PITTSFIELD -- Silence said it all.

Without a peep from the public, the Planning Board on Monday unanimously approved local permits for a 100-foot-tall, 10-kilowatt wind turbine for the town.

The $63,000 turbine will generate half of the electricity needed to run the Pittsfield Recycling Center/Transfer Station on Peltoma Avenue, town officials said.

If the town can get a state grant to foot most of the bill, construction of the turbine could begin as soon as May 2009. Evolo Home Center of Newport will supply the Bergey 10KW turbine.

"I think it's a fantastic proposal," said planning board member Jen Siter. "It's a great concept. We should give it a shot."

Town Manager Kathryn Ruth proposed the project to the Planning Board earlier this month, but board members said they wanted to offer the public a chance to weigh in before giving approval, citing potential concerns such as noise.

But of the handful of people who attended the board's Monday night meeting, nobody spoke either for or against the proposal. That was good enough for the board to swiftly OK the turbine.

"I'm happy the town is looking to wind," John Rush, owner of Evolo Home Center, said after the planning board adjourned. "It shows they're forward-thinking."

Since news reports have publicized Pittsfield win turbine proposal, Ruth said she's been receiving many calls from people inquiring about the project and offering advice. But all the calls have come from out-of-state, she said.

"Mostly the calls were from away $ Pennsylvania, New Hampshire," Ruth said. They explained different proposals, things they're doing, sharing insight. It generated a lot of interest across the states."

To finance the turbine, the town government has applied for up to $50,000 in grant money from Maine's Voluntary Renewable Resources Fund.

Ruth said Monday that if the town isn't successful with the state grant $ it should know in a month or two $ then the town will apply for a similar federal grant.