Windy Tymes December 2011 Edition
Below is the December 2011 edition of the Windy Tymes produced by Mike Nelson and Steve Wright from Albany and Craftsbury respectively.
The Towns’ Case
What a year! We plod on, now at the gate of the Supreme Court of Vermont (SCOV). You may recall from the November Windy Tymes that the Towns filed their initial SCOV brief on 11/14 and raised five issues for consideration: due process; habitat mitigation; revocation of CPG; contradictory testimony by GMP regarding loss of Production Tax Credits; and non-feasibility of the project because GMP didn’t start construction until September.
GMP has since responded to the above saying, in effect, “Baloney!” By December 22, the Towns will have responded to GMP’s arguments. (Note that arguments are expressed before the court in a written, reciprocal fashion.) At some point, they will convene oral arguments before issuing a decision. There is no date by which the SCOV must respond to our appeal.
STORMWATER: This appeal creeps along, ironically, before the PSB. We still do not have a date for a decision. Many thanks to Energize Vermont for raising the funds to cover $100,000 of legal and expert witness fees for this appeal. Thank you, Luke!
NOISE: The Towns have maintained–in the face of increasing medical evidence–that turbine noise is a serious issue. This became even more sharply focused at last week’s PSB hearing on monitoring protocol. The fundamental issue is: How loud is too loud? The board has set the maximum standard at an affected residence ar 45 decibels. However, there is evidence showing that residents would likely not be able to sleep with their windows open or sleep outside. For the full record on this and other issues covered by Windy Tymes, go to energizevermont.org.
CONNECTIVITY EASEMENTS: GMP has secured what they claim to be effective conservation easements from a half dozen property owners near the project site. Well over a million dollars will change hands in these transactions. The irony is that the protective easements make it easier for GMP to wreak destruction on four miles of the Lowells. Seems the ridgeline wind industry has found a formula for modifying the Vermont landscape: our tax money and thirty pieces of silver for a few landowners.
FUNDRAISING: Yes, we always have to mention money. This is what makes it possible for us to deliver our message about the value of the landscape to our economic, emotional and physical wellbeing. And you are key to making that happen. We need to raise another $25,000 dollars to complete our SCOV case and Stormwater appeal. The Lowell Mountains have become a symbol for poorly sited energy development. You helped make that happen. Now, by completing the Towns’ case, we can take our effort statewide to make certain this crime is not repeated. None of us working on this project receives any compensation, or reimbursement of daily expenses. Please send your gifts payble to Ridgeprotectors A-C Fund, C/O Box 81, Craftsbury Common, VT 05827. Thank you for what you have made possible. Bellissimo! Mazel tov! Fantastique!
Mountain Madness
The rumble of the blasting may be masking a growing discontent among the ranks of the unconvinced. More and more folks are expressing doubt about blowing up the Green Mountains in order to save them. Mountain advocates spoke effectively at the following recent events:
• Democracy Forum, Montpelier • Statewide Energy Conference, Lake Morey
• Memphremagog Basin Planning, Newport • “Staying Connected” presentation, Hardwick
The ‘Irony of the Week’ Award goes to Paul Burns, Executive Director,VPIRG, and shameless proponent of blowing up 200 miles of Vermont ridgelines. Burns chastised mountain advocates who spoke at the Democracy Forum for an attempt to “hijack the program.” Imagine that, speaking one’s mind at a Democracy Forum. VPIRG clearly does not want that to happen.
Mountain advocates hosted a second Open House at the base of the Lowell Mountains on 12/4. We had a 30% increase in attendance from the first Open House and 120 people hiked up to the ridgeline on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. They were met by law enforcement and GMP’s security personnel. On our side of the property there was a Q&A session, a warm fire, hot cocoa, and a good time was had by all.
Not so the following day, when a group of Mountain Occupiers ascended the ridgeline and stepped onto property claimed by the Nelson family, a dispute that the PSB stated was GMP’s responsibility to resolve. The Occupiers blocked traffic until law enforcement arrived. Seven were arrested including one non-protestor–reporter and Barton Chronicle publisher, Chris Braithwaite. A week later another group of about 20 Occupiers returned to the ridgeline, again blocking construction vehicles. There were no arrests. Both these events included tense moments of standing down monster earth-destroying vehicles. To see footage of both events, go to: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20111213/NEWS07/111213014/Raw-video-Protester-blocks-bulldozer-Lowellwindsite?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx0R43vcn9M&feature=related
Occupiers and supporters crowded the sidewalk in front of Newport’s District Court building early Tuesday, 12/20. Flags and signs dominated the scene before everyone reconvened in the courtroom for the arraignment of the seven ‘criminals’ before Judge Robert Gerety. The courtroom was packed and the process brief. Each defendant entered a “not guilty” plea and was released on the assurance of showing up at a future court hearing. Publisher/reporter Braithwaite’s case was handled separately but with the same result.
Afterwards, the Occupiers held a press conference in the City Gym. The six occupiers made personal statements, but Mr. Braithwaite chose to report the news rather than make it. You can find these and other occupation events with daily updates and pictures from Mountain Occupiers at: lowellmountainsnews.wordpress.com. Visit this site to learn about upcoming actions, too!
Two legal defense funds have been established. The Dave and Trevor Fund helps pay the legal expenses of two Sterling students who were arrested while climbing to the ridgeline. Checks in the Fund name can be sent to: Kristina Michelsen, Attorney, P.O. Box 1304, Hardwick, VT, 05843. Checks to the Shirley and Don Nelson Legal Fund, can be sent to Hershenson, Carter, Scott and McGee, 2776 Christian Street, White River Junction, VT 05001.
For the mountains,
Mike and Steve
