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Little agreement on Glebe Mt. wind project at hearing

The Brattleboro Reformer|Andy Rosen|January 27, 2006
VermontGeneral

Peter Pagnucco, of the Londonderry Planning Commission, made a passionate plea to the commission. He asked for help in enforcing the town plan, which does not allow for development on Glebe Mountain's ridgeline. "We're standing here alone, defending our plan against a deep-pocketed international corporation," he said, "and we need your help."


LONDONDERRY -- There remained little agreement between supporters and opponents on the proposed wind project on Glebe Mountain at a public hearing Thursday night.

About 100 people attended the event, and more than 25 people spoke.
More than half of them were against the project, though many people spoke in favor.

The hearing, held by the Windham Regional Commission at Flood Brook Elementary School, was part of an ongoing public comment period designed to help the commission identify issues with the project before it make recommendations to the Vermont Public Service Board.

The proposal by Glebe Mountain Wind Energy, a partnership made up of Catamount Energy and Japan-based Marubeni Power International, envisions 19, 420-foot turbines …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]
LONDONDERRY -- There remained little agreement between supporters and opponents on the proposed wind project on Glebe Mountain at a public hearing Thursday night.

About 100 people attended the event, and more than 25 people spoke.
More than half of them were against the project, though many people spoke in favor.

The hearing, held by the Windham Regional Commission at Flood Brook Elementary School, was part of an ongoing public comment period designed to help the commission identify issues with the project before it make recommendations to the Vermont Public Service Board.

The proposal by Glebe Mountain Wind Energy, a partnership made up of Catamount Energy and Japan-based Marubeni Power International, envisions 19, 420-foot turbines generating 47.5 megawatts of electricity along the ridge between Londonderry and Windham.

The PSB would make a final decision on the project.

Supporters of the project, for the most part, took a long view, placing the development of wind turbines in the context of growing energy needs.

Robert Tobia, of Peru, has worked in the construction of fossil fuel-burning power plants. "I've stood up before commissions like this and said (the environmental effects) are really not bad, but they are," he said.

Tobia said wind energy from Glebe Mountain would be a key part of sustainable energy policy.

Opponents expressed concern over damage to the local ecosystem and questioned whether putting turbines on Glebe Mountain would solve energy problems.

"We're going to need nuclear and fossil fuels with wind turbines or without them," said Linda Bly of South Londonderry. "They cannot replace them to any significant degree."

However, both sides seemed to be in general agreement that the state needs a more coherent energy policy.

"Because Vermont does not have a sustainable energy policy, we are flying blind," said Diane Newton of Windham, who supported the project.

Many opponents said they didn't think wind energy was a workable idea in Vermont, but others said they were not against it. They just didn't want to see it on Glebe Mountain. Some said it would decrease the value of property and reduce tourism in the area.

The Windham Planning Commission announced it had studied the wind proposal, and did not think it would be consistent with the town plan adopted in 2004.

A written report on the study cited "the incompatibility of the project with the vision and intentions of the citizens of Windam expressed in the town plan."

Peter Pagnucco, of the Londonderry Planning Commission, made a passionate plea to the commission. He asked for help in enforcing the town plan, which does not allow for development on Glebe Mountain's ridgeline. "We're standing here alone, defending our plan against a deep-pocketed international corporation," he said, "and we need your help."

Source:http://www.reformer.com/Stori…

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