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Town of Pittsford Special
Select Board Meeting The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM by Thomas "Hank" Pelkey, Chairman after the meeting was moved from the Town Offices to the Lothrop School cafeteria due to many residents in attendance.
Select board members present: Joseph Gagnon, Thomas Hooker, David Markowski, Allen Hitchcock, and Thomas "Hank" Pelkey. Also present were Kathleen Ramsay, Pittsford Town Manager; Linda Drummond, Recording Secretary; Brad King, Development Manager from Noble Environmental Power; Martha Staskus, Vermont Environmental Research Associates, Inc.; Robert Howland, Development Representative, Noble Environmental Power; and Alice Finlay, Public Relations Manager in Rutland, Noble Environmental Power. Also present were over 60 interested persons. Presentation on Grandpa's Knob Windpark Project Brad King, Development Manager for Noble Environmental Power (NEP), gave an introduction about NEP and the Grandpa's Knob Windpark Project of 20 wind turbines along an approximate six mile length of Grandpa's Knob. B. King presented a timeline of the process of NEP's owner operated project from development to construction to operation. Currently, the State Public Service Board is reviewing NEP's application for the installation and operation of three Temporary wind measurement stations along Grandpa's Knob ridgeline in the Towns of Pittsford, Hubbardton, and West Rutland. Along with extensive environmental studies, installation of the temporary wind measurement stations is part of NEP's investigation of the viability of establishing a windpark along the ridgeline, with 17-20 wind turbines installed along the approximate six mile length of Grandpa's Knob. Under NEP's current concept for the project, eight to ten of the towers are proposed to be in Pittsford. As a power generation source, windparks are exempt from local and State Act 250 permitting requirements, but are reviewed under section 248 which incorporates many of the same standards. The Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) would conduct regulatory review of the potential Grandpa's Knob Windpark proposal under Title 30, section 248 of the Vermont Statute. In addition to Federal Permits that would be required, section 248 requires companies to obtain approval in the form of a Certificate of Public Good (CPG) from the VT PSB. Based on public input on the project from this special public meeting, the Select Board may decide to submit commentary on the project to the PSB. Many questions were asked including concerns and comments about: Aviation lighting impact Land disturbance Use of access roads already available Tax revenue Noise Visual impact of the skyline Income to the area Climate changes globally Safety for aircraft Color of the wind turbines Regulated by PSB Need for using less fossil fuels and using alternate energy Lifespan of technology Federal tax credits Lease agreements with land owners Watershed protection Roads would return to previous state or better Property values Wildlife preservation
After question and answer period, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45PM.
Respectfully submitted: Linda Drummond, Recording Clerk Thomas "Hank" Pelkey, Chair Allen Hitchcock, Vice-Chair W. Joseph Gagnon, Selectman David Markowski, Selectman Thomas Hooker, Selectman
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