April 29, 2012
New York

Parishville town board may soon enact wind law

By BRIAN HAYDEN, The Journal, www.ogd.com 29 April 2012

PARISHVILLE – The town may soon have a wind energy facilities law on the books, according to Supervisor Jerry G. Moore.

But it could still be at least a couple of years before any Iberdrola Renewables wind turbines pop up in Parishville, Mr. Moore said.

The town board has revised its proposal several times and may approve a final law next month, Mr. Moore said.

The law would allow Parishville to create a “wind overlay district,” a special designated area where wind turbines could go.

“We’re just trying to have some say in where they’re sited,” he said.

The St. Lawrence County Planning Board recently approved the latest version, and the town board held a public hearing on the law last week.

Approximately 15 to 18 local residents showed up at the hearing with only a handful of questions, Mr. Moore said.

The forum was less eventful than previous public hearings on the law, when wind advocates and foes from outside the town packed the hall.

Mr. Moore said Iberdrola previously had stated an interest in siting 40 to 50 wind turbines between Parishville and Hopkinton.

“They haven’t really given us a number,” he said. “We still have a couple of years before they’re ready to ask for a permit.”

Iberdrola set up a “test” wind tower in the area some time ago, Mr. Moore said.

The company still has another six months’ of data to obtain from that test tower before it provide a closer estimate on how many turbines it would like to site in the two towns.

In the meantime, Mr. Moore said the town will pass the law, create the district and be prepared when Iberdrola is ready to move forward with its plans.

“We’re trying to get our job done so we’ll be ready for them when they get ready to come here,” he said. “We want to get our ducks in a row so we’re ready.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/29/parishville-town-board-may-soon-enact-wind-law/