May 9, 2018
New York

Is Hopkinton wind farm dead? Maybe not

Posted: May 08, 2018 | www.wwnytv.com

A wind farm proposed for Hopkinton might not have been short-circuited for good when the town board approved a strict wind law two weeks ago.

There are whispers around town turbines could someday spin on North Ridge Wind Farm.

That has opponents gearing up to fight it anew and proponents saying they hope it can be brought back.

“I hope they just keep talking,” farmer Dick Eakins, “and realize that they’re throwing away a big potential for the town of Hopkinton.”

Wind farm developers Avangrid Renewables said the law town officials approved would kill the project.

Now they say they are open to discussing things, but only if the town board considers changes.

“If the town in the very near future can examine some of these changes that we have asked for, we may consider reengaging,” Avangrid spokesman Paul Copleman said.

Key swing votes are town board members Susan Lyon and Steven Parker. On April 26 they changed their votes to “yes” for the wind law after voting against it just two weeks before.

Whether or not the town council will take up the wind law again remains in doubt and it’s not known how much longer Avangrid will remain interested in that little corner of the north country.

Some say talks are already happening. The changes Avangrid wants revolve around noise levels, wind turbine setbacks, and where they can go.

The company has pointed to discussions proposed by Lyons and Parker as a first step.

“The concerned citizens group, the people in Hopkinton, think there’s something up,” farmer Luke Martin said. “They’re not relaxing.”

Martin is with Concerned Citizens for Rural Preservation. They stopped Avangrid’s proposal for wind turbines in his town of Parishville.

In Hopkinton, there is still a chance turbines could turn.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/05/09/is-hopkinton-wind-farm-dead-maybe-not/