Written by Terri Hallenbeck, Free Press Staff Writer | Burlington Free Press | April 26, 2013 | www.burlingtonfreepress.comWritten by Terri Hallenbeck, Free Press Staff Writer | Burlington Free Press | April 26, 2013 | www.burlingtonfreepress.com
MONTPELIER – A bill that started out calling for a moratorium on wind projects and is now a promise to continue the conversation about the best ways to site energy projects, passed the House 140-3 on Friday.
The bill calls for the House and Senate Natural Resources & Energy committees to meet this summer and review the work of a special siting commission, which is due to report its findings next week.
Rep. Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier, said though he opposes a moratorium he has come to appreciate that communities are split over such projects.
Though turning legislation into a study is rarely seen as a victory for proponents, supporters of a moratorium were taking it that way in this case. Having the committees meet means they will be able to continue raising questions about the effects of large-scale ridge line wind projects.
“We need to understand why they tore up the mountain and the wind turbines haven’t turned all week,” said Rep. Don Turner, R-Milton, referring to the Georgia Mountain wind project.
The bill goes back to the Senate for another vote.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/26/house-bill-calls-for-closer-look-at-wind-projects-proposed-moratorium/