Vermont State Land Wind Power Policy

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