Hammond Town Board rescinds wind farm regulation law

HAMMOND — A law regulating the creation of wind farms here was repealed Monday by the Hammond Town Board.

The wind ordinance was rescinded at the advice of the town attorney pending a state Environmental Quality Review

(SEQR), town officials said. The decision to overturn the law was made unanimously after an executive session at the year-end meeting Monday.

The environmental review requires the board to identify and mitigate any significant environmental impacts that may stem from the ordinance.

Town Supervisor Janie G. Hollister was unavailable for comment.

The decision to repeal the law comes after the Concerned Residents of Hammond, a grass-roots organization that opposes the wind ordinance, filed a lawsuit against the town Nov. 28. The lawsuit claimed the board had not done an environmental review before the law was passed.

The group filed the lawsuit after a wind turbine law in Centerville was overturned because the town board had not done a SEQR.

According to Councilman Ronald E. Tulley II, the review can be done in one evening and should be completed either Jan. 5 or 12. Mr. Tulley said the law will be re-enacted if the council approves a negative declaration.

The review, which consists of two questionnaires, will be done by the town board and attorney. The board has hired an environmental attorney to oversee the meeting as well.

Since 2006 PPM Energy of Portland, Ore, which is part of the Spanish company Iberdrola SA, has proposed erecting 50 turbines here. The 100-megawatt project could cost an estimated $200 million, but PPM officials said obstacles, such as transmitting the electricity generated, need to be resolved before a farm could come to the town.

William A. Rogers, spokesman for the Concerned Residents of Hammond, said the group is hoping the repeal of the law will start a dialogue in the town.

"We're hopeful it will open a dialogue that everyone can participate in," said Mr. Rogers.