February 23, 2012
Maine

Woodstock considers slowing wind power

By Ken Briggs, Advertiser Democrat, www.advertiserdemocrat.com 23 February 2012

WOODSTOCK – A member of the Woodstock Wind Power committee has suggested that the town consider preventing more wind turbines from being erected for one year.

Bob Elliot, speaking on behalf on the town’s ad hoc Wind Power committee, advocated for a warrant article whereby there would be no new wind power applications taken for a year.

This would give town residents roughly 14 months of experience with living alongside operating wind turbines.

The committee has been meeting since September and this suggested article represents a lot of work, said Elliot.

“If approved we will ask for an ordinance for next year with enough experience to put together a real ordinance … to guide future construction or applications,” he said.

A representative of Patriot Renewables, a wind power company that just completed a project to build wind turbines in Woodstock, was also on hand to announce that the project has been fully implemented.

“All 10 turbines are online,” said Andy Novey, Patriot Renewables. “We are operating at 100-percent capacity.”

Novey added that the sound monitoring stations show the turbines to be in compliance with town and state requirements.

Novey reported no noise complaints, adding “We will continue to handle any issues that may come up.”

Chief Geoff Inman reported on the continuing success of the Woodstock-Greenwood enhanced Mutual Aid agreement.

“During the day average response time is 15 minutes,” he said, adding that it used to take that long just to get people to the station.

Another benefit is the constant in-house maintenance on equipment and vehicles. Inman said the crews have been able to perform a “ton of truck maintenance that otherwise would have been sent out for a lot more money than these guys are getting paid.”

Inman said they are running aviation fuel in all their small engines as it is more stable than regular gas and “doesn’t eat all the rubber parts.”

He also asked permission to spend already budgeted money, with approval from the board, on a used squad truck should one become available. The existing truck goes on every call and” is starting to go,” said Inman

In other news, the board:

• Voted to allow two visits to annual Household Hazardous Waste Day, one in Bethel, the other in Norway.

• Heard from Planning Board Chairman Tom Hartford on the proposed Occupancy Permit Ordinance. This ordinance would require new businesses and homes to certify they are in compliance with all town, state and federal requirements before moving in or opening a business.

• Heard from Town Manager Vern Maxfield that the spring received a satisfactory test last month.

• Heard from Maxfield that Mr. Leroy Day, 95, will be receiving the Boston Post Cane this week.

• Heard from Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman, who requested further action from the town on the Cummings property, as it has not been cleaned up, as requested. Corey-Whitman also addressed selectmen’s concerns about the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/23/woodstock-considers-slowing-wind-power/