[INCREASED SOUNDS OF WIND >> LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

THE SCULPTED WORK OF ART, REALLY, AND THIS IS NOT ONLY IN THE SLENDER SHAPE AND GRACEFULLY TURNING BLADES, BUT IN WHAT IT REPRESENTS.

CLEAN ENERGY.

FREEDOM FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

A PATH TO LIVABLE PLANET FOR MY THREE SONS.

IT'S A 21ST CENTURY MONUMENT TO HUMAN PROGRESS, AN UNQUALIFIED GOOD.

RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVED.

I AM A DAD.

A HUSBAND.

A TEACHER.

AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, JUST ANOTHER GUY WHO EXPECTS THOSE ELECTRONS TO FLOW RELIABLY AND CHEAPLY THROUGH THE OUTLETS IN MY VERMONT HOME.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, THE FIRST TIME I HEARD NEWS OF COMMUNITIES IN VERMONT'S NORTHEAST KINGDOM, RESISTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WIND PROJECTS NEAR THEIR HOMES, I WAS A BIT BAFFLED.

I THOUGHT, THERE GOES THE BEAST, REARING ITS UGLY HEAD AGAIN.

SOME VERMONTERS JUST DIDN'T WANT THE VIEW OUT THEIR KITCHEN WINDOW CHANGED.

WHY COULDN'T THEY SEE THAT WIND TURBINES ARE BEAUTIFUL.

THEY ARE ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH BIGGER THAN THEIR PRECIOUS VIEW.

I DECIDED TO HIT THE ROAD AND FIND OUT.

HOW COULD SOMETHING SO SEEMINGLY BENIGN BE SO CONTROVERSIAL?

ESPECIALLY IN OUR GREEN STATE OF VERMONT.

WAS THERE MORE TO THE STORY THAN I ASSUMED?

WHAT I FOUND IS THAT THERE IS A MUCH BIGGER QUESTION AT PLAY HERE THAN SIMPLY WIND ENERGY, GOOD OR BAD.

IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, IN THE URGENT NEED FOR ACTION, THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS HOW DO WE AS A STATE TAKE BOLD STEPS TOWARDS OUR CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS OUR ECO-SYSTEMS AND OUR NATURAL BEAUTY, PRESERVES OUR TRADITIONS OF LOCAL, DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAKING.

AND JUST IN CHARACTER WITH ALL THAT WE LOVE ABOUT VERMONT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, VERMONT TAKES CLIMATE CHANGE SERIOUSLY.

WE LEAD THE NATION IN OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND THE VERMONT LEGISLATURE BEGAN EFFORTS BACK IN 2005 WITH A PROGRAM THAT REQUIRED A PERCENT OF ENERGY SOLD IN THE STATE TO COME FROM RENEWABLES, THE PERCENT INCREASES EACH YEAR WITH THE AMBITIOUS GOAL OF 90% OF ALL ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES BY THE YEAR 2050.

THAT IS WHERE THIS STORY BEGINS.

>> THE SUN CONVERTS 5 MILLION TONS OF MATTER INTO ENERGY EVERY SECOND.

THIS ENERGY FROM NUCLEAR REACTIONS WITHIN THE SUN IS SENT OUT INTO THE SOLAR SYSTEM AS LIGHT AND HEAT.

THE EARTH RECEIVES ONLY A SMALL PART OF THIS ENERGY, WHICH WE SEE AND FEEL IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AS THE SUN WARMS THE EARTH, THE AIR IS ALSO WARMED.

THE WARM AIR RISES, AND COOL AIR RUSHES IN BELOW, CAUSING THE CONVERSION OF SUNLIGHT INTO ANOTHER FORM OF SOLAR ENERGY.

WIND.

>> WHEN I LOOKED AT HOW OUR CLIMATE HAS CHANGED, SINCE I WAS A KID, IT'S REMARKABLE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT WE USED TO HAVE SNOW IN THE WINTER TIME.

IT WAS PREDICTABLE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD OVER 4 MILLION SKIERS COME TO VERMONT TO HELP SUPPORT JOBS IN OUR ECONOMY.

LAST WINTER BECAUSE OF THE WARM CLIMATE THAT DROPPED TO 3 MILLION SKIERS.

IT NEVER GOT COLD ENOUGH TO HAVE A GOOD SKI SEASON.

>> I THINK THAT WE ALL AGREE THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS A REAL THING NOW.

THE LESS FOSSIL FUELS THAT WE BURN, THE LESS IMPACT WE ARE HAVING ON GLOBAL WARMING.

SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT.

WE AS A PLANET HAVE TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT TO BEGIN TO THWART GLOBAL WARMING.

>> IF I WERE TO TAKE AS A STARTING POINT WHAT IS A COMMON GOAL, MORE OR LESS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME WHO I THINK WHO IS HEADS ARE IN THE SAND, BUT IT'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN VERMONT, IS THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING AND THAT COLLECTIVELY, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> AND THE STATE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT.

>> LIKE PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAID TO THE UNITED STATES BACK IN THE EARLY 1960s, WE'RE GOING TO PUT MEN ON THE MOON BY THE END OF THIS DECADE.

>> WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON!

WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON!

AND DO THE OTHER THINGS.

NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD.

BECAUSE THAT GOAL WILL SERVE TO ORGANIZE AND MEASURE THE BEST OF OUR ENERGIES AND SKILLS BECAUSE THAT CHALLENGE IS ONE THAT WE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT, ONE THAT WE ARE UNWILLING TO POSTPONE.

AND ONE THAT WE INTEND TO WIN, AND THE OTHERS, TOO.

>> ANYBODY IN THE SPACE PROGRAM SAID, THIS GUY IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.

WE DON'T HAVE IT.

WE CAN'T DO IT.

BUT YOU SET THE VISION, AND WE DID IT.

AND WE END UP DOING IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SET THE BIG PICTURE VISION, AND THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE ENERGY CHANGE IS ABOUT.

>> SO A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH ENERGY HERE IN VERMONT HAS REALLY STARTED HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE IN ABOUT 2005, AND THE WHOLE GOAL WAS TO JUST BUILD.

IT DID NOT MATTER, NOTHING MATTERED EXCEPT JUST BUILD.

WE HAD TO CREATE INCENTIVES TO GET THE PROJECTS BUILT.

>> I THINK IF YOU SET A GOAL, YOU SHOULD HAVE A PATH TO GET THERE.

AND OUR GOVERNOR JUST SET A GOAL WITH NO PATH.

AND JUST LEFT IT AS A FREE FOR ALL AND SET UP THE STRUCTURE FOR THEM TO JUST GO AFTER IT ANY WAY THAT THEY PLEASED.

>> WHAT HAVE WE DONE IN SIX YEARS?

WE HAVE 11 TIMES THE NUMBER OF SO YOU RECALL PANELS IN THIS STATE THAT WE HAD WHEN I TOOK OFFICE.

11 TIMES.

WE HAVE 22 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF WIND POWER THAT WE HAD IN THIS STATE WHEN I TOOK OFFICE.

>> SO IT'S ALL BEEN ABOUT BUILD, BUILD, BUILD, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO THE CONVERSATION THAN THAT.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

THE OPPONENTS ARE SAYING JUST NOT HERE.

THEN THE QUESTION IS, WHERE?

THEY SAY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> I AM CERTAINLY NOT OPPOSED TO WIND.

I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT WIND IS A BIG SOLUTION FOR MAJOR PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY.

I AM JUST NOT CONVINCED THAT THERE IS A SOLUTION FOR VERMONT'S STEEP TERRAIN.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S MORALLY CORRECT TO SAY, WE WILL SIMPLY MOVE THESE IMPACTS TO SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM.

>> AND WHEN YOU HAVE A VERY POWERFUL AND POLITICALLY CONNECTED PERSON LIKE DAVID COMING INTO YOUR COMMUNITY AND SAYING, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE, AND YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAS TO SACRIFICE.

ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL VIEWS I GOT WAS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE GEORGIA MOUNTAIN WIND PROJECT, AND IT WAS A PACKED GYMNASIUM, AND HALF THE PEOPLE DIDN'T LIVE THERE SAID WE HAVE TO SACRIFICE TO SAVE THE PLANET.

AND THEN THERE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.

WHO SAID, PLEASE DON'T SACRIFICE US.

>> THAT'S PARTLY THE WAY THE INDUSTRY HAS FRAMED IT.

THAT IF YOU ARE RESISTING THE INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS, YOU ARE AGAINST RENEWABLES TOTALLY, AND IT'S NOT A SIMPLE QUESTION LIKE THAT.

>> I DO AGREE THAT IT'S AN URGENT NEED THAT TAKES -- THAT WILL REQUIRE URGENT ACTIONS NOW.

I JUST FEEL THAT IN VERMONT'S CASE, RATHER THAN SACRIFICING OUR RATHER LIMITED WILDLANDS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, THAT WE REALLY OUGHT TO BE INVESTING IN THE APPROPRIATE RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO IT IN A STATE LIKE VERMONT.

AND STILL BE TRULY GREAT.

>> WHEN YOU HEAR FOLKS SAY, LET'S TAKE A PAUSE.

WE'RE MOVING TOO FAST.

I SAY ASK THE SKI AREAS WHETHER WE CAN SLOW DOWN.

ASK ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 25 WHETHER THEY THINK THAT WE CAN SLOW DOWN.

WE CREATED AN EXTRAORDINARY MESS BURNING OIL AND COAL WITH A RASH EXUBERANCE.

IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO MOVE QUICKLY TO GET OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS.

AND THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO DO IT.

THAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WHICH VERMONT IS DOING RIGHT, THAN BUILDING OUT SOLAR, WHICH VERMONT IS DOING RIGHT.

AND BUILDING OUT WIND IN THE RIGHT PLACES, WHICH VERMONT IS DOING RIGHT.

SO ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT WE WANT TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO GET OFF OF COAL, TO GET OFF OF OIL, AND TO MOVE TO RENEWABLES, IS LIVING IN DENIAL.

>> IT WAS REALLY THE FIRST SUGGESTION THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WERE BEGINNING TO CARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AS THEY DO ABOUT THE PEACE MOVEMENT AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

THEIR DREAM FOR THE AGE OF AQUARIUS WAS TO LET THE SUN SHINE IN, LET THE SUN SHINE IN.

>> THE CO-OPTED TERMINOLOGY ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAD USED IN THE 60S 60s AND 1970s ABOUT GETTING OFF FOSSIL FUELS USING SOURCES OF ENERGY THAT ARE PERPETUALLY RENEWABLE LIKE WIND AND SOLAR, BUT THEY DEVELOPED AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THOSE TERMS WERE ORIGINALLY BEING USED FOR.

>> IDEOLOGY.

I THINK THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS IDEA THAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING, AND IN FACT, WE REALLY ARE NOT ACCOMPLISHING MUCH OF ANYTHING.

>> THE AMOUNT OF CARBON IT TAKES TO PRODUCE THESE LARGE MONSTERS AND TO BRING THEM AND TRANSPORT THEM AND PUT THEM UP, IT JUST DOESN'T -- IT DOESN'T EQUATE.

>> THEY SAY THEY ARE GREEN BUT TO BUILD THEM TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FOSSIL FUELS TO BUILD THEM, AND THEN ALL OF THE CEMENT, EACH, I FORGET EACH POUND OF CEMENT IS SO MUCH CARBON.

PLUS, ALL THOSE NATURAL CARBON CLUSTERS OUT THERE, ALL THOSE TREES, THEY ARE TAKING THAT CARBON OUT NICE AND NATURALLY RIGHT NOW, TAKING THOSE DOWN.

SO YOU ARE AT A HUGE DEFICIT WHEN YOU START.

>> WE ARE DESTROYING SOMETHING VERY SIGNATURE AS WE PUT THESE THINGS UP.

IT'S LIKE WHERE WE NEED TO WIPE OUT THE VILLAGE TO SAVE IT.

IT'S NOT A REGULAR SOLUTION TO ME.

>> ARE THEY REALLY SAVING THE PLANET?

BECAUSE THAT'S THE ASSUMPTION, RIGHT.

I SEE A WIND TURBINE, AND IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE DOING SOMETHING.

IT'S SYMBOLIC.

>> IT'S NOT THAT IT'S AN ANTI WIND POSITION.

IT'S JUST THAT RESOURCE IN THIS REGION DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY BENEFITS RELATIVE TO THE IMPACTS, AND THAT THERE ARE BETTER ALTERNATIVES.

>> YOU ARE IN KANSAS, THE WIND TURBINES IN VERMONT WILL PROBABLY OUTPRODUCE THOSE TWO TO ONE.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE MIDWEST IS WE HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF LAND.

OUR RIDGELINES ARE VERY ENERGY PRODUCTIVE FOR WIND.

IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE AMOUNT OF LAND.

>> THIS IS THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY VAG ISLE PART OF THE AREA.

AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WE UNDERSTAND GENERATION THAT YOU CAN DO TURNS OUT TO BE A SMALL FRACTION OF THE ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.

>> TO DO THIS ENERGY FUTURE WHERE WIND IS A BIG PLAYER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WIND TURBINES ON MANY, MANY MILES OF RIDGELINES.

I AM SAYING UPWARDS TO 200 MILES.

>> THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT IF YOU COVERED ALL OF THE RIDGES IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES, YOU WOULD BE GENERATING ONLY A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF THE POWER DEMAND IN THIS REGION.

>> PAUSE.

TO GET ANY MEANINGFUL AMOUNT OF OUR ELECTRICITY FROM WIND, WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY NEED TO COVER ALL OF OUR RIDGELINES, AND EVEN THAT WOULD SUPPLY A SMALL FRACTION OF OUR POWER NEEDS.

AS SOON AS I STARTED TALKING TO PEOPLE, I COULD SEE THAT WIND ENERGY IN VERMONT REALLY IS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN I ASSUMED.

I HAVE ENJOYED A LOT OF TIME IN THESE BEAUTIFUL GREEN MOUNTAINS.

I HAVE SPENT DAYS HIKING THEIR TRAILS.

AT NIGHTS, SLEEPING IN THE SHELTERS.

THE VIEW FROM OUR ROCKY SUMMITS TAKES MY BREATH AWAY EVERY TIME.

IT GIVES ME A COMFORTING SENSE OF PLACE.

MAYBE THAT VIEW NEEDS TO CHANGE.

MOUNTAIN TOPS HAVE BEEN REMOVED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA SO THAT I COULD GET MY ELECTRICITY.

IS THE RIDGELINE WIND ENERGY STILL BETTER THAN THAT?

IF WE ALL WANT ELECTRICITY TO MAINTAIN OUR WAY OF LIFE, MAYBE WE NEED TO START SEEING WHERE IT'S GENERATED.

IF WE DECIDED TO REALLY GO FOR IT, WHAT WOULD SIGNATURE WIND ENERGY MEAN FOR THE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE?

WHAT ARE THE PROS.

WHAT ARE THE CONS.

>> THROUGHOUT OUR LAND, THE ONCE BEAUTIFUL FORESTS SUCH AS THIS HAVE BECOME SEAMS OF DESOLATION.

THE TIMBER IS GONE AND SO IS THE WILD GAME WHICH ONCE WAS SHELTERED BENEATH THE SHADE.

>> I CAME TO THE NORTHEAST SEVERAL YEARS AGO FULLY EXPECTING TO SUPPORT REGISTERLINE -- RIDGELINE WIND.

I WORKED HARD TO GET UTILITY SCALE WIND OFF THE GROUND IN MEXICO, SO I REALLY CAME TO VERMONT WITH AN OPEN MIND ABOUT THIS.

WHEN I FIRST VOTE WAS TAKEN ON LOWELL I WAS OPTIMISTIC A WAY HAD BEEN FOUND TO FIND A SOCIETAL CONSENSUS ON THIS RESOURCE.

THEN I STARTED TO LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECTS.

I WAS PRETTY APPALLED BY IT.

I WAS AMAZED AT THE LEVEL OF BLASTING AND BULLDOZING.

I WAS ACTUALLY QUITE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY WOULD CONSIDER SUCH IMPACTS ACCEPTABLE AND WOULDN'T BE WORKING VERY HARD TO FIND A WAY TO MINIMIZE THOSE IMPACTS.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO THE TOP OF THIS RIDGELINE, OR ALMOST ANY RIDGELINE IN THE STATE, UP THERE, GAME TRAILS.

ABSOLUTELY NO TRACKS OF ANY KIND MADE BY MAN.

THEY CLAIMED IT HAD BEEN -- THEY NEVER DID THE TOP OF THAT RIDGELINE.

>> I HAVE TO THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF LIVING IN A WEB OF LIFE AT HUMAN BEINGS WE DON'T TEND TO THINK OF THE OTHER LIFE THAT SUSTAINS THAT AND THAT WE ARE PART OF.

>> THE TOP OF A RIDGELINE OF SCRIMMAGE IN THE STATE OF VERMONT HAS A BIT OF MYSTIQUE TO IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY IS THE SAME, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT A RIDGELINE, I ALWAYS WONDER ABOUT THE TOP OF THAT LINE.

>> FOR ME IT'S THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MOUNTAIN.

THAT IS MY SANCTUARY.

IF YOU ACTUALLY TAKE THE TOUR, YOU WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENED UP THERE.

THIS WHOLE MOUNTAIN IS JUST COVERED WITH SPRINGS AND WETLANDS.

>> I KNOW EVERY TIME THAT I GO, INTO HIGH ELEVATION WETLANDS, I AM IN -- I AM FLOORED BY THE MAR OF PLANT LIFE.

ONCE THEY ARE MESSED UP, THEY ARE MESSED UP.

>> THE AMOUNT OF BLASTING AND CUTTING AND EXPOSED ROCK AND EXPOSED ROAD AND SEEING HOW HOT AND DRY IT IS UP THERE, I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE THAT.

THIS PROJECT IS REALLY -- IT'S HARD TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND HOW LARGE IT IS.

I MEAN, THESE ARE 28 WIND TURBINES THAT ARE 500 FEET TALL.

SO THEY ARE HUGE.

AND IN ORDER TO PUT THESE GIANT MONSTERS UP, THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DEVASTATION THAT HAS TO OCCUR.

>> NOW IS THE TIME TO DO BETTER BECAUSE IT'S A CRISIS OUT THERE, WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I GO ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA FROM THE ARCTIC TO FLORIDA, AND EVERY PLACE THAT I GO THE ECO-SYSTEMS ARE IN SHAMBLES BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

WE CAN'T KEEP THIS UP.

>> WE HAVE GOT TO STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR OUR CONSUMPTIVE HABITS AND CHANGE OUR WAYS.

>> THE INDUSTRY WANTS YOU TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT, THE ACTUAL FOOTPRINT.

THEY WANT YOU TO JUST LOOK AT THEIR ACCESS ROAD AND JUST THE SITE WHERE THE TURBINES ARE MOUNTED.

