August 17, 2013
Vermont

Wind test towers approved

By Alexei Rubenstein | WCAX | Aug. 16, 2013 | www.wcax.com

NEWARK, Vt. – Temporary test towers got the green light from the Public Service Board.

The plan by Seneca Mountain Wind is to test wind speeds to see if a 35-turbine wind farm is feasible in the area. The board decision allows four of the 200-foot towers to go up; two in Brighton, one in Ferdinand and one in Newark.

Newark’s select board has been against the project. Board members say the decision is disappointing, but expected.

Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia County, has pushed for a moratorium on commercial wind in Vermont.

“It leaves the developer with the idea that the process is continuing and that no one is in the way. It is unfortunate, it is sad to see that the PSB is not looking at a MET tower application as step one in a two-step process. The second step is getting the wind farm,” Benning said.

The permit for the test towers requires a number of conditions that must be met before the towers can go up. If all goes as planned, the company would likely put the towers up next year.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/08/17/wind-test-towers-approved/