Council to put up a test mass to measure the amount of wind on the hill.

Casler said the Town Council should soon decide on changes to a wind farm ordinance drafted by a group of residents.

The proposed ordinance would require wind companies to secure multiple permits from the town and obtain easements from all residences within 6,500 feet of a turbine.

Casler said he believes the easement requirement is excessive. Lessening the requirement to all residences within 2,500 feet has been discussed, he said.

Sheila Salvatore, a member of Save Sauquoit Valley Views – a citizens group that has been critical of the possible wind farm project – said she hopes the council will consider the impact the turbines could have on nearby residents.

“The group’s standpoint is that the ordinance is an excellent piece of work from people who studied it for months,” Salvatore said. “I don’t see how you can just come through and willy-nilly decide what should and shouldn’t be a part of it.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/11/litchfield-wind-farm-moratorium-could-be-extended/