|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/enrgy/statelin/ |
Upload File : |
<html>
<head>
<title>April 2005: New Vermont Policy: Wind Energy Development on State-Owned
Land</title>
</head>
<body style="font-family: Arial" vlink="#808080">
<div align="center"><center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" width="98%" bgcolor="#000000">
<tr>
<td width="100%" valign="middle"><a name="top"></a>
<img src="../images/pmamagsm.gif" alt="PMA Online Magazine" border="0" align="right" width="229" height="100"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div><div align="center"><center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="8" width="98%">
<tr>
<td width="15%" valign="top" align="center">
<!--webbot bot="Include" U-Include="sl_sidebar.htm" TAG="BODY" startspan -->
<table border="2" cellpadding="8" width="15%" id="table1" bordercolor="#FFFF00" bgcolor="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td width="100%" valign="top" align="center"><map name="FPMap0_I1">
<area href="http://www.powermarketers.com/adrates.html" shape="rect" coords="14, 297, 97, 322">
<area href="http://www.powermarketers.com/pmajobs.htm" shape="rect" coords="11, 230, 95, 257">
<area href="http://www.powermarketers.com/main.htm" target="_parent" shape="rect" coords="12, 163, 96, 189">
<area href="http://www.powermarketers.com/power2.htm" target="_blank" shape="rect" coords="12, 95, 96, 121">
<area href="../pmamag.htm" shape="rect" coords="11, 29, 96, 54"></map><img rectangle="(12,163) (96,189) http://www.powermarketers.com/main.htm##_parent" rectangle="(12,95) (96,121) http://www.powermarketers.com/power2.htm##_blank" rectangle="(11,29) (96,54) ../pmamag.htm" src="../images/magmenu.gif" alt="PMA OnLine Magazine Menu" border="0" align="center" usemap="#FPMap0_I1" width="110" height="350"><p><a href="../searchpma.htm"><img src="../images/archives.gif" alt="Archives Search" border="0" align="center" WIDTH="70" HEIGHT="40"></a></p>
<p align="left"><strong><small><font face="Arial">About The Author:</font></small></strong></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial" style="font-size: 9pt">Robert A. Olson is a partner in the law firm of
Brown, Olson & Gould, P.C. which maintains a nationwide practice in energy law,
public utility law and related commercial transactions.</font></p>
<p><small><font face="Arial"><font style="font-size: 9pt">He can be reached at:</font><br>
<br>
<b><font color="#0000FF">Brown, Olson & Gould, PC</font></b><br>
2 Delta Drive<br>
Suite 301<br>
Concord, NH 03301<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><br>
(603) 225-9716<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]"></a></font></small></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="#top"><img src="../images/b-t-top.gif" alt="Back To Top" border="0" width="71" height="35"></a></td>
</tr>
</table>
<!--webbot bot="Include" i-checksum="45188" endspan --></td>
<td width="69%" valign="top">
<img src="../images/statelin.gif" alt="STATELINE by Robert Olson" border="0" width="375" height="75">
</center><p> </p>
<p><b><u><br>
</u></b><u><b>April 2005<br>
</b></u><font size="6"><b>New Vermont Policy:
Wind Energy Development <br>
on State-Owned Land<br>
</b></font><strong>by Robert Olson -- Brown, Olson and Wilson, P.C.<br>
</strong><font face="Arial" size="2">(<em>originally published by PMA OnLine Magazine:
200</em>5/05/06)</font></p>
<center>
<p align="left">The continuing enactment of renewable portfolio standards (“RPS”)
across the nation is increasingly driving investment in wind energy
projects. Some states are leasing state-owned land for such projects while
other states are studying the issue. Pennsylvania, for instance, is among
the latest to consider leasing state forest land to wind farm developers.<br>
<br>
In Vermont, interest in the development of large-scale wind farms prompted
the drafting of the “Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Policy: Wind Energy
and Other Renewable Energy Development on ANR Lands,” dated December, 2004
(“ANR Policy”). The new policy applies only to state-owned lands under the
jurisdiction of the ANR; is intended to provide guidelines for the use of
ANR lands for both small and large projects; and extends to wind and other
renewable energy development, including solar and biomass. The policy does
not apply to private, federal or municipal land.<br>
<br>
For purposes of this policy, large-scale renewable energy projects are
defined as those that will directly disturb an area larger than one acre in
size; have the potential to impact area wildlife, recreation and other
natural resources; and will be visible from the surrounding area and/ or
will otherwise create significant visual impacts within the surrounding
area. Large-scale projects are characterized as being designed and intended
to generate electricity for commercial purposes; for example, a commercial
wind farm with multiple turbines. Small-scale renewable energy projects are
those that disturb less than one acre of land and do not significantly
impact area wildlife, recreation, natural or scenic resources. Small-scale
projects are those primarily intended to provide electricity for a specific
facility and would include net-metered facilities. Under the ANR Policy, a
project involving a single wind turbine less than 120 feet tall generating
less than 10 kw is considered a small-scale project; a project that involves
at least several wind turbines that could be over 300 feet tall and capable
of generating up to 1.5 MW of electricity is considered a large-scale
project.<br>
<br>
Pursuant to the new policy, the ANR will actively explore developing
small-scale renewable energy projects such as net-metered wind or solar
generation systems and other renewable technologies at appropriate sites on
ANR lands. Large-scale commercial or industrial renewable energy projects
are not allowed on ANR lands, including all state parks, state forests and
wildlife management areas. This prohibition extends to temporary wind
measurement towers and other exploratory uses that are designed to evaluate
the feasibility of future renewable projects.<br>
<br>
While acknowledging the current interest in large-scale projects, the agency
has determined that the development of large-scale projects such as
commercial wind farms would not be compatible with the uses of ANR lands or
the purposes for which they were acquired. The rationale underlying the ANR
Policy includes i) the expressed public concern about developing ANR land
for large-scale projects; ii) a determination that less than 1% of ANR land
actually contains a commercially viable wind resource and is not otherwise
encumbered with restrictions prohibiting such development and, moreover,
that ample private lands are available; and iii) the conclusion that
development of large-scale, commercial renewable energy projects falls
outside the ANR’s area of responsibility.<br>
<br>
Particularly with respect to large-scale renewable energy projects, the ANR
Policy states that the agency may at some later time consider revising the
policy in the event that a future statewide assessment demonstrates that the
best sites for such projects are on ANR lands.</p>
<!--webbot bot="Include" u-include="sl_bottom.htm" tag="BODY" startspan -->
<hr color="#FFFF00">
<blockquote>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial">
<small>Robert A. Olson is a partner in the law firm of Brown, Olson &
Gould P.C.
which maintains a nationwide practice in energy law, public utility law and related
commercial transactions. He can be reached at:</small></font><p align="center">
<font face="Arial"><small><font color="#0000FF"><b>Brown, Olson & Gould, PC</b></font><br>
2 Delta Drive, Suite 301<br>
Concord, NH 03301 <br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> | (603) 225-9716<a href="mailto:[email protected]"></a></small></font>
<!--webbot bot="Include" i-checksum="27861" endspan --></td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<p align="center"><a href="#top">
<img src="../images/b-t-top.gif" alt="Back To Top" border="0" width="71" height="35"></a></p>
</body>
</html>