It has always been up to the people to move the world in the right direction, stand strong against abuses and hold steady for the future of humanity and planet Earth. It is beyond beautiful what humans are capable of when they come together and commit to a cause and work for what they know is right and just.
This is exactly the case for the town of Stamford, which, despite an unwelcome, aggressive, well-funded wind-tower proposal, took action for the welfare of their town and residents. After months of grueling work by the town, including the Select Board, Planning Commission and many residents, all of whom opposed the siting of a 500-foot, 2.2 MW wind turbine by Norwich Solar, on Dec. 7, the project was dropped.
The company issued a press release stating, “Today, Norwich Solar, manager of the Stamford Main Renewables wind-turbine proposal, announced the application to the Vermont Public Utility Commission will not move forward.”
You never quite know the ultimate reason for the termination of a project proposal. Regardless, Stamford had certainly done its research and covered all possible bases to understand the legal process, the violations and what their citizens desired. During this process, Act 250 violations on the land for the access road for the proposed wind tower were identified and are now under enforcement. The proposed site had been excessively cleared to make way for a wind monitoring device. The construction of a 1-mile road through a high-priority forest into the site possibly requiring the construction of a bridge, was a major expense. On top of all this, the wind industry is experiencing declines in their return on investments due to increased capital costs, inflation and supply-chain issues.
This is a win for the people of Stamford and also for all Vermonters who care about the environment, their shires and homes, and their right to hold an active and engaged role in the future of their communities. A Vermont version of David and Goliath, Stamford worked hard for its win.
Annette Smith, executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, has helped many communities around the state understand their rights and the process involved in successfully opposing projects of this scale that do not align with the town’s goals and values. VCE engages to raise the voices of Vermonters, bringing environmental justice and corporate accountability to Vermont communities since 1999.
Smith was integral in helping the community of Stamford understand the regulatory process and how to participate effectively. This project did not meet the stated goals of the town’s enhanced energy plan or that of the Bennington regional plan. Specifically, it did not meet the mandatory setback requirement of 1 kilometer, which would have placed the turbine in dangerously close proximity to many residential homes. It also was not sited in the area specified for preferred wind tower placement as determined by the town.
In an interview with Annette Smith, I requested a summary of what Stamford just experienced:
“Norwich Solar is giving Vermonters the perfect example of how to turn people against renewable energy.
1. Find a site two years ago in a town whose village has views of a ridgeline full of Massachusetts wind turbines, in which the Vermont town had no say. Don’t tell anyone.
2. Get a standard offer contract a year ago. Don’t tell anyone.
3. Clear-cut forest and install a wind measurement device and gather data for a year, don’t tell anyone.
4. Meet with regional planners and choose to ignore town and regional plans that mandate a setback of 1 kilometer from year-round residential buildings.
5. Make it clear the project will proceed giving the finger to town and regional plans that will receive substantial deference from the Public Utility Commission.
6. File an advance notice giving the community only 45 days before filing the petition, file (twice) for extensions of the standard-offer contract deadline for filing the petition, file another 45-day advance notice for a wind measurement tower.
7. Create a confusing mess in the regulatory process with four different Public Utility Commission cases.
8. Attend town board meetings but don’t answer questions.
9. Disrupt sales and construction plans in the nearby development during a housing crisis.
10. Give the town the challenge of raising $100,000+ to participate at the PUC, consuming the lives of the community for more than a year.”
It is important for other Vermont towns to understand what Stamford experienced so they can be prepared if a similar project situation presents in their community. Ensuring projects of this scale and impact will include the town in the conversation and decision, is paramount.
Those who have been involved in proposals for industrial wind projects in Vermont know Martha Staskus, of Norwich Solar. Staskus was involved in the Holland, Swanton, Irasburg, Pittsford Ridge Vermont wind project proposals, all of which became highly contentious and eventually failed. Staskus was also project manager for the Georgia Mountain Wind Project, working for David Blittersdorf, owner of AllEarth Renewables, who sued the neighbors to keep them off their own property, and then threw dangerous flyrock during blasting. The Department of Public Safety inspected the site and found large amounts of flyrock on the neighboring property large enough to cause harm. The project was fined three times for running the turbines under icing conditions in violation of its winter operating protocol.
It is helpful for Vermonters to understand these players and their tactics. Awareness around what we are contending with when it comes to industries, will allow Vermonters to work together and ensure our communities are not taken advantage of when it comes to large scale, impactful decisions.
Alison Despathy lives in Danville.
