Sheffield voters will soon vote on whether to support a local commercial wind power development.
The Burlington Free Press has an OP Ed that raises good questions. Free Press Article
Though the debate is local, it could have implications for other communities and our state.
I love this debate!
It pits the environmentally conscious Vermonter against the aesthetically conscious Vermonter. It is a local control issue and a NIMBY cause, but is it better for all of us in the state and our energy future?
Who would complain about a clean sustainable power source in Vermont? We don't like nuclear, the acid rain that falls on us from power generation plants in the Midwest, the wood chip Moran plant whose emissions took paint off cars in Burlington or Hydro Quebec's power development when it displaces native peoples.
Our power costs are some of the highest in the region. This is one of the challenges manufacturers face when analyzing the costs of doing business in Vermont. Fossil fuels are increasingly expensive. Even our state government seems to be sending mixed messages on this issue.
We ARE for sustainable energy resources, but we can't bring ourselves to look at wind turbines.
In Costa Rica, there are vast wind farms on some ridge lines and no sign of development on others. Their power costs are reasonable and sustainable. This is an important debate and the voters in Sheffield will have the first say.
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