ANR
Wind Energy Work Group “Working
Papers”
ANR recognizes that it can be very
difficult to sort through the plethora of information
currently available on wind
energy. Much of the information readily available may be
written from an advocacy perspective. To help foster productive,
informed discussion regarding wind energy development on
state lands, the ANR wind energy work group has developed
a series of informational or “working papers” on
various aspects of wind energy. These papers address the
following topics:
· ANR
Lands and Wind Energy (ANR lands summary, purposes and policies, commercial
uses of ANR lands, ANR
lands and renewable energy)
· An Assessment of the Potential Acreage Requirement for
Wind Energy Development in Vermont (includes discussion
of electrical energy consumption and generation, wind energy
technology, and wind energy costs)
· Wind Energy Development Requirements (footprint, size,
operational requirements, associated infrastructure needs)
· Benefits of Wind Energy (environmental, fuel diversity,
employment/economic, energy security benefits)
· Economics Considerations and Impacts of Wind Energy (construction/operational
costs, federal subsidies, effect on electric rates, reliability/performance
issues; impact on land values, leasing arrangements, property
taxes)
· Land Use and Recreational Impacts of Wind Energy Projects (land use impacts, impacts on public access and recreation)
· Impacts of Wind Energy Development on Wildlife, Rare Plant
Species and Natural Communities (mortality risks, impacts
on wildlife habitat)
· Erosion and Water Quality Concerns for Industrial Scale
Wind Turbines and Wind Test Towers (high elevation sensitivity,
access to sites, stream crossings, wetlands, process and
permit requirements, and related information)
· Aesthetic/Scenic Resource Impacts of Commercial Scale Wind
Energy Facilities on State Land (siting and design requirements,
visual sensitivity and assessment, visual impacts)
·
Legislative Statements on Vermont’s Scenic Beauty (legislative findings and policy)
In developing these papers, the
Agency’s intent
was to assemble basic information on state lands and wind
energy and to present it objectively, to help inform public
input into the policy development process. The papers are
presented here in the interest of fostering an open public
process and to assist members of the public in their understanding
of this issue.
At the same time, the working papers do not provide a
comprehensive assessment of all aspects of wind energy.
By design, the papers were not meant to serve as polished,
final products, but instead were intended to serve as a
source of information for development of public outreach
materials and moving this process forward. Finally, while
existing ANR policies, procedures, or regulations may be
summarized or referenced in certain papers, the papers
should NOT be construed as new Agency policy.
WORKING
PAPERS
Working Papers are in .PDF format for convenient
viewing and printing.
Aesthetics/Scenic
Resource Impacts of Commercial Scale Wind Energy Facilities
on State Land
ANR Lands and
Wind Energy
Assessment
of the Potential Acreage Requirement for Wind Energy Development
in Vermont
Benefits of Wind Energy
Economic
Considerations and Impacts of Wind Energy
Erosion and Water Quality
Concerns for Industrial Scale Wind Turbines and Wind Test
Towers
Impacts of Wind
Energy Development to Wildlife, Rare Plant Species and Natural
Communities on State Lands
Land Use
and Recreational Impacts of Wind Energy Projects
Legislative statements
on Vermont's Scenic Beauty
Wind Energy
Development Requirements
