The Vermont Public Service Board is reviewing a Sept. 8 application from Swanton Wind LLC for a certificate of public good to construct an up 20-MW wind farm to be located in Swanton, Vermont.
Swanton Wind is owned by Travis Belisle and has a principal place of business in Swanton, Vermont. Swanton Wind is a self-certified qualifying facility (QF).
The project will consist of: up to seven wind turbines with 2 MW to 3 MW of capacity; an underground electrical line between the wind turbines; an overhead line from the wind turbines to the point of interconnection with an existing Green Mountain Power 34.5-kV electric line; communications, electrical and meteorological equipment and associated cabling; an improved and new access road and crane path from Rocky Ridge Road to the project site and between the wind turbines; and a small structure to enclose Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) equipment.
The project’s wind turbines will have a maximum hub height of up to 96 meters above ground level and rotor diameter of up 116 meters.
Belisle, in companion testimony, said he is a lifelong Vermont resident currently residing in Swanton, Vermont. He is the owner and founder of Rocky Ridge Construction LLC, an excavation and construction company.
He added: “I am the main sponsor and development financer of the Project. I have developed and worked on many types of construction projects throughout northwestern Vermont, but I have never been involved with a wind project before this one. I engaged Vermont Environmental Research Associates, Inc. (VERA) to lead the development effort and secure the expertise we need to permit the Project. VERA has thirty-years plus of experience in renewable energy development. I have worked closely with VERA and the team of subject matter experts to get to this point, i.e., submitting a complete CPG petition.”
