LAFARGEVILLE - The Orleans Wind Committee had early consensus on setbacks that would be the farthest in the county, if adopted.

Though the committee will continue to review the plans presented Tuesday night, members agreed on setbacks of 3,000 feet, or six times the turbine height, from nonparticipating residents' property lines, participating residents' dwellings, state or federal-regulated wetlands and forests, public buildings, historic areas and livestock barns.

"We haven't pulled any punches with the 3,000-foot setback," member Darryl R. Hyde said.

The committee agreed that setbacks should be at least one mile from population centers and sensitive areas, including LaFargeville, Stone Mills, Omar, Fishers Landing and the St. Lawrence River.

Members also want turbines excluded from Wellesley Island.

Stephen Bingeman said, "If we specify a mile from the high water mark, is that going to be enough?"

Between the state lands, St. Lawrence River, Interstate 81 and Lake of the Isles, committee members thought it might. But they also said they would consider a two-mile setback from population centers and scenic areas because they want to avoid singling Wellesley Island out for protection.

"I think that would open up a can of worms," member William DiTrinco, who owns property on Wellesley Island, said. "Why should they be special and not those in Clayton or Omar?"

The discussed noise requirements are similar to some other laws in the county. The committee agreed a licensed acoustic engineer should study noise levels in the town before construction to set a baseline. Audible and low-frequency sound, measured at dBA to weigh high-frequency noise and dBC to pick up more low-frequency noise, would not be allowed to exceed 5 decibels above the pre-construction levels at nonparticipating residents' property lines.

But the draft recommendations also include a penalty for tonal qualities in the sound. They also restrict a large proportion of low-frequency noise by limiting the difference between dBC and dBA to less than 20 decibels outside occupied structures.

The committee will refine the sound and setback requirements and work on those for shadow flicker, communication disruption and groundwater disturbance. All of the committee's recommendations will go to the Town Council for review.

The committee's next meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 12 at the town offices.