National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Hyannis to host one of five hearings on wind turbines

The state will hold a series of public hearings this month on best practices for siting land-based wind turbines. One will be held on Cape Cod, according to a press release from the state Department of Public Utilities.

Hearings will be held: 4 p.m. Thursday at auditorium A300 at Bunker Hill Community College, 250 Rutherford Ave., Boston; 7 p.m. Monday at the South Cafe at Mt. Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner; 4 p.m. Jan. 22 at Knight Auditorium at Barnstable High School, 744 W. Main St., Hyannis; 5 p.m. Jan. 27 at Robert M. Boland Theater at Berkshire Community College, 1350 West St., Pittsfield; and 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Gloucester High School auditorium, 32 Leslie O Johnson Road, Gloucester.

In an order issued at the end of October, the department proposed to develop “wind-siting guidance” in an effort to balance the state’s goals for wind energy with obstacles to installing turbines.

Although there have been a number of legislative efforts to develop wind-siting regulations, including some by Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration, none has succeeded.

Patrick has set a goal of 2,000 megawatts of wind energy in the state by 2020, with most coming from offshore projects.

The comment period on the guidelines runs through Feb. 6. For more information, go to www.mass.gov/dpu and click on “DPU 13-165 Land-Based Wind Energy Facility Siting: NOI” on the right side of the page.

patrick cassidy