SCIPIO -- Windfarms, Internet and emergency services took center stage at the Scipio Town Board meeting Wednesday night.

"At this point there is still no word on what the state is doing," said town supervisor Keith Batman, referring to information from a Shell WindEnergy Group representative, who believed the state was close to issuing regulations affecting windfarms.

Batman said the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Department of Energy had been discussing restrictions in present regulations over land use for windfarms but are now coming to terms on the issues.

Scipio is planning to possibly install wind towers if a temporary anemometer (met) tower now in place provides positive data. The board, concerned about short and long-term issues connected with wind energy, has formed a committee to examine environmental, legal, financial, energy conservation, and quality of life issues.

The met tower, a test tower, gathers data for the company that erects it, but any environmental impact review authorized by the town would include some data. It takes at least a year to collect data to see if installing the actual windtowers would be viable. The process could take as long as three years.

For more, read Thursday's Citizen