The town of Meredith, NY has introduced a new wind ordinance which bans industrial wind. By unanimously vote, the law was scheduled for a public hearing on March 4th. This new ordinance will void the ordinance permitting industrial turbines that was passed last summer (2007). The full law can be downloaded by clicking on the link below. Section 105 listed below provides some insight into the issues considered in developing this regulation.

Section 105. Findings. The Town Board of the Town of Meredith finds and declares that:

A. While wind energy is a potential renewable and nonpolluting energy resource of the Town and its conversion to electricity may reduce dependence on nonrenewable energy sources and decrease the air and water pollution that results from the use of conventional energy sources, the potential benefits must be weighed against potential adverse impacts.

B. The generation of electricity from properly sited small wind turbines can be a cost effective mechanism for reducing on-site electric costs, with minimal significant adverse environmental and community impacts. It is particularly useful in a community like Meredith, where there is a strong desire for local development of alternative energy.

C. Regulation of the siting and installation of wind turbines is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of neighboring property owners and the general public, and to preserve the town's existing character.

D. Industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities can cause significant health problems because of the effects of shadow flicker from the rotating blades, which shadow flicker also poses a danger on public highways.

E. Industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities may be significant sources of noise, which, if not properly regulated, can have an adverse impact on the health of nearby residents and on the use of nearby properties, particularly in areas of low ambient sound levels such as prevail in much of Meredith.

F. Industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities present a danger to wildlife, particularly to bats and migrating birds. This must be a serious consideration for the Town of Meredith, which is at the edge of a major migratory pathway for raptors.

G. Industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities represent significant potential aesthetic impacts because of their large size, lighting, sound generation and shadow flicker effects, which are in sharp contrast with the natural landscape.

H. Industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities, particularly when located on mountain ridges, can create severe drainage problems through erosion and consequent sedimentation, which can damage access roads and adjacent facilities, residences and farms. The sediment can also contaminate watershed streams and increase flood potential.

I. Industrial-scale turbines have been demonstrated to throw ice a significant distance from the turbines, particularly in climates, such as that of Meredith, which are prone to icing events. Thrown ice can cause injury to the public and to site personnel, and can damage structures and vehicles.

J. Industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities can reduce the value of nearby properties through the effects of noise, lights and shadow flicker, and of more distant properties by altering their viewshed.

K. Construction of industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities can create traffic problems and damage local roads, and the necessary blasting can damage water sources by disrupting veins of water in the fractured shale that makes up Meredith’s underlying strata.

L. If improperly sited, industrial-scale Wind Energy Facilities can interfere with various types of communications, including television and cell phone reception, and EMS service.

M. The Town has many scenic farm and mountain views which would be severely compromised by the intrusion of such large-scale industrial installations.

Download File(s):
MeredithWindLaw-2008-finaldraft-2-12-08.pdf (72.58 kB)