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Public Comment 2 Nov.9-Nov Rob Pforzheimer Category: Wind Comments: Link to article, Alternative To Wind: VEC Eyes Geothermal Energy (http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=180&SubSectionID=778&ArticleID=86754 ) plus comment, "David Hallquist sees geothermal as a better alternative than wind. It doesn't kill birds and bats or ruin peoples quality of life and property values either." ! Alternative To Wind: VEC Eyes Geothermal Energy - The Cale... http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=180&SubSect... ADVERTISE ARCHIVES CLASSIFIEDS CONNECT PHOTOS SUBMIT SUBSCRIBE E-EDITION NEWS SPORTS OPINION COMMUNITY CRIME FEATURES EXTRAS Advanced Search home : top news : top news Share January 10, 2013 search... 11/14/2012 8:44:00 AM Alternative To Wind: VEC Eyes Geothermal Subscription Login Energy LOGIN | SUBSCRIBE Robin Smith Staff Writer A battle over wind power is raging in parts of Vermont -- a battle over a part of an energy picture that only has a small impact on the state's carbon footprint. Dave Hallquist, CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative, says the real focus should be on the big causes of Vermont's carbon production: the reliance on oil to heat and cool homes and + click to enlarge gasoline to run vehicles. PHOTO BY ROBIN SMITH The VEC board of directors has asked Hallquist to focus in 2013 on how electric utilities can Dave Hallquist, CEO of Vermont Electric actually reduce that dependence on oil and gas Cooperative, talks at the Derby and create a renewable energy resource at Planning Commission meeting last home that reduces the state's carbon footprint. week about the energy section of the town plan. Hallquist is looking at geothermal energy, the result of tapping into the warmer rock beneath our feet. Geothermal energy could heat and cool Vermont homes and provide electricity for hybrid cars to reduce the demand for both oil and gasoline. Utilities, Hallquist said, would benefit from the creation of a new renewable energy source that runs homes and cars and creates a local source of renewable, reliable energy. VEC already has enough renewable energy sources to meet current state mandates, he said. He would ask the Legislature not to demand more right now. In the meantime, the state could tap Efficiency The Nature Vermont and other sources to create incentives for Conservancy more geothermal systems and hybrid vehicles. www.nature.org/donate The price of geothermal systems are coming down, he said, and approaching the cost of home heating oil, at We've Protected 119M Acres. $3.81 per gallon according to the price of oil sold Donate & Help Protect Even Tuesday in Derby. More! "We think it's right on the edge," Hallquist said. Wind Controversy The battle in parts of the state over wind projects, pitting one environmentalist against another, doesn't have to happen, Hallquist said. Electricity used in Vermont makes up only about 4 percent of the state's carbon footprint, compared to the carbon footprint from heating and cooling homes and businesses at almost 50 percent, he said. Running vehicles on gasoline makes up more than a third of the rest of the carbon footprint generated in Vermont. Hallquist said it just makes sense to focus on the real causes of Vermont's carbon production 1 of 3 1/10/13 2:49 PM Alternative To Wind: VEC Eyes Geothermal Energy - The Cale... http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=180&SubSect... -- oil and gasoline -- than burn so much political energy battling over wind and solar energy. Both are much higher in cost than the market rates for electricity today, and both carry a high cost in dividing communities that would otherwise be supportive of a less-intrusive energy source like geothermal, Hallquist said. He has listened to anti-wind opponents and say they have some "very sound arguments" that need to be considered when talking about wind projects in Vermont. And solar is so much more expensive still, he said. "I can't get too charged up talking about wind and solar. I can get charged up about solving heating and cooling," he said. Everyone knows that oil and gasoline are the real sources of carbon production, he said. "Let's work on that together," he said. Geothermal energy is the most productive, new renewable source available, once the cost of producing it drops near the price of home heating oil, he said. Oil and propane are reliable and efficient power sources, about 90 percent efficient in generating heat, he said. Geothermal is more than three times as efficient as oil and gasoline, Hallquist said. In particular, geothermal energy is capable of heating or cooling a home, recharging a hybrid or electric car, and even allowing utilities to tap into the stored electricity in a hybrid car battery to feed into the grid. "We could actually pay you for it," he said. If the cooperative had enough members with geothermal systems and hybrid vehicles, it would have a local and highly efficient energy source that is renewable, highly efficient and reliable, unlike solar and wind, Hallquist said. The state could integrate its climate change goals with its electric grid goals, he said. VEC Focus The board of directors asked Hallquist to look at how the co-op as an electricity utility and the electric grid can be used to reduce the carbon footprint. Hallquist said he is already studying the opportunities and will report back to the board in the new year. He then hopes to take that on to the Legislature and change the discussion in the Find us on Facebook state. The Caledonian-Record The co-op has been a leader in other utility matters, leading the way on smart grid Like technology. 