Vermont Business Magazine Energize Vermont is launching The Vermont Neighbors Project to describe life near Vermont’s wind electricity plants. The group opposes large-scale wind projects in Vermont. The project’s website, VTNeighbors.org, features videos of Vermonters describing how being placed in the shadow of wind turbines has affected them and their children. The new Public Service Board rules on large wind projects limits noise to neighboring homes to a large degree for health reasons.
New videos will be added in the upcoming weeks and months that will:
- show the range of problems that wind projects have created for neighbors,
- shine a spotlight on the treatment of Vermonters by the multi-billion dollar wind industry, and
- describe state government’s response to the problems reported by turbine neighbors.
In 2017 Vermont’s Public Service Board developed new rules for turbine siting and operation in order to reduce the damage done to neighbors by new wind projects. The wind industry is mischaracterizing the PSB’s new rules as being inconsistent with legislative intent, being too strict,and constituting a “functional ban” on wind energy in Vermont. These claims are untrue:
- The Legislature ordered the drafting of new rules with the clear intent of improving protections for Vermonters.
- Denmark and Germany have stricter noise standards and they have more successful wind programs than Vermont.
- The rules encourage genuine community-based projects by allowing developers and neighbors to cooperate and agree to different project setbacks and noise limits.
Source: Energize Vermont. 6.1.2017. Energize Vermont promotes sustainable energy development, protection of our environment, and respect for our communities. Learn more about Energize Vermont at energizevermont.org.