Ordinances/Moratoriums

 

Note - we are presently collecting content on ordinances and moratoriums, including articles and the ordinances themselves. If you can help supply content, please contact us. What you see below is just a start.


Download the present list from FMM at:

Maine%20municipalities%20with%20wind%20ordinances%20%E2%80%94%20Friends%20of%20Maine%27s%20Mountains_as_of_7-23-18%20-%20Copy.pdf

or

http://www.friendsofmainesmountains.org/maine-municipalities-with-wind-ordinances/

 

Overview

The state's expedited wind law, LD 2283, provides virtually no protection for Maine citizens having been designed by and for the wind industry.

 

Therefore, the best protection for Maine municipalities is for them to establish protective ordinances governing industrial wind power.

 

Often, as a first step,  municipalities will enact a moratorium to give themselves the opportunity to study wind power. In the vast majority of cases, whenever industrial wind power is studied as such, the municipality ends up passing a protective wind ordinance. Typically, the wind industry cries and complains about these ordinances because the setbacks, designed to help protect human health, may decrease their flexibility in siting turbines and thus harvesting their subsidies and other taxpayer-supplied goodies.

 

It is laughable that the wind industry's rigged opinion polls conclude that 80% of Mainers like wind power, for when the REAL POLLS occur, the ones at the ballot box, Mainers overwhelmingly reject wind power, time after time. The wind industry itself has admitted that citizens in possession of the facts are a big problem for them.

 

Yes, the real opinion polls are not those paid for by the wind industry or their paid shills, but rather the ones where the VOTERS of municipalities decide on wind power after studying it. And they almost invariably reject it.

 

The state needs to stop letting itself be guided by the rigged industry studies, and based on the not insignificant number of towns who have thus far reported in, put the people's very clear wishes first and undo the heinous expedited wind law. The people have spoken clearly and their message is clear "Provide Protection".

 

To not do so is in direct defiance of the will of the people as surveyed in real poll after real poll - those at the ballot boxes.

 

The purpose of this section will be to catalog moratoriums and ordinance activity in the state.

 

Table of Contents

12/1/11 - November 2011 Wind Ordinance Election Results

12/1/11 - Portland wants to set limits on wind power to keep turbines out of the skyline

6/13/12 - Peru voters say no to wind farms

6/18/12 - Peru Wind Committee goes back to work

3/19/14 - Voters in Washington County town approve wind power moratorium

Contents

12/1/11 - November 2011 Wind Ordinance Election Results Plus More

Wind Ordinance Election Results Plus More

 

Frankfort residents pass strict wind ordinance

Posted Dec. 01, 2011, at 9:13 p.m. 
Last modified Dec. 01, 2011, at 10:24 p.m.

FRANKFORT, Maine — After months of tension and debate about health concerns, possible property depreciation and landowners’ rights, the residents of Frankfort have made a decision.

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.

“People voted and we decided not to let the company self-regulate,” Erin-Kate Sousa, a member of the committee that wrote the ordinance, said Thursday night after votes were tallied. “It was a really good turnout, numbers-wise.”

More than half of the town’s estimated 900 registered voters cast ballots at the Frankfort Elementary School gymnasium during the day-long referendum. According to the clerk, 244 people voted in favor of the ordinance, with 222 voting against it.

“Obviously, this is a blow to the project,” said Travis Bullard of Eolian Renewable Energy. “We’ve worked real hard over the last year to explain the details. Unfortunately, some people have spread enough fear and misinformation to usher in a very restrictive anti-wind ordinance. We’ll be evaluating the next steps of the project next week.”

But Sousa took exception to his words.

“I don’t think we’ve spread fear. I think we’ve spread facts,” she said.

Bullard’s company, which is based in Portsmouth, N.H., is in the process of developing smaller wind projects around the country, including one in nearby Orland.

On Thursday night, before the polls closed at 8 p.m., Bullard was busy at his temporary in-town office making last-minute efforts to rally residents to get out and vote. Next door, at the Family Country Market on Route 1A, a vocal group of customers held an animated discussion about the wind ordina.........

Continue reading here:

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/01/news/midcoast/frankfort-wind-...

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Originally published in Island Ad-Vantages, November 23, 2011 
Deer Isle enacts wind power ordinance

by Jonathan Thomas

In a very short special town meeting on November 17, Deer Isle voters approved a “Wind Energy Systems Ordinance” to regulate the size and placement of wind turbines. 

By an apparent unanimous vote, the four citizens present, along with the selectmen, planning board members and code enforcement officer approved the nine-page document without discussion. Town clerk Becky Knowlton opened the meeting and presided over the election of First Selectman Neville Hardy as moderator. 

The meeting began at 6:30 p.m. Several people arrived after the meeting adjourned, perhaps mistakenly thinking the meeting would be at 7 p.m. 

According to information in the October 20 issue of Island Ad-Vantages, the ordinance provides standards for lot size and setback, and allows a maximum height of 100 feet to the top of the blade. In comparison, large commercial turbines permitted in other towns, such as those in Vinalhaven, can have a blade height of 400 feet. 

