PHILLIPS — With the surge of proposals for wind power generation facilities cropping up across the state and in particular in western Maine, the Phillips Planning Board is rolling up their collective sleeves to put precautionary regulations in place.

The board’s intent is to develop specific language to send to the voters an amended town ordinance providing the planning board and selectmen the proper tools required to review and regulate any future proposals should they arise. Until that process is complete, the planning board is proposing a temporary 180-day “Wind Energy Facility Moratorium Ordinance.”

“This moratorium ordinance is not about whether you like wind power or don’t like it; it’s about keeping the control of town development in the hands of the townspeople,” said planning board member Dain Trafton.

Copies of the proposed moratorium ordinance are available in the Phillips Town Office.

According to a recently developed question and-answer document crafted by the planning board, a moratorium ordinance is a temporary law that gives towns breathing space to deal with anticipated developments for which the town is not prepared. During the life of the moratorium the developments in question are prohibited.

A moratorium ordinance is temporary and lasts only for a specific period of time. Typically the prohibited term expires on a specified date; in some cases the moratorium can be renewed for an additional limited period.

The Moratorium Ordinance says it’s unclear whether wind energy facilities are a permitted use under the current ordinance, which does not contain sufficient standards to effectively provide municipal review wind power developments.

“The planning board is pleased that we have an opportunity to develop our ordinances before we have an actual wind facility proposal on the table,” Trafton said. “We think it is important to be proactive rather than reactive.”

Trafton explained that once a particular wind facility has been formally proposed, it inevitably colors discussion of the ordinance. “Supporters of the facility will want to make sure the ordinance is designed to permit the facility to be built; opponents of the facility will be trying shape the ordinance to suit their opposition. As a result the ordinance is likely to be pulled out of shape. The town needs to be as free as possible from such pressures when it draws up the ordinance.”

There is high interest in developing wind energy facilities in western Maine, the Ordinance reads. “The topography of Phillips is believed to be conducive to wind energy facility development. Without local regulations to address wind energy facility development there exists the potential for serious public harm if such are developed. Serious public harm includes, but not limited to safety, visual impact, noise, environmental degradation and health.”

The board’s Q&A sheet also mentions that a wind farm could potentially bring benefits to a town; it also could potentially create a loss in real estate value.

“The proposed moratorium ordinance will give the planning board, the selectmen, and the citizens of Phillips time to develop a wind facility ordinance to ensure that, if wind facilities are proposed and approved, they will bring benefits to the whole town and not cause harm,” the document reads.

Board members have stated that they have ordinances to regulate outhouses, but none for wind facility development. “This is not a good place to be.”

“I think it is very important for towns to update their ordinances to deal with wind power development right away,” Trafton explained.

“Commercial wind power facilities are large and potentially disruptive to town and rural life if they are not properly sited. Noise can be a particular problem as the experiences at Mars Hill and Freedom and Vinalhaven illustrate, but there are other problems too. These large facilities have to be put in places where they will not do harm to people’s lives. Even small, private turbines can be a problem if set too close to a neighbor’s back yard. Siting. Siting. Siting. That is the key,” Trafton emphasized.

Currently, wind power facilities are being considered in Dixfield, Buckfield, Rumford, Carthage, Roxbury and Highland plantations, as some local examples.

The planning board will be hosting a mandatory Public Hearing at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4 to explain the ordinance and answer questions. Members of the planning board and John Maloney of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments will be present. Maloney was instrumental in developing the legal language of the Moratorium Ordinance.

Members of the Planning Board are chairman Lee Stinchfield, Josh Bachelder, Nancy O’Toole, Matt Sharp, Dain Trafton, Sylvia Adams (Alternate) and Ken Ziglar.