May 5, 2016
Vermont

Irasburg wind: Extension granted on test tower talks

Robin Smith | Caledonian Record | May 4, 2016 | www.caledonianrecord.com

IRASBURG – Negotiations over whether David Blittersdorf was allowed to put up a wind test tower in Irasburg have been extended.

Blittersdorf, who wants to erect two industrial-sized wind turbines on Kidder Hill, asked and received more time for negotiations with the town of Irasburg and state agencies over the investigation into the wind test tower.

The town of Irasburg accused Blittersdorf of not seeking a certificate of public good for the weather tower, which he said he was not required to put up because at the time he was only seeking wind speed data for a small wind turbine on his land.

Since then, Blittersdorf decided he wants two 500-foot turbines on his Kidder Hill property.

The town of Irasburg complained that the PSB should fine or otherwise penalize Blittersdorf for not providing what might be critical advanced warning about a pending large wind project. The town would have known that Blittersdorf was interested in a wind project of some kind if he had sought a permit for his wind test tower. And that would have given the town lead time to develop a town plan, which is in draft form now but may not be in place by the time he actually applies for a certificate of public good.

He is in the midst of talking with area select boards in advance of the formal 45-day notice of intent to file an application.

George Young, the PSB officer in charge of the investigation into the complaint by the town over the wind test tower, has already allowed a time extension for more negotiations.

In an order April 28, Young granted a second extension to June 8.

The extension was also supported by the town, plus two other parties, the Vermont Department of Public Service, which acts as consumer watchdogs in utility cases, and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

The parties can all stipulate to an outcome, or they won’t reach an agreement, and then the investigation would go on to technical hearings.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/05/05/irasburg-wind-extension-granted-on-test-tower-talks/