The Green vs Mountain State: The Divide Between Two Vermont Ideologies

Long, white arms rotate rhythmically against a backdrop of bright blue Vermont sky. Spinning slightly out of sync with one another, the steel titans prominently extend from Lowell Mountain’s ridgeline, a stark contrast to the green landscape they tower above. But its not the described aesthetics of the wind turbines that seem to be bothering the locals. In fact, the idea of wind energy is widely accepted by most communities throughout Vermont as a feasible alternative to fossil fuels. But, industrial wind power in Vermont encompasses many grey areas, from Governor Shumlin and large Canadian energy companies, to ignored community residents, hydrology compromise, and human health concerns.

Lowell Mountains, before construction began in 2011

The Lowell Mountain Wind Project, formally known as Kingdom Community Wind, began in May of 2011 when Green Mountain Power (GMP) received permission to start construction. The
proposed project resulted in 21 wind turbines standing 459 feet high over 3.2 miles of ridgeline that became operational by the end of 2012. Each turbine is “3 MW VESTAS V112, some of the newest, most efficient technology on the market” (Green Mountain Power). Combined, they hypothetically produce 186,000 MWH annually or enough to power more than 24,000 homes each year. With $150 million invested, the long-term outcomes will hopefully lead to jobs, economic benefits as well as a strong shift away from continued dependency on fossil fuels, a move that supports Vermont’s overall aims. In addition, the project received significant federal tax credits of up to $40 million, which supposedly serves to lower costs for customers.

With all of these positive statistics, its difficult to immediately see any negative implications of Kingdom Community Wind or other possible future wind projects like it. Furthermore, common arguments in favor of utility-scale wind development in Vermont are extensive and undoubtedly in accordance with the data behind the most current research of carbon emission levels and climate change. Most of these arguments are not necessarily specific to this state, as they include mitigation of climate change, reduction of dependence on foreign energy, and local job opportunities. Local concerns include finding an energy substitute for the closure of the Yankee Nuclear power plant. Additional points of rationalization involve the fact that all energy sources have impacts; as “there is no silver bullet, wind should play a part” (Luce). 

To access Luce's full presentation

Blasting and construction on Lowell Mountain

Unfortunately, there are massive shortcomings when it comes to establishing industrial wind power in Vermont. The first is its impact on the environment. In order to construct the turbines at 2,400 feet atop Lowell Mountain, GMP used 700,000 pounds of explosives to level out the ridgeline to ensure multiple vehicles of lengths up to 200 feet (specifically 10 - 12 tractor trailer trucks a day) could travel up the mountain. GMP also had to blast areas surrounding the base of the turbine, once again to ensure the ground was level enough for construction. Described as “blast[ing] the bones of Mother Earth,” this process is fundamentally changing the rock structure that had taken hundreds of thousands of years to form (Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie). In turn, the blasting is changing the foundations of the natural hydrology of the area. The headwaters of two major Vermont rivers, the Northern Black and the Missisquoi River, (a tributary of Lake Champlain) draw from Lowell Mountain, and when the rideline was “blown up [and] turned inside out,” the hydrological patterns and water holding capacity were drastically effected (Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie). Despite the man-made holding ponds created to mitigate runoff, “mankind is not doing as good a job putting in catching basins that are as good as the ones developed by nature” (Lazor). 

Lowell Mountain, April 2012

Another massive shortcoming, environmentally speaking, is the impact on the wildlife on Lowell Mountain. Besides the clear-cutting 135 acres of healthy forest associated with creating a construction site, (which is fairly blatant habitat destruction), the introduction of wind turbines in pristine areas such as a ridgeline create sporadic and frequent disruptions of habitats for bear, moose, bobcat and deer. Specifically, Kingdom Community Wind is set on a high-quality feeding area for black bears. Though the Agency of Natural Resources and GMP worked to conserve almost 1,100 acres on Lowell Mountain, (about 2,800 total acres in the area are being conserved), over 20 acres of prime bear habitat was destroyed, something that cannot be replaced with massive numbers lesser-quality acres. 