ACTUALLY, THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE RIPPLES OUT IN A GREAT CIRCLE AROUND THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING IN THE WEB OF LIFE WITHOUT AFFECTING OTHER THREADS OF IT AND OTHER AREAS OF IT MUCH FARTHER OUT.

THAT'S A PERSPECTIVE THAT THE NATIVE AMERICANS WOULD SEE BECAUSE IT'S ALL INTERCONNECTED.

YOU CANNOT SEPARATE ONE LITTLE BEAST.

IT ALWAYS AFFECTS ALL THE REST.

>> THEY USED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION TONS AND A MILLION TONS OF DYNAMITE.

IT WAS TO BLOW A ROAD AND BLOW OFF THE TOP OF ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS THERE.

THEY DROVE THE ANIMALS OUT.

>> WE KNOW THAT ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND MAMMALS ALIKE USE THE RIDGELINES TO GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

SO TO DISRUPT THAT WITH STILL MORE HUMAN PRESENCE IS DESTRUCTIVE.

>> THE BEES ARE AN IMPORTANT FOOD SOURCE FOR THE BEARS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAP 130 TREES LIKE THIS, JUST SO HAPPENS THAT OUR LEVELS ARE MORE CONCENTRATED ON THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WHERE THE TURBINES ARE PROPOSED TO BE PLACED.

WE KNOW THIS SAYS A MARVELOUS BEAR HABITAT.

>> I HAVE GRAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE NOTION THAT WE CAN INTRODUCE ON OUR SENSITIVE RIDGELINE HABITATS, HIGH ELEVATION, OFTEN STEEP HABITATS, STILL MORE ROADS AND STILL MORE BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FRAGMENTATION, WHAT WE CALL HABITAT FRAGMENTATION, AND DISALLOWING THAT THIS WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE LAVA.

THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH.

>> OH, YES, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG, ONE OF THE BIG STORIES THAT'S, THAT ALL THE WILDLIFE WILL DISAPPEAR.

FROM THE EVIDENCE THAT I'VE BEEN AROUND TALKING TO PEOPLE IN OTHER PLACES, THE DEER ARE GRAZING BELOW THEM.

THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE THERE.

THEY DON'T CARE IF THERE IS NICE, GOOD THINGS TO EAT, SAME WITH THE BEARS.

THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE DISTURBED BY THE NOISE, A BIT OF A GUSHING SOUND, BUT THEY COME BACK.

AT LEAST THEY COME BACK.

THE HABITAT GROWS BACK.

THE ANIMALS ARE VERY ADAPTABLE.

I THINK THAT THE SEERSBERG PROJECT HAS SHOWN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS DISTURBING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS IS THEY WON'T TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THE BIRD KILL.

FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU WENT OUT TO TUG HILL IN NEW YORK OR PLACES LIKE THAT, WHEN THEY BRING ALONG A GROUP OF SCHOOL CHILDREN TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WIND TOWERS AND ALL THE CLEAN ENERGY AND STUFF, THEY GO OUT WITH SHOVELS AND SCOOP UP BIRDS THE DAY BEFORE.

>> IF I BELIEVED WHAT I WAS BEING TOLD BY PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED, I WOULD EXPECT TO BE WAITING THROUGH DEEP LAYERS OF BIRDS, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT AT ANY WIND FARM THAT I HAVE BEEN TO.

>> IT'S THE AIR PRESSURE.

THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING VERY FAST.

BUT IT'S SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR ON THE TIPS.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING THE CHANGE IN AIR PRESSURE.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT EXPLODES ON THE INTERIOR, A DECOM PREGNANCY A DECOMPRETION THING.

AND WHEN YOU SEE SIGNS LIKE WE SAW COMING UP HERE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR THE BEARS.

WATCH OUT FOR THE BATS.

LISTEN, I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING ABOUT THIS GOVERNOR.

I LOVE OUR BLACK BEARS.

I LOVE OUR BATS.

BUT I DO NOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON COLOR.

I LIKE OUR POLAR BEARS, TOO.

THEY ARE DROWNING BECAUSE THE ICE CAP IS MELTING FASTER THAN THE SCIENTISTS EVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD.

THE BATS ARE DYING AROUND THE GLOBE BECAUSE NOT DESPITE DIRECTING YOUR ATTENTION OIL AND COAL.

>> WE REALIZE THAT THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH WATER ON THE MOUNTAIN.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOOTPRINT YOU SEE A CONSTRUCTION SITE.

BUT IF YOU START REALIZING THAT HOW A WATER SYSTEM WORKS, FOR INSTANCE, THE NATURAL WATER SYSTEM, THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE IS OVER 4 MILLION YEARS OLD.

WELL, IN SIX MONTHS, THEY HAD CLEAR CUT THE TREES ALL ALONG THE MOUNTAIN RANGE.

THEY FILLED IN WETLANDS AND SMOOTHED IT OUT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

THE WAY THE WATER RUNS HAS BEEN CHANGED FOREVER.

IT'S DESTROYED.

SO IT IS CARRYING SILT FROM SURFACE RUN-OFF BECAUSE THE STREAMS NO LONGER WORK THE SAME WAY.

THE TERRAIN HAS BEEN CHANGED AND UP AT THE TOP, THAT THE WATER FUNNELS DIFFERENTLY, SO IT'S STARTING TO CUT NEW CHANNELS.

THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE PLANT LIFE.

THE PLANT LIFE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE INSECT LIFE, WITH THE BIRDS.

WITH THE SMALL ANIMALS.

AND WITH THE BIG ANIMALS.

SO IT'S GOING TO CHANGE EVERYTHING, AND AS IT GOES DOWN THE STREAM, IT GOES INTO A RIVER ON EITHER SIDE.

THE RIVERS ARE CARRYING MORE SILT.

THEY ARE TRAVELING, SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE SILTING IN WETLANDS AND EVEN LAKES THAT THEY ARRIVE AT.

MANY, MANY MILES AWAY FROM THAT SITE.

>> I HAVE VISITED THE LOWELL PROJECT.

I KNOW FOR EXAMPLE THAT ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CERTIFICATE THERE IS THAT THE WATER QUALITY HAS TO BE -- IS GOING TO BE BETTER THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN IN 100 YEARS, BY THE REQUIREMENT OF THE CPG.

>> THE STATE HAS HIGH STANDARDS ABOUT THAT, AND THE DEVELOPER WILL HAVE TO MEET THOSE SANDARDS.

>> THEY HAVE, I THINK IT'S 10 MONITORING SITES AROUND THE WATERSHED.

AND IN THE LAST TWO TO TWO YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN I THINK ONINGS OF VERY MINOR DEGRADATION OF WATER QUALITY.

>> WE HAVE THE EXPERTS IN THE AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

IT IS NOT THE MISSION OF THE AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO HELP A DEVELOPER GET A PERMIT.

IT IS THE MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

PERIOD.

>> I HAD TO SEE FOR MYSELF.

I VISITED THE GEORGIA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY WIND SITE.

NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT.

ANTI-WIND FOLKS HAVE MADE IT SOUND LIKE THE ENTIRE MOUNTAIN TOP WILL BE ONE MASSIVE SLAB OF CONCRETE COVERED IN HEAPS OF BIRD AND BAT CARCASSES.

PRO WIND FOLKS MADE IT SOUND LIKE THE RIDGE WOULD BE SO NATURAL AND UNTOUCHED THAT I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE EVEN FINDING THE TURBINES AMONGST THE TREES AND THE FROLIKING BEARS.

WHAT I FOUND WAS SOMETHING IN BETWEEN.

SMALL, GRAVEL ROADS CONNECTED LOOMING TURBINES, VERY LITTLE CONCRETE, THOUGH AROUND 35 ACRES OF TREES HAVE BEEN CLEARED.

I NEVER SAW ANIMAL EITHER DEAD OR ALIVE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDERING, THOUGH, WHAT HAD THE TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN BEEN LIKE BEFORE THIS ENERGY PROJECT?

DID THE GEORGIA MOUNTAIN HAVE THAT MYSTIQUE THAT DON NELSON REFERRED TO?

WAS IT WORTH LOSING THAT?

AND AS I LEARNED FOLKS LIVING ON GEORGIA MOUNTAIN AND NEAR OTHER WIND PROJECTS AROUND THE STATE HAVE MORE ON THEIR MINDS THAN JUST MOTHER NATURE.

THE PLOT THICKENS.

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT AND ALL THROUGH THE DAY IT'S NO USE FOR THAT TERRIBLE NOISE >> A COUPLE DAYS AGO, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD THIS THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, AND YOU WOULD SAY WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN THE HOUSE.

WE GO IN THE HOUSE, AND YOU GET THE WINDOWS CLOSED, RIGHT.

AND YOU STILL HEAR IT.

NO MATTER WHAT SECTION OF THE HOUSE YOU GO INTO.

>> IT COMES RIGHT INTO OUR DOOR YARD.

AND I WALK OUT OF THE, OF THE KITCHEN, AND AROUND THE CORNER INTO THE DOOR YARD, AND IT'S LIKE I'M GETTING HIT.

JUST A ROAR.

>> YOU CAN CERTAINLY HEAR IN THE BACKGROUNDS, YOU CAN HEAR THAT HUM.

AND PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND THEY SAY, OH, THIS IS NOT BAD.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD LIVE WITH THIS.

YOU CAN.

IF THAT'S ALL THAT IT WAS.

BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE BUILDING AND VIBRATES EVERYTHING.