The nine-page ordinance also requires that the tower owner provide the town with a yearly renewable bond that would cover the cost of removing the system if it were abandoned.

http://islandadvantages.com/news/2011/nov/23/deer-isle-enacts-wind-...

Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.



Update 11/20/11 from David Corrigan's "Real Wind Info For Me":

Somerset County - The People Speak Out

 

On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, the small town of Caratunk unanimously passed a very restrictive wind zoning ordinance. Although there was no application before them, this tiny community on the bank of the Kennebec had been targeted by Maine Wind Limited, LLC, a partnership between Larry Warren [of Maine Huts and Trails fame], and Peter Vigue, [President of Cianbro Corporation].

By speaking out, loud and clear, The People of Caratunk told these snake oil salesmen that their Mountains, their Community, and their Way of Life ARE NOT FOR SALE!

Just across the River, the tiny communities of Concord Township, Lexington Township, and Highland Plantation, are also being targeted. Highland is being targeted by Angus King and Rob Gardiner, partnered with Yale University, and Lexington and Concord are being targeted by Iberdrola, the Spanish/Qatar/United Arab Emirates owned giant.

The People of Lexington/Concord/Highland don’t want to loose their way of life any more than the People of Caratunk, or any other small town do. But the difference is, the State of Maine has determined that the Residents of the Plantations and Unorganized Territories, don’t have any rights. Thanks to the decisions of the Maine Legislature, a large portion of the State of Maine has been re-zoned, with zero input from the Tax Payers who live there. People who invested their lives and their life savings in rural property, suddenly find themselves living in an Industrial Zone, with no warning, and no voice.

The People of the Plantations and Unorganized Territories are forbidden from passing protective ordinances, and they are shut out of the process at every turn. So, with more and more small towns telling the wind scamers to blow away, The People and lands of rural Maine are more and more finding themselves under attack, as they appear to be easy marks for the developers.

But the developers don’t know The People of rural Maine!

On Thursday, November 17, 2011, Residents and Landowners from Lexington, Concord, and Highland, with the support of their State Representative, State Senator, and County Commissioners, went to Augusta to demand change. At a press conference in the Hall of Flags, right outside the Governor’s office, The People of rural Somerset County spoke out. They demanded the right to be heard. They demanded equal protection under the law. They demanded their rights!

I was proud to be standing there as Alan Michka presented a stack of petitions to Ken Fletcher, the Head of the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security. Those petitions represented the will of The People—well over 50% of Concord and Highland, and 77% of Lexington Residents, as well as many non resident Landowners, all voiced their opposition to these Industrial Projects in their community.

In any organized town in Maine, this sort of mandate would result in the immediate enactment of protective zoning…..unfortunately, it is different for us. Our rights have been trampled on, and so, we have asked the Governor to intervene. To use his powers. To do the right thing.

After our press conference, Mr. Fletcher was quoted in the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel as saying: “I know the Governor is very serious that the people’s voice has to be heard.”

Well Mr. Governor, the People of Somerset County are speaking. We can only hope that we are being heard…………………..

It is interesting to note that the many of the original settlers of Lexington, Concord, and Highland Maine, were Veterans of the American Revolution. These men and their families knew what it meant to stand up and fight for your rights. To fight for the right to be heard. I think they would be proud of the way that The People of these towns are standing up, speaking out, and fighting for their rights.

And as for those foreign companies that are trying to walk all over us—-it might be wise for them to remember just what happened the last time a foreign supper power tried to walk all over The People of Lexington and Concord!

The Governor says that The People must be heard. So, let’s talk to him. Please send him a note, polite but firm, asking him to stand with The People of the State of Maine. To listen to the voices from the Plantations and the Unorganized Territories, and simply do the right thing. The People of rural Maine deserve the same rights as The People of Portland, Augusta, or Waterville, and the Governor has the power to make sure that those rights are honored.

You can reach Governor Paul LePage at governor@maine.gov Please also send a carbon copy of your note to kenneth.c.fletcher@maine.gov as well as to your local State Senator and Representative. Remember, all of these people represent you—they work for YOU– if they aren’t hearing from you, then they have no way to know what it is that you want them to do. And believe me, they ARE hearing from the wind industry!

DC

 

http://realwindinfoforme.com/blog/somerset-county%E2%80%94the-peopl...

 

 

Update on 11/18/11 - Caratunk residents UNANIMOUSLY approve new wind turbine ordinance

 

November 18 

Caratunk residents approve new wind turbine ordinance

By Erin Rhoda erhoda@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

 

CARATUNK -- 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.

 

Eighteen people voted in favor of the ordinance after about 35 minutes of discussion.

The former rules mandated that wind turbines could be no less than four times the tower height or 1,000 feet -- whichever was greater -- from the nearest occupied building.

The new rules extend the setback to at least one-and-a-half miles from a property line.

Depending on the number of proposed turbines and their power, however, they could be placed even farther away, said Marie Beane, a Caratunk planning board member.

The ordinance lays out a formula that determines the specific setback for certain projects. The formula is based on the type of proposed turbines and their quantity.

The rules are restrictive, but there are still places in Caratunk where development could be possible, Beane said.

 

Erin Rhoda -- 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/caratunk-residents-approve-new-w...

