WEST RUTLAND - The Select Board gave little indication of which way the wind is blowing Monday.

A developer seeking to build a wind farm in and around Ira has approached the town about leasing forest land West Rutland owns in the neighboring town. Per White-Hansen of Vermont Community Wind Farm made his presentation to the Select Board Monday night, outlining his plan.

The board made no decision Monday night, its members saying they would have to review materials White-Hansen gave them.

White-Hansen covered many of the points he made during a well-attended forum in Tinmouth earlier this month. He said he wants to locate the bulk of his project in Ira, and has identified other potential sites in Clarendon, Middletown Springs, Tinmouth, Poultney and West Rutland.

The land West Rutland owns in Ira could hold two towers, White-Hansen said, and privately owned land within West Rutland could hold two more.

White-Hansen said he has applied to the Public Service Board to put up three towers that would measure the wind in the area, and he also needs to develop better contour maps to see where he could put in access roads.

The permitting process for the turbines will involve a number of environmental studies, he said.

White-Hansen admitted there were issues with wind turbines.

"There's no question they make noise," he said. "It's all a matter of how much noise they make and at what distance."

There's no hiding the visual impact, either, White-Hansen said, though he would be able to create photographic models to show people just what they would be looking at.

The meeting saw little discussion of pros and cons among board members, who said they had a lot to consider on the lease proposal.