4,123 people like The Caledonian-Record. Scott Kevin Scott Will Article Comment Submission Form Facebook social plugin Please feel free to submit your comments. Article comments are not posted immediately to the Web site. Each submission must be approved by the Web site editor, who may edit content for appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24-48 hours for any submission while the web site editor reviews and approves it. Note: All information on this form is required. Your telephone number is for our use only, and will not be attached to your comment. Submit an Article Comment First Name: Required Last Name: Required Telephone: Required Email: Required 2 of 3 1/10/13 2:49 PM Alternative To Wind: VEC Eyes Geothermal Energy - The Cale... http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=180&SubSect... Comment: Required Passcode: Click here to see a new mix of characters. Required This is an anti-SPAM device. It is not case sensitive. Submit Reset LIFE © The Caledonian-Record News 2006-2007 The Caledonian-Record, 190 Federal St., P.O. Box 8, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 - 802-748-8121 Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Site Map About Us Contact Us 3 of 3 1/10/13 2:49 PM Annette Smith Executive Director VCE Danby Category: Wind Comments: In my public comment yesterday I made reference to a workshop I attended where panelists from New England states talk about the process they have gone through. I found the audio, it is here: http://esnips.com/displayimage.php?pid=32946248. Below is the entire program. This audio is Session VG, "Searching for Best Practices in Regional Planning: Comparing Models and Strategies." This audio would be worthwhile for the panelists to listen to, augmenting what they heard yesterday from other New England states. ! NEWEEP Conference & Workshop June 7, 2011 Video/Audio File Links Session I Video Opening Plenary: Welcoming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTTEq8agjY Remarks & Overview of New England Wind Project Development Activity Session II Video Public Acceptance Experiences with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGq0cCoetVs Operating Wind Projects Session III Video Topics in Public Acceptance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGT5cSojZBY Session IV Video The Context for New England Wind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVkyCB99M1 Power: Energy, Climate, and Sound M Science Session VA Audio Wind Energy Economics http://esnips.com/displayimage.php?album=43485 73&pid=32946249&uid=1022474#top_display_med ia Session VB Audio Searching for Best Practices in http://esnips.com/displayimage.php?pid=3294624 Regional Planning: Comparing 8 Models & Strategies Session VC Audio Offshore Wind: Finding the Right http://esnips.com/displayimage.php?album=43485 Balance between Benefits & Impacts 73&pid=32946250&uid=1022474#top_display_med ia Session VD Video Current Mitigation Techniques: How http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOlLA-xrTgU to Balance Their Costs & Benefits Panel VI - Audio Moving Toward More Wind Power: http://esnips.com/displayimage.php?album=43485 Will the Lights Stay on? 73&pid=32946252&uid=1022474#top_display_med ia Session VI. n/a Advancing the State of Knowledge - Workshop A Building and Funding a Credible Research &Education Agenda Session VI. n/a Using Stakeholder Networks to Workshop B Engage the Undecided Session VI. n/a Building Better Bylaws Workshop C Session VI. n/a Learning from Experience: Using Workshop D Planning and Mitigation to Find Better Outcomes Session VII Video What Have We Learned? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkEK10YE-Yc and Session Closing Remarks VIII Rob Pforzheimer Category: Wind Comments: Link to article, Your View: Real science behind concerns over wind turbines(http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121115/OPINION/211150332 &cid=sitesearch) ! Your View: Real science behind concerns over wind turbines Fe... http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20... Search SouthCoastToday.com Thursday, January 10, 2013 47° Forecast | Radar NEWS SPORTS OPINION ENTERTAINMENT LIVING SPECIAL REPORTS SIGHTS & SOUNDS YOUR TOWN MARKETPLACE SERVICES Your View: Real science behind concerns over wind turbines FeatureHeadline Text Size: A | A | A Print this Article Email this Article 1 of 3 clicks used this month LOGIN | REGISTER | SUBSCRIBE ShareThis By DR.
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