Neighbor, power company at odds over wind turbine  

Credit:  By Jill Glavan, Reporter, www.wptz.com 26 January 2012 ~~

VERGENNES, Vt. — A recently installed wind turbine in Vergennes is the first in a Green Mountain Power project targeting smaller community projects, but one neighbor is so upset about it that he wants to move away.

The turbine, installed at the Northlands Job Corps in Vergennes, is 120 feet and 10 percent of its energy goes to Northlands in return for the land use. GMP officials said they had more than 60 proposals for similar turbines and planned to install more across the state.

Michael Mammoliti, who lives next to the turbine, said that he’s upset over his new neighbor, though. Mammoliti sent several letters of complaint to GMP and the state, but officials said that he did not meet a deadline to force a public meeting on the turbine.

Mammoliti’s complaints included noise, disruption to wildlife and the stirring up of pollen that was affecting his health.

A GMP official said that the health issues were unfounded and there was no perceived threat to wildlife. The company agreed to conduct a noise survey in the coming months to address Mammoliti’s other complaint.

“It’s a gearless wind turbine, specifically designed to work in communities (and) to be very quiet,” GMP spokesperson Dorothy Schnure said.

Mammoliti said that he didn’t believe the company and that he wanted to move because he was so upset about the project.

“I feel like selling, moving away. I don’t want to be here anymore. I’m just tired,” Mammoliti said.

Schnure said that the city of Vergennes and Northlands wanted the project and that almost everyone in the area was supportive of it. GMP is working to choose the site of the next community turbine to be installed soon.