Five wind turbines proposed for Georgia Mountain are either a way to save the planet from dependence on fossil fuels or an environment-wrecking boondoggle, according to public comments at Tuesday evening's Vermont Public Service Board hearing. The board is considering whether to allow the Harrison family, which owns a concrete and construction business, to erect five 400-foot tall wind turbines on the mountain, which straddles Milton and Georgia.

Legislation regulating the placement of wind turbines around the state ought to be considered by lawmakers during the next legislative session. That was the main message delivered to Rutland County senators and representatives during a two-hour meeting on Wednesday at the Clarendon Grange Community Center. ..."There will be an attempt this session to put this on the table," Potter said. Klopchin urged all legislators to "work hard to pass laws" during the coming year. "Many hands make light work," he said.

VPR Photo/John Dillon (Host) A proposal for a large-scale wind energy project is bringing out strong emotions in the Northeast Kingdom. At a public meeting this week, residents worried about the potential noise from the turbines, and the impact on tourism and property values. VPR's John Dillon has more.

A proposed wind farm on Lowell Mountain will be the subject of a public meeting on Thursday night, November 5, at the Lowell school. The meeting, organized by the project's would-be developers, has no official status, and thus won't affect the permitting process the project would ultimately face, if the developers and the voters of Lowell agree to proceed.

Voters in the town of Lowell will get to decide whether they want a wind power development on the Lowell ridgeline. The Lowell Board of Selectmen will conduct a referendum by Australian ballot about Kingdom Community Wind at town meeting in March, board Chairman Richard Pion said Tuesday. And Green Mountain Power officials said Tuesday that they will abide by the will of the Lowell voters.

A solar-powered light should be installed on a meteorological tower atop Susie's Peak as a safety measure for aviators. That was the message in a letter sent by the state Agency of Transportation to the Public Service Board regarding Vermont Community Wind Farm's temporary wind measurement tower. "It was a recommendation from a safety standpoint," said Rich Turner, AOT's aviation program manager.

The US Forest Service is one step closer to issuing a decision on the Deerfield Wind Project. The Manchester Ranger District of the Green Mountain National Forest has reviewed the Public Service Board's approval and the public comments it received regarding last year's Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Now the forest service is ready to release a supplemental report on their latest findings. But despite the new information, some state officials are urging the forest service take extra precautions before they make a final decision.

Two speakers said wind towers need to be a safe distance from homes and another said they do not need to be in Vermont during a forum Thursday. Vermonters for a Clean Environment organized the meeting at West Rutland Town Hall in light of the proposal of Vermont Community Wind Farm to build an 80-megawatt development in and around Ira. VCE executive director Annette Smith moderated the meeting.