Iberdrola wants two met towers in Orleans

LAFARGEVILLE — They’re back.

Iberdrola Renewables has asked to again erect meteorological towers in the town of Orleans.

The developer wants to put up two test towers. One would be at 36738 County Route 15, owned by David R. and Betty J. Lawton. That parcel is 122.4 acres and is rural residential with active farmland. The other would be on vacant farmland on County Route 181. The applicant for that 249.8-acre parcel was Barbara Thompson.

The wind power developer appeared for a preliminary meeting with the Planning Board on Tuesday night, said Brad P. “Shookie” Millett, zoning officer for the town of Orleans, on Wednesday. The board will hold a public hearing on the towers at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at the town offices, 20558 Sunrise Ave., LaFargeville.

The developer previously had a meteorological tower about a mile off Route 180 beginning in 2004.

Iberdrola ran a full-page advertisement with the state attorney general’s Wind Industry Ethics Code in Tuesday’s Times classifieds. Iberdrola Communications Manager Paul N. Copleman said in an e-mail Tuesday they are required to run the ad before they put up a met tower in any community.

The company signed the code in July, agreeing to comply with the voluntary requirements.

The town’s Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals are still working on a revised zoning law for wind turbines.

The town’s current zoning law would not allow a wind farm outside of the overlay district, in the southwestern portion of the town. These two towers would be outside of that district.

In August and October, the town’s wind committee finished recommendations for a more restrictive law that would increase noise requirements and setbacks. But the members suggested that the Town Council consider opening up the entire town instead of limiting development to one district.

In May, a second committee focused on economics submitted its recommendations to the boards.