www.windaction.org

No wind moratorium, but bill seeks change
February 26, 2013 by Terri Hallenbeck in Burlington Free Press

Under current law, energy projects go through the Public Service Board for approval, which must consider Act 250 criteria but may approve the projects if the board thinks they meet the overall public good. The revised bill would require renewable energy projects to conform to Vermont's Act 250 land-use planning regulations.

Vermont senators to discuss wind power
February 25, 2013 in Brattleboro Reformer

Friends of Grafton's Heritage has invited legislators and residents of towns with wind turbines to discuss the issues related to industrial wind farms. A public information meeting will be held on Friday, March 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Grafton Elementary School on School Street.

Grafton holds informational meeting on wind power
February 18, 2013 by Howard Weiss-Tinsman in Brattleboro Reformer

Saturday's meeting included experts on both sides of the issue who stated their cases as Grafton and Windham decide how they are going to proceed with the controversial issue. The large crowd filled the gym at the Grafton Elementary School as one side, and then the other, showed slides, presented data and talked about the benefits, and dangers of large-scale wind power.

The wind energy battle continues
February 16, 2013 by Jim Lowe in Rutland Herald

The power of the wind energy controversy is continually growing in Vermont, but in Lesley Becker's new play, "Winds of Change," it's downright war. ..."Winds of Change" dramatizes some of Vermonters' biggest challenges.

Lowell Wind Electricity: GMP seeks OK for equipment to boost output
February 15, 2013 by Robin Smith in Caledonian Record

Green Mountain Power wants permission to install equipment that will boost the amount of electricity that its Lowell wind turbines can put out in the New England grid. GMP, like other wind power generators, is seeing its wind capacity curtailed by ISO-New England, which runs the New England electricity grid.

Lowell Wind shipments: PSB fines GMP $30,000 over violations
February 7, 2013 by Robin Smith in Caledonian Record

State utility regulators have fined Green Mountain Power $30,000 because of five violations in its permit to ship turbine parts to Lowell Mountain last year. GMP had reached a settlement that included a $7,500 fine over the violations with the Vermont Department of Public Service.

Grafton holds wind meeting
February 3, 2013 by Howard Weiss-Tinsman in Brattleboro Reformer

Throughout the meeting Iberdrola representatives stressed that it would likely be seven to nine years before the turbines go up, if the project proceeds, and they said it is hard to answer many specific questions at this time before they do preliminary testing.

Timber company wants wind-power 'dialog' with towns
January 30, 2013 by Mike Faher in Brattleboro Reformer

Mary Boyer, Windham Selectboard chairwoman, said she is not opposed to such a meeting. The main issue, Boyer said, is that Windham officials have been preoccupied with other issues ...any organized community discussion with Meadowsend may have to wait until after Town Meeting. She added that she has not heard Meadowsend disclose any new information in recent correspondence with the company.

Sanders' opposition notwithstanding, testimony on wind moratorium begins
January 28, 2013 by Peter Hirschfeld in Vermont Press Bureau

Galbraith told Burns to consider adopting a more civil tone as the debate progresses. A public conversation about wind is one worth having, Galbraith said. And people on his side ought not be demonized by people like Burns as global-warming deniers.

Wind controversy dominates Brattleboro energy hearing
January 25, 2013 by Mike Faher in Brattleboro Reformer

Nearly 30 people stepped to a podium Wednesday to participate in the first public hearing held by the governor's energy generation siting policy commission. And most wanted to address wind power and its place on Vermont's ridge tops. As is usually the case when the topic of turbines arises, there were strong opinions and not much consensus.

Moratorium bill may affect plans for local wind energy project
January 25, 2013 by Jack Deming in Deerfield Valley News

Sen. Hartwell believes that the criteria under Act 250 must be put into the siting process, and towns need to have more say. Hartwell says the current "quasi-judicial" process by which PSB operates is broken, and as he bluntly states, is undemocratic. "The people don't get a chance to participate, It's too expensive to participate, and it really has knocked a lot of people [and towns] out of meaningful participation.

Wind-power opponents question favorable poll numbers
January 23, 2013 by Andy Bromage and Kathryn Flagg in Seven Days

Conventional wisdom might suggest that wind opponents are a small but vocal minority of Vermonters ...But polling expert Rich Clark cautions against reading those polls as broad support for "industrial wind" in Vermont. Clark believes the numbers collected in both the Castleton and GMP polls are "soft."

VLCT: Give towns more say on energy projects
January 16, 2013 by Mike Faher in Brattleboro Reformer

"The financial, emotional and societal costs to small towns are becoming more and more obvious, and the fight is being carried on by those with the least resources to fight it," Boyer wrote. "Even more importantly, one of Vermont's most cherished values -- municipal authority -- is in serious jeopardy."

Washington Electric Co-op opposes wind moratorium legislation; bill introduced that would prohibit turbines on state lands
January 16, 2013 by Andrew Stein in VTDigger

Washington Electric Co-op is the latest utility to weigh in on large-scale wind development. The co-op supports wind generation and opposes a recent legislative proposal for a moratorium on turbines. Two weeks ago, members the Vermont Electric Co-op board made a very different pronouncement: They passed a resolution asking the Legislature to put a halt to new renewable project mandates from the Legislature for a two-year period.

Windham, Grafton wind towers approved
January 8, 2013 by Susan Smallheer in Rutland Herald

Boyer said the PSB decision, which came down Dec. 20, was "very narrow," and "an example of the law of unintended consequences." "Windham is one of the first, if not the first, town to write a clear prohibition of commercial wind development on its ridgelines. Our town plan has been our official policy regarding such development since 2007," she said.

Wind moratorium demanded as debate intensifies
January 1, 2013 by John Dillon in Vermont Public Radio

State regulators have approved wind testing towers in southern Vermont, despite opposition from the host towns. The decision comes during an intensifying debate over renewable energy projects in Vermont. A utility in northern Vermont wants a two-year moratorium on any new renewable mandates.

Out of the wind
December 27, 2012 by Laura Carpenter in Newport Daily Express

The Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) Board of Directors passed a resolution that recommended a moratorium of up to two years on renewable power supply mandates. The recommendation will be made to the Vermont Legislature. ...Several VEC members from the Northeast Kingdom were present and spoke against further industrial wind development. The VEC discussion focused on concerns on costs and reliability.

Braithwaite, Chronicle sue Green Mountain Power, David Coriell
December 27, 2012 in The Caledonian Record

The suit alleges that Green Mountain Power (GMP) failed to disclose to the Orleans County State's Attorney's office that Braithwaite had its consent to be on the property to cover a protest of the development and that Coriell had been explicitly instructed to let Chief Deputy Brooks know.

State approves testing towers in Windham; could pave way for wind development
December 26, 2012 by Mike Faher in Brattleboro Reformer

Atlantic Wind's proposal has met with mixed reaction in Grafton. That town's Selectboard has stayed neutral and has sought to learn more about wind projects, but a group of concerned citizens has sought to amend the town plan to ban commercial turbines.

Developer: Wind project on hiatus but still moving forward
December 20, 2012 by Lucia Suarez in Rutland Herald

The developer of a proposed wind project on the Grandpa's Knob ridgeline said Wednesday the project "is in a hiatus, but it is still alive." Project manager Steve Eisenberg of Reunion Power would not elaborate on the next steps the company was taking with the project, but reiterated that it was not dead and moving forward.

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