 

Update on 11/14/11 - Peru Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Wind Moratorium

The voting results for the 180-day moratorium in Peru have been obtained by a resident of Peru who called the Peru Town Office and specifically asked about the final count and was told 466-129 in favor of a moratorium.

 

Various newspaper accounts of last night's results from Brooksville, Cushing and Rumford:

Rumford wind ordinance OK'd; Charter amendment fails

Published on Tuesday, Nov 8, 2011 at 10:10 pm | Last updated on Tuesday, Nov 8, 2011 at 10:10 pm 1 Comment

Supporters of Rumford's third proposed ordinance to regulate wind energy facilities strategically parked vehicles with signs like this on streets drivers or walkers had to take to reach Tuesday's polls at the American Legion on upper Congress Street. In June, their signs said to reject the second proposed ordinance, claiming it wasn't finished yet.

- Terry Karkos/Sun Journal

RUMFORD — Third time's a charm proved true Tuesday when a majority of voters overwhelmingly approved the third proposed wind ordinance in two years.

The tally was 1,137 "yes" to 465 "no," Town Manager Carlo Puiia said. Fifty ballots were blank, meaning those voters didn't select either answer.

The vote essentially kills any wind farms coming to Rumford until technology improves or the ordinance gets amended, he said.

“I guess it remains to be seen how this ordinance will affect our community, because we know now that First Wind has contacted me and said they were pulling out,” Puiia said.

When it first proposed building wind turbines atop Rumford hills two years ago, the Boston-based wind developer prompted moratoriums against such development to give the town time to draft an ordinance to regulate wind.

"So, I guess like I said, as far as development here for wind, it's not in the foreseeable future," Puiia said.

"That doesn't mean they can't possibly come here if the technology were to change and they could be able to meet the standards or, if in the future, the standards were to be changed. In other words, the ordinance can be amended."

However, he said he doesn't think the board will do so soon.

"I think they'll accept the vote as it is," Puiia said.

Rumford's first proposed wind ordinance, which many believed to be too restrictive, was defeated in November 2010. The second one, thought to be too liberal, was defeated in June.

This third ordinance swung back toward the first proposal in that Puiia said last month that he didn't believe it would allow any wind projects using current technology.

But unlike the first two, selectmen included a straw poll with the third proposal to learn the rationale behind Tuesday's balloting.

“What's ironic is that the one that got the most votes was, 'I support having wind power in Rumford,'” Puiia said.

That statement on the straw poll got 557 votes, whereas 479 opted for, "I do not support having wind power in Rumford," he said.

He said 140 said the ordinance was sufficient, 65 said it was too restrictive, 41 said it was not restrictive enough, and 94 voted none of the above.

Puiia said there were also 80 to 100 straw poll tallies of people voting for one of the choices twice, which means those must be sorted out to discern intent.

Tuesday's ballot vote, however, wasn't for or against wind power. It was a vote on how Rumford governs a wind energy facility if one were to be built in town.

A "yes" vote to approve the ordinance allowed local regulation on wind towers. A "no" vote would have allowed state regulation on wind towers.

The other straw poll question asked voters if they wanted selectmen to establish a charter commission. That was approved 836 "yes" to 581 "no."

As for the second issue on the ballot, voters rejected a proposal to amend the Charter to allow selectmen to annually appoint nonresidents as town auditor, town attorney, code enforcement officer, plumbing inspector and sealer of weights and measures. The tally was 767 "yes" to 839 "no."

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

 

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/river-valley/2011/11/09/rumford-wind...

Ban on large wind turbines approved in Brooksville

Posted Nov. 08, 2011, at 11:13 p.m.

BROOKSVILLE, Maine — Residents here voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to approve a wind power ordinance that likely means the Hancock County town will be off-limits to commercial wind energy facilities.

Voters endorsed the “Wind Energy Systems Ordinance” by a vote of 274 to 111, according to unofficial results provided Tuesday night by town officials. The ordinance was intended to be proactive since there are no pending applications for commercial wind power facilities in the community.

The new rules prohibit all wind turbines with towers standing taller than 100 feet, thereby banning the massive, 250- to 300-foot-tall towers used by most grid-scale wind energy companies in Maine.

Smaller wind turbines, such as those erected by homeowners and businesses, would still be allowed within town but would have to receive approval from either the code enforcement officer or the planning board, depending on the power output of the turbine. The maximum generation capacity allowed under the ordinance is 50 kilowatts.

Additionally, the ordinance adopts noise standards for wind turbines that are stricter than those currently required by the state. Turbines will be prohibited from generating in excess of 35 decibels for any continuous, 5-minute period — except during unusual weather events — as measured from neighboring properties. That standard is also more stringent than new, 42-decibel standards proposed by the Maine Board of Environmental Protection.

 

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/11/08/news/hancock/ban-on-large-win...

 

Cushing approves new wind turbine ordinance, other rule changes

By Staff | Nov 08, 2011
Photo by: File photo

CUSHING — Cushing residents voted Nov. 8 to enact a new town Wind Turbine Ordinance, limiting wind turbines to a maximum of 80 feet tall.

Residents supported the proposed ordinance by a vote of 273 to 181.

