Is it possible to have renewable energy, scenic views and please both industry and resident?
State Rep.Vickie Nardello hopes so.
The co-chair of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee hopes to build a clean energy future but first must reconcile her role as state representative from Colebrook and Prospect, where residents oppose construction of nearby wind turbines.
Nardello has proposed legislation placing a moratorium on construction of all commercial wind turbines until the Connecticut Siting Council creates regulations specific to wind, making it the only source of electricity generation with specific regulations. Coal, nuclear, oil, natural gas, solar, fuel cell — all sources of generation that don’t have specific Connecticut Siting Council regulations; but under Nardello’s proposed law, wind would.
At the same time, Nardello wants to promote Connecticut as a renewable energy forerunner, encouraging developers of renewable energy to come into the state. In the last two legislative sessions, she co-authored an Energy Bill giving renewable energy funding credits for commercial developers. Although the credits focus mainly on solar, they are meant to encourage other alternative development, such as wind.
“Just because we ask for regulation, that doesn’t mean we oppose these things,” Nardello said.
The few wind developers in Connecticut disagree. West Hartford-based BNE Energy, Inc. — the developer of the proposed six Colebrook and two Prospect wind turbines — said the moratorium and the call for regulations puts Connecticut at odds with its recent history of promoting renewable energy in the state.
“We don’t need additional regulation on wind,” said Paul Corey, BNE chairman. “It would have a very devastating impact on wind development in Connecticut, and it would be difficult to come back from.”
If a state places a moratorium — even for just one year, as Nardello proposes — that could have lasting impacts on wind development in the future, said Dave Cohen, regional director of Wilton-based Alteris Renewables Wind Business.
“We are not going to put any efforts in if a state is going to put on a moratorium,” Cohen said.
Nardello said her proposed moratorium isn’t meant to chase off wind development, but create an environment where smart development happens. Some places in the state aren’t conducive to put spinning blades on poles nearly 500 feet high.
Although Connecticut doesn’t have the wind speeds of other New England states with more coast and ridgelines, some places have wind strong enough to support trubines, especially the state’s southeast coast and northwest mountains.
Because the state has these assets, Nardello believes a temporary moratorium with wind specific regulations won’t keep developers away for long. Wind development will return to the state once businesses realize money can be made here.
“Those fears are always raised by individuals who oppose any kind of regulations,” Nardello said. “Wind projects will go forward; they will just go forward with wind-specific regulations.”
