I'm just back from a vacation and still catching up on windpower news.

Here at home, the Vermont Supreme Court heard arguments about the only new wind project in Vermont with permits from the Public Service Board. The company, recently renamed First Wind, won permission to erect 16 turbines on a ridgeline in Sheffield. The permit was appealed by local opponents organized as Ridge Protectors. As far as I can tell from an internet search, only the Barton Chronicle covered the session. The weekly newspaper's story is available only to subscribers so I can't link to it.

Reporter Paul Lefebvre described Chief Justice Paul Reiber as "puzzled" and "surprised" by the wind developer's failure, to date, to negotiate contracts with Vermont utilities to sell them power at stable rates that would benefit Vermont ratepayers. The PSB permit requires First Wind to pursue those contracts. The board's reasoning was that the environmental impact of the turbines must be balanced by providing economic benefits to the people of the state.

The Chronicle story quotes Justice Reiber as asking the attorneys, "How could they measure economic benefit without the contracts?" Of course it takes two to tango, so who knows whether it's First Wind or the Vermont utilities that are reluctant to reach a power-sale deal.

No telling when the Supreme Court will decide the appeal, but First Wind said recently it doesn't expect to start putting up the turbines (assuming the permit stands) this year.

While Vermont argues over a handful of turbines. in Texas they're thinking bigger. Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens placed the largest-ever order for wind turbines -- $2 billion worth. That's billion with a B. The 667 turbines apparently are just the start, only a quarter of the turbines he wants to install in the Texas Panhandle to provide power for 1.2 million homes. I used to be a regular visitor to the Panhandle (Christmas 1970, Borger, Texas, homemade peach ice cream and the reek of oil refineries. Don't ask.). No insult to Texas intended, but I bet Mr. Pickens is NOT going to face arguments that his wind turbines would spoil the view.