INDUSTRY — A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Town Hall to review the proposed ordinance by the Wind Power Ordinance Committee.

This is the second public hearing on the ordinance, which will go to voters at the annual town meeting March 9.

The ordinance is an extension to the permit requirements of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for large wind projects, and addresses requirements for all wind projects that are not within DEP jurisdiction.

The ordinance defines a minimum safety buffer distance in accordance with the height of any proposed turbines. The purpose of the safety buffer is to ensure the protection of residents and properties from falling or thrown debris in the event of a catastrophic event, and from the effect of noise generated by the operation of the wind mills.

An independent study was commissioned by the town to measure the effect of turbine sound in the local topography. According to a press release from the Industry Planning Board, this study confirmed earlier research conducted by the committee that led to a recommended safety buffer setback of 7,000 feet from surrounding properties for major installations.

The proposed ordinance establishes legally binding perpetual easements, for a fee, as the mechanism by which a wind developer and surrounding property owners may combine their lands to meet the safety buffer setback requirement.