July 25, 2012
Letters, Vermont

Back moratorium for industrial wind

Burlington Free Press | www.burlingtonfreepress.com 24 July 2012

In a June 29 article posted to the Free Press, Gabrielle Stebbins from the industrial wind trade group Renewable Energy Vermont laid claim that the divisiveness of wind energy development is based on “fear that is spread by …misinformation,” and she is eager to make the case for industrial wind.

I agree with Ms. Stebbins. Misinformation is being spread about industrial wind. But are we to believe Vermonters living under the threat of industrialization are spreading misinformation, while those who profit from it are keepers of the truth?

I’d argue requests from Vermonters to planners and legislators to slow the pace of development by imposing a moratorium is, in part, a response to misinformation being spread by those who profit most from hasty development.

I’m not surprised industrialists are unhappy with the mounting cry from Vermonters to stop the dynamiting while we study the impacts. We, in the Northeast Kingdom, have discovered the more you learn about industrial wind, the more there is to dislike about it. As each part of the state is threatened, more Vermonters reach this same conclusion.

I applaud the Northeastern Vermont Development Association’s moratorium decision. I urge legislators, the Shumlin administration and even Ms. Stebbins to stand with the NVDA: Support the moratorium and a non-industry biased assessment.

There are better paths to bringing about Vermont’s renewable energy future. Those who wish to be educated on what is best for Vermont can find information on energizevermont.org.

I encourage Ms. Stebbins and all Vermonters to join us in getting that education.

NOREEN HESSION

Newark

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/25/back-moratorium-for-industrial-wind/