FairWindCT News

Mark your calendar for “Wind: So what’s the problem?”
A presentation by Lisa Linowes, Executive Director of Industrial Wind Action

Saturday, March 12, 2011      4:00 p.m.
Colebrook Senior & Community Center
Rt. 183 (Colebrook Road), Colebrook Center
Sponsored by FairWindCT (www.fairwindct.com)

Learn about industrial wind energy during this presentation by Lisa Linowes, Executive Director of Industrial Wind Action (www.windaction.org) in New Hampshire. What impact would industrial wind energy have on towns and neighborhoods in Connecticut, especially in the northwest corner? What impact would it have on the environment? Here’s your chance to ask questions and find out more. 

Meet members of the Committee for Responsible Energy Decisions in Granville, Massachusetts (http://cred-granville.org/the-facts/), who are also facing industrial wind development.

Two wind farms (a total of six 1.6MW, 492-ft turbines) are proposed for Flagg Hill Road and Rock Hall Road in Colebrook. The Connecticut Siting Council has scheduled public hearings on these applications at the Northwestern Regional School #7 (100 Battistoni Drive, Winsted CT 06098) on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Your neighborhood or your town could be the site of the next proposals!
For more information about this event, please contact info@fairwindct.com or call 860-379-6425.

Joyce Hemingson
President, FairWindCT

About Lisa Linowes
“Ms. Linowes is an expert on the impacts of industrial-scale wind energy development on the natural environment, communities, and the regional grid systems. A conservation and land use advocate with over 20 years of executive business experience, Ms. Linowes has held high-profile elected and volunteer positions in community planning, land negotiation, and education outreach.”

“Since its formation in 2006, Ms. Linowes has served as Executive Director and spokesperson for the Industrial Wind Action (IWA) Group, a national advocacy focused on the impact/benefits analysis and policy issues associated with industrial wind energy development. Ms. Linowes has presented and debated wind energy issues at numerous venues across the United States including the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), Society of Environmental Journalists, and the Boston Museum of Science lecture series. She has appeared on CNN, NPR, and the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, as well as in the New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, and dozens of smaller newspapers across the nation.”

“Ms. Linowes served as a member of the New Hampshire State Wind Energy Facility Siting Guidelines Working Group to determine guidelines for the siting of land-based wind turbines. Ms. Linowes has been an active participant in the ISO-New England’s Scenario Planning Process to determine regional energy requirements to meet growing demand in the region.”

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Great News! The Energy and Technology Committee has scheduled a HEARING for next THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3 on a bill to create regulations about siting wind projects.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND THE HEARING IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR COLEBROOK AND OTHER CONNECTICUT TOWNS. 

The bill is an act concerning the siting of certain commercial wind projects. To require the Connecticut Siting Council to adopt regulations concerning the siting of certain wind projects that consider the public’s health and safety. It was introduced by Rep. Vickie Orsini Nardello, 89th Dist & Sen. Joan V. Hartley, 15th Dist.

H.B. No. 6249 (RAISED) AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON THE SITING OF WIND PROJECTS UNTIL THE ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS.

H.B. No. 6250 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE SITING COUNCIL.

WHERE TO GO: Hearing Room 1E, Legislative Office Building, Hartford, Beginning at 2:30 pm. The hearing will continue well beyond 2:30 pm, so if you can’t get there until later, that’s ok. Everyone will sign in as they arrive and get to speak when their turn comes.

DIRECTIONS: Going East on I-84: Take the Capitol Ave. Exit 48B. The Capitol is on the left and the Legislative Office Building (LOB) on the right. Parking: Limited free parking is available in the Legislative Office Building parking garage (weekdays only) accessible from both Capitol Avenue and Broad Street and on the north Capitol grounds off Trinity Street. On-street metered parking and commercial parking lots are also nearby.

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House Bill 5210: An act concerning the siting of certain commercial wind projects.

To require the Connecticut Siting Council to adopt regulations concerning the siting of certain wind projects that consider the public’s health and safety.

Introduced by: Rep. Vickie Orsini Nardello, 89th Dist & Sen. Joan V. Hartley, 15th Dist  Click here to read HB 5210
(As the bill changes, its status, amendments, notices of public hearing, etc., will be posted at the link.)

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January 21, 2011: Public Hearing Scheduled

First, thank you for your support through letters, emails, calls, and petition signing! There will be a public hearing on the BNE applications for Colebrook, held locally. The applications will be combined into one hearing (see dates below). 

