September 30, 2015
New Hampshire

Antrim wind farm to get a second shot at state approval

By Sam Evans-Brown | New Hampshire Public Radio | September 30, 2015 | nhpr.org

A proposal to construct 9 large wind turbines in Southwestern New Hampshire will be allowed to go before state regulators again. The Site Evaluation Committee has decided the previously rejected Antrim wind farm has changed its proposal enough to get a second chance.

Eolian Renewable Energy’s original proposal for the Antrim wind farm was for ten-turbines, and to produce 30 megawatts on the windiest days. State Regulators rejected the project in 2013 because of the aesthetic impact it would have had on the region.

Now the company has proposed eliminating one turbine, and making another about 46 feet shorter, and using more powerful turbines in the remaining nine so the project will still generate nearly 29 megawatts.

A sub-committee of the state’s SEC has voted 5 to 2 that this was enough of a change to get a second-hearing. However, in its order, the committee writes “whether the differences in the proposals are material enough to require a different result …cannot be determined” until they see the company’s application.

Once that application has been submitted – and the deadline is January 24th, 2016 – the SEC will then decide if the revised project can be built.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/09/30/antrim-wind-farm-to-get-a-second-shot-at-state-approval/