Vermont State Land Wind Power Policy

South Burlington Meeting Notes
3/22/04

The Agency of Natural Resources’ Wind Power Work Group held a public meeting at South Burlington High School on March 22, 2004. Participants were invited to respond to three questions that were posed by the work group. These questions were:

Why is wind power a significant issue for you?

What role should ANR lands play in regard to wind energy development?

What should the Work Group take into consideration in developing a policy regarding wind power development (both commercial and net-metering) on ANR lands?

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
State is responsible for planning and developing our future energy needs
Policy should be applicable to non-ANR lands
Policy should come out of the specific criteria currently in Section 248 and Act 250
Development should be under Act 250 and not Section 248
248 and Title 30 are good enough for nuclear power; they should be good for wind power
Overall process is needed to help the public understand where/why certain sites are viable
Take into account corporate versus community interests
Renewable Energy Credits enable more polluting sources, should not be tradable on the open market
Municipalities should be involved in the process
Advocate for use of federal resources
Provided more time for policy development
One entity should not have veto power for a project
Make the permit process reasonable
Develop an education and awareness campaign

Use of ANR Lands
Not appropriate to use public lands for private development
Preserve public trust and pristine lands
Large commercial development is not within the mission of the ANR
Support a 3-year moratorium
Don’t assume that traditional uses are good, and new uses are bad
ANR should develop wind power for its own use
Show the public benefit before proceeding
Any suitable lands should be developed where appropriate because they are so few
Wind power on ANR lands should be considered a public utility
Develop already developed sites
Develop private sites first
State lands should play a role in development of wind power
Clearly defined the role of private developers
ANR land needs to play a key role in citizens’ rights to access energy of their choice
Need accountability to local communities
Look at potential for lower elevation sites -- Lake Champlain and sites leeward of ridgelines
Require a licensing fee to pay for proper management
Increase the minimum sized turbine for net-metering
Promote local business jobs, get money back into VT
Consider environmental and the social impacts
Wind power development should not preclude other land uses
Develop a roadway policy addressing steepness and grade
Consider a bidding process instead of first-come, first-serve
Private development is the most viable form of wind energy development
Develop wind with non-profits, collectives and municipalities, not private developers
ANR demonstration projects
Vermont can be a leader for wind power development in the U.S.

Information Needed
ANR needs to consolidate all the facts, particularly class 6 and 7 resources
Cost benefit analysis including wildlife, aesthetics and economics
Site specific analyses
Independent studies re viability
Rigorous and professional wildlife studies
Impact on threatened or endangered species
What is total potential energy production on state lands?
Information from other states and countries
Will the profit and power generated stay in VT?

Role of Wind Power in Vermont’s Energy Mix
Hydro Quebec and Vermont Yankee contracts are expiring, will need new sources soon
Energy conservation is as important as developing new sources
State should promote conservation, hybrid cars and mass transportation programs
Need to move away from our reliance on fossil fuels/nuclear
Wind power will not effect non-renewable sources of energy
Other renewable energy sources will make wind obsolete, i.e. solar
Current energy sources export costs to future generations
Role of renewable energy alternatives in VT
Wind power will help to maintain an energy independent status
Wind power is not a steady and consistent source of power
Wind power is a great long-term option for energy
Can’t replace base generation, but can supplement it--will lead to more reliable power sources
Wind will get more efficient and cheaper
Wind power helps to address the energy security
Government should assist in getting wind power started
Promote community-based energy projects

Economic Issues
We shouldn’t export the costs of our energy needs
Wind development could reduce energy costs
Who decides where wind power revenues go?
Revenues should go into state’s general fund
Affect of wind development on historic and archeological resources
Develop a policy re property tax assessment
Projects should contribute to the local tax base
Wind projects benefit developers and not the general public
Diversifies price base with utility companies
Impact on tourism --positive or negative

Project Life Span and Decommissioning
If a project is not viable after construction, return the site to its original state
If development allowed, need to make at least a 30-year commitment from the developer

Environmental Considerations
Wind can replace “dirty” energy sources
Impacts of construction of transmission lines, substations, access roads, etc.
Fragmentation of undeveloped lands and wildlife habitat
We need clean air
Wind power helps address global warming
Impacts on adjacent properties
Water quality and watershed impacts
Effect on historic and archeological resources

Visual Impacts
Wind development is part of the working and changing landscape
Impacts of wind energy development need to be considered on a site-specific basis
Viewsheds need to be considered
View should not be an important consideration
Require that power lines be buried
Challenge the requirements of FAA lighting
Reduce size of towers so they will not need lighting
Wind towers will affect the “brand” of VT

Recreation and Safety
Impacts on hiking trails –including Catamount Trail and Long Trail
Consider remoteness, uniqueness and use for recreation
Ice build-up on towers is dangerous (impact up to ½ mile around the site)
Wind power is safer, w/ less potential for catastrophic accidents than other sources

Maintenance and Decommissioning
Include provisions for annual revenue
Need provisions for decommissioning
Return sites to natural condition after use