MY MOTHER WOULD SIT NEXT TO THE PICTURE WINDOWS IN THERE, AND SHE WOULD SAY IF I SIT NEXT TO THEM OR DOES THE DISHES ON THE WHACK OF -- BACK OF THE HOUSE, T WAS LIKE A CONSTANT TUNING FORK GOING OFF ALL THE TIME.

>> THEY ARE LOW FREQUENCY SOUNDS THAT YOU CANNOT HEAR BUT YOUR BODY REACTS TO THEM.

SOMEONE EQUATED THAT TO YOU KNOW HOW WHEN SOMEONE OPENS THE BACK WINDOW OF THE CAR AND THEY DON'T OPEN THE FRONT WINDOW AND YOU GET THAT THUMPING FEELING, THAT'S THE SOUND AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THESE PRODUCE, SO THEY CAN SEND OFF THE RHYTHMS IN YOUR BODY AND CAUSE MIGRAINES AND SET OFF YOUR HEART RHYTHMS AND INTERRUPT YOUR SLEEP PATTERNS.

>> IT DISRUPTS YOUR CELLS, YOUR BODY.

WHEN MY KIDS WOULD WAKE UP AT NIGHT CRYING BECAUSE WHAT THIS DOES IS IT TRIGGERS A RESPONSE SYSTEM WHERE YOU ARE IN A PANIC MODE.

IT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME ALL THE TIME.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN PANIC MODE?

YOU ARE SWEATING.

I AM NOT GOING TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT.

MY KIDS DID NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT.

I HAVE PICTURES OF MY KIDS WHERE THEY ARE JUST DEVASTATED.

>> FIRST TIME THAT I WENT UP THERE AND VISITED THEM WAS A YEAR AFTER THE TURBINES HAD STARTED OPERATING.

A LITTLE BOY WAS THREE YEARS OLD, AND HE WAS A PRETTY BUSY KID BUT NOT VERY VOCAL.

I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RELATE TO HIM.

I WAS SITTING ON THE SOFA, AND HE GOT BEHIND ME, AND I TURNED AROUND AND I SAID, IN A HAPPY VOICE, SEGER, WHAT'S IT LIKE WITH THE WIND TURBINES.

HE LOOKED REALLY SAD, SO I SAID, SO WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING?

THE LITTLE GIRL LIVED THERE FOR THREE YEARS, WAS BORN WHEN THE PROJECT STARTED UP, AND SHE HAD NOT SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT ONCE.

SEGER, WHO WAS A COUPLE YEARS OLDER HAD SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT UNTIL THE WIND TURBINES STARTED UP AND THEN HE DID NOT WANT TO STAY IN HIS BED.

>> SINCE WE MOVED TO DERBY, THEY DON'T WAKE UP CRYING LIKE THEY DID HERE.

>> THAT'S SHAMEFUL.

THAT IS A BLACK MARK ON THE STATE OF VERMONT AND NOBODY HAS MADE IT RIGHT TO THOSE PEOPLE YET, AND THAT'S NOT OKAY.

>> THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER BUILDING SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE THAT CLOSE TO PEOPLE, THAT IT WOULD HURT THEM IN THAT WAY, JUST IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME.

>> WE RECENTLY WENT TO A SCHOOL IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT HAS THREE WOMEN WITHIN A QUARTER MILE.

WE WALKED IN AND WE SAID OKAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU HAVE HAD THESE HERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS, NO.

THEY DON'T BOTHER ANYBODY.

WE DON'T HEAR THEM.

NOBODY CARES.

IT'S FINE.

THAT WAS VERY REASSURING.

>> I JUST GOT BACK A MONTH AGO FROM A TOUR OUT IN THE MIDWEST.

WE WENT PAST THOUSANDS OF WIND TURBINES.

WE CAME TO A TOWN CALLED UBLEY.

AND THE TOWN IS SURROUNDED.

THERE MUST BE 100 WIND TURBINES, SO WE WENT TO THE TOWN AND STOPPED FOR GAS AND ICE CREAM, AND ASKED THEM WHAT WAS IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, ARE PEOPLE IN PROBLEMS?

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.

I ASKED THEM ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND THEY WERE LIKE I HAD GROWN A SECOND HEAD, AND THEY WERE LIKE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WE LOVE THEM.

WE BUILT TWO OUT BY THE SCHOOL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND MOST COMMON IS THAT IF YOU ARE PREDISPOSED AGAINST THE NOISE YOU WILL HEAR IT, MORE THAN YOU MIGHT IF YOU DID NOT >> YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE PEOPLE THEMSELVES CAN MAKE THEMSELVES ILL BY JUST WORRYING ABOUT THINGS, IT'S CALLED PSYCHOSOMATIC.

SO HOW MANY OF IT IS TRUE WHEN A WHOLE TOWN THAT I STOPPED AT, NOT A SINGLE PERSON WAS ILL TO THE POINT THAT THEY BUILT TWO OF THEM RIGHT BY THE SCHOOL.

THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE?

DO THEY COME DOWN WITH THE ILLNESS?

I SAID ARE THE DOCTORS SWAMPED BY ILL PEOPLE FROM THE WIND TURBINES?

AND THEY ARE GOING WHAT?

>> THEY JUST PLAIN WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUTH.

WE HAVE TO SELF DIAGNOSED OURSELVES.

I GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE FROM IRELAND TO AUSTRALIA, AND WE ALL HAVE TO DIAGNOSED OURSELVES BECAUSE THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

YOU WOULD THINK WITH ENOUGH PEOPLE SAYING LOOK, THIS IS NOT OKAY.

THEY WOULD RESEARCH IT, BUT THEY DON'T.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN TWO VERY EXHAUSTIVE STUDIES.

ONE DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA.

ONE DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.

THESE ARE GOVERNMENT, NOT BIASED BUT RATHER GOVERNMENT SURVEYS.

AND BOTH OF THEM COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS NO DIRECT HEALTH EFFECTS FROM THIS.

>> THEY ARE LISTENING TO TEN-YEAR-OLD STUDIES, DIFFERENT TURBINES, SMALLER ONES OR WHATNOT, OUTDATED RESEARCH, AND THEY BELIEVE IN ALL OF THAT.

>> NO ONE CHALLENGES THE DECIBEL LEVEL AT WHICH PEOPLE LOSE SLEEP.

THAT'S AGREED UPON.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH DECIBEL LEVELS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN THAT.

THEIR SLEEP IS DISTURBED.

AND PHYSICIANS HAVE ASSOCIATED SLEEP DISTURBANCE WITH ALL MANNER OF ILLNESS, INCLUDING DEPRESSION, HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

>> THOSE HEALTH CONCERNS ARE -- LET'S USE THE WORD ANECDOTAL, OKAY.

IF THERE IS 100,000 PEOPLE SURROUNDING AN AREA AND SEVEN OR EIGHT OF THEM END UP WITH SOME SORT OF DIFFICULTY, THEN THAT'S ANECDOTAL.

THAT'S NOT WIDESPREAD.

>> DR.

BEN LOOSE FROM JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE HAD WENT BEEN AGAINST THEM UNTIL HE BEGAN SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THEM IN A MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

HE BEGAN REALLY SHARING SOME NEGATIVE KINDS OF THINGS THAT THE COMPANIES JUST DENIED, BUT HE WAS DOING IT FROM A SCIENTIFIC VIEWPOINT.

AND REALIZING THAT THE SOUND EFFECTS WERE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN FUNNELS THE SOUND DIFFERENTLY.

SO THAT HE FELT IT HAD A WHOLE DIFFERENT IMPACT THAN ON THE OPEN PLAINS OF THE MIDWEST.

>> WHAT WE HAVE IS TWO MOUNTAINS RIGHT HERE.

EVERYTHING IS FUNNELED RIGHT DOWN TO HERE.

>> THE SOUND SEEMED TO GATHER STRENGTH AS IT COMES DOWN AND BOUNCES OFF THE ROCKS AND STUFF AROUND US.

IT IS A NIGHTMARE.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT IS HARD IN VERMONT TO MEASURE SOUND.

I THINK THAT IT WAS A LOCATION IN VERMONT WHERE THERE WERE TWO HOUSES SIDE-BY-SIDE.

ONE FAMILY WAS VERY AFFECTED BY THE SOUND.

ONE WASN'T.

THEY STUDIED IT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHY.

THERE WAS THIS LITTLE NOEL IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE HOUSES.

AND THE SOUND HIT THAT AND JUST WENT AROUND THAT HOUSE.

THEY TALK ABOUT LIKE ONE MILE OUT, TWO MILES OUT, AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S A GOOD BUFFER BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCES WITH THE SOUND.

THIS IS A HALF A MILE HERE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE GOT THE ONE MILE HERE, AND 134 HOUSES.

AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE ARE 745 HOMES WITHIN THIS DANGER ZONE OF 1.5 MILES.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS.

>> THE WIND COMPANY TRIED TO BUY US OUT.

WANTED TO BUY OUR TWO ACRES WHERE WE LIVE.

45,000.

I TOLD THEM, I CAN'T MOVE ON THAT KIND OF MONEY.

>> THEY WILL ABANDON THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LIVE THERE BECAUSE THE SOUND WAS SO DISTURBING TO THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN.

AND NOT MUCH WAS DONE FOR THEM.

THE TOWN DIDN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING FOR THEM.

THE WIND DEVELOPER DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THEM.

THEY KEPT COMPLAINING AND ASKING FOR HELP, FINALLY, A GOOD SAMARITAN ACTUALLY OFFERED THEM ENOUGH MONEY TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE AND THEY HAD TO ABANDON THEIR PROPERTY.

>> WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE PEOPLE HELP US TO GET OUT OF HERE.

>> PARTICLE 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO TAKE LAND FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT THE LANDOWNERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED.

AND NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.

>> LAST I KNEW, VERMONT HAD IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO INVADE MY HOME AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

WHILE THESE GUYS ARE GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

>> BASICALLY, HE IS ENCROACHING ON OUR PROPERTIES WITH HIS SOUND.

SO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR PROPERTIES AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR HOMES WITHOUT NOISE INTRUDING.

>> I ALSO HAVE A, AN UNDERLYING VERMONT BELIEF THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS THE RIGHT TO USE HIS OR HER LAND AS THEY SEE FIT.

THIS IS PRIVATE LAND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING.

THIS IS NOT A STATE FOREST OR A NATIONAL PARK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN JUST EXPECT ME TO INTERNALIZE THE COSTS OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS, THE NOISE, THE AESTHETIC IMPACT, THE LOSS OF THE VALUE OF MY PROPERTY, WHICH WE HAD AN APPRAISAL DONE AND THEY FOUND THE HOUSE AND 60 ACRES AROUND IT WERE DEVALUED BY 37%.

>> THERE IS NO MARKET FOR A PLACE THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY A WIND FARM.

>> YOU LOSE 80 TO 100,000 PROBABLY OFF THE SALE OF OUR HOME.

AND JUST NOT RIGHT, YOU KNOW.

A LOT OF US HAVE INVESTED ALL OUR SWEAT, EQUITY, INTO OUR HOMES, AND THIS IS AN OLD FARMHOUSE.

BOUGHT IT, AND WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN SELL OUR HOUSE WHEN IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE ON.

>> FARMERS DON'T PUT AWAY A LOT OF CASH, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF LAND AND WE THOUGHT SOME DAY WE WOULD RETIRE.

AND THAT FARM WAS REALLY OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR BUSINESS.

THE FUTURE DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD FOR RETIREMENT.

>> FOR THE AVERAGE VERMONTER, YOUR HOME IS YOUR INVESTMENT.

AND YOU HOPE TO PAY IT OFF.

YOU HOPE TO HAVE IT GIVE YOU ECIF YOU NEED IT FOR HEALTH AS YOU AGE AND EVERYTHING, AND OUR HOMES ARE BECOMING UNSELLABLE.

AND THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN IN, YOU KNOW, ONTARIO AND AUSTRALIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

>> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF EVERY STUDY THAT REAL ESTATE VALUES HAVE NOT BEEN PROVEN TO HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY ANY OF THOSE WIND PROJECTS.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE STUDIES, MIT AND UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS DID A SURVEY ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT PROPERTY VALUES GO DOWN BECAUSE OF IT.

>> THIS IS WHERE THE QUESTION OF WIND ENERGY IN VERMONT IS SO CONVOLUTED.

IN STUDIES SAY THAT THE TURBINES HAVE MAJOR HEALTH IMPACTS.

SOME SAY THAT THEY HAVE NONE AT ALL.

SOME SAY THAT THE SYNDROMES COME FROM INFRA-SOUND, SOME SAY THEY COME FROM EXPOSURE TO OINT WIND HYPE.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THE NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE SOME PEOPLE HAVE IS VERY REAL TO THEM.

IS OUR MARCH TOWARDS A GREEN ENERGY FUTURE WORTH AS ANNETTE SMITH SAID, SACRIFICING PEOPLE?

DOES THE INCREASINGLY NEGATIVE PERCEPTION OF WIND PROJECTS DRIVER DOWN BOTH HEALTH AND HOME VALUES?

DOES THAT MATTER?

WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH A FUTURE LIVABILITY OF OUR PLANET?

I BEGAN TO SEE THAT THIS DEBATE AROUND RIDGELINE WIND ENERGY IS AT ITS HEART A DEBATE ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF VERMONT.

WHO ARE WE?

WHAT VALUES DO WE HOLD DEAREST?

PROTECTING THE NEXT GENERATION FROM CLIMATE CATASTROPHE?

PRESERVING OUR WILDERNESS AND RURAL BEAUTY?

CARING FOR THE HEALTH AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE?

AND IN A SMALL STATE THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS TOWN MEETINGS, WHAT ABOUT OUR LONG TRADITION OF LOCAL, DEMOCRATIC DECISION-MAKING?

I SOON FOUND THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF WIND ENERGY IN VERMONT CAST THE VERY INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY INTO THE SPOTLIGHT.

>> THESE BIG WIND DEVELOPERS IN THIS CASE HAVE EMPLOYED ONE OF MONTPELIER'S LARGEST LOBBYING FIRMS.

THEY ARE ALSO LOBBYISTS FOR GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER.

WHEN WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS HERE, THE LOBBYISTS AND THE LAWYERS DIE SCENTED -- DESCEND UPON US, AND WE LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE A WAY OF MANAGING THE ENTIRE PAST FOUR YEARS IN HOW THEY ARE CONDUCTING THIS CAMPAIGN.

IT'S VERY CAREFULLY FIGURED OUT.

>> THE INDUSTRY HAD DONE ITS HOMEWORK FOR YEARS WITH ITS PROPAGANDA, ONE-SIDED AND HOW PERFECT AND WONDERFUL THIS WAS.

>> THEY SEND THE LOBBYISTS.

THEY SEND THEIR FORESTRY GUIDE, THERE IS ALL KINDS OF EDITORIALS GOING OUT EVERY DAY.

THEY HAVE STARTED A WIND WORKS WEBSITE WHICH THEY PUT UP ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ABOUT WIND TURBINES.

>> AND THERE IS CERTAIN CONSISTENCIES.

THEY GO TO PARTICULAR ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN.

THEY START MEETING WITH PEOPLE FAR BEFORE THERE IS ANY PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROJECT.

THEY WILL PECK OFF CERTAIN PUBLIC OFFICIALS RATHER THAN GOING STRAIGHT TO THE SELECT BOARD.

AND SO THAT WAY IT'S VERY DECISIVE.

AND THEN COMES THE OFFER OF THE MONEY.

>> THE DEVELOPER, ATLANTIC WIND, IS OFFERING A CASH STIPEND EACH YEAR AS WELL AS TO PAY THE TAXES ON THE VALUE OF ALL OF THOSE TURBINES.

SO THAT WOULD BE A CASH INFLUX, PERHAPS AS MUCH AS ONE-THIRD OF OUR MUNICIPAL BUDGET.

THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT DOES TO THE PROPERTY TAXES.

>> YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH OF THE FACT IS THAT IT DID REDUCE OUR TAXES, AND THAT IS MOSTLY WHAT PEOPLE IN TOWN VOTED FOR, WAS TAX RELIEF.

IT WAS NOT FOR GREEN RENEWABLE PROJECTS.

>> BASICALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS THAT IT WILL COVER APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF YOUR ENTIRE TAX, IN OTHER WORDS, IT WOULD BASICALLY COVER THE MUNICIPAL PART OF YOUR TAXES.

>> SO MONEY DIVIDES AS WELL.

SOME OF US WILL SAY THAT THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU COULD OFFER US THAT WOULD JUSTIFY THIS HORRENDOUS, HORRENDOUS DESTRUCTION, BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

>> THAT IS PART OF THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER KIND OF THING.

THEY ARE BRINGING OUT.

TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE CLASS-WISE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

>> NEIGHBORING COOPERATION.

A LOVE OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.

INHERITED FROM THE EARLY SETTLERS.

FRIENDLY PEOPLE.

SINCERE IN THEIR CIVIC OBLIGATIONS.

GOOD NEIGHBORS.

>> IT IS TERRIBLY DECISIVE.

TERRIBLY DECISIVE.

AND I DON'T SEE A SOLUTION.

I SEE PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.

WHETHER THERE IS TURBINES OR NOT, THAT DIVISION IS GOING TO, TO REMAIN.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SHAKE HANDS AND SAY OH, WELL, A GOOD TRY, AND GO ON ABOUT YOUR LIFE.

IT'S GOING TO BE THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> IT'S DISTURBING TO SEE WE LIVE IN A TINY TOWN.

WE RELY ON EACH OTHER, WE NEED ONE ANOTHER TO HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.

>> FRUSTRATION.

THERE IS ANGER.

IT HAS NOT GONE AWAY.

>> THESE ARE SMALLER THAN THE TOWERS WILL BE.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE STAND HERE AND TELL ME -- >> THERE IS RESIGNATION IN A WAY, BUT THERE IS ALSO RESIDUAL ANGER.

>> IT'S TORN THIS TOWN APART.

I THINK IT HAS DONE THE SAME IN WINDHAM.

IT'S A RIFT THAT WILL NOT HEAL FOR MANY GENERATIONS.

>> I FEEL SO STRONGLY FOR ANYONE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO.

THIS, WE WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS.

IT'S AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE.

>> NO MORE WIND!

NO MORE WIND!

NO MORE WIND!

>> IT'S ALWAYS STRUCK ME AS FAIRLY IRONIC THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOST PUBLICLY SAD ABOUT THAT ARE THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND DOING THE DECISIVENESS.

IT REALLY IS THE OPPONENTS OF -- OPPONENTS OF WIND POWER THAT THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT.

>> WHEN YOU ARE FREED, YOU TEND TO BE A LITTLE MORE VOCAL AND WHEN, THAN WHEN YOU ARE NOT AFRAID.

>> THIS IS CLASSIC.

YOU CANNOT COVER IT UP.

