January 29, 2011
New York

Decommissioning steps for wind farms OK’d

By MATT MCALLISTER, JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2011, watertowndailytimes.com

HAMMOND – As expected, the Hammond Wind Committee on Monday approved a series of recommendations that will go to the Town Council regarding the decommissioning of wind farms.

The committee voted 6-1, with Michele W. McQueer opposed, to recommend that:

■ Any wind turbine that is nonfunctional or inoperative for a continuous period of one year be removed at the developer’s cost.

■ A decommissioning plan submitted by the developer must include the estimated decommissioning cost, how that estimate was determined, the method of ensuring available funds for decommissioning and the method that will be used to keep those costs current.

■ A decommissioning fund of 125 percent of the full cost of decommissioning (including salvage value) and restoration be kept in the form of cash on deposit with the town or cash held in escrow in a New York-licensed financial institution.

The board has set meetings in February and March to consider the recommendations. Iberdrola Renewables has threatened to pull its proposed Stone Church Wind project if the town adopts rules it deems unworkable.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/29/decommissioning-steps-for-wind-farms-okd/