Wind power in Ira could look like seven turbines atop Herrick Mountain Ridge, it could sound like a computer humming, and it could cost more than current sources of power. But it could also mean a zero municipal tax rate in Ira, said Jeffrey Wennberg, director of state and community affairs for Vermont Community Wind Farm, at a day-long meeting Saturday at the old Ira town office.
Wind power in Ira could look like seven turbines atop Herrick Mountain Ridge, it could sound like a computer humming, and it could cost more than current sources of power. But it could also mean a zero municipal tax rate in Ira, said Jeffrey Wennberg, director of state and community affairs for Vermont Community Wind Farm, at a day-long meeting Saturday at the old Ira town office.
IRA - Wind power in Ira could look like seven turbines atop Herrick Mountain Ridge, it could sound like a computer humming, and it could cost more than current sources of power.
But it could also mean a zero municipal tax rate in Ira, said Jeffrey Wennberg, director of state and community affairs for Vermont Community Wind Farm, at a day-long meeting Saturday at the old Ira town office.
"The thing is the wholesale rate, the amount that the plant charges the utility," Wennberg said. "Central Vermont Public Service pays Vermont Yankee 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour. ... When these long-term contracts in 2012 and 2015 go away, rates are going to go up no matter what the replacement deal is."
Wennberg said he didn't want to raise …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]IRA - Wind power in Ira could look like seven turbines atop Herrick Mountain Ridge, it could sound like a computer humming, and it could cost more than current sources of power.
But it could also mean a zero municipal tax rate in Ira, said Jeffrey Wennberg, director of state and community affairs for Vermont Community Wind Farm, at a day-long meeting Saturday at the old Ira town office.
"The thing is the wholesale rate, the amount that the plant charges the utility," Wennberg said. "Central Vermont Public Service pays Vermont Yankee 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour. ... When these long-term contracts in 2012 and 2015 go away, rates are going to go up no matter what the replacement deal is."
Wennberg said he didn't want to raise residents' expectations that wind power would prevent rates for electricity from going up - he said no alternate power source would.
"We can't touch Vermont Yankee's rates," Wennberg told residents who peppered him with questions about his company's proposed $200 million project.
But if residents ultimately approve the project, starting with supporting a question posed at town meeting on March 2, the town could end up with a payment from the wind farm large enough to cover the town's municipal budget. The guaranteed payment would be between $247,500 and $632,500 per year, depending on the number and size of the turbines, according to Wennberg.
Residents will be asked, "Do the voters of Ira support the opportunity to develop local renewable energy, including wind, in order to create jobs, increase tax revenue, and provide clean energy?"
A "yes" vote would encourage the town's Selectboard to "investigate opportunities for town income and other benefits from renewable energy," but it would not bind the town to doing any one project without further voter approval, according to a handout signed and supported by Wennberg.
For the company, a "no" vote in Ira would not be helpful going into the permitting process with the Public Service Board, expected to begin by the middle of this year, Wennberg said.
"(Public support) is enormously important from our perspective," he said. "The Public Service Board takes it into consideration ... clearly the pattern is to get local support." Wennberg cited Public Service Board-approved wind projects in other Vermont towns following voter support.
Nonetheless, some residents asked questions of the one option offered to them Saturday - a 25-year plan for the development of a 34-turbine wind farm in Ira and Poultney.
The plan was initially presented last year, met with stiff opposition and later revised to exclude the construction of towers on Ira's Susie's Peak and Train Brook Ridge, and two in West Rutland.
At full maximum output, the farm has the potential to generate 80 megawatts of power or 234 million kilowatt hours to sell to utility companies, according to Wennberg.
Those companies can then sell that energy to residents, enough power for 33,000 average Vermont homes, according to Vermont Community Wind Farm.
Vermont Yankee generates about 610 megawatts and its output is about 90 percent because the plant doesn't stop generating power, Wennberg said.
"A good wind farm will operate at 30 percent," he said. "Our argument is it's big enough to have a serious impact on greenhouse gas emissions ... it's big enough to make a real difference on the grid and to make a difference on the environment."
According to Vermont Community Wind Farm, about 400 short-term jobs will be offered to Rutland County residents during the construction of the project and from 12 to 35 permanent jobs will result for operations.
Resident Justin Turco wasn't convinced. He said he is opposed to industrial wind projects.
"If we can't shut down a coal plant or Vermont Yankee because of it, it's not worth it," he said.
Resident Jeanne Kirbach welcomed the change. She said wind power won't send more troops overseas and won't cause tritium leaks.
"Everybody is going to need electricity," she said. "If you don't start to do something different sometime, you are going to be held hostage by large corporations."