April 19, 2016
New York

Hit the pause button: Clayton town officials consider moratorium on wind projects

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016 | www.watertowndailytimes.com

The Clayton Town council will hold a public hearing Wednesday to solicit feedback on a law it introduced earlier this month to place a moratorium on wind-related projects, and residents should support it.

During their April 6 meeting, council members withdrew a proposed ban on industrial-wind turbines and instead recommended the moratorium. The latter law would provide them more time to consider their options for opposing wind projects.

Iberdrola Renewables is moving ahead with an Article 10 process led by the state Public Service Commission for its Horse Creek wind project. The wind-turbine development would be mainly in Clayton but is expected to incorporate the towns of Orleans, Brownville and Lyme. Orleans has already approved a six-month moratorium on wind projects, and Clayton would be wise to follow suit.

This is a better measure than the outright ban members had previously discussed. The state could deem such a ban too arbitrary. Placing strict regulations on wind projects would offer better protection than a ban.

The moratorium will give Clayton town officials and residents the sufficient time to see how to achieve their goal. We urge people to attend the public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the town of Clayton building, 405 Riverside Drive Clayton. It’s important that they support the moratorium so that community leaders can plan the town’s next move.

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/04/19/hit-the-pause-button-clayton-town-officials-consider-moratorium-on-wind-projects/