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.
Border town cool to wind project: Fears of noise, visual pollution
Holland, Vermont, which is adjacent to the town of Derby, and a stone’s throw from Derby Line, Vermont (and Stanstead, Quebec), has been anything but warm to the idea of having two giant wind turbines overlooking its territory. Like Derby and the smaller village of Derby Line, Holland is situated on the Canadian border, to the east of those two municipalities. According to the last census, the town, which has no villages of any significance, has a population of just . . .
Lowell wind: Students’ contempt charges dismissed
NEWPORT CITY — Judge Robert P. Gerety Jr. on Wednesday threw out the state’s contempt of court case against two Sterling College students who were involved in the protest against the Lowell wind project. Gerety said the students, Trevor Ring and David Martorana, had no way of knowing on Nov. 16 that they were about to be in contempt of a preliminary injunction banning anyone from being within a 1,000-foot blast safety zone at certain times. The students’ attorney, Kristina . . .
‘Ridges are not renewable day’: Film, experts call for pause in Big Wind development
Thursday’s ‘Ridges Are Not Renewable Day’: Film, Experts Call For Pause in Big Wind Development Experts to Testify, “Impacts Need to be Assessed Before Development Continues” On Thursday February 2nd utility-scale wind opponents from communities across Vermont will head to the State House for “Ridges Are Not Renewable Day.” They will call on lawmakers to call a “time out” on further utility-scale wind development in the state to give regulators, communities, and experts time to assess impacts from recently constructed projects. As . . .
Dismissed!
The judge granted the Motion to Dismiss charges against the two Sterling College students, Trevor and Dave, who were arrested on the Nelsons’ property for violating the Temporary Restraining Order. Read the Judge’s Dismissal Decision The Court observes that under the Preliminary Injunction Green Mountain Power Corporation was ordered to ”. . .warn the public of any blasting.” Also, Green Mountain Power was ordered to ”. . .provide law enforcement with notice of blasting sufficient to allow for execution of . . .
Wind protesters challenge contempt charges
NEWPORT — Failure to post the blasting schedule or give notification at the wind site on Lowell Mountain may unravel criminal charges brought against two protesters here in Orleans County Superior Court. Judge Robert Gerety Jr. is expected to rule later this month on a defense motion to dismiss contempt of court charges brought against David Martorana, 19, and Trevor Ring, 20, students at Sterling College in Craftsbury. They were charged with violating a court order on November 16 when . . .
Judge wants more data in trespass case
NEWPORT — A Superior Court judge has asked for more research before deciding on whether he should dismiss an unlawful trespass charge brought against a reporter who refused to leave a wind protest he was covering on private property. “I want to understand the law a little better than I do right now,” advised Judge Robert Gerety Jr., following oral arguments on Thursday, January 26, here in Orleans County Superior Court. The judge gave defense attorney Philip White of Newport . . .
Big wind: opponents are seeking moratorium
Activists continue this week to press the Legislature to issue a moratorium on utility-scale wind projects such as the one planned for Lowell and already exists in Sheffield. They, including those opposed to the Lowell wind project, want lawmakers, experts and communities to take some time to assess the impacts of recently constructed projects. On Thursday, critics will take their case to the Statehouse in Montpelier on what they are calling “Ridges Are Not Renewable Day.” Energize Vermont announced Tuesday . . .
Derby wind process begins
Vermont utility regulators have set in motion the process for considering permits for the Derby Line wind project. The Vermont Public Service Board scheduled what’s called a pre-hearing meeting on Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. at the board’s offices in Montpelier. This pre-hearing brings the developers and all the interested parties together to discuss the pace and details of the upcoming hearing schedule for the project. After the pre-hearing, the Public Service Board would set the deadline for briefs, the . . .
Students protest charges
NEWPORT – A hearing on the case of the two Sterling College students arrested on Lowell Mountain was heard Thursday in Orleans Superior Court Criminal Division. The students’ attorney, Kristina Michelson, filed motions for the case to be dismissed. David Martorana and Trevor Ring were arrested on Lowell Mountain on Nov. 16. The two were among several people occupying the mountain and opposed to the construction of the wind project currently underway, but both students said they did not want . . .
Wind protest arrests: blasting warnings questioned
NEWPORT CITY — The defense fired holes in the state’s case Thursday morning against two Sterling College students accused of violating a court order barring anyone from being near blasting at the Lowell wind site last fall. And the presiding judge raised sharp questions of his own in the hour-long hearing, asking about how the students Nov. 16 would have known whether blasting was to occur near the wind construction site. Defense attorney Kristina Michelson requested the motion to dismiss . . .
