February 14, 2013
New York

Cape Vincent passes resolution calling for halt on wind farm siting process

By JAEGUN LEE, TIMES STAFF WRITER, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013, watertowndailytimes.com

The Town Council, at a special meeting Wednesday, passed a resolution calling on the state Public Service Commission to halt “any discussion, consideration or determination” regarding wind turbine noise impacts until the effects of infrasound and low frequency noise are properly assessed.

Local officials said they also reached out to other municipalities and were able to convince the town boards of Macomb and Richland to adopt similar resolutions urging the state to enact a moratorium on industrial wind development.

What sparked the movement was a resolution adopted by the Wisconsin Towns Association last month advising the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to ban wind development, citing the need for further studies.

Wisconsin Towns Association’s decision was based on an infrasound and low frequency noise study report submitted to Wisconsin’s PSC.

In the Dec. 28 report, several noise consultants – including Hessler Associates Inc., BP Wind Energy’s noise consultant for the proposed Cape Vincent Wind Farm – recommended that more in-depth impact studies be conducted.

In their resolution, Cape Vincent officials do not specifically call for a moratorium as did the Wisconsin Towns Association, but requests that all deliberations and decisions concerning turbine noise under the state Article X siting process be put on hold until the “Wisconsin studies on infrasound and low frequency noise are completed and the final report is made available for public review and study.”

Town Councilman John L. Byrne, who has been spearheading the effort, said the wording of Cape Vincent’s resolution was tweaked slightly but “accomplishes the goal.”

Mr. Byrne said he is also trying to get more municipalities and the New York State Association of Towns to support the movement.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/14/cape-vincent-passes-resolution-calling-for-halt-on-wind-farm-siting-process/