June 26, 2012
Vermont

Windham wind farm in initial stages of development

By MIKE FAHER, Reformer Staff | Brattleboro Reformer | www.reformer.com 26 June 2012

WINDHAM – The world’s largest wind-power producer is laying groundwork for what could be the first commercial turbine development in Windham County.

Iberdrola Renewables has issued notice of a pending application to place two meteorological-testing towers in the town of Windham and one in Grafton.

Those towers will allow the company to determine whether to pursue construction of a wind farm of undetermined size on 5,000 acres of land owned by New Hampshire-based Meadowsend Timberlands Limited.

“Our goal would be to have a sense of whether there can be a project by the spring or summer of next year,” said Jenny Briot, a senior business developer for Iberdrola.

But wind power is controversial in Vermont, and the proposal likely will face some local opposition.

A meeting on the project is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 11 at Windham Elementary School. Mary Boyer, who chairs the Windham Selectboard, confirmed that the town has regulations restricting turbine development there.

“We carefully drafted and approved a town plan that prohibits commercial wind development on our ridgelines,” Boyer said. “And our intention is to uphold our town plan.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/26/windham-wind-farm-in-initial-stages-of-development/