December 22, 2017
Massachusetts

Tiny Berkshire County town of Savoy bans wind turbines 101-22

By Mary C. Serreze, Special to The Republican, masslive.com

Voters in this tiny Berkshire County hilltown, population around 800, overwhelmingly banned all new wind turbine development at a special town meeting.

Thursday night’s vote was 101-22, far more than the two-thirds majority needed to amend the town’s zoning code.

The vote overturns a 2008 ordinance that allowed and encouraged the turbines. Since then, many residents have been fighting a five-turbine proposal by Minuteman Wind, LLC, based in Newton, and by co-developer Palmer Capital Corp., based in Cohasset.

The new bylaw will not effect Minuteman’s permitting. The $31 million facility on 293 acres won a special permit from the town in 2010. Revived in 2016, it won a wetlands permit from the state.

However, voters months ago rejected the developers’ bid to allow 450-foot towers, placing the 12.5-megawatt project in limbo.

Opponents cited noise, wildlife, and scenic impacts, and organized their neighbors. Residents in nearby Hawley, a Franklin County town, also opposed the project.

As recently as June, Savoy authorized a payment agreement with Palmer to bring revenue to the town, which hosts many acres of non-taxable state forest. The site is owned by longtime resident Harold “Butch” Malloy, who has a 20-year lease arrangement with Minuteman Wind, LLC.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/12/22/tiny-berkshire-county-town-of-savoy-bans-wind-turbines-101-22/