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Woodstock Rejects Wind-Power Mortorium

April 06, 2010 - WOODSTOCK -- Nearly 150 voters, half again the usual number, turned out for Woodstock's annual Town Meeting Monday evening, and they dispatched the 43-article warrant in less than two hours – “somewhat of a re­cord time,” Town Manager Vern Maxfield said.


The major topic of discussion Monday was an article calling for the town to adopt a 180-day moratorium on all wind-power projects.


Leola Ballweber, who circulated the citizens' peti­tion that put the moratorium on Monday's agenda, spoke in its favor.


Citing a similar moratorium passed in Buck­field, Ballweber described the proposal as a matter of “taking the time to look at the industry, the safety factors that are involved, to protect our residents and our children, who will be ex­posed to these wind tur­bines.”


“It's not whether you're for wind, it's not whether you're not for wind,” Ballweber said, “it's we the people com­ing together to create safety factors that are needed to protect our people.”


The proposed moratorium would have been retroactive to any permits since May 1, 2009, and have applied to Patriot Renew­ables's application to build three to five commercial wind towers on Spruce Mountain.


That plan is currently in front of the Town Planning Board, and Board Chairman Tom Hartford, who spoke against the moratorium, de­scribed how the plan would be affected.


“The way the moratorium would work, Patriot Enterprises, which has been working with the town for over two years, would be put on hold with the town,” he said, “but they would continue with the state and get the rest of their li­censes and permits to do the wind towers in this area.”


After 180 days, he said the company would be able to renew their work with the town.


“Personally I don't see any other wind compan­ies coming into this town,” he said.


He suggested that if residents wanted control over wind towers, they should de­velop a wind-power ordin­ance.


“Come to the Plan­ning Board or selectmen, as a group of people interested in writing an ordinance,” he said, “and we'll work with you.”


It has been estimated that the Patriot project, if car­ried to to completion, would generate up to $400,000 a year in taxes.


Residents, Hartford said, “should look at what money they're bringing in, an if we want to delay those funds.”


After 20 minutes of discussion, the vote was called and the moratorium was defeated. 101-43.


In other matters Monday, voters approved a town budget of $1.003 mil­lion as proposed, and reelec­ted all incumbent town offi­cials whose terms were ex­piring.


Only one incumbent, School Board member Julie Davis, was opposed. She defeated challenger (and former selectman) Steve Bies, 73-43.


by Michael Daniels, April 5, 2010, Bethel Citizen

Lakes: South & Round Ponds
Regions: Sebago


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