THORNDIKE - With no discussion and little fanfare, Thorndike residents voted at Saturday morning's annual town meeting to adopt a comprehensive, strict wind energy ordinance, which would require mile-long setbacks between wind turbine towers and homes.

Although some of the estimated 100 people present said they were surprised there were no comments on the matter, others said that the controversies - and conversations - sparked by wind development in other communities have already answered their questions.

"I figured it's been hashed around enough over the last year," said Donna Higgins of Thorndike. "What else is there to say? Not much."

With the vote, Thorndike joins the nearby towns of Dixmont and Jackson in adopting ordinances that give towns high levels of control. Montville, a neighboring community, will vote on a similar ordinance next Saturday at its annual town meeting.

Residents of these towns have cited concerns about three wind turbines in... [continue via Web link]