| 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. • Catamount Energy has not come back to the town with
any new proposal or incentives. However, Catamount is working
with Dufresne and 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 Catamount access to the mountain for roads
or electrical power. Also, new leases have been established
with Magic Mountain for lease of parts of of their lands for wind
turbines.
• Because the current Production Tax Credit is to expire
at the end of 2007 and because the Public Service Board process
could take over a year to complete, we believe that Catamount could
submit its construction documents to the town of Londonderry
and Windham and the Windham Regional Planning Commission in early
2006.
• Separately, CVPS has sold its holding in Catamount's
wind operations to Diamond Castle Holdings of New York City for
about $120 million. 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 the mountain. The Glebe Mountain Group
intends to vigorously support the ruling made by the Springfield
Regional Commission.
• The Windham Regional Commission
sends their recommendations to the Public Service Board.
• Catamount submits their application
for a Certificate of Public Good to the Public Service Board
for approval. Pre-filed testimony by Catamount, 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 could potentially occur in
March of 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.
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 |