IT'S A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ALL LIVE OUT IN THE DIRECTION WHERE THE TURBINES WILL BE.

THEY ARE ALL JUST DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING.

THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY CLASSIC, NOT IN MY BACKYARD.

EVERYBODY AGREES WE CAN'T GO ON AS WE ARE GOING ON, OR GLOBAL WARMING WILL OVERCOME US, AND YET THESE FOLKS THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT IT, IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.

>> IN TALKING WITH THE PEOPLE, THE BERKSHIRE WIND FARM WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DECISIVE ONES EVER.

AND THEY ARE ALL JUST FINE AND DANDY WITH EACH OTHER.

THEY WERE FAMILIES PUTTED AGAINST FAMILIES IN THAT ONE, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN HUMAN NATURE THAT ULTIMATELY THE LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO STAY MAD.

I HOPE.

THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE DEMOCRACY IS SHINING THROUGH AT ITS BRIGHTEST, YOU KNOW.

YOU CAN NAVIGATE THOSE DECISIVE ISSUES, AND COME OUT OF IT STILL WHOLE AS A COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE GOT SOMETHING REALLY GOOD GOING ON.

>> THE FOUNDING FATHERS HAD A DEEP BELIEF IN THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

THEY BELIEVED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXIST ONLY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE OF VERMONT IS AS CORRUPT IF NOT MORE CORRUPT THAN THE PLACE THAT IS YOU HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TIME LIKE LOUISIANA, LIKE THE GANG-RUN STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

THIS IS JUST RUN BY ANOTHER GANG OUT OF BURLINGTON.

>> INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN OVER THE BIGGEST PART OF OUR GOVERNING PROCESSES.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY GOVERNING BY THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE SO MUCH.

IT'S GOVERNING BY THE CORPORATIONS WHO THEN PAY THE MONEY TO THE CAMPAIGNS FOR THE POLITICIANS WHO THEN DO THE FAVOR FOR THE CORPORATIONS WITH THE LAWS THAT THEY PASS.

SO IT'S A VICIOUS CYCLE THAT WAY.

>> I'VE BEEN A DEMOCRAT MY WHOLE LIFE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I AM AN ENVIRONMENTALIST.

I AM SIDING TO SAVE THE EARTH.

AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE.

BUT ON THIS ISSUE THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALIGNING UP WITH, THIS IS GREEN AND -- I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT LOOKING INTO ALL THE ASPECTS OF THIS AND HOW THIS REALLY IS NOT GREEN, AND THEY ARE SOMEBODY DRIVEN BY CORPORATE MONEY.

>> A RATIONALE APPROACH TO RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE TO SYSTEMICALLY ANALYZE WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AND DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WOULD REALLY MOVE THE REGION TOWARDS REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE MOST RAPID AND COST EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.

VIRTUALLY ALL THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY LOBBYISTS WORKING FOR VARIOUS COMPANIES AND PUSHING THROUGH PROPOSALS THAT WILL ADVANCE THE AGENDAS OF THOSE COMPANIES.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD GET ALL THIS MONEY OUT OF ELECTIONS, AND I AM VERY, VERY STRONG BELIEVE THAT LOBBYISTS SHOULD NOT RUN THE STATE HOUSE.

THAT CITIZENS SHOULD BE THE ONES WHO RUN IT, NOT LOBBYISTS, WHICH IS NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN THE WAY IT GOES DOWN HERE.

ON THE OTHER HAND ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, I AM NOT PREPARED TO LOOK AT ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND SAY OH, HE OR SHE HAS MADE THIS DECISION BECAUSE OF THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.

THAT'S WHY YOU KNOW, THE INTEGRITY CHALLENGES ARE, I THINK, QUITE PROBLEMATIC.

THEY ARE SO OPPORTUNISTIC AND CHEAP.

>> CERTAINLY THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE KEENLY AWARE OF AND ABSOLUTELY FIGHTS TO MINIMIZE.

AS FAR AS THE IMPACT OF THAT ON RENEWABLE ENERGY, RELATIVE TO THE IMPACT OF THE FOSSIL FUEL LOBBY IN THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE TALKING A MOUNTAIN VERSUS A MOLEHILL.

>> WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS SO ESSENTIAL, AND WHICH THE IMPACTS OF WHICH ARE SO MINOR, AS WIND POWER, AS SOLAR POWER, AS EFFICIENCY, I AM SIGNIFICANTLY LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF THOSE CORPORATIONS OVER OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAN I AM WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE FOSSIL FUELS OR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY.

>> THIS IS ALL JUST A GRAB FOR MONEY.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONVINCED THAT SINCE IT IS WIND AND WIND IS FREE AND WIND DOESN'T POLLUTE, IT'S GOOD.

>> AND YET BEHIND THE VEIL OF OH, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING, OH, WE HAVE TO REDUCE OUR CARBON EFFICIENCY, YOU CANNOT STOP RENEWABLE DEVELOPMENT.

WE ARE SAVING THE PLANET.

THAT'S THE P.R.

COVER FOR WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY BIG BUSINESS SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT IS ALL GAINED FOR THE RICH.

>> VERMONT HAS CREATED A GUARANTEED MARKET FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE PRODUCT.

SO VERMONT IS PAYING MORE FOR THIS ELECTRICITY THAN IT WOULD PAY FOR OTHER ELECTRICITY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US BECAUSE THE STATE REQUIRES THE UTILITIES TO BUY THIS.

WE HAVE A PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PAYING FOR EVERY KILOWATT HOUR OF ELECTRICITY THAT LOWELL PRODUCES.

THEY GET A TAX CREDIT.

>> IN GENERAL I SUPPORT STRONG INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY.

I FOUGHT FOR THEM VERY HARD OUT OF NEW MEXICO.

BUT SOMETIMES INCENTIVES HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE EFFECT OF SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AS WELL AS THOSE THAT SHOULD.

AND THERE ARE, IN THIS REGION, VERY FEW REALLY STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS AND CONTROLS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES FROM INAPPROPRIATE PROJECTS.

SO, OF COURSE, THEREFORE WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE SITUATION WHERE THESE ARE DRIVING THIS GOLD RUSH FOR INAPPROPRIATE PROJECTS.

>> THE SAME INCENTIVES APPLY TO ALL ENERGY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHETHER IT'S WIND OR OIL OR SOLAR.

ALL OF THOSE HAVE TAX INCENTIVES AND TAX ADVANTAGES.

SO THERE IS NO REAL DIFFERENCE.

>> IMAGINE MINING COAL UNDER THE OCEAN, FIVE MILES FROM SHORE.

TRAINS BRING OUT MORE THAN 12 MILLION TONS A YEAR.

COAL CARRIED DIRECTLY TO SHIPS WAITING AT THE DOCKS.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE 100-YEAR-OLD SOURCES THAT ARE STILL GETTING 60 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIES THAT THE RENEWABLE SOURCES ARE GETTING, AND IT'S ABSURD.

BUT THEY ARE GETTING SUBSIDIES.

>> IN THE UNITED STATES, AND CERTAINLY HERE IN VERMONT WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT IS SET UP FAIRLY WELL.

NOT AS WELL AS IT NEEDS TO BE ALL THE TIME.

BUT FAIRLY WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT MINORITY OPINIONS HAVE THEIR DAY IN THE SUN, AND ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WIND IN VERMONT, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.

>> IT TOOK VARIOUS MEMBERS OF GEORGIA MOUNTAIN UP TO 77 CALLS TOTAL BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD AND THE STATE OFFICIAL EVEN RESPONDED TO ANY OF THEIR COMPLAINTS OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

>> I AM REGGIE JOHNSON.

AND I LIVE ON GEORGIA MOUNTAIN.

APPROXIMATELY 3,600 FEET FROM THE NEAREST -- >> THIS WAS NOT A TRAIN.

AS I OPENED MY SLIDERS IT'S THE WIND TURBINES WITH THE TAIL END OF THE GENERATOR FACING THE HOUSE.

IT'S A THUNDER.

>> I COULD PROBABLY DEAL WITH LOOKING AT THESE THINGS, REALLY, I AM BEYOND HOW THEY LOOK.

I JUST WANT TO SLEEP.

I WANT TO ENJOY MY PROPERTY.

>> I FILED A NOISE COMPLAINT IN DECEMBER 24 OF 2011.

AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD TO ESSENTIALLY RESPOND TO THAT COMPLAINT EVER SINCE.

>> THEY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL INTERVENERSHIP IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A PROCESS, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, IT TELLS YOU TO FILL OUT THIS FORM SO EVERYTHING IS LEGAL, TYPE LANGUAGE, SO YOU CAN PUT SOME VERBIAGE BUT YOU NEED TO DO IT IN A CERTAIN FORMAT AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

SO THEY GAVE US PARTIAL INTERVENERSHIP.

>> WE WORKED OUR WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD AND COMMENTED AND HIRED EXPERTS AND DID EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD TO TRY AND MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT.

>> SINCE NOVEMBER 2002 I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN EVERY PUBLIC SERVICE DOCKET AVAILABLE TO ME.

>> ULTIMATELY IT'S A FINAL ORDER REFLECTS THE FACT THAT WE JUST WELL HAVE SAVED OUR BREATH.

IT'S LIKE WE HAD NOT BEEN THERE.

>> IT'S WELL OVER A YEAR LATER.

NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

I HAVE HAD TO GO TO MONTPELIER AND SIT THROUGH A MEETING WHERE I WAS TOLD MY VOICE DIDN'T MATTER AT ALL IN THE PROCESS.