Under the ordinance wind turbines that meet the height requirement will be required to meet sound limits at the property lines. These limits will not support large commercial wind turbine installations. As a point of reference, the three commercial wind turbines on Vinalhaven are over 250 feet tall.

Residents also voted 253 to 192 to approve the Site Plan Review Ordinance, which sets standards for new non-residential land uses. It includes restrictions for drug dispensaries. Existing uses, fishing home occupations, forestry, and agriculture uses are exempt from the new standards.

A revision to the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance was favored by a vote of 263 to 184, requiring an applicant for a non-residential land use in the shoreland zone to notify abutting neighbors. In addition, the definition of a Fishing Home Business has been changed to allow three employees instead of two. Changes to comply with Maine Department of Environmental Protection are also included in the revised ordinance.

Townspeople also voted 292 to 155 to support a revision to the Public Road Ordinance clarifying requirements for road names, signs, and traffic control devices.

The full text of all four documents appears on the Cushing website at cushing.maine.gov.

http://knox.villagesoup.com/news/story/cushing-approves-new-wind-tu...

 

And a few related articles:

 

Frankfort wind ordinance misses Election Day

By Ethan Andrews | Nov 08, 2011
Source: waldocommunitywind.comA photo illustration by wind energy developer Eolian Renewable Energy showing what four wind turbines might look like on Mount Waldo in Frankfort.

FRANKFORT — A proposed wind energy ordinance in Frankfort will come before voters at a special election, to be held Thursday, Dec. 1.

Selectman Allan Gordon said town officials originally hoped to include the ordinance on the Nov. 8 ballot, but the document was not completed within the statutory window prior to Election Day.

The wind energy ordinance came in response to a proposal by Portsmouth, N.H.-based Eolian Renewable Energy to erect four to six turbines on Mount Waldo. The company has said the location is ideal for wind energy generation and is already subject to commercial uses. The  facility would also bring new tax revenue to the town, according to figures from the developer.

Eolian officially approached the town earlier this year. Residents approved a 180-day moratorium in March. The vote also established a five-member committee to draft the wind energy-specific ordinance. Frankfort currently has no municipal zoning ordinance.

The proposed wind energy ordinance includes 1-mile setbacks from abutting property lines. In combination with restrictive noise regulations, company representatives and town officials have said passage of the ordinance would likely amount to a ban on industrial-scale wind turbines.

For the Dec. 1 referendum, residents will be asked to approve the proposed wind ordinance. The ordinance is available at the Frankfort town office. A rebuttal to the ordinance from Eolian is available at waldocommunitywind.com.

http://waldo.villagesoup.com/news/story/frankfort-wind-ordinance-mi...

 

Sumner residents debate pros, cons of wind ordinance

Published on Friday, Oct 28, 2011 at 12:12 am | Last updated on Friday, Oct 28, 2011 at 12:12 am 1 Comment

SUMNER — More than 50 residents attended an informational meeting on the proposed industrial wind ordinance on Wednesday night, listening to arguments for and against.

Selectman Mary Ann Haxton moderated the meeting. She and committee members stressed that if the town adopts an ordinance it maintains control of wind power developments. She said the ordinance would protect the town in the four major areas of economics, environment, safety and health.

“The intent of the ordinance is to eliminate the downside risk while maximizing the upside potential,” Chairman Larry O’Rourke said.

Clear Sky Energy LLC of Barnstable, Mass., has proposed building five wind turbines on Spruce Hills, which includes, Mount Tom in the southwest area of town off Decoster Road.

O'Rourke pointed out that without an ordinance, any wind developer can place a wind farm in Sumner using the state fast-track permitting procedures and only complying with the lax state regulations. He said that within the month, two Maine towns that did not have local wind ordinances lost in state court when they tried to halt wind installations they said were damaging to the town and its residents.

O’Rourke showed state revenue calculations that indicate nearly three-quarters of Sumner taxpayers would receive less than $50 a year in benefits for the life of the Clear Sky project, if it's built.

He said that the ordinance would require developers to compete to maximize benefits to the town and require an agreement that the town’s income would increase if the developer’s income increases in the future. He said that the ordinance would require the town to determine the best deal it can get then to decide if it is worth it.

Health Subcommittee Chairman Lana Pratt and member Jeff Pfeifer said there is no acceptable level of damage to the health of Sumner residents. They said they had done extensive research on health concerns and solicited input from residents on an acceptable setback for the wind turbines.

Resident Bob Kennelly said it appeared the committee was trying to write an ordinance that would prevent installation of wind turbines in Sumner. He said he was familiar with the installations in Lincoln and near his camp in Danforth. He said there was no objectionable noise or vibration from the turbines. He had seen wildlife go under the wind turbines and one of his friends bagged a moose under one this year, he said.

Kennelly said he believes Sumner needs the new source of revenue and that while an ordinance should protect the town it should not be overly restrictive.

Another resident said she knew of two towns that had rejected wind installations and then regretted the loss of revenue.

There will be a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, in the Hartford-Sumner Elementary School on the ordinance, including changes recommended at Wednesday’s meeting. The ordinance will be posted on the town website by Sunday.

