Jim Tabor, Waitsfield, spokesperson for the group, said that it was
formed after many residents and property owners attended an April
meeting when Randy Male, from Citizens Wind, made a presentation to the
Waitsfield Planning Commission.
DEVELOPMENT
Male explained that his company was interested in the Northfield Ridge
for a commercial wind farm and said it was likely to accommodate 15 to
24 wind towers. At that meeting, he acknowledged that Waitsfield's Town
Plan currently prohibits commercial wind farms (and most other
development) on the Northfield Ridge.
Subsequently, the Waitsfield Planning Commission opted to keep that
prohibition in the Town Plan (currently undergoing revision). Friends of
the Northfield Ridge (FNR), Tabor said, does not consider the matter
settled, however, and is working to educate residents of Waitsfield and
The Valley on the type of impact a commercial wind farm would have on
the Northfield Ridge.
"We have done enough research to understand the tremendous negative
impact of that type of industrial wind facility on the Northfield Ridge
in terms of the environment. We are also aware that Citizens Wind is a
for-profit operation that will build this facility and then sell it to
another out-of-state owner -- and that concerned us," Tabor said.
MET TOWERS
At the initial meeting when Male explained the project, he also said
that his company would not try to force a project on a town that was
reluctant or not interested. Tabor said it is apparent to his group that
Citizens Wind and Male are continuing to pursue the project locally.
Tabor said it was his understanding that Citizens Wind is pursuing
interim wind-measuring devices on the ridge. The devices, known as MET
towers, are permitted by the Vermont Public Service Board and are
temporary.
Ashley Durmer, spokesperson for Citizens Energy, the not-for-profit
parent company of the for-profit Citizens Wind, said that Citizens
Energy had not applied to the Vermont Public Service Board for a permit
to erect a MET tower along the Northfield Ridge.
"We are interested in finding opportunities where local communities
recognize that a Citizens Energy-based partnership promotes the
development of well-sited cost-effective renewable energy that creates
real benefits for the local community. We are disappointed that the
planning commission has elected at this time not to modify the Town Plan
to endorse investigation of a wind project along the Northfield Ridge,"
Durmer said.
ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES
"It appears that what is happening in The Valley is an example of a much
larger phenomenon that is taking place in and outside of Vermont and
that is that companies are taking advantage of federal money for states
to develop alternate energy sources," Tabor said.
"And, while we are currently very strongly protected by our Town Plan,
we are not bulletproof. The Vermont Public Service Board, which permits
wind projects, rarely countermands a Town Plan that is written as
specifically as Waitsfield's is, but we need to make sure we educate
ourselves and the public about the impacts of this project,
nonetheless," he continued.
FNR is launching a public education campaign and its members will be
attending state and local hearings on this project, as well as others
that might come before the town. Tabor said the group will also be
attending meetings and conducting outreach in Moretown and Northfield.
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