September 5, 2013
Connecticut

CT two-year wind turbine ban scheduled for review

Brad Kane | September 4, 2013 | www.hartfordbusiness.com

The Connecticut legislature is set to review regulations on wind turbines on Sept. 24, possibly lifting a two-year ban on wind turbine construction in the state.

The Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 placed a moratorium on wind projects in the state, until the Connecticut Siting Council came up with regulations defining issues such as size and location.

Because of the Siting Council’s dispute with the legislature’s Regulation Review Committee over the wording of those regulations, the moratorium has stretched for more than two years, impeding wind developers’ ability to take advantage of a federal tax credit set to expire at the end of the year.

The Siting Council board of directors in August approved new wording of the regulations, and the council on Tuesday submitted those regulations for legislative approval. The Regulation Review Committee is scheduled to meet on Sept. 24 at the Legislative Office Building.

After two years of rejections, Siting Council acting executive director Melanie Bachman wouldn’t speculate whether this set of regulations would be approved.

“It is up to the committee. I haven’t heard anything from one side or the other,” Bachman said. “Given the past experience, I can’t really say one way or another.”

The wind ban was born out of a conflict over proposed wind projects in Colebrook and Prospect. The uproar from the community over how the turbines would impact the scenic views got the legislature to pass the moratorium, although the Colebrook project was approved before the measure passed.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/09/05/ct-two-year-wind-turbine-ban-scheduled-for-review/