A draft with Wednesday's recommendations will be presented to selectmen at their meeting Tuesday, Nov. 8.

A final public hearing is set for Wednesday, Nov. 9.

A vote on the ordinance is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the school.

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/oxford-hills/2011/10/28/sumner-resid...

 

Wind power moratorium gets hearing in Peru

 

Published on Friday, Oct 28, 2011 at 12:12 am | Last updated on Friday, Oct 28, 2011 at 12:12 am 3 Comments

PERU — Chairman Bill Hine told a hearing Thursday night that his Wind Ordinance Committee is waiting to see the impact of wind power developments in Woodstock and Roxbury before drafting regulations for Peru.

Hine said the turbines on Spruce Mountain in Woodstock and Record Hill in Roxbury are near enough to Peru that residents can get feedback on their environmental impact to help in writing regulations. Spruce Mountain will have 20 turbines; Record Hill, 22.

Hine said a proposed 180-day moratorium on wind power development will give the committee time to develop an ordinance that will have enough restrictions that could discourage a developer, if that’s what residents want.

"If you don’t want wind power, vote for the moratorium on Nov. 8. This will give the committee a better idea of what the town actually wants,” Hine said.

"The passage of the moratorium will give the committee 180 days to write an ordinance and no windmills can be built during this time. The Board of Selectmen can extend the moratorium if more time is needed to write the ordinance," he said.

Jim Pulsifer asked why selectmen approved a meteorological test tower for Black Mountain before the hearing.

Selectman Kathy Hussey said they didn’t feel that the test tower would be the same as a string of windmills.

Hine said they chose to exempt test towers.

Several people wanted to know who would get the benefits of the wind power.

Hine said that would be up to what the town required of the developers and what was written in the ordinance.

 

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/river-valley/2011/10/28/wind-power-m...

 

Spirited debate meets Appleton town meeting

By Kim Lincoln | Jun 16, 2011
EXCERPTS:
APPLETON — Residents offered passionate discussion and made several amendments at the 2011 annual town meeting June 15.

Residents approved a Wind Energy Facility Ordinance to guide projects. The ordinance defines four classes of turbines, reserving tougher restrictions for turbines that generate more than 100 kilowatts and are more than 80 feet tall, and projects with more than one turbine. The ordinance does not effect turbines already built in town, unless the homeowner wishes to make changes or updates.

Randall Parr, who is an associate member of the planning board, spoke against the ordinance.

"It's a backward move to put a hurdle and bureaucracy in the way of building a wind turbine," Parr said.

Parr said wind power is the most renewable, clean and efficient energy and the town should not be discouraging landowners from installing windmills.

He said the ordinance defines the various classes of turbines by kilowatts, but if a person were to build their own turbine they would not know how much power is generated until it is actually built. He also stated that the town's building and site ordinance conflicts with the wind ordinance because a height limit of 34 feet is already in place inAppleton.

Planning board member David Kelley said that the board did a lot of research and the ordinance gives guidance on how to install a turbine safely, which addresses setbacks from neighboring properties.

"I'm tired of people telling me what I can do on my own property," Stone said.

Liz Sullivan said if people read it they would see that it doesn't restrict an individual taking advantage of wind power and puts more restrictions on larger developments.

"Let's support our planning board, they have our town's best interest," Sullivan said.

http://knox.villagesoup.com/news/story/spirited-debate-meets-appleton-town-meeting/411108

 


Rockport and Hope, Maine voters approve wind amendments. (June 15, 2011)

At the polls on June 14th, Rockport citizens voted 396-94 to support an amendment to the Land Use Ordinance as it pertains to wind development. This Ordinance includes a 100 foot turbine height limit, allows only one turbine per parcel of land and requires the electricity produced to be used at that parcel.

Hope voters approved a 180-Day Wind Power Moratorium , 191-131, to allow the town the time needed to draft a specific Wind Ordinance. After six months, voters will have the opportunity to vote for or against that Ordinance. Ordinances are important to protect the health, safety and welfare of town citizens.

http://friendsofraggedmountain.org/form_updates_2011.html

 

 

Posted: March 27, 2011

Wind turbines won't come easily to Unity

BY COLIN HICKEY, Correspondent

 

UNITY -- Putting up a large commercial wind turbine in Unity will not be a simple matter.

 

Voters made sure of that Saturday at their annual Town Meeting when they overwhelming approved a 39-page ordinance that one of the document's crafters described as "fairly restrictive."

 

 

 

"We err on the side of the protecting the landowner," said resident John Piotti, chairman of the town's Comprehensive Plan Committee. "That is how we designed the ordinance."

 

Among the restrictions is a requirement that commercial wind turbine developers get approval of all landowners within a 1-mile radius of the project.

The ordinance describes commercial wind turbines as having towers more than 150 feet high and a generating capacity of more than 100 kilowatts.

 

Piotti stressed to residents at the meeting, held at Unity Elementary School, that the ordinance does not apply to the smaller wind turbines a homeowner might install for personal energy needs.

 

Such turbines, Piotti told voters, are addressed in a proposed amended version of the town's Land Use Ordinance. He described the requirements as minor, all of them listed on one page.

