Voters in Lowell, Vt., have voted 342-114 to support the development of the Kingdom Community Wind project proposed by Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Cooperative.
Town officials reported that 456 of 581 registered voters cast ballots in the vote, including more than 200 absentee ballots.
‘We have set a new standard for how wind plants should be developed in Vermont,’ says Mary Powell, president and CEO of Green Mountain Power. ‘We have demonstrated that by communicating openly and regularly and ensuring local benefits, Vermonters can support wind power in their communities.’
The proposed wind farm, located on private land in the town of Lowell, will have associated transmission and substation upgrades in Lowell, Westfield and Jay. It will consist of 20 to 24 wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of 2.5 MW to 3 MW and a maximum capacity of up to 63 MW.Â
The final number and capacity of the wind turbines have not yet been determined, and will depend, in large part, on the results of on-site wind resource assessment, environmental assessment and other studies.
Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Cooperative have said that they would only move forward with the project if the host town supported it. Now that the vote results are in, the companies will begin the process of applying to the Vermont Public Service Board for a Certificate of Public Good.
SOURCE: Green Mountain Power
