Oakfield says ‘yes’ to wind farm

Oakfield voters, by about a nine-to-one margin, gave the proposed wind farm the go-ahead Monday night. Town Manager Dale Morris said the vote, 127 no and 14 yes, “sent the moratorium down in defeat” when they checked off their ballots to proceed with the wind farm and related issues.    Morris says the town meeting started at 7 p.m. and voting commenced at 7:30 p.m. when voters went up to the town clerk and deposited their checked ballots. Morris added that it was a good turnout locally and the results were “a clear loud message” since a typical turnout is usually only about 5 percent of voters. He says there are 555 registered voters in Oakfield.
Several ballot issues were related to the energy project being developed by Massachusetts-based company, First Wind. They were: a credit enhancement agreement on taxes that will steer about $10 million into the town over 20 years; the community benefit fund that will mean $800-$1,000 a year to homeowners with Homestead Exemptions; and, a road authorization to move wind farm equipment.
Voters also approved purchase of a new backhoe for public works, removal of ash at the transfer station to a licensed facility and acceptance of the state-mandated revised shoreland zoning statutes.