As every progressive knows, Vermont is a special place. Special for many reasons, not the least of which is its beautiful landscape. It can be easily documented that the Vermont landscape is by far its greatest economic resource. Vermont is special too because of the environmental awareness of its people. Now in a bizarre twist the Green Mountain Boys and Girls may have become their own worst enemy. On their behalf the Vermont Public Service Board is taking aim-at its own big boot. The VPSB will be deciding this week on its recommendations concerning a wind power project that involves literally blowing the top off of one of Vermont's most pristine and scenic mountain ridges to accommodate 20 to 21 wind turbines. Details and links below.
The Lowell Mountains are a small range within the Green Mountains of the Northeast Kingdom in north central Vermont. This area is ground zero for what millions of tourists come to see every year in Vermont: Every picture a postcard of scenery with small well kept villages nestled in the arms of beautiful, unspoiled, wild but inviting, mountain backdrops.
In addition to its environmental awareness, a political quirk of the State of Vermont may contribute to the beginning of the end of scenes and environments like the one described above. To its credit, usually, Vermont enshrines its local communities with real political power. Vermont towns can and do make important decisions. The downside is that like the native americans before them this diffuse power base allows one group of citizens to be turned against the other. In this case the town of Lowell, that controls what happens to the Lowell Mountains was wooed with potential tax revenues to overwhelmingly vote for a project to blast a road as wide as an interstate highway along the ridge line of the Lowell Mountains. This is planned in order to accommodate the construction of 20 to 21huge wind turbines. See what this looks like in Maine (click to the right):
Lowell's orientation behind a deep lower ridge actually does not allow for viewing the affected ridge line from Lowell, but on the other side of the mountains Craftsbury and other Towns will have the turbines hovering over their skyline. A one sided battle has developed with Lowell, the Governor, and Green Mountain Power (Actually a Canadian Company) lined up against the small number of citizens in the affected towns. Here is the background and more information from the project opponents website: http://vermontersforacleanenvironment.wordpress.com/
The effort is being led by a former director of the Vermont Department of Game and Fish, Steve Wright. Steve's major point is that this is a project that should be decided by the State as a whole since it will impact Vermont's major economic engine. Here he is in a debate on Vermont Public Radio with a Green Power representative. here
If you have come to love the scenic beauty of Vermont and appreciate their citizen's respect for other living things it is time to speak up. Call the Governor of Vermont now-(802) 828-3333.