September 17, 2015
Maine

Dixfield Planning Board reviewing wind ordinance

MATTHEW DAIGLE, Staff Writer | Sun Journal | September 16, 2015 | www.sunjournal.com

DIXFIELD – The Planning Board will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, to continue discussing possible amendments to the Wind Energy Facility Ordinance.

Patriot Renewables LLC of Quincy, Mass., approached town officials five years ago about constructing wind turbines on Col. Holman Mountain ridge.

The town’s original ordinance passed in November 2012 and a revised ordinance was rejected in November 2014. February, selectmen voted to put the Planning Board’s original draft on the June 9 ballot. Residents defeated it.

Since then, much of the focus has been on sound limits. The proposed ordinance said limited sound levels to 35 decibels from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and 45 decibels from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tom Carroll, project coordinator for Patriot Renewables, said during a workshop Sept. 3 that he would be uncomfortable with decibel levels that were not at the state standard of 42 decibels during the evening and 55 decibels during the day.

During a previous board meeting, Town Manager Carlo Puiia said officials would likely wait until June 2016 to vote on an amended ordinance.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/09/17/dixfield-planning-board-reviewing-wind-ordinance/