Special town meeting set on wind farm moratorium
RUMFORD — Selectmen on Friday afternoon voted unanimously to hold a special town meeting on whether to enact a six-month moratorium on commercial wind development. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Rumford Falls Auditorium.
The move was prompted by a tentative proposal by First Wind LLC, of Newton, Mass., to site a wind farm on Black Mountain and two adjacent mountains. A citizens petition with 774 signatures turned in to the town last week asked for a moratorium on such development.
The board's vote followed a discussion to move the meeting to a site with better acoustics.
"This is already becoming contentious and people can't hear anything up there," Selectman Rob Cameron said.
Selectmen Greg Buccina said the meeting is to determine whether people want a moratorium or not.
"This isn't an informational meeting. That will come later," he said.
However, Windpower Education Committee member Len Greaney said he believes that limiting discussion is too controlling. He said his group will rally as many people as possible to attend the Dec. 3 meeting.
Town Manager Carlo Puiia said the moratorium will give a soon-to-be established Windpower Committee a chance to guide the town with anything related to wind farms. Options could include writing an ordinance that would provide regulations for such development, a plan to work with a wind farm developer, or other ideas that will be determined by the group.
The committee will comprise two selectmen, a Planning Board member, Puiia, and four members of the public. The deadline for submitting an application for one of the public slots is Nov. 19. Puiia said the board will likely appoint members at its Nov. 23 meeting.
eadams@sunjournal.com
Common Sense says
Years ago when the River Valley was labeled "Cancer Valley", courtesy of the Doctors Aniel and some others, heck there was even an unsubstantiated nationally broadcast documentary, the NOCC was formed by the River Valley Towns. It was made up of citizens who were not Selectmen, Planning Board Members or on any other board but local people interested and willing to served. Candiceanne who is back here doing the Community Pride Project for a year served the entry duration of the project, over three years. The NOCC PROVED WE ARE NOT CANCER VALLEY, thank you very much Drs for the undeserved negative reputation and another very big blackmark blocking economic development we have not been able to escape courtesy of all the national press you got.
When there is an issue of true public interest, people will get involved like they did with NOCC. If people do not sign-up to get involved with this project it would mean there is no interest or concern among the majority or enough by any to get involved or the people are happy with the way things are going so leave it alone and let things progress naturally.
I remember NOCC well and what it took from the hundred or so that worked it through. Three years is a long time to work on something for no pay and those people put in many hours week in and week out tirelessly. If people are concerned about windpower here they will be out abain especially since this will be a very short project.
I have wondered how many of the opponants have visited a wind farm to find out first hand the truth about the noise and specticle of these things? I realize the ones in New England are very small scale compared to elsewhere but then any built here will be as well.
If we could only return to common sense...