The Northeastern Vermont Development Association has completed a revised draft of its regional plan pertaining to energy issues. During public hearings in December most people spoke against commercial wind turbines and urged NVDA to eliminate language in the proposed plan that endorsed commercial wind turbines.... The revised plan, which will be discussed by NVDA's executive board Thursday night, states that wind power could be considered as a resource, but that there are several other renewable sources that have potential to provide electricity to the area.

The Vermont Public Service Board is proposing to change the rules under which wind developers must adhere to construct new facilities to generate electricity.

Fourteen members of the state House of Representatives and three members of the Senate attended a caucus of legislators to see if there was a common approach to the issue.

Where can the project be seen from? Will it be in the viewer's foreground or background? Will the viewer likely to be stationary or moving? Will the project offend the sensibilities of the average person? When viewed as a whole, is the project offensive or shocking, because it is out of character with its surroundings, or will it significantly diminish the scenic qualities of the area? These will be addressed by the Public Service Board.

In a letter to the Vermont Public Service Board, Kirby selectmen state they want to be a party in any commercial wind development that impacts their town.

NORTHEAST KINGDOM -- The wind energy projects proposed for the Northeast Kingdom have raised questions about the state's permitting process. Some claim that Section 248, which deals with energy production, is not as rigorous as Act 250, the state's land development law.

Committee To Research New Energy Plan

NEWPORT CITY VERMONT Northeast Kingdom planners on Thursday reacted to critics and put a draft energy plan endorsing wind power on hold until more research is done.

SHEFFIELD – Residents here by a 27-vote margin backed construction of the Sheffield wind energy project in a nonbinding paper ballot to assess sentiment on the controversial proposal.

SHEFFIELD -- Voters said they could accept a wind farm on their small Northeast Kingdom town's ridgelines in an advisory vote Thursday that has been widely watched by other towns that could also be home to windmill developments.

SHEFFIELD -- The majority of voters at a special town meeting in Sheffield Thursday night said they were in favor of a commercial wind farm in town.

NORTHEAST KINGDOM -- Kingdom residents will have another opportunity to comment on a proposed regional plan that supports wind power as a renewable energy source but leaves decisions up to individual towns. A second hearing on the draft plan is Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Lyndon Institute cafeteria. The deadline for written comment is also Dec. 6.

Legally, referendums in Vermont are non-binding and carry none of the punch they do in some other states.

SHEFFIELD – Officials behind a major wind project proposed here unveiled more details of their plans Thursday evening, meeting with the planning commission as required by the state law that regulates energy projects. Massachusetts-based UPC Wind Management presented the update, bringing in its president, power sales director, project manager, lawyer, publicist and environmental consultant. They were joined by Avram Patt, general manager of East Montpelier-based Washington Electric Co-op.

Planning Commission Chairman Brian Keefe had his hands full keeping the overflow audience from drifting away from the siting issue. Many wanted to discuss questions of aesthetics or the merits of wind power. Keefe explained that there would be at least two or three meetings to discuss those other issues.

SHEFFIELD -- UPC Vermont Wind brought out its big guns Thursday night to present the company's development plans to the Sheffield Planning Commission.

Planning Commission Chairman Brian Keefe had his hands full keeping the overflow audience from drifting away from the siting issue. Many wanted to discuss questions of aesthetics or the merits of wind power. Keefe explained that there would be at least two or three meetings to discuss those other issues.

READSBORO — Officials from the two towns most affected by a proposed wind facility met on Wednesday night to discuss the economic impacts of a 30-turbine development.

The Readsboro and Searsburg Select Boards met in the Central School gym to discuss the financial benefits and strains that can be expected by a town hosting a wind farm. Robert Ide of the Vermont Department of Public Service attended, as did about 10 residents. Searsburg is now the home of the state's only existing commercial wind facility. There are 11 turbines producing about 6 megawatts of electricity. A 30- to 45-megawatt plant with 20 to 30 new turbines has been proposed for ridgelines spanning both Readsboro and Searsburg.