This letter was prepared in response to the March 13, 2009 recommendations of the Clayton Wind Law Committee, a committee established by the Town Board. The comments contained are limited to the town’s consideration of limits on the development of utility-scale, industrial wind turbines, especially as part of a multi-turbine wind farm. NY Attorney Gary Abraham submitted the letter on behalf of Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization (ECCO).

Attorney Arthur J. Giacalone critiques the Wind Energy Regulation recently adopted by the Town of Holland in New York State. His comments, while specific to Holland's law, are applicable to other jurisdictions within New York State. Additionally, the issues he highlights apply to locations outside of the State.

In his decision, dated January 5, 2009, NY Supreme Court Justice David Michael Barry found that the Town of Hamlin's town board failed to follow New York state law in adopting Local Wind Law 3-2008. The intent of Local Wind Law 3-2008 is to govern placement of industrial wind turbines within the town. The full text of Judge Barry's decision can be downloaded by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page. The suit was filed by the Hamlin Preservation Group.

The Town of Enfield, in New York, received the below comments in reference to the Town's Proposed Wind Energy Facilities Local Law. The town board voted to ignore the County's recommendations and adopt the law with no changes.

The Town of Clayton, in Jefferson County New York, has released comments issued by Cavanaugh Tocci Associates in regard to the preconstruction sound level study conducted by PPM Energy for the Clayton Wind Farm. CTA's comments can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page. The first two pages of the file provide an executive summary of the comments delivered to the Town at the request of the Town Board.

This petition was prepared by North Country Associates and submitted to Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne in response to recent information that confirms members of the Burke NY Town Board and ZBA hold agreements with two wind development LLCs seeking to erect turbines in the town. The Burke Town Board and ZBA are considering a wind energy facilities law.

This letter was submitted to the Town Clerk of Burke, NY to be entered into the official record of the Town Board's deliberation of a Wind Energy Facilities Law. Carl J. Madonna is the attorney representing the town in the matter of the local law. The town board voted at its Dec 27, 2007 meeting to impose a 90-day moratorium on wind energy facilities.

Industrial wind turbine farms are proposed for the towns of Perry, Covington and Warsaw, NY that will permanently alter the towns. Large turbines create strong noise levels not only from wind through the blades but largely by the turbine mechanisms themselves. To capture the wind these turbines are to be installed on hill tops around the town and thus have significant potential to create a noise nuisance. Wind turbine noise added to the prevailing ambient background sound is an important environmental consideration when siting wind turbines since they are a permanent installation and may significantly impair resident’s enjoyment of neighboring lands or even personal health. Also, relevant consideration of noise impacts and mitigation measures are a specific requirement of a NY State Environmental Quality Review procedure, required before approval of permits.

An interesting letter from Noble Environmental Power that suggests by implication that there must be some 'downside' to being the neighbor of a wind plant.