May 12, 2011
Connecticut

Prospect wind farm proposal rejected

By Brad Kane, www.hartfordbusiness.com 12 May 2011

The Connecticut Siting Council on Thursday afternoon rejected a proposal to build the state’s first commercial wind farm in Prospect, saying the turbines would mar the landscape.

The council, which accepts or rejects all power plant proposals in the state, voted 7-2 to reject the petition from West Hartford developer BNE Energy. The plan called for two 500-foot industrial turbines in Prospect.

The council was most concerned about the environmental impact of the tall turbines, specifically the visual effects on the scenery in Prospect, said Linda Roberts, siting council executive director.

BNE Energy has 45 days to appeal to Connecticut Superior Court.

The developer also has two proposals for wind farms in Colebrook pending before the siting council. The decisions on those petitions are expected June 4 and June 11. Many of the same issues regarding scenery have been mentioned in the Colebrook debate.

Shortly after BNE Energy made its wind farm proposals to the siting council, the General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee took up the cause and passed legislation placing a moratorium on all wind projects in the state. The same legislation called on Connecticut to develop regulations regarding wind farms, which would be the only source of power generation in Connecticut with specific state regulations.

The full body of the General Assembly hasn’t acted on that legislation yet.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/12/prospect-wind-farm-proposal-rejected/