AND I AM LIKE, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, WHY DO I NOT MATTER?

>> THAT IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS TO KNOW WHEN AND WHERE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND HOW THEY COULD PARTICIPATE AND THE FORMS THEY NEEDED TO FILE AND ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT LAWYERS KNOW WITH THE BACK OF THEIR HAND AND YOUR AVERAGE VERMONTER DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> AND WE CALLED THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND THEY ARE LIKE YOU SHOULD GET A LAWYER, AND I AM LIKE, WELL, WHY DO I NEED TO GET A LAWYER?

I AM JUST TRYING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.

>> IF YOU GO TO THE TECHNICAL HEARINGS, THAT WOULD BLOW YOUR MIND BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE LAWYERS SO THEY DO IT ON THEIR OWN, AND YOU JUST GET STEAMROLLED EVERY DAY.

>> THIS IS THE HARD PART NOW WITH THE WHOLE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD PROCESS.

IT'S A PAY OR PLAY PROCESS.

AND NOW BETWEEN FAIRFIELD, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE LIKE 150,000.

WE NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER.

EVERYTHING IS LEGALESE TERMS.

YOU HAVE NO SAY, NO VOICE AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD TABLE.

>> THE GROUP SPENT, I THINK, THE FIRST YEAR A LITTLE OVER 66,000.

THAT WAS WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY.

WE HAD A LEADER THAT WAS ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE PAPERWORK FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD, WHICH IS EXTENSIVE.

YOU HAVE TO PREFILE TESTIMONY, THEN DISCOVERY, AND THERE IS A REBUTTAL, AND IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

I HAVE GOT TWO TRUNKS FULL OF PAPERWORK JUST FROM THE PROJECT.

>> IT'S A STACK OF PAPERS LIKE THIS.

THEY SAY, IT'S GOING TO COST AT LEAST 100,000.

FOR US TO TRY AND FIGHT THIS TO JUST KEEP WHAT WE HAVE.

WE ARE NEVER GOING TO GO ANYTHING OUT OF IT EITHER WAY.

WE ONLY LOSE.

>> THEY ARE RANGE -- RAPING US AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

>> IT WAS HARD TO GRASP THE CONCEPT THAT NOBODY IN THE STATE CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

WILL ADMIT THAT TURBINE NOISE CAUSES SUFFERING.

CAUSES SLEEP DISTURBANCES AND ALL THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.

>> THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT BEING THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, I GET TO EXPERIENCE PEOPLE COME IN, AND THEY TESTIFY ON EVERY SOURCE OF GENERATION THAT YOU AND I CAN THINK OF, AND THERE IS AN ORGANIZED OPPOSITION GROUP TO ABSOLUTELY EVERY SOURCE OF GENERATION, AND IF WE LISTEN TO EVERYBODY'S GOOD REASON ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD NOT BUILD THESE THINGS, WE WOULD NOT BUILD A DARN THING.

>> YOU ARE SAYING IT'S A FALSE HOOD AND THEY ARE GIVING SEAN SPICER OUR PRESS SECRETARY GAVE ALTERNATIVE FACTS TO THAT.

BUT THE POINT IS -- >> ALTERNATIVE FACTS?

ALTERNATIVE FACTS ARE NOT FACTS.

THEY ARE FALSEHOODS.

>> OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINIONS.

THEY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN FACTS, AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE ACTUAL REALITIES THAT ARE BEING IGNORED BY SOME IN THIS DEBATED.

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHO IS DOING THE STUDY.

THE STUDIES THAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY ARE DOING THEMSELVES, THEY HIRE THEIR HYDROLOGIST, THEIR OWN FORESTRY PEOPLE, AND THEY HIRE THEIR OWN BEAR GUY AND THEY DO THEIR OWN STUDIES AND THEY PRESENT IT TO THE STUDIES.

>> HISTORICALLY AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD, NO, NON-DEVELOPER, EXPERTS HAVE EVER MATTERED.

THEY REFUSED TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF ANYONE, FLYNN'S EXPERT ADVICE.

>> IT WOULD BE PULSATING OR PEAKING AT A FREQUENCY LIKE THAT.

SO MORE LIKE, SHHH, SHHH.

>> I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT ME.

I AM TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SOUND EXPERTS WITH 30-YEAR HISTORY AND PUBLISHED ARTICLES AND BOOKS AND EVERYTHING.

THESE ARE TRUE EXPERTS, AND THEY JUST DISMISS YOU LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> MOST OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY ARE GETTING IS JUST ANECDOTAL.

IT'S NOT REALLY RESEARCHED AUTHENTIC INFORMATION.

>> YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE LIST THE ISSUES THAT GET RAISED AND OFTENTIMES THEY GO BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION.

TALKING ABOUT MINOR IMPACTS.

THAT GET PAINTED AS CATASTROPHIC.

>> FOR A WHILE GRAFTON RESIDENT RANDY LOCKERBY WAS ENSURE IF WE COULD GET BEHIND THE LARGEST WIND FARM IN HIS TOWN.

>> LIKE ANYTHING, THERE IS PROS AND CONS TO EVERYTHING.

>> HE SAYS SOME OF HIS NEIGHBORS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THIS PROJECT COULD CAUSE.

AND THE EYESORE IT WOULD CREATE ON THE RIDGES IN GRAFTON AND WINDHAM.

HE SAYS THAT THEY ARE GETTING PUSHY.

>> I DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD HOW TO BE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO.

THEY ARE TRYING TO PERSUADE EVERYBODY.

>> WE KEEP BRINGING OUR STORY UP.

AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF THEY ARE CLOSE TO THEIR HOUSES, MORE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE HAD.

>> WE HAVE -- OUR CLOSER TOWER IS A LITTLE OVER THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE AWAY.

THESE THINGS MAKE YOU SICK.

>> WE ARE NOT CONSIDERED THE EXPERTS.

WE JUST LIVE HERE.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WORK AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP MAKING THE POINT THAT IT IS A BAD IDEA FOR OUR TOWNS, FOR OUR STATE, AND WE INVITED PEOPLE TO JUST COME AND LOOK.

COME AND SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

A LARGE PART OF IT WAS EDUCATING PEOPLE.

THEY HAD TO BE LEARNING NOT JUST WHAT THE WIND COMPANIES WERE SAYING, WE WANTED THEM TO ALSO LEARN THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE.

SO THEY WOULD BE MAKING A REASONABLE JUDGMENT.

>> THEY ARE TAKING OTHER PEOPLE, NOT GOING OUT AND DOING THEIR RESEARCH THEMSELVES.

TALK TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

FIND OUT HOW MANY HOUSE PRICES HAVE GONE UP OR DOWN, WHAT IS THE TAX BASE LIKE?

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ILL?

HOW MANY PILES OF DEAD BIRDS DO THEY FIND UNDERNEATH EACH OF THESE THINGS?

HAS THE WILDLIFE ALL GONE AWAY?

ASK THE QUESTIONS OF THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES WHO ACTUALLY ARE LIVING IT.

NOT THINGS YOU READ ONLINE.

>> IN THE COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP.

WHICH IS MAKING THE INDUSTRY MORE UPSET, AND THEIR PROPAGANDA IS INCREASING.

>> WE ARE SLOWLY GAINING AN UPPER EDGE.

THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE WRONG.

THEY HAVE GOT THE LITTLE GUYS LIKE US POKING AND JABBING AND THAT'S ALL THAT WE CAN DO.

>> I THINK OUR MESSAGE IS COMING ACROSS.

>> LOOK AT THE SKY, THE VULCHERS >> RIGHT HERE IN OUR SWEET LITTLE REPUBLIC, WITH THE GOLD DOME STATE HOUSE WHOSE DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND UNGUARDED, WHERE ANY CITIZEN CAN STROLL ON IN AND KNOCK ON THE OFFICE DOOR OF THE GOVERNOR OR SIT IN ON JUST ABOUT ANY LEGISLATIVE MEETING THAT THEY WISH TO.

EVEN HERE, SOME PEOPLE ARE FEELING UNHEARD AND DISRESPECTED.

STEPPED ON BY GOLIATH CORPORATIONS.

SACRIFICED IN THE NAME OF GREEN ENERGY.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

I KNOW A NUMBER OF OUR LEGISLATORS ON A PERSONAL, EVEN A CLOSE FRIENDSHIP LEVEL.

THEY ARE NOT JUST GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE.

WITH HEARTS AS GOLDEN AS THE DOME ITSELF.

AS OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TOLD US OUT OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOLKS IN MONTPELIER WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE US LEADERS IN A GREEN ENERGY FUTURE.

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT HOW WE HAVE BEEN GOING ABOUT BUILDING THE RENEWABLES.

THAT HASN'T BEEN WORKING.

PEOPLE ARE ANGRY.

MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD IN A UNIFIED WAY.

THAT BROUGHT OUR LEGISLATURE IN JUNE OF 2016 TO 260, AKA ACT 174, AKA THE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT.

THE BURNING QUESTION 260 SEEKS TO RESOLVE IS WHO DECIDES OUR GREEN ENERGY FUTURE?

LOCAL TOWNS AND REGIONS?

OR THE STATE HOUSE?

>> DECISIONS ABOUT IF AND WHEN RENEWABLE ENERGY IS BUILT.

OR ANY ENERGY PROJECT SHOULD BE MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HAD AS A PRINCIPAL IN VERMONT FOR DECADES.

AND IT IS FOR VERY GOOD REASON.

THESE ARE RESOURCES THAT BENEFIT THE STATE AS A WHOLE.

