Polisena Supports Town Ordinance For Wind Turbines

Whatever happens in the coming months with regard to wind turbine applications in the state, Mayor Joseph M. Polisena said he hopes the Town Council will complete work on new regulations so that Johnston is ready to handle such proposals.

"I really want to see an ordinance in place so the town, whether it's today or 10 years or 20 years from now, has something in place," Polisena said during  phone interview Monday morning.

The Johnston Zoning Board on Jan. 27 referred applications for wind turbines off Greenville Avenue to the Town Council; since then, North Kingstown officials have on any wind turbine plans until the state's Wind Energy Facility Siting Advisory Group completes its work in creating a regulatory framework to consider applications.

Zoning board members set a 90-day timeline on their request for council action, and Town Solicitor William Conley said last week that the timeframe seemed practical.

Polisena, though, said the work may take longer — and that he's more concerned about putting a good structure in place than the time it may take.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions that need to be answered," the mayor said. "I don't want to rush it within 90 days."

Polisena added that he'd be willing to "meet with the town fathers in North Kingstown (and) sponsor them coming up here" to discuss the recent events in that town, since that community has been working on its wind turbine ordinance since 2008.

Generally, Polisena said, he supports renewable energy — as long as it's done with due regard to surrounding areas. Right now, most wind turbine applications are for sites in or near residential neighborhoods.

"Anything that's green, it's great for the community (but) you've really got to take a look at it," Polisena explained. "I think safety is a big concern of the neighbors, and rightly so."