Opponents raise red flag over shipments  

Credit:  Reposted from Caledonian-Record via Energize Vermont 10 August 2012 ~~

LOWELL — Opponents of the Lowell wind project succeeded in alerting state utility regulators about potential violations in how Green Mountain Power is shipping wind turbine components across northwestern Vermont.

But the Vermont Public Service Board reminded the towns of Albany and Craftsbury and opponents in the Lowell Mountain Group that they don’t have the status to demand sanctions or an injunction to stop shipments.

The towns of Albany and Craftsbury only have status in the public hearing process over the wind project when it comes to impacts within their borders, the board stated in an order this week.

“No portion of the northern route passes through Albany or Craftsbury and therefore its use has no direct impact within the towns, leaving them without standing to bring the motion,” the board ruled.

And Lowell Mountain Group was not granted permission to intervene on the topics of public safety, municipal services or transportation, the board stated.

And even if they had standing to intervene, the board stated that they did not demonstrate how they are entitled to injunctive relief.

The board noted that this is not the first time that the towns have sought an injunction to stop the project construction in areas that they did not have standing to intervene.

The board gently chided the towns, saying that Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure require that “a litigant have a good faith and reasonably supported believe that a claim has merit.”