August 19, 2013
North Carolina

Wind farm ordinance to go before public again in Pamlico

By Sun Journal Staff | Published: Sunday, August 18, 2013 | www.newbernsj.com

BAYBORO —For the second time this year, a public hearing is scheduled for PamlicoCountycitizens to voice their opinions about the potential building of wind energy farms in the rural county.

The hearing is at 7 p.m. Monday at the Pamlico County Courthouse, part of the board’s twice-monthly meetings.

The proposal by the county planning board remains a divided issue among the seven county commissioners. At an April public hearing, the ordinance was voted down in a split 4-3 vote.

Two weeks ago, the board voted 6-1 to send it to Monday’s public hearing, with opponent Commissioner Chris Mele again voting against the measure and saying wind mills would be bad for the public and impede Cherry Point air station training over the county.

Formerly called the Tall Structures Ordinance, it has been renamed the Pamlico County Wind Energy Ordinance. That better reflects the original reason that commissioners told the planning board last year to develop a document. That came after a Florida company made a presentation and indicated it was interested in building wind turbines in the county.

Mele has been against the planned towers, which could be as tall as 500 feet, since they were first mentioned. She said the original and the revised ordinance are inadequate to address the military concerns and noise pollution.

Representatives from Cherry Point addressed the commissioners earlier this year and indicated that the wind mills could adversely affect things such as radar and its flight training in the skies over Pamlico County.

The board could approve the ordinance Monday, although it would take a unanimous vote.

If it is approved by less than that, it will require a second public hearing, from which a majority vote would be needed.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/08/19/wind-farm-ordinance-to-go-before-public-again-in-pamlico/