September 29, 2011
Rhode Island

North Kingstown’s turbine turmoil prompts South Kingstown to review its own laws

By Erin Tiernan, North Kingstown Patch, patch.com 29 September 2011

North Kingstown’s wind turbine saga is causing one neighboring community to review its wind energy laws.

Local officials will review South Kingstown’s wind energy ordinances in coming months to ensure the town has appropriate safeguards in place to protect residents while promoting sustainable energy growth.

Their action is in response to the controversy over two 427-foot wind turbines in North Kingstown close to residential neighborhoods, one of which was granted a building permit. Residents in North Kingstown have clashed for months with Wind Energy Development, the developer behind the 1.8-megawatt turbines at Stamp Farm on Route 2 and at North Kingstown Green – WED CEO Mark DePasquale’s housing development.

“I think we need to get real here,” said Councilman James O’Neill, during Monday night’s Town Council meeting. “We need to come up with a solution before we are put on the spot with it.”

According to Andrew Teitz, South Kingstown town solicitor and an attorney for Wind Energy Development, South Kingstown has nothing to worry about. Under current regulation, both private and commercial developers seeking rights to construct a turbine of any height must gain approval with the town’s zoning board, a hurdle North Kingstown did not create until after its recent turbine turmoil.

“I think there is sufficient protection under (South Kingstown’s) ordinance,” he said, and warned the council of deterring sustainable energy development with overly strict regulations.

“The zoning board has the rights to determine what the impact is on the community,” said Teitz. “It’s not saying that no place in town is suitable, because the fact is that South Kingstown is one community that has a lot of suitable areas for wind energy and South Kingstown could be saving a lot of money.”

According to Vincent Murray, South Kingstown’s town planner, there are currently no private or commercial applicants seeking a variance to construct anything like the turbines soon to be built in North Kingstown. In fact, he said only a handful of small residential turbines, like one on Card’s Pond Road, exist in town. By next year a turbine, similar to the one installed at the Salty Brine Beach pavilion in Narragansett last year, will be constructed at the new East Matunuck Beach pavilion.

By 2012 the state will publish its opinion on wind turbine development and Murray said the Planning Board and Conservation Commission would work together to find a balance between sustainable energy growth and residential concerns.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/29/north-kingstowns-turbine-turmoil-prompts-south-kingstown-to-review-its-own-laws/