October 9, 2014
New York

Town board delays vote on local law for wind turbine proposal

Marissa Perlman | 18 NEWS | 10/09/2014 | www.mytwintiers.com

Neighbors are calling it “the biggest issue to ever come to the Town of Catlin.”

An energy company wants to build at least a dozen wind turbines in town- but the town board is facing major opposition from its residents.

In a standing room only meeting tonight, the Town Supervisor says there will be a delay in the vote on a local law that would allow Florida-based NextEra energy to build a wind farm.

Town lawyers say a local environmental study on wind mills needs to be completed before the local law can come to a vote.

Neighbors say this is a win for everyone–and gives them more time to research some of their concerns.

Joseph Calderone from Catlin says, “”This gives us more time as a community to find out more about the issue… as you know there’s a lot of health issues that were raised today- issues that were maybe not known years ago and have come to light now since there is more wind power that’s been built throughout the world.”

“Some people have a beautiful view that overlooks some of these hills and the lakes–and they’re gonna see this big white thing standing in a beautiful view doesn’t look the same,” says Patricia Collins from Millport.

Town Supervisor LaVerne Phelps says windmills could be coming to these hills whether neighbors want it or not.

NextEra has 30 leases signed from interested Catlin neighbors- who want the revenue.

He says that’s why this local law is important: it protects the town from the company.

Phelps hasn’t taken a public stand on the issue- but wants the board and the town to be informed.

Phelps says, “I want to be able to be objective and to look at all of the information, and for the most part to listen to the people.”

Phelps says Catlin would get $25 hundred dollars per megawatt of power generated by the turbines.

But under a payment in lieu of tax program, the majority of the revenue would go to the Corning Painted Post School District- not the town.

The board will pick up the issue during their meeting on December 11th.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/10/09/town-board-delays-vote-on-local-law-for-wind-turbine-proposal/