Some In Colebrook Oppose Wind Proposal

The Connecticut Siting Council held a hearing today on a proposal to build wind turbines in Colebrook. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports several residents voiced their opposition to the turbines

BNE Energy is proposing to build six turbines that could be the state’s first wind farm to supply energy to the electric grid. But some Colebrook residents say their small town isn’t the place for an industrial wind farm.

During the hearing an attorney with the group Fairwind Connecticut, underscored this point when he asked the Chairman of Colebrook’s Planning and Zoning commission whether there are any gas stations in Colebrook?

“No” was the answer.

“Banks?”

“No”

“Traffic lights?” 

“No”.

Later Brandy Grant, a first grade teacher and resident of Colebrook said her neighborhood would remain zoned for residential use even if commercial-sized wind turbines are built there.

“You’re putting an industrial facility in a residential neighborhood yet the rest of us are still held to the residential standards, You’re going against everything  planning and zoning. How is that? That’s why people by their homes there.”

Another neighbor, David Lawrence, a physician, said he is concerned about noise from the turbines, but he said he would not oppose the project if it were built far enough away from homes so the sound levels be 35 decibels or less.

BNE Energy says sound from the project will be below levels set by the state. The state doesn’t have specific sound regulations for wind turbines.

The Siting Council will continue hearings on the Colebrook project next Tuesday and Thursday.

For WNPR I’m Nancy Cohen