Wind farm proposal opposed

HAMMOND — The town board heard overwhelming opposition Monday night to a proposed law governing wind farms.

Almost 175 people filled the Hammond Central School gymnasium, with 45 speaking against the law and seven supporting it.

Concerned Residents of Hammond President Nancy J. Parrish said the new law was nearly the same as the version her group took to court last year.

Ms. Parrish called the ordinance "woefully unacceptable." She objected to proposed noise level standards and setbacks.

She also asked that a meeting the town board will have to discuss the new law with the St. Lawrence County Planning Board, currently scheduled for Aug. 13 in the town of Hermon, be rescheduled for Hammond.

Other speakers said town aesthetics should be protected, liability for damage should be placed on developers, residents should be able to vote on whether to allow wind farms in the town and non-resident property owners also should have a say.

Several opponents questioned the Environmental Assessment Form the town board has submitted to the county planning office saying that in about 20 instances "not applicable" was written on the form, when issues were indeed applicable.

On the other side, Nancy Hadlock said the small windmill at Hammond Central School has saved the school district thousands of dollars in energy costs. She said 140 schools across the country benefit from wind power.

John Wayne Johnson, another wind supporter, said he believed that "if you own property and pay taxes on it, you should be free to do what you want with it."

Crayton Buck, a wind energy proponent and original member of the wind committee, said he wanted to "set the record straight." He said "the CROH way can hit the highway" and "it's time we passed the law and moved forward."

Sonja Kocan said she's fed up with the CROH group, calling them "liars" and likening them to a "mob."

"There's a good group here and a group that lies," she said.

The hearing was moderated by attorney Joseph Russell, who the town board hired as special counsel for wind energy issues. He was joined by Town Attorney Frederick Paddock, Supervisor Janie G. Hollister and Councilors James Langtry and Ronald Tulley II.