Wind Study Committee

Categories of Focus (Revised 3/12/09)

Main Category	Sub-Categories & Notes	Committee Members
Technical	Transmission Lines Dealing with inconsistent power production and surges Repairs & Maintenance Access Roads: Local roads for delivery & maintenance; Property access. Decommissioning/Removal Fire Fighting: equipment & training needed. LifeLight Helicopter access in area.	Harry, Peter
Health & Environmental	Noise: Volume; Infrasound; Echoing; health effects. Light: Strobing/Aircraft lighting/Shadow Flicker Vibration Health Effects, humans: Sleep issues, Health Effects, animals: animals & their habitats Terrain & Soil: Bedrock; Type of soil; blasting or drilling Environmental: Water table, wells, runoff during construction and after, clear cutting 4 acres (for large scale) Social Impacts upon during approval phase and ongoing (for large scale). Viewshed Aesthetics	Peter, Melissa
Legislative/Legal/Tax	Federal Regulations - Congress & IRS State Regulations County Regulations (Municipal Charter?) Town Regulations – Zoning; Comp Plan Large Scale Commercial Wind contracts Liability: Owner/Developer Town Landowner Manufacturer Installer Interconnect Agreements: NYSERDA National Grid or Central Hudson Other towns (if connection crosses their boundary) Who is responsible for annual payment? Liability to Town if drop in production? Cooperative agreements in other locations to make all stakeholders whole. Right of way/Easements Lawsuits filed? For what issues? Outcomes?	Dennis, Noel Backup: Melissa
Zoning Issues	Gather information Obtain & review other town’s zoning laws	Dennis, Noel
Large Scale Commercial Wind	(Overlaps with many other areas) Effect upon property values Fire fighting – Need for Town equipment, training, related costs/tax impacts. Local job guarantees: During construction; Ongoing maintenance. Non-disclosure and impact. Neighbor agreements	Noel, Peter
Intermediate Wind - Small Business/Farm/etc 10+-100 kw Installations	Determine clear definition Determine height, setbacks, neighbor’s rights recommendations unique to this category	Dennis
Residential Wind Installs	Determine height, setbacks, neighbor’s rights recommendations unique to this category	Harry, Alan Backup: Peter, Noel
Surveys to Collect Information	Design Survey Goals & Questions Call and perform surveys Tabulate Results & draw conclusions	Alan, Noel Backup: Melissa
Town Interface	Our Citizens Zoning Board of Appeals Planning Board Town Board Code Enforcement Officer Town Attorney	Alan, Noel & entire committee
Grants	What’s possible for Residential and Commercial	Noel