Zoning

Never mind the presidential election in 2008. For town of Pomfret residents ,the main focus may be on 2010.

With the New Grange Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS) project moving along well in the town of Arkwright, Horizon Wind Energy will now begin the process to connect with it the town of Pomfret, and a proposed 20-30 wind turbine farm.

Horizon Wind Energy Project Manager Tom Stebbins was on hand to present to Pomfret officials Thursday night the updated plans of the Arkwright project and the proposed plans for the town of Pomfret.

Residential very-low-density areas in Hamlin.

Has the controversy over wind power blown away in Howard?

Fewer than 20 residents came out to a Steuben County Industrial Development Agency hearing Thursday evening on a proposed Payment In Lieu of Taxes Agreement with EverPower Renewables, a New York-based company planning to build 25 wind turbines south of Howard. Two people made comments to SCIDA Executive Director James Sherron.

By comparison, a similar hearing in Cohocton Jan. 18, a Friday morning meeting, was attended by more than 50 residents, with 20 making comments to SCIDA.

‘Worth nothing’: Questions concerning distance of turbines from waterfront, village are criticized

LYME — In August, the Lyme Planning Board asked residents to fill out a survey to help them write a zoning law amendment for wind turbines. Now questions on that survey are being challenged as not valid.

Two questions on the survey ask residents how far from the waterfront, village of Chaumont and hamlets turbines should be placed. Their options were: 1,500 feet, 3,000 feet, 4,500 feet and “Turbines should not be near the waterfront” or “Turbines should not be near any area of population such as a hamlet and/or village.”

By the end of this month, a law regulating wind turbines in the Town of Hamlin could be passed, but not without much debate.

A public meeting this week will serve as a last ditch effort from some neighbors who say this proposed law doesn't protect them.

The debate has raged on for nearly two years in Hamlin. At stake is how to craft a local law that would protect the interests of taxpayers should wind turbines, or a wind farm, be built.

A zoning law for the town of Charlotte was pushed closer recently after a lengthy meeting during which the Town Board reviewed and accepted the final draft of the proposed zoning program.

With plans for a wind turbine development confined to the wings until zoning is in place, officials say they are hopeful the law can be enacted in June.

The Town Board capped the two-hour review with an authorization of the municipality’s attorney, William Duncanson, to complete the required State Environmental Quality Review.

Applause filled the room Tuesday night after a vote by the Meredith Town Board to adopt a local law banning industrial wind turbines.

About 50 people were at the Delaware County Office Building boardroom for a public hearing on the proposed law. The comments were generally in favor of the ordinance.

Meredith residents went to the polls in November and elected three board members who ran on a campaign promise of rescinding the town's wind-energy law and adopting a law banning industrial wind. Officials have said small wind projects would not be banned.

Agricultural landowners along the western edge of Oswego and Jefferson counties will have the chance next week to learn more about a proposed electrical transmission line project at a meeting in Pulaski.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is being hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Oswego County Legislature.

The Enfield Town Board’s adoption of a town law regulating wind turbines drew praise today from an advocate of regulation but a pledge to hope the measure is undone from the developer who has proposed a wind farm on a hilltop in the town.

The town board adopted the measure requiring certain setbacks from adjoining property and other features on Thursday evening. John Rancinch, who has proposed an array of wind farms on a hilltop on Black Oak Road, said the law will block his proposal and probably any other. Rancinch said Friday he plans to wait and see and hope the incoming Town Board, which will have newly elected members taking office in January, will repeal the ordinance and revise it.

Plans to put wind turbines on two Steuben County hills moved another step forward Wednesday night.

The town planning board gave the developer UPC Wind three permits. These are not permits to build wind turbines. They're permits for towers that measure wind speed to make sure the site is good for a turbine. Eventually turbines will go on the Cohocton and Dutch Hills.

The entire project still doesn't have the green light. Many people who live in the area are still very divided over the issue.