www.windaction.org facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts Windaction http://www.windaction.org/articles/c107+52?theme=atom Xarayar 2006-06-12T02:16:27Z

[ Zoning/Planning | Maine | New Hampshire ]

Familiar differences emerge on energy panel .38642 2013-06-15T21:02:21Z 2013-06-15T21:02:21Z Discussion Thursday reflected the strong support among House members for renewable energy, especially wind power, and the more sympathetic posture among senators to critics who say the process for siting wind turbines needs big improvements. Legislation introduced on the Senate side originally called for a moratorium on new wind-power development. Commission's goal is 'empowering' towns in power projects in Vermont .38296 2013-05-07T19:11:52Z 2013-05-07T19:11:52Z "Overall, I can say with some confidence that we have addressed the issues we consistently heard from the public and the industry developers alike -- that our current process is too complicated, too expensive, too slow, not transparent enough and not sensitive enough to cultural and environmental considerations," he said. Vt. Legislature's push to address concerns about wind power projects sputters, splinters .38273 2013-05-04T15:30:08Z 2013-05-04T15:30:08Z On Friday, the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee agreed to the House's pared-down version of what was originally a bill regulating large wind turbine projects, including a three-year moratorium. But although Senate bill 30 is moving forward without any controls on energy siting, some key provisions are still on the table. Siting commission recommends more transparent, inclusive permitting process for energy projects .38244 2013-04-30T16:42:52Z 2013-04-30T16:42:52Z On Tuesday, the Vermont Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission submitted its final report and recommendations to the governor and the Vermont Legislature. The commission recommends a revision of the Section 248 permitting process. No freeze on wind projects, but greater voice for towns .38192 2013-04-24T18:25:16Z 2013-04-24T18:25:16Z Advocates of the temporary ban say a compromise package being voted out of a House committee this week could at least bring more scrutiny of the regulatory process that governs ridgeline wind projects. ...Sen. Robert Hartwell, a Bennington County Democrat and lead sponsor of the original moratorium language, said he believes those summer hearings will yield legislation next year that will amplify citizens' voices in the regulatory process. Energy Siting Panel: Towns could say no to big wind .38129 2013-04-22T13:26:33Z 2013-04-22T13:26:33Z The latest round of draft recommendations from the Governor's Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission would not force a town like Newark or Brighton to find a place for big wind turbines, unlike a previous draft. Instead, the draft recommendations now say that towns can reject one form of renewable technology as long as the towns promote alternative renewable energy projects instead. Vermont Senate: Study turbine impacts .37915 2013-03-30T19:37:44Z 2013-03-30T19:37:44Z On Friday, Galbraith argued that the significance of that assessment and report should not be downplayed. Armed with information from the study, lawmakers could revisit the wind-power legislation in their next session starting in January. "Then, we have our bite at the apple," Galbraith said. He also pointed out that the bill still contains a provision banning wind turbines -- or any other commercial development -- on state land. Vt. Senate passes scaled-down wind bill .37864 2013-03-26T18:48:46Z 2013-03-26T18:48:46Z The 24-6 vote came after a much closer series of votes on an amendment to remove provisions requiring greater consideration of town and regional plans when the Public Service Board reviews energy projects. Vt. Green energy bill advances but is scaled down .37865 2013-03-26T01:18:58Z 2013-03-26T01:18:58Z Foes of mountaintop wind power in Vermont were dealt a setback Tuesday when a bill calling for more study of large-scale renewable energy development was significantly reduced in scope. Though the bill won preliminary approval in the Senate, it was only after provision calling for a slowdown of such development was scaled back, then removed completely. Vote on controversial bill on siting of energy projects delayed .37790 2013-03-20T17:50:11Z 2013-03-20T17:50:11Z Senate Bill 30 is being pushed by critics of wind projects that they say have been damaging Vermont's mountaintops without significantly reducing the state's greenhouse gaCampbell said the delay was partly in response to a letter he received from Jeff Wolfe, owner of GroSolar, who threatened to work to unseat Campbell if he voted for the bill. Because Campbell would be presiding over the Senate on Wednesday, he couldn’t vote on the bill, which he did not want to be interpreted as cowering to the threat.s emissions. Senators drop wind moratorium .37534 2013-02-27T22:01:17Z 2013-02-27T22:01:17Z Requiring the Public Service Board to enforce Act 250 criteria, the state's governing land-use law, which relies heavily on town plans, was also a substantial change, Hartwell said. While the Public Service Board already considers Act 250 criteria, the quasi-judicial body is not required to conform with the land-use law, according to Hartwell. In New England, a Natural Gas Trap .37395 2013-02-16T13:21:19Z 2013-02-16T13:21:19Z The underlying issue in New England is that gas pipeline capacity is inadequate to keep prices steady in times of high home heating demand, said Vamsi Chadalavada, executive vice president and chief operating officer of ISO New England. ISO is leading a study focused mainly on reliability, but reliability is intertwined with price, he said. Public Service Board chair opposes moving energy project permitting authority to Act 250 boards .37267 2013-02-03T01:21:44Z 2013-02-03T01:21:44Z Volz said it would be difficult for the Public Service Board to ensure the state’s energy needs are met, if the board lost the power to permit energy generation projects. “Projects being proposed by Vermont utilities for the purpose of maintaining reliability should stay with the Public Service Board,” he said. Activists press their case, but wind moratorium unlikely .37228 2013-02-01T14:25:24Z 2013-02-01T14:25:24Z "The damage is physical in terms of geological and hydrologic effects. It's biological in that it destroys critical habitat and migration routes," he said. "And it's aesthetic and cultural, not least in that it has caused deep divisions in the environmental community. These divisions play directly into the hands of corporate interests whose roots are outside Vermont." Vermont wind moratorium would impede efforts to combat global warming .37173 2013-01-28T12:12:59Z 2013-01-28T12:12:59Z Sanders said he was weighing in on a state legislative issue - which Vermont's federal representatives usually avoid doing - because of the potential impact of the state's action on the national debate. Committee shake-up gives boost to statewide wind moratorium .37004 2013-01-11T21:46:41Z 2013-01-11T21:46:41Z A rare shake-up in Senate committee assignments Thursday bounced Sen. Virginia Lyons out as chairwoman of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee she has led for many years, and put in her place a leading proponent of a statewide moratorium on wind development. Sen. Robert Hartwell, D-Bennington, was appointed to chair the committee. VLCT Board considers Public Service Board process .37039 2013-01-11T17:53:37Z 2013-01-11T17:53:37Z After substantial discussion of the issue, the VLCT Board voted to support the position that the PSB be required to give substantial consideration to municipalities, by at least: requiring any decision on the project address the local concerns raised in the local decisions. Wind moratorium bill unveiled at statehouse .36954 2013-01-04T00:43:59Z 2013-01-04T00:43:59Z “We shouldn’t permit ourselves to be pressured by corporate, mostly out-of-state entities, while we take that time,” said Hartwell. “We shouldn’t be allowing our cherished mountains, our cherished history to be destroyed while we take that time. We shouldn’t involve ourselves in social upheaval while we take that time. For that reason, a bipartisan effort … is being made to make sure we back up the train, set the reset button and redefine a conversation with Vermont’s history and environmental proactivism involved in the discussion.” Bill seeks to ban wind projects .36891 2012-12-30T15:29:40Z 2012-12-30T15:29:40Z "And I think the reason you're seeing folks come around on this issue is that members are beginning to see projects proposed in their districts, and so are beginning to understand what it actually means for their constituents," he said. Senate President John Campbell says the vote count in favor of the moratorium could be as high as 18.