Noble Environmental Power's local representative said the company is not pulling out of Rutland yet.

Brad King, project manager of the Connecticut-based company that plans to build a wind farm on Grandpa's Knob, responded Friday to reports that the national financial crisis had caused the company to lay off workers and postpone projects in upstate New York.

"Essentially, the markets have had an impact on Noble and as such, some of our developments have been cut back," project manager Brad King said. "What that will mean to Grandpa's Knob is being decided. Up until then, we're going to keep working. We're still out and about, talking to folks."

Noble began floating the idea of putting a wind farm on the Grandpa's Knob ridgeline early last year, and put up two meteorological towers in January to measure wind speed, wind direction and temperature at the site. King said data from the towers has been encouraging, though specifics are confidential.

King said the company also has agreements in place with 20 landowners, though, again, he said specifics were confidential.

"There are a number of additional studies that are not time-sensitive," he said. "We're essentially ready to put together and complete a permit application at this point. ... It comes back to looking at what we can spend money on right now."

Wind farms go through the Public Service Board for permitting and are exempt from the Act 250 process, though the PSB's review process includes Act 250 criteria.

King said the delays were frustrating, saying he sees a "local regional and global need" for the project and broad support for it from the local community.

Noble's problems are not all financial. New York's Attorney General announced subpoenas against Noble in July, saying the company was under investigation for allegations of bribery and anti-competitive practices.

Richard Smith, deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service, said Friday that state officials were following events in New York, and that his department's public advocate was trying to contact the New York Attorney General's Office.

"We're going to check in with some of the towns and see if there's been any issue," he said. "I don't think we have anything to investigate offhand. ... After this information came out, we did a little checking and there's been no hint of anything like this in Vermont."