Unfortunately, I think the articles and editorials thus far have not
examined all aspects of the issue. Yes, it is important to address the
siting of renewable energy systems in each Town Plan so that the Vermont
Public Service Board will take into consideration local opinions on
that matter. But environmental impact (a net benefit for well-sited
systems) and visual aesthetics are by no means the only things to be
considered.
If the town planning is done in a unified and
proactive way, the economic benefits to the towns and The Valley from a
large renewable energy system can be substantial. <MI>The Valley
Reporter<D> article from April 22 went into great detail about
Martha's Vineyard energy policy, but an equally (if not more) relevant
example to highlight would have been the recent events in the town of
Lowell, VT. At Town Meeting day this year, Lowell residents voted
overwhelmingly to approve the privately owned 63 megawatt (MW) Kingdom
Community Wind project proposed by Green Mountain Power Corp.
For
projects like this one, it is standard practice for the developer to
make an annual Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) to the town(s) where the
project is sited. In the case of the Lowell project, the amount will be
$400,000 to $500,000 -- substantial when the town's annual budget (not
including the school) is $420,000. To put that into local perspective,
Waitsfield total tax revenue in 2009 (i.e., town income from taxes) was
$1,164,850.
In my opinion, the Valley Town Plans should not only
address issues associated with siting renewable energy projects but also
should provide guidance on the expected economic benefit from such
projects to the towns and The Valley. The Lowell PILOT example is
standard practice in the wind industry and should be seen as the minimum
expected benefit. There are other negotiating points that could be
required by the Town Plan that would have an even bigger financial
upside for Valley residents, for example:
- a requirement that large privately owned wind or solar farms include an opportunity for locals (including residents of neighboring towns) to invest as partial owners, and
- a requirement that wind turbines or solar panels sited on town land
be owned by the town as a source of revenue.
Most people
support the idea of carbon-free, locally generated energy. We must
challenge ourselves to extend this theoretical support to the practical.
Let's walk the walk! Done well, renewable energy in The Valley can be
good for the earth and good for our wallets.
Stowell lives in
Warren.
