GUILFORD – The Town of Guilford Board approved a key local law Wednesday night regulating and approving the development of solar and wind energy businesses.

About 50 people spoke at last night's meeting, most of them in opposition to the law. The board reviewed environmental impact information and other documents before unanimously approving the 11th draft version of the law.

“I think it is in the town's best interest, I view it as green energy being produced and I think the positives outweigh the negative. We looked at ice throw and shadow flicker, dozens of documents. It will generate revenue,” said Town Supervisor George Seneck.

Guilford Town Board Attorney Brady Begeal, who reviewed the documents during last night's meeting, agreed saying, "The essence of these projects are to reduce reliance on fossil fuels."

Seneck said the town would reap about $400,000 a year for the next 30 years from the projects.

The company, the Calpine Corporation, expects to spend around $200 million on building a proposed windmill energy project.

The windmills are limited to 676-feet in the proposed local law, or more than 13 times the height of the Chenango County Courthouse.