Another delay has stopped the progress of the Sheffield windmill project. The retirement of the Commissioner of Transportation, Bonnie Rutledge, has put a hold on Barton Village's issuance of the permit First Wind needs to use Duck Pond Road to transport the wind turbines to the Sheffield site. This delay is bad news for First Wind but good news to the project's opponents.

BARTON - Another delay has stopped the progress of the Sheffield windmill project. The retirement of the Commissioner of Transportation, Bonnie Rutledge, has put a hold on Barton Village's issuance of the permit First Wind needs to use Duck Pond Road to transport the wind turbines to the Sheffield site. This delay is bad news for First Wind but good news to the project's opponents.

Last week the Barton Village trustees met with the village's attorney to discuss the idea of getting a bond from First Wind to guarantee damage done to the road or to village systems will be repaired, Village Supervisor Brian Hanson said.

"The village is concerned. We want to make sure all our t's are crossed and the i's are dotted to make sure water lines and sewage and drainage systems are protected," Hanson said.

The village originally asked First Wind for a $1 million bond. The company did not agree.

"A million dollar bond would cost them about $25,000 to $30,000 depending on the rates. I think the amount may be negotiable but we're really trying to protect the village," Hanson said.

A First Wind representative was not available to comment on the reason the company does not want to put up a bond.

The village's attorney, Bill May, had advised the village to meet with the State Commissioner of Transportation.

"The commissioner has jurisdiction over the transportation company that will transport the windmills. The trustees want to make sure they are all on, and the commissioner is on the same page as far as the protection of the road is concerned," Hanson said.

When the trustees called to set up a meeting they discovered that Rutledge had retired the previous Friday.

The village also has concerns about the safety of residents on Duck Pond Road during the project. Many residents have voiced their concerns about emergency vehicles being able to get past the large trucks on the narrow back road.

"It is a concern that the equipment will prevent emergency vehicles from getting to residents on the road. The company has marked off three spots where the road is wide enough for the trucks to pull off if needed. There has also been talk about widening the road where it is too narrow to get emergency vehicles by, but we don't really know how and if it will work," Hanson said.

John Lamontagne of First Wind said that surveys the company has had done have shown that the road is wide enough in most spots and the company will work with the town and village to do whatever is needed to make sure everyone is safe while the project is being completed.

The idea of keeping an emergency vehicle ahead of First Wind's equipment was mentioned at a village meeting, and other possibilities are being discussed.

First Wind has met with opposition at every step in the development of the Sheffield Wind Project. Now the project is at a standstill with no clues when things will proceed. Hanson said he does not know when the issue will be taken back up, but it will not be until after a new commissioner has been appointed.

To date the company has obtained its Certificate of Public Good from the state Public Service Board and its permit to use the town's roads. First Wind is waiting for it's permit from Barton Village before setting up a construction schedule, Lamontagne said.

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