December 27, 2012
Rhode Island

No turbine for Taylor Point

"Bon voyage, 2012" | BY TIM RIEL | The Jamestown Press | 2012-12-27 | www.jamestownpress.com

The Town Council – just 10 weeks before all five members were voted out of office – made the decision to not go forward with the wind turbine that had been at the forefront of planning and discussion for nearly half a decade.

By a vote of 4-1, the council in August decided not to file an application for a $44,000 grant from the state Economic Development Corporation. Without the funding, the town wouldn’t be able to continue studies necessary to construct a wind turbine, theoretically squashing the proposal.

The wind turbine had been a top story in Jamestown for years, with both outspoken and long-winded opponents and supporters. The only councilor to go against the grain was Bob Bowen, who said, “I think it’s unfortunate that we stop the process when we’re in a position to be funded to get additional data to help make an informed decision. Some of the comments I heard regarding whether this was an appropriate business decision doesn’t make any sense.”

Opponents this year brought to the council (and with letters to the editor) a laundry list of reasons to abandon the project. Would it be economically feasible? Are there health risks involved? Is it aesthetically pleasing? Will the bridge authority sue the town? Does the town have the appropriate staff to maintain it?

Whether the new council will revisit the turbine proposal is unknown.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/27/no-turbine-for-taylor-point/