www.windaction.org | Zoning/Planning

N.J. Senate and Assembly pass bill remove nearly all local review of wind turbine projects in Cumberland, Salem counties
December 26, 2011 by Jason Laday in News of Cumberland County

"This limitation effectively limits the application of bill to two counties, Cumberland and Salem, because they are sparsely populated and are not contiguous to any counties with a high population density."

Also filed under [ New Jersey]

People power to veto wind farms
December 24, 2011 by Ben Cubby and Kelsey Munro in Canberra Times

The plan would force NSW wind farms to be some of the quietest developed at under 35 decibels, compared with 40 decibels in Victoria, South Australia, New Zealand and Europe, and 50 decibels in the United States.

Also filed under [ Australia / New Zealand]

Australian state launches world's toughest wind turbine laws
December 23, 2011 by Jonathan Pearlman in The Telegraph

Australia's largest state has proposed the world's toughest laws on wind turbines, with a plan to give all residents within 1.25 miles a veto over new projects. ...The state's conservative Premier, Barry O'Farrell, who was elected earlier this year, has said that he personally opposes any no new wind farms. About 19 scheduled projects are expected to be subject to the new guidelines.

Also filed under [ Australia / New Zealand]

DeKalb County residents say they'll ban wind farms
December 22, 2011 by Maureen Mespell and Rachel Martin in WISE-TV

Nearly a hundred people attended the meeting, and no one raised their hand when asked who favored the current ordinance. About a dozen people spoke out, and many people brought binders of research and handouts. DeKalb County residents are against the ordinance and said it needs to be more restrictive. Their biggest issue is the regulation on "setback" distance from a property.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy| Indiana]

Newry voters reject conservation commission proposal
December 21, 2011 by Terry Karkos in Sun Journal

Powers said the standards for commercial wind power facilities ordinance that restricts wind energy development to the top of Sunday River Ski Resort's Barker Mountain was approved.

Also filed under [ Maine]

Floyd County ordinance likely wipes out wind turbines proposal
December 16, 2011 by Ken Heineck in WSLS

"I think this will help protect the natural beauty of the county, preserve the ridges," said Clinger. A public hearing on the potential ridge line ordinance is scheduled for January 31st, but supervisors do not expect much if any opposition.

Also filed under [ Virginia]

Mass. wind energy siting bill dies
December 16, 2011 by Patrick Cassidy in Cape Cod Times

In making his decision, Downing said he had considered what he heard from constituents and state officials during 15 hours of hearings on the bill held in Hancock and Barnstable. The siting bill has been fought by those opposed to putting wind energy projects near residential areas.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy| Massachusetts]

Paris committee: no strip clubs, wind farms
December 15, 2011 by Matt Hongoltz-Hetling in Advertiser Democrat

There will be no wind farms or strip clubs in Paris, if the town's Land Use Committee has anything to say about it. "We're trying very hard to create a land-use plan that will make the most amount of people happy and step on the least number of feet, while at the same time help our community grow in a positive way."

Also filed under [ Maine]

Keyser residents sign petition to stop more industrial wind development
December 14, 2011 by Elaine Blaisdell in Cumberland Times-News

The two major concerns with the wind turbines are the noise that they make and the unsafe conditions that Tasker and Pinnacle roads were left in following the installation of 23 wind turbines, explained Braithwaite. "You have got to hear (the wind turbines) to believe it. When the wind blows from the east, it sounds like a railroad train."

Also filed under [ Noise| West Virginia]

Slow going for Lenox wind panel
December 7, 2011 by Clarence Fanto in Berkshire Eagle

With only a handful of meetings remaining before the Jan. 15 deadline for a report back to the Selectmen, the town's Wind Energy Research Panel is trying to break out of gridlock by pairing off its members in a "speed-dating" approach to research three key issues surrounding the potential municipal wind-turbine project on Lenox Mountain.

Also filed under [ Massachusetts]

The best laid plans: Proposed revisions to wind regulations receive sparse reaction
December 6, 2011 by Angela Jane Evancie in Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

He explained that learning about negative impacts in other communities - widespread complaints, plummeting property values and, in rare cases, residents abandoning their homes altogether - prompted the board to seek out stronger zoning.

Also filed under [ New Hampshire]

Wind farm planning control bill blown away
December 3, 2011 by Wayne Campbell in The Tribune

Private member's bills are a way for the Opposition to throw the spotlight on issues, even when passage is unlikely. The lack of local control of planning for power projects under the Green Act is one of them. "We want to restore the local decision making powers that were stripped away by Dalton McGuinty. This bill will do it."

Also filed under [ Canada]

Sumner board extends wind power ban; closed session challenged
December 2, 2011 by Tom Standard in Sun Journal

The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday night to extend the moratorium on wind power projects another six months and reappointed all members of the Industrial Wind Ordinance Committee.

Also filed under [ Maine]

Frankfort residents pass strict wind ordinance
December 2, 2011 by Abigail Curtis in Bangor Daily News

They voted Thursday in favor of adopting a controversial wind ordinance that was created by worried residents in response to a proposal to build a four- to six-turbine wind farm on a privately owned parcel on top of Mount Waldo. It will be the community's first-ever land-use ordinance.

Also filed under [ Maine]

Denmark planning board approves wind test tower
November 29, 2011 by Steve Virkler in Watertown Daily Times

The board by a 7-0 vote approved a special-use permit request from Brooklyn wind developer OwnEnergy to install a 197-foot-tall meteorological tower at the Lyndon W. and Patricia F. Moser farm, 3981 Wilson Road. It would measure wind speed and direction.

Also filed under [ New York]

Wind turbines to Mount Pleasant Board, no Plan Commission OK
November 28, 2011 by Heather Asiyanbi in Mount Pleasant Patch

Trustees Harry Manning and Gary Feest were both present and gave their input about the turbines; Manning saying he didn't feel the Planning Commission could move forward without an ordinance. "I think we should consider a stay until the state figures out where its going with turbines," he said.

Also filed under [ Wisconsin]

Caratunk residents approve new wind turbine ordinance
November 19, 2011 by Erin Rhoda in Morning Sentinel

Residents unanimously approved a wind development ordinance Wednesday night that restricts the placement of wind turbines to at least a mile and a half from a property line.

Also filed under [ Maine]

Planning board's review of wind ordinance questioned by some
November 15, 2011 by Kate Hessling in Huron Daily Tribune

The board of commissioners passed a resolution Oct. 11 asking the planning commission to review a number of issues pertaining to wind energy for the county's zoning ordinance. They included a prohibition of wind turbines in Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay and turbines within 3 miles of the shoreline.

Also filed under [ Michigan]

Wind farm foes urge zoning that would ban turbines near Roberts
November 12, 2011 by Will Brumleve in The News-Gazette

A group of wind-energy opponents is urging village officials to create their own zoning regulations, a measure that would allow the town to keep wind farms from being built on farmland immediately outside its boundaries.

Also filed under [ Illinois]

Wind energy debate shifts to Ogden and Palmyra townships
November 11, 2011 by Erik Gable in The Daily Telegram

With the approval in Riga Township of a wind turbine ordinance that wind power supporters say effectively bans turbines in the township, the wind energy debate now shifts to Ogden and Palmyra townships. In Ogden Township, which does not have zoning, the township board will be discussing a police powers ordinance to regulate turbines.

Also filed under [ Energy Policy| Michigan]