Shawna McGowan- Industrial Wind Power in Vermont

1. Your opening 5-7 sentence paragraph (underline your thesis sentence, please);

The Green vs Mountain State: Conflict of 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. The issue of wind power in Vermont is far more complicated, encompassing grey areas of environmental conservation, democratic neglect and economic gains. 

2. A bulleted OUTLINE for your 8 paragraph project.

• Intro Para: Introduce the wind energy/Lowell Mountain Wind Project
• Briefly explain wind power/turbines, and explain the Lowell Mountain Wind Project (literally outline the project- where it is, what it looks like, how much it cost, energy it creates)
• Explain the project’s shortcomings: (quoting interviews)
• who owns the project
• where the energy is actually going 
• who approved the project (and ignored appeals of the people)
• environmental protection being ignored
• hydrology problems
• sense of scale issues
• refer to other wind projects in VT
• Outline the resistance (quoting interviews)
• Mountain Talk
• VT Digger
• Appeals
• Forums
• Vote on Town Meeting Day
• Conclude by exploring the obvious conflict: 
• wanting green energy, being known as a green energy state
• wanting to protect the landscape, being known for environmental protection
• the compromise: lesser of two evils?

3. At least FOUR images (with sourced captions!) you plan to use to illustrate your story.

Lowell Mountain, before the start of the wind project in 2011

Protester's Sign, exhibiting the opposition's sentiment

Sign from the opponent's camp near blasting sight in 2011

Blasting and construction atop Lowell Mountain

Lowell Mountain Wind Project, completed August 2012