Caratunk residents approve new wind turbine ordinance

CARATUNK — Residents unanimously approved a wind development ordinance Wednesday night that restricts the placement of wind turbines to at least a mile and a half from a property line.

Eighteen people voted in favor of the ordinance after about 35 minutes of discussion.

The former rules mandated that wind turbines could be no less than four times the tower height or 1,000 feet — whichever was greater — from the nearest occupied building.

The new rules extend the setback to at least one-and-a-half miles from a property line.

Depending on the number of proposed turbines and their power, however, they could be placed even farther away, said Marie Beane, a Caratunk planning board member.

The ordinance lays out a formula that determines the specific setback for certain projects. The formula is based on the type of proposed turbines and their quantity.

The rules are restrictive, but there are still places in Caratunk where development could be possible, Beane said.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

[email protected]

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