Clayton, Orleans organizing wind law committees

CLAYTON — Two towns involved in the proposed 62-turbine Horse Creek Wind Farm, Clayton and Orleans, will create separate committees to gather community input for a possible wind law.

The town of Clayton will soon form a 10-member "Wind Law Review Committee" to craft a local law setting noise limits for wind turbines and establish setbacks for wind farms.

"The town board and Planning Board have endorsed the review committee," Supervisor Justin A. Taylor said.

The group will focus mainly on setbacks and noise levels but also will discuss potential health risks related to wind farms.

Zoning law allows noise levels up to 50dBA, or A-weighted decibels, and a setback of 1,250 feet from homes. An A-weighted decibel is a widely used measuring unit of sound pressure levels that is often used to evaluate environmental noise.

Many citizens of Clayton, including members of Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization of Jefferson County, have been demanding that the town start formulating a local law to protect residents from adverse effects of wind farms.

For months, the Town Council has turned down such requests, saying the town will not take any action regarding the wind project because Iberdrola Renewables suspended its application for the Horse Creek Wind Farm in June.

Mr. Taylor said the wind committee will be balanced regarding wind issues.

The committee will consist of six residents, a town official, one representative each from the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, and a "neutral facilitator" from academia.

Of the six residents, two members will be anti-wind, two will be pro-wind and two will be neutral.

The committee will be an independent organization and its members will not be paid. Meeting dates will be decided internally once the committee is formed.

"It's a citizen committee," Mr. Taylor said. "There is one representative from the town board, but it will operate independently from the town board."

The town of Clayton is seeking candidates for its new committee. Community members interested in the positions should call Mr. Taylor or Planning Board Chairman Roland A. "Bud" Baril at the town offices, 686-3512.

The town of Orleans also plans to create a "Citizens Wind Committee" that would study the pros and cons of wind development and give advice to the town board.

Town Supervisor Donna J. Chatterton said the wind committee would help the Town Council make informed decisions regarding wind development.

Iberdrola proposed erecting eight wind turbines in Orleans before it suspended its application.

Mrs. Chatterton said there will be no more than nine members on the committee and there will be no monetary compensation from the town.

"We're hoping for a cross-section with pro-wind members and those against wind," she said.

The committee will meet once a month and will be granted 10 minutes to report its findings at monthly Town Council meetings.

"It will be like a little subcommittee that reports to the board," she said.

The town is seeking members for the committee. Interested residents should send a letter of interest to Supervisor Chatterton at P.O. Box 103, LaFargeville, N.Y. 13656 by Dec. 10.

The Town Council plans to review the candidates at its next board meeting Dec. 11. Mrs. Chatterton said the town will create the committee then or at the January meeting.