Upstate New York Towns Slow Down Growth Of Wind Farms

"A moratorium passed by the Stamford Town Board last week is likely a prelude to a local law regulating the giant turbines, a councilwoman said Sunday."

"The moratorium was drafted after hearing from as many as 70 constituents, most of whom are opposed to commercial wind farms who have attended meetings since June, Stamford Councilwoman Katherine M. Engert said."

"Several other Delaware County towns and the Otsego County town of Cherry Valley have imposed their own moratoriums designed to stall wind-farm development."

"Nancy Haycock, of Hobart, which is within the town of Stamford, said there are concerns over noise pollution from towers more than 400 feet tall, property devaluation, clear-cutting of trees and shadow casting.

"We believe the scale of it is inappropriate to a small rural place like Stamford," Haycock said."

"Proponents of the wind farms are motivated by the $3,000 to $8,000 the companies will pay to lease the land for each tower, Haycock said."

"Land-use agreements with Chicago-based Invenergy LLC have already been signed by some residents who own property on higher elevations in the town, Engert said."

"Invenergy officials could not be reached by phone Sunday, and a local representative was not at home. But according to the company’s website, a modern wind farm at a distance of 750 to 1,000 feet is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator. However, the website indicates that in hilly terrain, the turbines may be more audible to residents in sheltered hollows downwind from the towers."