Wind developers dispel rumors
Toolbox
By SANDI SWITZER Herald Correspondent - Published: May 29, 2009
CLARENDON — Wind farm proponents want to dispel rumors regarding a proposed 80-megawatt development to be spread over a half dozen towns in Rutland County.
Vermont Community Wind Farm owner Per White-Hansen and representative Jeff Wennberg spent approximately three hours with 50 citizens at the Clarendon Grange Community Center on Wednesday offering an overview and answering questions about the project — which they both said was in its early stages.
"There's a lot of misunderstanding about this project," Wennberg said at the outset of the gathering.
The wind farm proposal was a private energy development project with no government funds involved, according to Wennberg.
With the exception of two potential sites owned by the town of West Rutland, all other possible sites for the proposed 60 wind turbines were on private properties in six towns, he said.
Wennberg indicated no turbines would be constructed without permission from the landowners and the developer could not seize property through eminent domain.
It was also pointed out the project was independent of the state's largest utility, Central Vermont Public Service Corporation. However, power generated by the development would only be sold in-state to utilities and not private individuals.
Wennberg said another rumor he wanted to quash involved decommissioning once the turbines had surpassed the 25-year life expectancy or should the project become a "white elephant" by not generating the expected power.
The state's Public Service Board had the authority to require a letter of credit from the developer equal to the amount required to remove the equipment.
"This is basically an upfront guarantee," Wennberg said.
He noted the 80-megawatt wind farm could involve as many as 38 sites in Ira, nine sites in Poultney, four in Tinmouth, four in Clarendon, three in Middletown Springs, and two in West Rutland, with several of the locations on the ridgelines of Mt. Herrick and Susie's Peak.
"Ira is really the heart in terms of the project," Wennberg said.
The towers would measure approximately 265 feet and the diameter of the rotors would be 250 feet if the developers opted for 1.5-megawatt turbines built by General Electric.
Turbines along the ridgelines would be spaced approximately 1,200 feet apart and red lights would be installed on the towers situated at each end, according to White-Hansen.
VCWF has leased 4,000 acres from Wagner Forest Management Company for the project, and signed leases on several of the other 19 properties being considered, according to Wennberg.
White-Hansen firmly declined to identify the other landowners who had signed leases after being pressed repeatedly by one citizen.
During the question-answer portion of the evening, several residents expressed concern over the project's potential impact on wildlife, aesthetics, town roads and bridges, and the possible health ramifications for residents living in close proximity to the towers.
Dr. Bart Bonazinga indicated a number of preliminary studies conducted in Maine and elsewhere outlined impacts on residents as a result of the noise, vibrations and shadow flickers from industrial wind farms. Health impacts range from stress, insomnia and dizziness to migraines and hypertension, he said.
"If you're within a quarter mile of these things, you're going to be deathly ill. If you're within three miles, you're going to hate the view," he said. "Susie's Peak is going to be destroyed."
Bonazinga further noted property owners situated near wind farms in other states found it difficult to sell their homes. He added the towers would pose a threat to bats and migratory birds and impact deer, bear and other wildlife.
Rep. David Potter, D-Clarendon, questioned the width of access roads required for cranes to haul towers to the sites.
Wennberg responded the roads could be as wide as 36 feet during the construction phase and returned to 16 feet in the operational phase.
Others suggested swaths of land much wider than 36 feet would be needed to construct roads of that width.
When pressed about the equipment currently installed to collect data, Wennberg indicated meteorological equipment had been positioned on a communication tower with permission from the landowner.
Equipment had also been installed on Mount Herrick to measure animal activity in the area and a raptor study was ongoing, he said.
Clarendon Selectman Robert Bixby questioned the potential impact on town roads and bridges.
The developer would be required to survey local infrastructure prior to construction, according to Wennberg. "The town shouldn't have to pay a dime for the wear and tear the project puts on town bridges and roads," he said.
Several residents voiced their concerns regarding the noise and visual impact of the project.
One man suggested the project would amount to a "permanent scarring" of the region.
"It's overbearing and much too big for our communities. Our mountains are going to disappear as we know it," he said.
Wennberg announced VCWF would be sponsoring a bus trip to Lempster, N.H., in late June for citizens interested in viewing a wind farm on similar terrain.
The developer is seeking state permission to install three towers — two in Ira and one in Clarendon — to measure wind in the area.
White-Hansen indicated they would be collecting a wide variety of data over the next year. VCWF's time frame included filing an application for the project with the Public Service Board in 2010, undergoing construction in 2011 and beginning operations in 2012.
"That's ambitious and optimistic, but it's possible and that's what we're shooting for," Wennberg said.
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