Louisville Town Board meets tonight for hearing on wind law

By BENNY FAIRCHILD

LOUISVILLE - Although officials in the town of Louisville say they’re unaware of any potential wind turbine development in the town, they will be holding a public hearing Wednesday evening on proposed turbine regulations.

“We’re kind of getting this in place in case any commercial development comes along, but we don’t have any at this time,” said Town Supervisor Larry R. Legault.

Mr. Legault said the town’s planning board began reviewing potential legislation several years ago before a law was passed giving the state, not local municipalities, the final say on where commercial turbines could be placed.

“We are unsure if we even need to do this with that new state law, but we felt that since we started it, we would like to finish,” he said. “I believe any commercial wind development is now regulated by the state, but I think if our law is more stringent it supersedes it.”

Planning board Chairman James Boyce said while the planning board crafted the law they didn’t do it on their own.

“We got some guidance from the county and looked at a lot of the laws from other communities,” he said.

Mr. Boyce said one of the planning board’s recommendations is to not allow wind turbines along the St. Lawrence River.

Members of the community who would like to comment on the law can do so at the hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The hearing will be followed by the town’s regularly scheduled meeting.