Lowell Mountain, August 2012

In addition, bird and bat populations are negatively impacted in large proportions. Independent studies in other areas have seen that these animals may be attracted to the moving blades, but those that use thermals near ridges to fly or migrate are being killed inadvertently as well. Studies have been conducted by Stantec, at the request of GMP, to quantify loss of bird and bat life around the turbines on Lowell Mounatin. Regrettably, the results from the study may not be reliable. The study area only included a radius of 80 feet from the base of the turbines, when the arms of the turbines are 175 feet long, which undoubtedly skewed the numbers.

The other local population severely effected by the turbines is the human one. More than just losing value on their homes, the people nearest to the wind turbines are experiencing some pretty bizarre health consequences. Common symptoms include “sleep disturbance, nausea, vertigo, headaches, ringing in ears, dry heaves, panic attacks and increased blood pressure” (Smith). It is believed that these manifestations are a result of the low frequency noise emitted from the wind turbines. Of course, audible noise and shadow flicker play a role as well. When the turbines are running at an acceptable capacity, the decibel levels are enough to wake the project’s neighbors at night.

Sheffield Wind Turbine Neighbor talks about Noise, April 18, 2012 from VCE on Vimeo.

Therrien Family

But the largest cause for concern is that the families experiencing these symptoms are not only being ignored by the corporation responsible, but they’re not taken seriously by their fellow community members. This isolates and ostracizes those effected, which takes an additional psychological toll. One such family is the Therrien family: Steve, Luann, Seager and Baily. They live next door to the Sheffield Wind Project, under 30 miles southeast of Lowell Mountain. Their home is “just under 3/4 of a mile to just under 2 miles” from the 16 wind turbines that make up the First Wind project, (according to Luann’s research, “some pro wind experts say 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile is too close, other studies say 1.5 miles is too close.. so almost all 16 are too close” to the wind project to be safe in regards to human health) (Therrien). For over two years, they have repeatedly contacted the company, appealed to the public, their community members and neighbors etc. but to no avail. They have lived on their land for close to 17 years, have no desire to leave their home, but the health consequences are forcing them to consider their options. Unfortunately, due to their financial situation, fleeing is not an feasible course of action. 

Protester accusing Governor Shumlin of
 intimate relationship with GMP

Despite several positive press releases from GMP about the overwhelming support and community involvement in Kingdom Community Wind, locals are not feeling particularly included. This may have to do with the project’s very beginnings: the Public Service Board rushed through any required paperwork, memos and filings, when it is generally known for working “at a snail’s pace, requiring over a month to return things” (Smith). Appeals were mainly denied or ignored, receiving absolutely no traction, while requests for hearings about the project proposal were also denied. It would seem that this project had been fast-tracked, with very little community contribution in a supposedly “community wind” project. This fact has been blamed on Governor Shumlin’s overly close relationship with GMP, which has caused concern for the future of Vermont’s energy ownership. GMP’s parent corporation is Gaz Metro, a massive Canadian conglomerate that owns and distributes natural gas, district heating and now wind power to regions of the northeast. While there may be short-term economic gains to be had with this partnership, there are possible conflicts of interest, foreign ownership and consolidation of ownership issues at hand. 

Poster from protester of Kingdom Community Wind
reaches to the heart of the industrial wind

As Vermonters, there are several questions we have to ask ourselves when considering industrial wind energy. The first is at what cost? With so many probable negative consequences, “should we be sacrificing the most characteristic and most fragile places in Vermont for a wind benefit that intermittent” (Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie)? Upon further analysis, would we find that the worth of the mountain is no longer as valuable as the latest renewable energy? Or in the future, will we find ourselves ashamed that we did not value a natural ecosystem’s basic functioning and free services more highly than that of the electricity flowing from it? With the knowledge that “the best buffers for global warming are intact natural ecosystems,” we should find other options, or at least find an option that fits the scale and context (Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie). Because, “when you start industrializing something, you change the very nature of it” (Freedom & Unity: The Vermont Movie). My suggestion would be, that in order to preserve our mentality of pursuing greener lifestyles but also maintain our unique landscape, to first cut back, live more sustainably and consider the most viable options for each individual region. We do not need to destroy something in order to save it.