Can Ira zone out energy proposal?
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By Gordon Dritschilo STAFF WRITER - Published: June 26, 2009
Public Service Department spokesman Stephen Wark said he could not think of an occasion when a town plan prevented a utility project.
"That doesn't mean it hasn't happened," he said Thursday.
Many residents of Ira expressed interest at two recent meetings in amending the town plan to keep out a proposed 80-megawatt wind farm. Members of the Planning Commission have cautioned that they are not sure such a move will work.
State statute requires the Public Service Board to give town plans "due consideration" during the permitting process. What does that mean?
"It's a vague answer, but it's necessarily vague to provide the board with flexibility to make decisions," Wark said.
The issues involved are complex, he said, and a town plan could be at odds with greater regional needs.
"Tribunals such as the Public Service Board are the best way to resolve conflicting issues," Wark said.
PSB clerk Susan Hudson said towns are parties to the permitting process by statute, and applicants are required to provide their proposal to involved towns 45 days before filing their application to the board. She said a town can hold hearings and make recommendations to the board and the developer.
"They get a look at it and sometimes, because of that, plans might be modified," she said.
Hudson said the PSB takes each case individually and is required to look at all aspects of the project, and particularly looks at local conservation measures.
"We also are required to rule in the overall public good of the state," she said.
VCWF spokesman Jeffrey Wennberg said opposition to the project is coming before it has even taken specific form, and the company at least wants a chance to debate specifics it cannot yet discuss.
Meanwhile, the Rutland Regional Planning Commission is looking at holding a series of forums on wind energy. Executive Director Mark Blucher said he would like to hold four talks covering different aspects of the issue on consecutive Wednesdays.
"The challenge there is, there are so many issues. Which ones do we pick?" he asked. "We hope to bring the general public some information on which they can make their decisions."
Blucher said he expected the topics to be chosen by the regional planning commission's energy committee, possibly with input from the general public.
gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com
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