JASPER — Wind companies be warned: The Town of Jasper is doing its homework before adopting a wind law.
In fact, town Supervisor Lucille Keman attended a seminar on local wind legislation at the State University of New York at Albany.
"There was a good law that Spitzer wrote, but there's some things that need to be included and we're working on it," she said. "It's to protect the town and its residents from being taken advantage of by a wind powered company."
That law — and several others — have been read and will be evaluated during the writing stages of Jasper's prospective law.
"While I was there (at the seminar) I picked up several different laws that have already been enacted by towns that seemed to have been working for them," Keman said. "It gave me a lot of insight into what we needed to do."
Although no wind companies have formerly presented a proposal, the wind energy company has approached the board about opportunities.
Not really, it's just in the very early stages of it," Kernan said when asked if there's any set plans yet. "They've talked to us and people in the area."
The next phase hearings with Invenergy in August, Kernan said, adding the town board is aiming for an informational meeting that will inculde public input.
"I really want people to tell me or the board members how they feel about it," she said. "I want it to be a very open process.
"I think maybe some of the other towns got in trouble when it looked like they tried to make it a secret, and I don't want mat to happen," Kernan added.
Above all, however, protecting me town will be the focus in drafting the wind law.
"It will give them guidance. Where they go they will have to pay for any testing and make sure it's feasible and post a bond, so if they walk away from what they're in with."
Some other things Kernan mentioned specifically are making sure the towers will be far enough from property lines, noise will not be offensive to neighbors and to ensure minimal lighting.
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