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The Use of Information in Wind Siting

Vermont -- Lessons from the Field

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Wind Power Siting Workshop

Sandra Levine

Conservation Law Foundation

October 26, 2012

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Wind Siting can be a Tug of War

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Image courtesy of Bobcatnorth@flickr.com

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Need to Better Balance Burdens

and Benefits

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Vermont Experience

Long History

First electric wind

turbine in VT

Growing Pains Similar to ski area

development

Public Engagement

Permitting involves

public

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Lowell Mountain October 21, 2012

Photo courtesy of P. Zabriskie

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Status of Projects

Existing:

Sheffield Wind

16 turbines; 40 MW

Searsburg

11 turbines; 6 MW

Under Construction or

Approved:

Lowell 21 turbines; 63 MW

Georgia Mountain

4 turbines; 12 MW

Deerfield

15 turbines; 30 MW

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Status of Projects

East Haven

2004; 4 Turbines; 6MW; not

active

Grandpas Knob

2007; 20 Turbines; 50 MW;

Seneca Wind

2011; 35 Turbines; 90 MW

Stiles Brook Wind (Grafton)

preliminary

Vermont Community Wind

(Ira, Poultney, W.Rutland)

30-60 Turbines; 90-150 MW;

not active

Waitsfield / Northfield 2010; 20 Turbines; 30-60 MW;

not active

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Others Planned

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Influential Information

Issues

Aesthetics

Habitat

Climate Change

Town / Regional

Plans

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-- Aesthetics --

Lowell Wind Visual Simulation

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Aesthetics -- Lighting

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Wind tower lighting

Options for reduced

impact

Obstacle Collision

Avoidance System

Feasibility Effectiveness

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Aesthetics -- Comparisons

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Killington Ski Area

Energize Vermont;

Construction at Lowell Mountain

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Habitat & Wildlife

Bird and Bat (Sheffield)

Permitting before

studies completed

Limited operationduring migration

Mitigation (Lowell)

Habitat

Ecological Needs

Reduced Project Size(Deerfield)

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Photo courtesy of mediaguy4@flickr.com

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Climate Change

Studies of Avoided

Emissions (Deerfield, EastHaven)

Effect of Renewable

Energy Credit Sales(Lowell)

Magnitude of Impact

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Image courtesy of Monado@flickr.com

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Town and Regional Plans

Town Votes

Impact Fees

Neighboring Towns

Influences State

support

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Decisions / Resources

Links:

Sheffield:

http://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2007/715

6_Final_Order.pdf Deerfield:

http://www.state.vt.us/psb/orders/2009/files/7250finalo

rder.pdf

Lowell (Kingdom Community Wind):http://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2011/762

8FinalOrder%20CPG%20Attachment%20A-2.pdf

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http://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2007/7156_Final_Order.pdfhttp://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2007/7156_Final_Order.pdfhttp://www.state.vt.us/psb/orders/2009/files/7250finalorder.pdfhttp://www.state.vt.us/psb/orders/2009/files/7250finalorder.pdfhttp://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2011/7628FinalOrder%20CPG%20Attachment%20A-2.pdfhttp://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2011/7628FinalOrder%20CPG%20Attachment%20A-2.pdfhttp://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2011/7628FinalOrder%20CPG%20Attachment%20A-2.pdfhttp://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2011/7628FinalOrder%20CPG%20Attachment%20A-2.pdfhttp://www.state.vt.us/psb/orders/2009/files/7250finalorder.pdfhttp://www.state.vt.us/psb/orders/2009/files/7250finalorder.pdfhttp://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2007/7156_Final_Order.pdfhttp://psb.vermont.gov/sites/psb/files/orders/2007/7156_Final_Order.pdf

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For More Information:

Sandra Levine

Conservation Law Foundation

Montpelier, VT

slevine@clf.org802-223-5992

mailto:slevine@clf.orgmailto:slevine@clf.org