 

"Our goal here," he said, "was to make it relatively easy for a landowner who wishes to put up a wind turbine to do so, while protecting the rights of other landowners."

 

Voters, again overwhelmingly, approved the changes to the land-use ordinance, including the ones applying to small wind turbines.

 

They set the stage for Saturday's ordinance and land-use amendment last summer at a special town meeting when they approved a moratorium on wind power development for six months.

 

They later extended that moratorium for an additional six months, Piotti said.

 

Piotti said Unity had no ordinance governing wind turbine development before Saturday's meeting. He said that was the motivation behind establishing the moratorium and moving forward on an effort to create rules for such projects.

 

"It has been a very active process," he said of the work to write the ordinance. "This is very complicated stuff."

 

Voters approved the 35-article warrant with only one amendment, adding $7,000 to the Fire Department funding request to cover the cost of upgrading the department's self-contained breathing apparatus units.

Firefighters had been using the existing units for 21 years, a town fire official said.

 

Even with the $7,000 increase to the proposed town budget, the spending plan voters approved is down about $57,000 from a year ago, falling from about $900,000 to about $843,000.

 

 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/wind-turbines-wont-come-easily-t...

Unity can prepare for wind turbines

BY COLIN HICKEY, Correspondent

 

UNITY -- No wind turbines dot the horizon in this community, but voters today can ensure the town will be prepared for any proposal to erect them.

 

Selectmen James Kenney said residents who gather for town meeting at 10 a.m. at Unity Elementary School will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed ordinance that he said is written with the safety and health of townspeople in mind.

"It is an ordinance that is addressing the issues," he said. "We have no one asking to put up a commercial wind turbine that we know of, but we are putting up an ordinance beforehand."

Kenney said the proposal is based on town ordinances now in place in Dixmont and Montville.

He said the document classifies wind turbines into four categories, ranging from small models for private use to ones that tower 300 feet or more that can generate more than a megawatt of energy.

Kenney said the requirements for the smaller private wind turbines are limited to a page, but those wishing to construct commercial models would have 39 to 40 pages of stipulations to address.

A person or company wishing to install a wind turbine in the largest category, for example, would have to notify all landowners within a two-mile radius of the plan and get the approval of all landowners within a one-mile radius, Kenney said.

He said the proposed budget is down $64,000 from the one approved last year, a decrease from $900,000 to $836,000.

And that's the total budget. Kenney said the amount of money the town proposes to raise through direct taxation is down $70,000, falling from $453,000 to $383,000.

He said the decrease in large part is the result of having completed the town's latest property appraisal project.

"We are somewhat fiscally conservative and responsible," he said. "We didn't try to find things to spend (money) on in other words."

Unity

Town meeting: 10 a.m. Saturday at Unity Elementary School

Registered voters: About 800

Voters at 2010 Town Meeting: About 75

Last year's budget: $900,000

Proposed budget: $836,000 if passed as proposed

Percent change: 7.1 percent decrease

current mill rate: $14 per $1,000 property value

 

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/unity-can-prepare-for-wind-turbi...

 

Wind Ordinances in the News Over the Last Month

A very quick look shows that no fewer than 16 Maine towns have been in the news over the past month with regard to wind ordinances.

 

As word gets out as to the true theft planned by the out of state interloping wind companies, it is likely that ordinances and moratoriums will become more commonplace.

 

If you believe your town officials are meeting secretly with wind companies, by all means speak with them and let them know your point of view. The treasury-draining subsidy-sucking wind industry's modus operandi is to keep all such meetings out of view as long as they can. The vampires they are, sunlight is something they avoid at all costs.

 

Shine the light on them before they destroy your way of life.

 

Avon http://www.dailybulldog.com/db/features/avon-approves-wind-power-or...
Blue Hill http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/09/news/hancock-county-towns...
Brooklin http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/09/news/hancock-county-towns...
Brooksville http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/09/news/hancock-county-towns...
Burnham http://waldo.villagesoup.com/news/story/whose-road-mystery-remains-... 
Castine http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/09/news/hancock-county-towns...
Deer Isle http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/09/news/hancock-county-towns...
Eddington http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/16/news/eddington-residents-... 
Moscow http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/3-vying-for-open-selectmen-seat_...
New Vineyard http://www.dailybulldog.com/db/features/new-vineyard-unanimously-pa...
Newry http://www.bethelcitizen.com/node/7373/
Penobscot http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/09/news/hancock-county-towns...
Peru http://www.sunjournal.com/river-valley/story/990475
Rumford http://www.sunjournal.com/river-valley/story/991684
Sedgwick http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/03/09/news/hancock-county-towns...
Temple http://www.sunjournal.com/franklin/story/1000196

 

http://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/wind-ordinances-in-the-...

 

Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

 

12/1/11 - Portland wants to set limits on wind power to keep turbines out of the skyline

 

Portland wants to set limits on wind power to keep turbines out of the skyline

Posted Nov. 30, 2011, at 5:53 p.m.

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s largest city is considering an ordinance to regulate — but not ban — wind power there.

A wind energy ordinance in Portland could be the first in a number of new rules considered as city officials eye setting guidelines for other burgeoning technologies not currently covered in the code books.

