Clayton wind farm noise study to be aired

The long-awaited full report on the Horse Creek Wind Farm noise study will go public in a week, the town announced Wednesday. But the availability of the report was not enough to satisfy upset residents who stormed into the council meeting demanding that the town start formulating a local law to limit noise levels of wind turbines and establish setbacks.

“We need to start clearing the air,” said Patricia Booras-Miller, vice president of Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization of Jefferson County.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Ms. Booras-Miller criticized the town, claiming its reason for not releasing the full Cavanaugh Tocci Associates’ noise study report was bogus to begin with.

Last week, Roland A. Baril Jr., chairman of the town Planning Board, said the town’s engineer, Bernier, Carr & Associates, Watertown, told the town not use the full report and to send it back. The initial report was completed in January.

“We’ve received a letter from Bernier and Carr stating that they did not say that,” Mrs. Booras-Miller said.

Initially, the town asked Bernier, Carr to review the full study and the Town Council and Planning Board concluded the document was too technical for the boards and the public to understand. At the town’s request, Cavanaugh Tocci Associates sent a two-page executive summary to the town Aug. 28. The executive summary was made available Friday.

Supervisor Justin A. Taylor said the town is not trying to deceive its residents nor is it making any decisions behind closed doors.

“There is no intention on my part or the board’s to hold back information,” Mr. Taylor said.

He said that the report was indeed too technical for the town representatives and that the initial report was not submitted to the Planning Board or the Town Council.

Diana Peters, Chaumont, who lives near the test wind turbines, said she is concerned about the negative effects of the turbines.

“There are seven turbines across from me and five on the back,” Mrs. Peters said. “We’re semi-retired and we enjoy our peace and quietness. We don’t like the noise.”

Thomas M. Brennan, Depauville, said the town should start revising the wind turbine setbacks.

“I was some shocked at how close they were,” Mr. Brennan said.

Mr. Taylor said the town is not taking any action regarding the wind project because Iberdrola has suspended its application.

The full noise study report will be available for public review Wednesday. The public must submit a Freedom of Information request to the town to view the document.