Descriptions of Project

Why The Glebe Mountain Group
is Against This Wind Project

Issues Raised by Catamount's Project

Wind Power Does Not Deliver
What Its Supporters Say

On a non-binding vote, 425 Londonderry residents opposed industrial wind, 213 supported it.

LOOKING AT DEVELOPER AND WIND ADVOCATE CLAIMS

IMPORTANT STEPS IN THE WIND PROCEDURES . .

•  The Town of Londonderry has passed a town plan that restricts the use of Glebe Mountain for wind farm development.  The Select Board has said that they reserve the right to put the question of wind turbines to the residents of the town.  If town residents approve, in an Australian vote, the installations of wind turbines, the town plan could then be modified to approve them. A vote is planned for February 24, 2006 at the town office. 

•  Catamount and Marubeni are working with the engineering firm Dufresne - Henry to put the project together.  To this end, new property has been purchased on Route 11, near the Windham town line which will be the project's access to the mountain for roads.  Also, leases have been established with Magic Mountain for lease of parts of their lands for wind turbines and electrical transmission. Documentation, including maps, is availabble at the Londonderry Town Office as part of the notification process.

•  Catamount's wind operations were sold to Diamond Castle Holdings of New York City for about $120 million in late 2005.   While the principal wind project of Catamount is in Texas, these owners will seek to turn over their investment quickly in order to resell it.  Also, now that Catamount is an independent company its goals and objectives may change and not be as Vermont oriented.

•  Separately, the Windham Regional Planning Commission has challenged the right of Section 248 actions to over ride current Act 250 rulings on Glebe Mountain.  The Glebe Mountain Group intends to vigorously support the ruling made by the Springfield Regional Commission, by seeking party status.

•  The Windham Regional Commission will send their recommendations to the Public Service Board.

•  Catamount Marubeni will submit their application for a Certificate of Public Good to the Public Service Board for approval in March, 2006. Pre-filed testimony by Catamount Marubeni, the Glebe Mountain Group, and other parties are submitted to the Public Service Board.

•  A hearing is scheduled to take “live” testimony from all parties on the project. This should occur later in 2006. These are quasi-judicial hearings, but tend to be shorter than an actual trial. Cross-examination of witnesses and experts can be done during the direct testimony.

•  The Public Service Board will hear final arguments and could render a decision as early as the Fall of 2006.

A citizens guide to the 248 process is available.

Other important links to check out:

Public Service Board ( http://www.state.vt.us/psb ),

Windham Regional Commission ( http://www.rpc.windham.vt.us ),

Town of Londonderry, VT (http://www.londonderryvt.org )

* The above is a layman attempt to outline the important steps coming up in the near future regarding Catamount's proposal and is not intended as a formal or complete procedure for applications to the Public Service Board.