The news from today’s meeting of the Connecticut Siting Council:

The council granted party status to Stella and Michael Somers (Rock Hall Rd), Kristin and Benjamin Mow (Greenwoods Turnpike), Jeff and Mary Stauffer (Rock Hall Rd), Susan Wagner (Pinney Street), and FairWindCT. Intervenor status was granted to the Town of Colebrook and CL&P.

At their meeting in February, the council will consider party status for the Lawrences (Flagg Hill Road) and Walter Zima (Greenwoods Turnpike). Their letters were received too late to be included in today’s meeting.

The deadline for requesting party, intervenor, or limited appearance status is March 15.

The council set the following schedule to consider the 2 BNE applications together:

  • Field review on Tuesday, March 22 at 2pm
  • Public hearing on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30pm
  • Evidentiary hearing on Wednesday, March 23 at 2pm
  • Public hearing on Wednesday, March 23 at 6pm
  • Don’t know yet where the public hearing will be held.
  • The deadline for a decision by the council is early June.

Save the dates for the public hearing! Remember, you must send in a letter to the council asking for a limited appearance at the hearing if you want to speak. It’s sure to be worth attending this event just to listen, too!

Please visit http://fairwindct.com for other information and news. Donations (not tax-deductible, however, as we are an organization that does lobbying) can be sent to: FairWindCT, PO Box 225, Colebrook, CT 06021

Thanks again, and let me know if you have any questions.

Joyce Hemingson

President, FairWindCT

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Colebrook Property Owners Oppose Wind Project on Public Health Grounds

COLEBROOK, CT – Jan. 19, 2011 – Two Colebrook medical professionals with property abutting the proposed BNE Energy commercial wind turbine project have applied for Party status to the project application with the Connecticut Siting Council (www.ct.gov/csc), citing credible concerns about the negative impact of wind turbines in close proximity to residential areas.

“While acknowledging that the science of disturbance from wind turbines is in its infancy, we feel that there are a number of scientific studies that support the possibility of infrasonic noise causing ill health effects,” says David R. Lawrence, M.D. and Jeannie Lemelin, LPN. “We feel that it would be grossly negligent to allow wind turbines to be placed proximal to residences until such concerns are scientifically addressed such that safe setbacks can be established.”

According to Colebrook resident Joyce Hemingson, President of FairWindCT (fairwindct.com), the State of Connecticut has the unique opportunity to learn from wind farms in other states and do its best to ensure the health and safety of its citizens by establishing regulations for wind farms in residential areas before allowing them to be built.

“The State of Connecticut and many of its towns, including Colebrook, do not have regulations for wind farms in residential areas,”Hemingson says. “The State and towns need time to plan for this substantial change in our mix of energy resources. We ask that the Connecticut Siting Council call for a moratorium on commercial wind energy applications and initiate regulation-making proceedings on the subject.”

For further information, contact mailto:info@fairwindct.com

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01/11/2011: Request for Party Status to CSC from FairWindCT Legal Counsel

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Atty. General Blumenthal Press Conference

Here’s the link to the press conference on Monday, 01/03/2011.  Apparently, Channel 8
is running a short version as a sort of commercial for their news coverage.   – Joyce

Click HERE

On the landing page click on “Open in Media Player” lower left

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The Courant 01/03/2011:
Blumenthal Calls for Clear Standards To Guide Wind Farms

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News 8 01/03/2011:  Blumenthal backs wind turbine opponents

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Siting Council Meeting January 6, 2011: Open to the public

A meeting of the Connecticut Siting Council (energy/telecommunications) will be held on
Thursday, January 6, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. in Hearing Room One, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT.

Directions to meeting

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01.03.2011:  Colebrook Historical Society ~ Letter to Siting Council

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01.03.2011: This afternoon, AG Richard Blumenthal met with representatives from Save Prospect and FairWindCT (Joyce Hemingson, Manuel Cords, and Noah Ullman) in his Hartford office. Afterwards, there was a press conference and he handed out the attached press release, calling for the development of sound principles for the siting of renewable energy projects.  ~  Joyce

P.S.  Tonight at Colebrook’s Inland Wetland Commission meeting, they voted to overnight a letter to the Connecticut Siting Council asking for public hearings on the BNE applications.

Good press attendance including Print and TV.

View Press Release

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In case you haven’t seen this article from today’s Hartford Courant.

Wind Farm Outfit Might Have Chopped 2.3 Acres Of State Forest

By RINKER BUCK

December 31 2010, 4:35 PM EST

BNE Energy Inc. of West Hartford has faced stiff opposition in its efforts to operate the first commercial wind farms in Connecticut, with local residents fighting the company’s plans to build 400-foot turbines in scenic areas of the state.

View Complete Article

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Joyce’s Letter to Siting Council: 12/29/2010