Many smaller Maine communities are considering moratoriums on wind power due to concerns about the environmental, economic and health impacts of the large spinning turbines.

The council is due to discuss the 16-page wind ordinance in a workshop in early 2012.

“It’s really our first alternative energy ordinance, and we’re hoping to move on to solar power and other types of resources in the future,” Jean Fraser, city planner, told the Bangor Daily News this week. “It’s really opening us up to new, more technical discussions.”

The adoption of renewable energy ordinances is a sign more that the city is trying to embrace the new technologies than hinder their development, according to outgoing Mayor Nicholas Mavodones. But he acknowledged the city must be thorough, and the first in the line of ordinances — on wind power — is complicated.

Mavodones said he was impressed by the prevalence of solar and wind power generation in Germany, when he joined a contingent of American mayors on a trip to the European country.

“It is a new world for us,” he said. “To get these new ordinances in place so people can confidently tap those sources of energy is important.”

The ordinance language currently on the table would allow wind turbines as tall as 160 feet in some areas of the city, namely industrial, airport business and certain recreational open space zones. By comparison, Maine’s tallest building — Franklin Towers in Portland — stands 16 stories, or 204 feet, tall.

Wind towers taller than 300 feet have been installed in rural parts of the state.

In residential zones in Portland, the windmills are proposed to be capped at 45 feet in height on properties larger than half of an acre where there isn’t a pre-existing lower height limitation.

They would not be allowed in stream protection areas, historic landscape districts or historic cemeteries, but in nearly every other city zone, at least roof-mounted windmills — reaching no taller than 10 feet above the structure height — would be permitted.

When planned for within 100 feet of a historic structure or landmark, the ordinance calls for a project review by the city’s Historic Preservation Committee.

For freestanding wind power systems taller than 85 feet, the ordinance would implement a setback requirement of two times the height of the windmill from the property lines, and four times the height of the windmill from neighboring structures.

But so far, the proposed height allowances haven’t been the hang-up in moving the otherwise popular ordinance along.

After the Planning Board in July unanimously recommended passage of the ordinance by the City Council, the council’s Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee voted just 2-1 in favor of the document.

City Councilor David Marshall, chairman of that committee, cast the dissenting vote, while fellow councilors Ed Suslovic and Jill Duson supported the ordinance.

Marshall said he wasn’t ready to recommend passage of the document by the larger council, in part because he’s not sold on the proposal’s language pertaining to noise.

The ordinance calls for windmills to comply with the allowable noise rules in whatever zone they’re being developed, except for in residential zones or zones without specified sound limits. In those places, the windmills must be no louder than 45 decibels at night and 50 decibels during the day, as measured at the property lines.

“I represent a neighborhood,” said Marshall, who is the District 2 councilor. “When there are issues about noise, I’m one of the first people to hear complaints. I’m more of the mindset that maybe we should be [testing the noise level] at the source instead of at the property line. [Windmill advocates will] say, ‘It’s just like having a dishwasher running in another room,’ but with a dishwasher, you know it’s going to turn off at some point. Dishwashers don’t run all day and all night.”

Even with that concern, however, Marshall said he supports the use of wind power in Portland. He just wants to make sure the ordinance is worded right before it’s passed.

“I’m really glad to have the chance to put some more time into it,” he said. “I’d like to see this be successful at a residential level and on a small scale. I just don’t want to set ourselves up for failure, and have people point back at this and say renewable energy sources aren’t working. Localized and small scale wind has a lot of great potential in Portland.”

 

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/11/30/news/portland/portland-wants-to-set-limits-on-wind-power-to-keep-turbines-out-of-the-skyline/?ref=regionportland

 

Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

 

 6/13/12 - Peru voters say no to wind farms

PERU — Election clerks were still busy counting ballots at noon on Wednesday from Tuesday's town meeting polls. They took a break from midnight to Wednesday morning.

Results, however, were in for the municipal elections and the straw poll on wind farms. A majority of voters said no to wind farms in Peru.

Timothy L. Holland won re-election to the Board of Selectmen, getting 316 votes.

The second available selectman seat, however, is up in the air. After a recount, candidates Richard I. Powell and John L. Witherell remained tied at 284 votes apiece.

"If one doesn't concede within seven days, then we'll have to have a run-off election," Vera Parent, town clerk, said Wednesday at the town office.

"We did a recount just to make sure it was a tie," Parent said.

Candidate Richard J. Vaughn received 155 votes.

Parent won re-election as town clerk, receiving 548 votes, and Lolisa M. Windover received 526 votes for her first three-year term on the RSU 10 School Board. Incumbent RSU 10 Director Jessica Hines did not seek another term.

As for the non-binding straw poll that asked if voters support the construction of wind farms within the town limits of Peru, 194 said Yes; 394 said No.

That means the Peru Wind Power Committee will now make recommendations to selectmen about pursuing more restrictive measures.

Parent said selectmen have scheduled a meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 14, "to figure out what's going on."

They are expected to go through balloting results on the town meeting warrant and determine if a special town meeting is needed to resolve any articles that may have been voted down.

