Copenhagen passes wind moratorium

COPENHAGEN — Village officials passed a moratorium Wednesday night that restricts any type of windmill, either commercial or personal, from being set up within village limits.

Mayor Kenneth R. Clarke said he expects the moratorium to last about a year while the board develops a law that "protects people in the village."

The decision came after the town of Denmark announced it was closer to setting a wind power zoning law. The proposed law allows towers with 1,500-foot setbacks, which Mr. Clarke said he feels is too close.

"The village people are not protected with these setbacks," he said. "They are not far enough away."

During the meeting, Mr. Clarke said he would feel more comfortable with turbines 4,000 to 4,500 feet away from the village line, which would give the village more room to expand.

"They shouldn't be on top of the village," Trustee Kim R. Vogt said. The town "needs to have setbacks from the village line. I just don't know how you cannot recognize the largest village in town."

Mr. Clarke also addressed the board, saying the proposed 45 decibel noise level is too high. That level was reduced by the town from 55 decibels in a previous draft.

"At 50 to 55, where it was, someone should go to jail for it," he said.

The mayor questioned where the town got the 45-decibel figure to begin with.

"How does (the town) know the ambient noise in the village of Copenhagen?" he asked, predicting that at about 8 p.m., the level is about 20 to 25 decibels.

"The highest it should be here is 25 to 30," Mr. Clarke said. "The windmills will only go 5 decibels above the ambient; that's how the law should read."

Mr. Clarke said he does not have a problem with windmills. He said he does have a problem with how they will affect village residents.

"I just want to protect the people in the village," he said.

After the discussion, the board voted 4-0 in favor of the moratorium. Trustee Scott Alexander was absent.