Wind Power News: Vermont
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Residents outspoken against wind project
WEST RUTLAND — Pam Sokol does not want an industrial wind project in her backyard. The West Rutland resident spoke out during an informational Select Board meeting with the developers of a 20-turbine wind farm on the Grandpa’s Knob ridgeline Monday night. “I own 44-acres just under where you are putting the project,” Sokol said to the developer Reunion Power. “Mr. Eisenberg, I don’t want you in my backyard. Please accept that.” Steve Eisenberg, managing director of Reunion Power, spoke . . .
Derby Line: wind developer, host farmer say ‘full steam ahead’
DERBY — Dairy farmer Bryan Davis and Chad Farrell of Encore Redevelopment have no intention of withdrawing their plans for two industrial-grade wind turbines on two Derby farms. Both Davis and Farrell said Tuesday that the project called Derby Line Wind is still going ahead, even though there have been significant changes in the schedule and pace of the project. “We’re going full-steam ahead,” Davis said. “Yes we are continuing to go forward with the project,” Farrell said. He still . . .
No double standard for wind
You can learn a lot by attending select board meetings in your town. The Pittsford Select Board meeting May 2 was a fascinating example of this. Several people were there to continue to observe and make comments on discussion and decision-making regarding the proposed industrial wind development on Grandpa’s Knob/Pittsford Ridge. Also on the agenda for this meeting was a presentation regarding the proposed removal of the historic Kendric Pond Dam. This presentation was given by Ethan Swift of the . . .
Derby: town quizzes GMP about truck route
DERBY — Green Mountain Power officials will coordinate their plans to truck Lowell Mountain turbine sections through Derby Center with local fire and school officials. Trucking begins in July. GMP officials told the Derby Select Board Monday that the company wants to ship the parts by rail to Island Pond and then truck them through Charleston and Derby on Route 105 to Interstate 91 and then to Route 58 from the Orleans exit in Barton. Four-to-six loads a day would . . .
Derby board votes “No” to wind, finally, almost
DERBY- Derby Town’s attorney Richard Saudek attended the select board meeting Monday evening to discuss where the town stands on the Derby Line Wind project. The meeting was delayed while the board waited for Saudek to show up. The board spent the time handling other matters. Approximately 75 people, including the United States and Canadian media, Stanstead residents and town council members, and Stanstead Mayor Philippe Dutil crowded into the meeting room with some standing in the halls trying to . . .
Lowell protesters win one, lose one
NEWPORT CITY — Five of the “Lowell Six” protesters lost one and won one in Judge Robert Gerety’s decisions on motions. The Lowell wind development protesters will be permitted to call witnesses and use court orders in the civil property dispute between Green Mountain Power (GMP) and Don and Shirley Nelson in their criminal trespass trials, but Judge Robert Gerety Jr. denied their motion to dismiss the charges. In orders issued Monday in Orleans Superior Court-Criminal Division, Gerety also denied . . .
Derby Line wind: Opposed board seeks legal help
DERBY — The Derby Select Board Monday evening decided to send its attorney on a fishing expedition “to smoke out” the Derby Line Wind Project developer and see if he is about to withdraw or delay the project. Attorney Richard Saudek also said that he would alert state regulators on the Vermont Public Service Board that the town is divided and the board is increasingly opposed to the project. “They’ve got to come to grips with it,” he said about . . .
Georgia Mountain wind project underway
MILTON, Vt. – It’s being touted as a locally-owned, locally-financed project that is providing jobs for Vermonters in the renewable energy industry, but some local residents say the Georgia Mountain Wind Project is a blight on the landscape that will threaten local wildlife. Heavy equipment is clearing trees and widening the access road to make way for the Georgia Mountain Community Wind project. A four turbine, 10 megawatt project which will provide power directly to Burlington Electric Department — enough . . .
Be wary of wind project
I remember the great feeling of finally paying off our mortgage. It went way beyond the obvious financial benefit. There’s a sense of freedom and security. If you fall on hard times, no one can take your house away. That’s why it was shocking to realize that everything we had worked for could be taken away by a well financed developer. What’s more, the laws of the state of Vermont would fully support it. There are no minimum distances from . . .
VEC board president: Northern Vermont economy is growing
[Dave Hallquist, CEO of the co-op] pointed out that a push by the state for more in-house wind and solar electricity sources for electricity could make the grid unstable, noting that Texas had experienced rolling blackouts because of a high use of intermittent sources like wind and solar.
Hallquist said he had questions about the future of large wind projects on ridgelines.
“You’d need 165 more wind towers the size of the ones in Lowell. I am not sure Vermonters want that,” he said.
