Tag Archives: Vermont

Northern Pass ‘visual impact’ examined

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Union Leader 9/27/2012
Excerpt:   “GORHAM — The North Country’s most valued asset — its scenery — would be harmed by the Northern Pass, the Appalachian Mountain Club told the federal Department of Energy in a visual impact report for the 31 towns along the power transmission project’s route.

According to the analysis released Wednesday:
– A total of 95,000 acres in New Hampshire, including 3,000 acres in the White Mountain National Forest, six scenic outlooks and a trail crossing along the Appalachian Trail in the Kinsman Range would be affected.  …”

Read entire article at  http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20120927/NEWS05/709279895/0/NEWS02

Forest Service defends wind project

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Bennington Banner 6/29/2012
Excerpt:    ” SEARSBURG — The Green Mountain National Forest filed a response earlier this week to a lawsuit from a non-profit group opposing the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of a wind power project on federal forestland in the towns of Searsburg and Readsboro.

If completed, the Deerfield Wind Project would be the first of its kind on National Forest land.     …”
Read entire story at http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_20968243/forest-service-defends-wind-project

Non-profit sues over Deerfield Wind Project

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Bennington Banner 4/17/2012
Excerpt:   “SEARSBURG — A Vermont non-profit is taking the Green Mountain National Forest to court over a proposed wind power facility.

The complaint was filed Friday in U.S. District Court District of Vermont by attorneys representing Vermonters for a Clean Environment and a number of individuals against the Green Mountain National Forest and some of its employees, including Forest Supervisor Colleen Madrid.  ….”
Read entire article at http://www.benningtonbanner.com/local/ci_20411153/non-profit-sues-over-deerfield-wind-project

Vermont model leads the way in management of national forests

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Burlington Free Press 3/12/2012
Excerpt:    “RIPTON — Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest at its most basic level is just a bunch of trees, hills, rocks and brooks. To manage the forest, you’d think National Forest Service employees would just let the trees grow and pretty much leave the rocks and hills alone.
That is until you start to consider the health and wide variety of trees in the forest. And the animals, birds and smaller plants. Then think about all the hikers, photographers, bird-watchers, snowmobiliers, loggers, hunters, nature-lovers, skiers, snowshoe enthusiasts and nearby residents who all have their own ideas about what forest managers should do with the trees…….”
Read entire article at http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120311/GREEN01/120310008/Vermont-model-leads-way-management-national-forests?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Wind project faces appeal

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Bennington Banner 2/27/2012
Excerpt:   “SEARSBURG — An environmental group has appealed last month’s decision by the U.S. Forest Service to allow the erection of 15 wind turbines in the Green Mountain National Forest in Searsburg and Readsboro.
The appeal filed by the nonprofit group Vermonters for a Clean Environment cites negative impacts on the wilderness, water quality and a conflict of interest in the Forest Service’s decision. The group has requested a response from the USFS within 45 days.     ……..”
Read entire article at  http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_20051292

Editorial: Wind projects often divisive

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Press Republican; 1/20/2012
Excerpt:   “It seems improbable that a group of Vermont environmentalists are challenging the construction of a wind farm, but that just points out the sensitivity of the whole wind-power issue.
A project in the Green Mount National Forest in southern Vermont calls for the construction of 15 windmills. They would be 410 feet high — tall enough to require blinking lights on top to tip off aircraft pilots of their presence.
Opponents warn that those lights will be clearly visible from the 5,000-acre George D. Aiken Wilderness several miles away…….”
Read entire editorial at  http://pressrepublican.com/0200_opinion/x897043744/Editorial-Wind-projects-often-divisive

Opponents of Green Mountain National Forest wind project vow appeal

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Burlington Free Press; 1/8/2012
Excerpt:   “SEARSBURG — Opponents of a plan to build a 15-turbine, wind-power project in the Green Mountain National Forest in southern Vermont say they are going to appeal a decision by the U.S. Forest Service to approve the project.
The project planned for 80 acres of land in Searsburg and Readsboro that could produce enough power for about 30,000 homes had been placed on a federal list of 14 infrastructure projects around the country to be given expedited environmental reviews and permitting……”
Read entire article at  http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120108/NEWS07/201080334/Opponents-Green-Mountain-National-Forest-wind-project-vow-appeal

Forest Service OKs 15 wind turbines

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Bennington Banner; 1/4/2012
Excerpt:   “SEARSBURG — The U.S. Forest Service has decided to approve 15 of the 17 wind turbines proposed on public land by Deerfield Wind, LLC, a subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables.
Together the turbines will produce 30 megawatts of power. Eight turbines will be located on a ridge line to the west of Route 8 in Readsboro, while seven will be built to the east in Searsburg. The project area will take up around 80 acres, with the turbines painted off-white and spaced half a mile apart. At roughly 400 feet high, each will have flashing red lights in the nighttime.
The decision was issued by Colleen Pelles Madrid, forest supervisor for the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest, who said it is consistent with a decision made in 2009 by the Vermont Public Service Board giving the project a certificate of public good.
Read entire article at http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_19668996?source=rss_viewed

GMNF approves wind project

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Rutland Herald; 1/3/2012
Excerpt:   “READSBORO – The Green Mountain National Forest has approved a 15-turbine wind-powered electricity generation proposal for the Deerfield Wind Project in Readsboro and Searsburg but the decision is still subject to appeal.
Iberdola Renewable, an international company with an office in Portland, had proposed building the project near Route 8. The Public Service Board granted the proposal a certificate of public good in April 2009.
The application said the will produce 30 megawatts at peak operating conditions, or enough electricity to power about 14,000 Vermont homes for a year…..”
Read entire article at http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120103/THISJUSTIN/120109999

Deerfield wind project on Obama’s fast track

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Rutland Herald; 10/13/2011
Excerpt:    “SEARSBURG — The proposed 30-megawatt Deerfield wind project in southern Vermont is among 14 projects the Obama Administration has fast-tracked for federal review.
“We’re optimistic we’ll have a decision by the end of the year,” said Ethan Ready, spokesman for Green Mountain National Forest.
The project, which was first proposed in 2005, could set a national precedent by allowing a commercial wind operation in a national forest, Ready said, and has generated extensive public comment during the federal review process…..”

Read more at  http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20111013/NEWS02/710139890/1003/NEWS02