Senator Phil Williams Introduces Bill on Wind Farms

The Cherokee County Industrial Development Authority drew a significant crowd to their recent Partnership Breakfast on the campus of Gadsden State Cherokee in Centre.

State Senators Gerald Dial and Phil Williams, Representative Richard Lindsey, members of the County Commission and the Industrial Development Authority, several area mayors and a range of other political and community leaders were all on-hand to hear about some of the projects that the local IDA is working on and what’s going on around the state.

Phil Williams touched on two topics of vital interest to the community the first being the economic outlook and four-laning of Highway 411. Following that the senator moved on to what has been a topic of controversy for many both here in Cherokee County and in neighboring Etowah County – wind turbines.  The senator has introduced a bill which addresses some of the concerns expressed by area residents.

The bill calls for the establishment of a permit application process by ADEM, requiring that any company wishing to initiate a wind energy project in Alabama to obtain said permit which would cover both construction and operation; he added that the bill was modeled after legislation which has been enacted in New York state.

One provision of Williams proposed legislation, is that there will be bonding, to ensure that there is cash on hand to cover the cost of removing any turbines which may be abandoned or – become inoperable.

Williams said he hopes the bill will be passed before the legislative session ends on May 20th.

 

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