The Update to the 2005 electric plan frames issues within the statutory directive provided by the legislature in 30 V.S.A. §202, which requires that the electric plan ensure, . . . to the greatest extent practicable, that Vermont can meet its energy service needs in a manner that is adequate, reliable, secure, and sustainable; that assures affordability and encourages the state’s economic vitality, the efficient use of energy resources and cost effective demand side management; and that is environmentally sound.

Part of the Department's ongoing mission is to provide the public with up-to-date information regarding Vermont's utilities. Utility Facts furthers this mission, providing utility data as it becomes available in an easy to access format. The report is divided into four sections, (electricity, gas, telecommunications and water) each of which contains tables, charts and references.

Below are two Phase I Avian Risk Assessments reports, prepared by Paul Kerlinger, for Vermont's East Haven Wind Farm (July 2003) and New Hampshire's Lempster Mountain Wind Power Project (June 2005). Phase I assessments have proven inadequate in assessing mortality at several sites in the U.S. including Mountaineer in West Virginia and Meyersdale in Pennsylvania. The US Fish and Wildlife Interim Wind/Wildlife Guidelines calls for multi-year evaluation of avian and bat activity using remote sensing.

The purpose of Mr. Ide’s testimony is to present the Department’s overall recommendations with respect to the petitioner’s request for a Certificate of Public Good (“CPG”) under 30 V.S.A. § 248, including specific recommendations on a number of criteria found in 30 V.S.A. § 248(b). In places, he will be incorporating or relying on the work and testimony of other Department witnesses

Editor's Note: The complete testimony (attached) is a worthwhile read. Selected Q & A's appear below.

Vermont regional commissions are responsible for updating their respective 'plans' every five years. The Windham Regional Commission (WRC), comprised of representatives from the 27 towns in Windham County, submitted a draft of its updated plan for public comment in late June 2006.

Given the prevailing public concerns regarding energy, the energy section of WRC's draft plan was of particular interest. Specifically, the Glebe Mountain Group, an incorporated non-profit organization that has been actively engaged in protecting Glebe Mountain from industrialization, felt is was imperative that industrial wind generation projects not be encouraged or accorded any presumption that they serve the public good.

The Glebe Mountain Group's comments on the plan are attached as is the original 'draft' WRC plan. Some of the specific comments related to wind energy are extracted below as is the conclusion. These comments were fully endorsed by The Friends of Glebe Mountain, an unincorporated 100% volunteer group comprised of residents of and non-resident property owners in the towns of Londonderry and Windham.

ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED by the Public Service Board of the State of Vermont that:
1. The findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Hearing Officer are hereby adopted, as modified above.
2. The proposed Project will not promote the public good of the State of Vermont, and a certificate of public good shall not be issued pursuant to 30 V.S.A. § 248.
Dated at Montpelier, Vermont, this 17th day of July , 2006.

This technical report was prepared for the Vermont Department of Public Service (VDPS) by GDS Associates, Inc and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Editor's Note: The complete report and accompanying power point presentation are available below.

Renewable energy sources have disadvantages as well as advantages, however. Although their costs have decreased in recent years, many renewables are still more costly than traditional sources. Some are also available only intermittently; for example, wind can be variable and hydroelectric is seasonal. And while many people are in favor of renewables in principle, many are also unhappy when faced with the prospect of a windmill or a trash-burning power plant in their neighborhood. These facilities face the same siting and investment difficulties that any electrical facility would, as the developers of a proposed wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod have discovered in recent years.

The Town of Londonderry, Vermont (the “Town”) Planning Commission (the “LPC”), hereby submits its recommendation to the Public Service Board (the “Board” or “PSB”), pursuant to Vt. Stats. Ann. Tit. 30, § 248(f), with respect to the petition or application for a Certificate of Public Good filed or to be filed by Glebe Mountain Wind Energy, LLC (or any affiliated entity) for an industrial wind turbine electric generating facility and associated transmission lines to be located on Glebe Mountain, in Londonderry and Windham, Vermont.

The attached pdf files contain the responses of four parties to the Vermont Public Service Board with respect to the Hearing Officer's recommendation to not issue a Certificate of Public Good for the proposed East Haven wind plant. The first two from Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources and the Kingdom Commons Group support the Hearing Officer's recommendation. The remaining two from the Conservation Law Foundation and Vermont's Department of Public Service do not.