December 1, 2015
Vermont

Iberdrola says it will honor vote on Grafton-Windham wind project

By Howard Weiss-Tisman | Vermont Public Radio | November 30, 2015 | vpr.net

A Spanish energy company that wants to build a commercial wind project in Windham and Grafton says it will respect the outcome of a still-unscheduled public vote on the project.

Iberdrola Renewables sent a letter out to residents in Grafton and Windham last week providing the two communities with an update on the company’s plans.

Iberdrola Spokesman Paul Copleman says the company continues to do engineering and environmental studies on what would be Vermont’s largest wind project if the proposed 28 turbines are built.

“The letter serves to not only to highlight the information that we’ve shared so far, particularly in light of the public meetings we held in October, but to remind people that it is still a very science intensive process that is led by a lot of input from state agencies to guide the analysis of the site and to guide the engineering and environmental studies that will continue for a number of months,” Copleman says.

Iberdrola says it is still evaluating the feasibility of siting 20 turbines in Windham and eight in Grafton.

At meetings in both towns in October, the company said it would make annual payments of about $1 million to win support for the 96-megawatt wind project.

In the letter Iberdrola says it will present a detailed layout and economic benefits package in the summer of 2016; the company hopes to present the package to both towns.

After meeting with officials in both towns, and gathering public input, Copleman says Iberdrola will have a final project proposal, along with a community benefits package, in the fall of 2016.

The company also says it will host educational work sessions early next year, and hopes Windham and Grafton will hold votes on the project during the November election.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/01/iberdrola-says-it-will-honor-vote-on-grafton-windham-wind-project/