WIND TOWER COMMITTEE INFORMATION

Background for Establishing Wind Tower Committee

With developers seeking lease agreements with property owners and meteorological test towers already in place, the Town of Hamlin must now determine whether wind energy generation systems, commonly known as wind towers, are in the best interest of the Town.

Town Supervisor Dennis Roach reported that he was advised, shortly before taking office in January 2006, that an out-of-state developer was negotiating land lease agreements with some major land owners in the northwest quadrant of the Town, which is included within the Town’s extensive agricultural district, where wind feasibility maps indicate a potential for wind energy development. “Like most Towns in the State, we were not prepared for this.” We had no local laws regulating wind towers nor any meaningful research to determine whether the towers would be in the best interest of the Town.”

In order to better understand the impact of the wind towers, Town officials began researching the issues and providing opportunities to inform the public. In addition to articles in the local papers, a public information session was conducted in May by an engineer and an attorney from LaBella Associates, a Rochester-based engineering firm with experience in the field of wind energy. Despite publicizing the event, Roach indicated that he was “disappointed at the turnout at the information meeting.” A lot of good information was made available, both pro and con, regarding wind towers.”

According to Roach, interest began to pick up in the spring of 2006. The developer, who had been successful in attaining leases, was anxious to confirm whether the wind projections for the area were accurate. The typical method for obtaining the necessary date is the erection of meteorological or MET towers. MET towers are 199-foot monopoles which incorporate anemometers at various heights to measure wind velocity over an extended period of time. The passive towers contain technology, which stores the data gathered and transmits it at prescribed times via cell phone to the headquarters. Knowing that the developer would be applying to the Town to construct these towers and recognizing that no local laws were in place to regulate them, the Hamlin Town Board took measures to construct such a law. Following public hearing, which was minimally attended, the Board approved the MET tower law in June. Neighborhood interest grew during a public hearing when the developer appeared before the Town of Hamlin Planning Board seeking approval for the erection of two MET towers in the vicinities of Redman and Cook Roads. A petition was signed by approximately 90 people residing in the area, who are opposed to the MET towers and the prospective construction of wind towers in the area. Residents opposed to the towers discussed their concerns and opposition to wind towers at public hearings for the MET towers and the Town’s Comprehensive Master Plan. Approximately 25 residents attended the January 8 Town Board meeting and spoke extensively during the public forum regarding wind tower concerns.

At the same meeting, members of the newly established Wind Tower Committee were selected by the Hamlin Town Board. Nine members were selected from the 21 residents who had applied to serve. The members are Jerry Borkholder, Linda DeRue, Ed Evans, Edward Haight, David Lukas, Art McFarlane, Glen Quetschenbach, Mark Reeves and Andrew Simpson. Supervisor Roach considers this to be a balanced committee with open minds, which has a challenging task to first, determine whether or not wind towers are in the best interest of the entire town and second, to develop regulations appropriate to their determination.

Included on the committee are several residents who have voiced their concern over wind towers. The Wind Tower Committee will meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Hamlin Town Hall. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16.

It will be preceded by a Special Town Board meeting at which the committee’s charter will be presented. In addition, a presentation will be made by Mr. Daniel Spitzer, an attorney, who has represented various towns regarding wind energy development regulations and negotiations. The meeting and subsequent Wind Tower Committee meetings are open meetings.

Questions?
supportboards@hamlinny.org
964-8961