Committee rejects draft wind turbine regulations

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HARTFORD — The Council Siting Council failed for a third time Tuesday to win approval for new regulations for wind turbine projects.

The legislature’s Regulation Review Committee rejected the latest draft of the regulations without prejudice, sending the package back to the Siting Council for further refinement.

Local officials told the panel Tuesday that the proposed regulations need more work.

A 2011 law directed the council to adopt rules to govern the siting of power-generating wind turbines. It was a response to turbine projects that had been proposed in Prospect and Colebrook. The Siting Council gave approval for West Hartford-based BNE Energy to build six turbines in Colebrook. The Prospect plan was denied.

The legislature mandated that the proposed regulations consider tower height and setbacks from neighboring properties, flicker, ice throw, blade shear, noise and effects on natural resources.

It said the council may set different requirements for projects of different sizes. Additionally, the council may require a turbine be decommissioned at the end of its useful life.