Hearing set on wind turbine siting regulations

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NEW BRITIAN — The Connecticut Siting Council has scheduled a hearing for July 24 regarding new regulations for the siting of wind turbine facilities.

The hearing will run from 3 to 5 p.m. and then continue at 6:30 p.m. at the council’s office, hearing room one, 10 Franklin Square, in New Britain. The public is welcome to submit data, views or arguments, orally at the hearing or in writing. Oral statements will be limited to three minutes.

The council is encouraging written statements to be submitted on or before July 17 and requests that all filings be submitted on recycled paper. Avoid heavy stock paper, colored paper and metal or plastic binders and separators.

The proposed regulations drafted by the council are meant to address issues such as setback distances, shadow flicker, decommissioning of turbines, requirements for projects of different sizes, ice throw, blade throw, noise and impact on natural resources.

The council has sole jurisdiction over renewable energy projects that proposed more than 1 megawatt of power. The are an outgrowth of reviewing two applications from BNE Energy Inc., in West Hartford. BNE proposed installing two wind turbines in Prospect and six in Colebrook but only approved Colebrook’s.

The proposed wind turbines in Prospect faced heavy criticism from residents who live nearby the proposed site for the turbines. The siting council ultimately rejected the plan for the turbines in Prospect.

The proposed regulations are available for review at the council’s New Britain office and on its website, www.ct.gov/csc under the link “Pending Proceedings/CSC Wind Regulations.” The council phone number is (860) 827-2935.