Company presents wind farm plan

HAMMOND — Iberdrola Renewables Inc., Lowville, announced plans for 75, 330-foot windmills, with the majority of them slated for construction in the town of Hammond.

According to representatives from Iberdrola at a recent Town Council meeting, plans call for the installation of 75 towers that are approximately 66 feet taller than the windmills at Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lewis County.

Each tower would be approximately 475 feet at the tip of the blade, according to Iberdrola representative Jenny L. Burke.

Ms. Burke said that her company is still examining wind levels in Morristown but that it appears Hammond will be home to the majority of the project based on current data.

"At this point, we don't know what all of the wind resources are, but it appears that 2-megawatttowers are feasible in Hammond. It's something we continue to evaluate," Iberdrola representative Daniel C. Murdie said.

Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram asked the representatives if they could share their proposed layout with the board, but Ms. Burke said they could not because they would be mapping the towers based on the results of State Environmental Quality Review Act studies and the town's zoning laws.

"We would be using your setbacks to determine where the towers would be," she said.

Mr. Bertram asked representatives to keep the board informed of the company's plans for the area. While Ms. Burke said a layout did not exist now, she said she would be willing to help as much as possible.

"I think we can be active in helping the town board without saying, 'This is where our 75 windmills are going,'" she said, adding that her company has worked closely with municipalities in the past.

Ms. Burke left contact information with the board and said the Iberdrola representatives would be happy to work with the town's Wind Advisory Committee once it is formed.

A special meeting has been scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Hammond Free Library to review applications for the Wind Advisory Committee. The committee will help establish guidelines for the town's wind facilities law.