The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Conservation Group is opposed to the proposal by Seneca Mountain Wind, LLC to develop an industrial wind power project in Brighton, Ferdinand, and Newark. We believe this project will cause undue environmental harm and will materially diminish the value of the area to recreational users.
Environmental Concerns
Let us clearly state that we believe climate change is real and that wind power represents a significant and necessary source of clean energy as we move into the future; however, it is not appropriate everywhere (click here for a map of national wind resources). Industrial development of this scale (for any purpose) is not appropriate for this remote, undeveloped part of Vermont – that it is proposed for one of the most remote and sensitive areas in the region is more offensive. This would be the largest wind development in Vermont and a substantial portion of the project would be at elevations above 2500 feet (higher than Sheffield or Lowell).
These letters from ANR to the PSB and the developers summarize many of our environmental concerns.
To suggest that all projects cause some environmental damage or “if it doesn’t happen here it will happen somewhere else” is misleading. Turbines sited in farm fields have negligible environmental impacts compared to those sited on ridgelines (and are much more economically viable due to reduced construction costs).
Seneca Mountain is one of the few wild areas left in Vermont. There are no hiking trails leading to the summit, only trails made by moose, bear, and deer. State-endangered American marten (a.k.a. “pine marten”) can be found here, as can Bicknell’s thrush (a species of global conservation concern) and many other uncommon species. If you’ve never been to a place like this it is difficult to comprehend its intrinsic value, let alone its value to wildlife and the few adventurous people who visit.
We are not suggesting that the area is pristine, untouched wilderness – it is not – the area has a long history of commercial logging. Of course, there are stone walls in many wilderness areas on the Green Mountain National Forest, so in many ways this area is wilder and more pristine than what many consider wilderness. To suggest, as SMW has, that impacts will be minimized because the area is already a working forest with a network of logging roads is misleading. The roads needed for this project (to move massive construction equipment and turbine parts) are not comparable to logging roads. Every mile of existing road that is used will need to be rebuilt and widened and miles of new ridgetop road will need to be constructed to reach each turbine.
Recreational Concerns
Vermont has long fought to maintain wild areas for traditional uses, wildlife habitat, and their intrinsic value. To that end, the State spent millions of dollars to conserve the former Champion lands. This project would be directly adjacent to those lands (the boundary runs along the top of the most promising ridgeline) and would materially diminish the value of those lands for recreation and thus the value of the public investment. This was a major reason for denying a proposed wind development on nearby East Mountain.
We believe this project will restrict recreational uses of the area. Roads will likely be gated and use of the area will be discouraged – justifiably. Turbines this massive are simply not safe to be around during much of the year, and you can’t hunt near the turbines any more than you can hunt in a residential development. Many of the people who choose to recreate in this area do so largely for the solitude and tranquility; those will no longer exist.
This position is based on the environmental and recreational impacts of this project. We recognize that there are also many other issues associated with wind development and that each project must be reviewed individually; however, issues such as aesthetics, economics, and human health are matters of personal opinion or are beyond the scope of our mission.
Additional Resources
Seneca Mountain Wind, LLC website
Newark Neighbors United website (strongly opposed but lots of information)
Presentation by Ben Luce, PhD on viability of ridgeline wind in the northeast