The responses to these questions and the comments made by those who
spoke to the full group at the end of the meeting are summarized below.
Please note that the responses are combined rather than being sorted
by question because many of the responses overlapped. The responses
are presented by topic, so that the reader can see the full range
of perspectives on a given topic.
Policy Development Process and the Role of the State
ANR policy may set precedent for private development and
for other states
Focus on developing a conservation policy rather than a policy
re wind power development
ANR should poll public before developing policy
Clarify if this is a regulatory or legislative process
Consider town plans
Act 250 should apply to wind development
Use of ANR Lands
Mission statement precludes private commercial development
of ANR lands
Limited potential of ANR lands isn’t worth developing
Wind power development would open ANR lands to other development
Develop private lands before ANR lands
Develop state lands if local communities support projects
and there are local community benefits
Develop sites w/ existing development (ski areas, telecommunication
facilities, campgrounds, etc)
Carefully select and develop a few sites on ANR land
Demonstration projects modeling thoughtful wind development
Prohibit large scale wind
Develop small scale wind for facilities on state lands
Information and Education Needed
ANR should educate public re energy conservation
Need info re viability of wind power and latest wind technology
Analysis of wind power generation potential on private as
well as public lands
Analysis re Vermont’s energy needs
Cost/benefit analysis that includes visual impacts
Independent studies
Comparison of environmental impacts of wind power generation
to those of other energy sources
Role
of Wind Power in Vermont’s
Energy Mix
Need to replace power from Hydro Quebec and Vermont Yankee
contracts
Energy conservation is important
We don’t need any new energy sources
Need diversified energy mix
Decentralize energy sources
Public wind projects preferable to private ones
Vermont needs to be energy self-sufficient; need to decrease
dependence on foreign oil
Wind development isn’t in the public good
Wind development is in the public good
ANR should be a leader in wind power development
Increase use of renewable sources including wind, micro-hydro,
solar and biomass
Potential power from wind development is insignificant
Impacts of wind development outweigh its benefits
Communities should determine for themselves where their energy
comes from
Vermont is already a leader in renewable energy
Renewable Energy Credits will go to coal-burning plants
Wind development won’t shut down any coal plants
Wind is unreliable; wind can’t be used for base load
power
Locate generation facilities near power useage to minimize
line loss
Economic Issues
Revenues from wind development should be kept in-state
Vermont “brand” might be adversely affected
Adverse affect on tourism
Impact on property values
Need for competitive energy rates
Environmental Considerations
Wind energy is non-polluting
Global warming data uncertain
Look at all impacts of proposed developments – including
towers and road construction
Look at long-range impacts of all energy options
Acid rain
Wildlife and bird impacts and habitat fragmentation
Watershed impacts
Preserve ridgelines
Need to reduce emissions
Visual Impacts
Wind towers would be the tallest structures in Vermont
Scale projects for local use
Don’t develop ridgelines
Impacts on views
Allowing turbines is inconsistent w/ state’s billboard
ban
Impacts of lighting
Recreation and Safety
Wind power is safer than nuclear
Protect 500’ corridor along the Long Trail
Preserve public access
Ice throw
Maintenance and Decommissioning
Require on-going monitoring and evaluation over life of project
Take into account possibility of developments becoming obsolete
sooner than anticipated (e.g. Searsburg)
Require up-front funding for decommissioning
