All the polls I have seen seem to indicate that somewhere between 70% to 90% of Vermonters support increased development of our wind resources. Of course that general support does not mean that a great majority of Vermonters support each and every specific project. Logically speaking, it is safe to assume that some projects, depending on the specifics concerning environmental impact, quality local job creation, etc., may be good and others not so good. That said, below is a press release sent out today from REV which highlights one Northeast Kingdom community’s support for a new wind farm project in their back yard.
Northeast Kingdom communities vote in favor of wind projects
NEWS RELEASE
Aug. 15, 2012Media Contact:
Gabrielle Stebbins
Executive Director
Renewable Energy Vermont
gabrielle@revermont.org
(802) 229-0099United Towns & Gores of Essex County (15 August 2012)- United Towns and Gores have reaffirmed Vermonters’ commitment to renewable energy projects at their annual meeting. The town voted twenty-four to sixteen to support wind projects. The vote was prompted by the proposal to put in meteorological towers to measure wind speeds for the Seneca Mountain Wind project. Jack Kenworthy of Seneca Mountain Wind was “heartened by the community’s willingness to learn more about our project and the benefits it can bring to the community. We look forward to sharing our plans as we develop them. Seneca Mountain Wind is dedicated to working closely with host communities throughout the project development phase and to listen to concerns and feedback that we receive in that process.” This vote supports the WCAX polls showing that seventy percent of Vermont citizens support wind projects along ridgelines.
“This vote affirms the continued broad support by the vast majority of Vermonters to see the on-going development of clean energy in our state – for all the many benefits clean energy provides, from mitigating climate change, developing job opportunities up and down the supply chain, to increasing our energy security and independence, while offering local host towns additional revenue streams in tight fiscal times”, stated Gabrielle Stebbins, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont, the state trade association for clean energy in Vermont. “It’s truly exciting that by the end of 2012, four Vermont wind farms will provide 120 Megawatts of capacity, supplying enough power for 46,000 homes through contracts with our local utilities. This is another step closer to Vermont meeting the goals laid out in its comprehensive energy plan.” In addition to the energy supplied to Vermonters, these projects also contribute over one million dollars annually to the state education fund and add another 1.4 million in tax revenues to the host communities.
This vote comes after a series of positive developments for wind energy over the last few weeks. At their summit in Las Vegas, the American Wind Energy Association announced that there are now fifty gigawatts of installed capacity for wind in the US. Highlighting that capacity is the recent announcement that wind provided up to fifty-seven percent of Colorado electricity recently.
To learn more and become a supporter of Vermont Windprojects, sign up on for the Friends of Vermont Wind at www.windworksvt.org.
REV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade associationrepresenting nearly 300 businesses, individuals, colleges and others committedto reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the availability ofrenewable sources of energy in Vermont. REV works as the only advocacyorganization dedicated solely to advancing renewable energy and efficiency inthe state. Learn more at www.revermont.org