The Zoning Ordinance was amended on January 11, 2010 to allow the 492 foot tall turbines. In September, 2010, the application finally came in for this project with a proposal for turbines with blade tip heights of 410 feet.

You expressed your opinion - Here are the results of our Wind Survey

Wind Ordinance

The Town Council directed the Town Planner to write a Zoning Ordinance Amendment for wind which gives them sole responsibility for approving the two turbines. Members of the Town Council worked in consultation with the developer and the Planner to create an ordinance that would work for the needs of the developer.

The Planning Commission did not write the ordinance but they were allowed to comment. Here is a link to their advisory. The Planning Commission based their advisory in part on the siting guidelines developed by DEM.

Partnership Agreement (signed July 26)

Now that the ordinance is in place the developer has proposed a partnership agreement with the town. Highlights of the agreement are:

• turbines will be 1.5 to 2.5 megawatts to be decided by the developer not the town
• the agreement is for 20 years
• taxes will be frozen at the present assessed value of land plus turbines for 20 years
• all building permit fees and any other fees are waived
• developer will pay the Town 2% of his payments from National Grid up to a limit of $50,000. (this doesn't get adjusted for inflation over those 20 years)

Read a compilation of e-mail list member comments, concerns, and questions about the partnership agreement.

Application

• Application filed 3 PM September 10, 2010.
• Town Council accepts the application on September 13 and immediately schedules a public hearing for October 14
• Planning Commission reviewed with applicant the materials submitted to date for an advisory on September 22
• Town Council Liason highly critical of Planning Commission for asking too many questions at September 22 meeting
• Planner issues a Certificate of Completeness on September 27 with a list of deficiencies
• On September 27, John Matuza, the Building and Zoning Official, issues a memo advising the Town Council that even though they have taken over the roles of the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board, the applicant must still comply with "the applicable sections of the Zoning Ordinance, Site Plan Review and Special Use Permit"
• Planning Commission votes on October 7 to send advisory to Town Council on issues that need to be addressed as part of Site Plan Review
• Town Council votes at October 14 public hearing to exempt developer from Site Plan Review and Special Use Permit
• October 15, Town attorney advises Building Official to refuse to accept citizen legal appeals that application is not complete because the Town Council exempted this developer from Site Plan Review

Maps

This map showing possible turbine footprints shows the areas where the two turbines could be sited based on a 1.1 setback or 540 feet to property borders as the ordinance above allows. Footprint of turbine site is area in yellow. (This is based on the original 492 foot height, but these are close. See the filed application to see the current proposal)

Google aerial map of wind turbine site.

This map shows the 1000, 1500, and 2000 foot setbacks from the probable wind turbine sites (This is based on the original 492 foot height, but these are close. See the filed application to see the current proposal)

Your Comments on the Wind Turbine issue in Charlestown - please send us more comments
Graphic of Newport Bridge showing height comparison to Charlestown, Portsmouth, and NEIT
Photo of turbine blades being raised on a GE 2.5MW wind turbine.
Photo of foundation preparation for a large turbine.

Legislation

Rhode Island Renewable Energy Laws
2009 legislation