Check back with SunJournal.com for results that are expected later today.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/river-valley/0001/11/30/peru-voters-say-no-wind-farms-holland-reelected-se/1209694

Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

 

6/18/12 - Peru Wind Committee goes back to work

PERU — Wind Power Committee Chairman Bill Hine asked the Board of Selectmen on Monday night what its charge is since the voters indicated in a straw poll they are against commercial wind power development here.

Peru selectmen conduct business Monday night for the first time since the annual elections a week ago. From left are Kathy Hussey, Laurieann Milligan, Tim Holland, Ed Ferland and new member Richard Powell.

“Come up with an ordinance that meets the people’s needs, Chairman Tim Holland advised. "We can’t say no wind, but we can regulate it through an ordinance."

“It’s time to draw a hard line through an ordinance. You have to work on a tough ordinance,” newcomer Richard Powell said.

Members of the Wind Power Committee present were excused to meet and decide how to proceed. Member Jim Pulsifer reported back to the board later that the committee will meet Tuesday night to continue drafting an ordinance.

EDP Renewables North America LLC of Houston, Texas, received a permit in October 2011 to place a meteorological test tower off Black Mountain Road near the Sumner town line. The company is considering building possibly 25 to 35 turbines, a representative told the committee this year.

The Wind Power Committee was established last year to draft an ordinance governing wind power developments.

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/river-valley/2012/06/19/peru-wind-committee-goes-back-work/1212265

3/19/14 - Voters in Washington County town approve wind power moratorium

Posted March 19, 2014, at 3:53 p.m.
Last modified March 19, 2014, at 4:35 p.m.

Fair Use Notice: This website may reproduce or have links to copyrighted material the use of which has not been expressly authorized by the copyright owner. We make such material available, without profit, as part of our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, economic, scientific, and related issues. It is our understanding that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided by law. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Comment

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Join Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power - Maine

Comment by Long Islander on February 17, 2018 at 11:43pm

Portland, ME Wind Ordinance

http://www.portlandmaine.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1080

Go to "Article X" which can be found in Sec 14-751 near the bottom.

Comment by John Droz, jr. on January 28, 2018 at 3:01pm

Maine Friends:

I think it is an excellent idea to categorize Maine wind ordinances — as indeed they are key.
Three suggestions that you add somewhere on your list:
2 - A quality National Model Wind Ordinanceand
3 - An Excel chart comparing various Maine Wind Ordinances on the key regulations (like this one in NYS).
Let me know any questions.
regards,
john droz, jr.
Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on January 28, 2018 at 2:01pm

This is a sample similar to Sangerville Maine's --  Rights Based Ordinance. Wind or Wind Farm may be able to be substituted but I would contact CELDF https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1EphXxhoTANwgq_2foT7312qdou1... This sample was for training purposes to better educate communities as to what each paragraph meant to accomplish. 

Comment by Hart Daley on March 11, 2012 at 12:37am

Dixfield NEEDS a citizen / community initiated wind ordinance to protect it's citizens and regulate any possible wind projects. Failing to do so will allow the state DEP ordinance, which is FAR to lenient, to govern any projects. VOTE yes in June to adopt a restrictive ordinance that protects our health and quality of life.

 

Maine as Third World Country:

CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power

 

Click here to read how the Maine ratepayer has been sold down the river by the Angus King cabal.

Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting – Three Part Series: A CRITICAL LOOK AT MAINE’S WIND ACT

******** IF LINKS BELOW DON'T WORK, GOOGLE THEM*********

(excerpts) From Part 1 – On Maine’s Wind Law “Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine if the law’s goals were met." . – Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, August 2010 https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/From Part 2 – On Wind and Oil Yet using wind energy doesn’t lower dependence on imported foreign oil. That’s because the majority of imported oil in Maine is used for heating and transportation. And switching our dependence from foreign oil to Maine-produced electricity isn’t likely to happen very soon, says Bartlett. “Right now, people can’t switch to electric cars and heating – if they did, we’d be in trouble.” So was one of the fundamental premises of the task force false, or at least misleading?" https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-swept-task-force-set-the-rules/From Part 3 – On Wind-Required New Transmission Lines Finally, the building of enormous, high-voltage transmission lines that the regional electricity system operator says are required to move substantial amounts of wind power to markets south of Maine was never even discussed by the task force – an omission that Mills said will come to haunt the state.“If you try to put 2,500 or 3,000 megawatts in northern or eastern Maine – oh, my god, try to build the transmission!” said Mills. “It’s not just the towers, it’s the lines – that’s when I begin to think that the goal is a little farfetched.” https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/flaws-in-bill-like-skating-with-dull-skates/

Not yet a member?

Sign up today and lend your voice and presence to the steadily rising tide that will soon sweep the scourge of useless and wretched turbines from our beloved Maine countryside. For many of us, our little pieces of paradise have been hard won. Did the carpetbaggers think they could simply steal them from us?

We have the facts on our side. We have the truth on our side. All we need now is YOU.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

 -- Mahatma Gandhi

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Vince Lombardi 

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Hannah Pingree on the Maine expedited wind law

Hannah Pingree - Director of Maine's Office of Innovation and the Future

"Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine."

https://pinetreewatch.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/

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