AND JUST MIKE TRANSMISSION LINES FOR INSTANCE.

WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE ONE TOWN CAN SAY NO, THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

NUMBER ONE, TOWNS DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND NUMBER TWO THEY HAVE A PERSPECTIVE THAT IS ABOUT WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR TOWN AS OPPOSED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE.

>> SO VERMONT DOES HAVE A VERY STRONG TRADITION OF LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CONTROL VIA TOWN MEETINGS AND ALSO THROUGH THE GENERAL SPIRIT THAT IS SET AT THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S CALLED THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, AND VERMONT HAS A LONG TRADITION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT IN THE CASE OF WIND POWER AND OTHER FORMS OF ELECTRICITY DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE SPECIFICALLY SEPARATED OUT AND PUT UNDER 248, WHICH REMOVES THEM FROM LOCAL CONTROL.

AND SO THE WIND POWER PERMITTING PROCESS IN VERMONT IS ESSENTIALLY A LOOPHOLE IN THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF THE DECISION-MAKING IN VERMONT.

>> IT NEEDS TO BE A STATE DRIVEN PROCESS WITH LOCAL COLOR ADDED.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE IN THEORY HAVE, AND IN SOME CASES, IT'S WORKED QUITE WELL, IN OTHER CASES WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T BELIEVE THE LOCAL COLOR HAS BEEN ADDED APPROPRIATELY.

>> SHAME ON YOU!

>> WE ARE FACING A VERY SERIOUS CLIMATE CRISIS.

WE HAVE TO MARSHALL SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND IF WE PUSH RIDGELINE WIND IN PARTICULAR IT WILL GIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY A BAD NAME, SO IT'S GOING TO GENERATE A LOT OF PUBLIC RESISTANCE, SO IT'S NOT ONLY VERY DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT ALSO THREATENS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THIS REGION.

>> AND THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS NOW IS CAUSING BACKLASH AND CAUSING PEOPLE TO SAY NO MORE.

STOP.

MAKE IT STOP, YOU KNOW.

RENEWABLE ENERGY IS JUST BAD.

>> THE RESULT IS A GRASSROOTS REBELLION AGAINST VERMONTERS.

A REBELLION HAS SPREAD TO DOZENS OF TOWNS ACROSS VERMONT AND I BELIEVE IT WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD.

>> WHAT WE ARE STRUGGLING TO DO IS REALLY GET THAT RIGHT BALANCE OF LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DECISION-MAKING.

>> THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW THIS YEAR THAT WILL GIVE COMMUNITIES AND REGIONS SIGNATURELY GREATER SAY IN THE PERMITTING OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.

>> WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS SAY OKAY, WE WANT COMMUNITIES TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT IF THEY CAN DETERMINE A WAY TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS, THAT MEETS SOME OF THE LOCAL FLAVOR, THAT'S FINE.

BUT WE CAN'T ALLOW A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN SOME INSTANCES TO JUST SHUT DOWN VERMONT'S OVERALL EFFORTS, AND SO S-260 TRIED TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES TO SAY ALL RIGHT, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ALL SOLVE OUR CONTRIBUTION IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

YOU HAVE TO BE WORKING ON SOLVING IT.

AND THAT WAS THE ATTEMPT TO DO IT.

>> THE RENEWABLE ENERGY BILL THAT JUST PASSED, WE SINCERELY HOPE CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS MORE OWNERSHIP OF OUR STATE RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS.

AT THE TOWN LEVEL, THE TOWNS ARE ACTIVELY THINKING ABOUT WHERE DO WE WANT THESE THINGS AND WHERE DO WE NOT WANT THESE THINGS AND BECAUSE THOSE PLANS WILL HAVE SO MUCH WE WEIGH IN DETERMINING WHE AND WHEN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY IS BUILT, THAT IT CREATES A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN ALL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THAT AT LEAST WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

>> NOW, I SERVE ON BOTH THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE MUNICIPAL PLANNING COMMISSION, SO I AM WATCHING HOW THIS PLAYS OUT, AND IT'S, IT'S NOT PLAYING OUT WELL.

AND I HAVE REVIEWED 10 OF THE 11 DRAFT PLANS.

AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE INDUSTRY KNOWS.

SIX OF THEM SAY NO INDUSTRIAL WIND.

SIX OUT OF 11 REGIONAL PLANS THAT ARE IN THE DRAFT PHASE SAY NO TO INDUSTRIAL WIND.

>> SO THE NEW LEGISLATION GIVES SIGNATURE SAY, ALTHOUGH NOT A FINAL SAY, TO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS IN VERMONT.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US, AND NOW TO THE FINAL TWIST IN THIS STORY.

NUMEROUS ANTI-BIG WIND FOLKS, I HAVE TALKED TO, MADE THE CLAIM THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO REDUCE OUR CARBON EMISSIONS, ELECTRICITY GENERATION IS THE WRONG PLACE TO FOCUS.

AFTER ALL, VERMONTERS TEND TO DRIVE A LOT, AND THE GAS WE BURN FOR TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 45% OF OUR TETLE EMISSIONS.

WHILE HEATING OUR HOMES WITH FOSSIL FUELS MAKES UP ANOTHER 21% OF THE TOTAL.

OUR ELECTRICITY USE IS ONLY ABOUT 11%.

SO EVEN IF WE MANAGE TO PRODUCE ALL OF OUR ELECTRICITY WITH RENEWABLES, WE ONLY WOULD MAKE A SMALL DENT IN OUR ACTUAL CARBON EMISSIONS AS A STATE.

OUR FOCUS AS A STATE HAS BEEN ON ELECTRIC EFFICIENCY.

WHICH MEANS THAT WE SHOULD NEED LESS AND LESS ELECTRICITY, AND THUS LESS NEED TO CLEAR RIDGELINES TO PLAN WIND TURBINES, RIGHT.

ONCE AGAIN, THE STORY GROWS MORE COMPLEX.

>> TODAY FREEDOM AND POWER ARE WOVEN TOGETHER.

THE INVISIBLE OF ELECTRIC POWER TURN OUR AIRPLANES AND AUTOS.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND GUIDED MISSILES.

TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOMS FOR THE GREATER WORLD TO COME.

BUT WE ARE NOT A NATION OF DESTROYERS.

WE ARE BUILDERS.

BUILDERS OF NEW FREEDOMS AND MORE POWERFUL AND NEW AGE.

WE STAND ON THE EDGE OF THAT NEW AGE EVEN THOUGH THE PIONEERING SPIRIT FLOWERING IN THE AIR OF FREEDOM WILL BUILD NEW WAYS TO PUT ELECTRIC POWER TO WORK.

>> TEN YEARS FROM NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING MOST OF OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION TO ELECTRICITY.

AND IF WE ARE GOING TO MEET OUR GOALS AS A STATE, TO REACH 90% RENEWABLES BY 2050 WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO CREATE THAT ELECTRICITY USING RENEWABLES.

>> THE BEST STRATEGY TO REDUCE THE USE OF FOSSIL FUEL POWERED ELECTRICITY IS TO USE LESS ELECTRICITY.

THE PROBLEM NOW IS THE THINKING HAS SHIFTED.

THERE IS A DESIRE FOR MORE CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY AS LONG AS IT'S POWERED FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES.

>> SO LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, OVER TIME, WE WILL GET RID OF MOST OF THOSE LIQUID FUELS, FOSSIL FUELS AND WE WILL CONVERTED TO ELECTRICITY SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD OUR ELECTRIC SUPPLY BY AT LEAST THREE TIMES OVER WHAT IT IS.

>> FROM A CLIMATE CHANGE POINT OF VIEW THE PRIMARY PROBLEM IS THE VEHICLES.

NOT MY RESIDENCE OR YOURS BUT THE VEHICLES, HALF THE POLLUTION PROBLEM.

>> ALSO THROUGH OUR BUILDING AND HEATING BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.

A LOT OF FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION THERE, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD THERE IS INCREASINGLY MORE AND MORE ELECTRIFICATION, PEOPLE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND BUT WE ARE ALSO SEEING THAT ON THE, ON THE BUILDING AND HEATING SIDE THROUGH THE HEAT PUMP TECHNOLOGY.

>> IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW MUCH POWER, ELECTRIC POWER WE ARE GOING TO BE USING BECAUSE SO MUCH ELECTRIFICATION IS LIKELY TO OCCUR IN THE COMING DECADES.

>> I THINK IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WE WILL BE SEEING SORT OF A DRAMATIC SHIFT OF NOT ONLY PERSONAL VEHICLES, BUT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AS WELL OVER TO ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES, WITH THE DECREASE IN THE BATTERY COSTS AND THE MORE ACCESS TO CHARGING STATIONS BECOMING SORT OF COMMONPLACE EVERYWHERE THAT WE GO.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE AN ACTUAL PLAN ABOUT HOW WE WILL ENGAGE WITH THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE VEHICLE FLEET.

>> AS WE MOVE INCREASINGLY MORE AND MORE TO ELECTRICITY AND THE NEED FOR RENEWABLES, RENEWABLES ARE VERY INTERMITTENT IN NATURE.

WIND ONLY WORKS WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING.

SOLAR ONLY WORKS WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING, AND WE NEED ELECTRICITY FOR OUR VEHICLES AND OUR HOMES AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS ALL THE TIME.

SO THOSE ARE SOME CHALLENGES.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT INTEGRATING RENEWABLES INTO AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM, W HAVE TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT SMART GRID IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> YOU KNOW THE TRADITIONAL MODEL OF HAVING A CENTRAL GENERATION PLANT FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF SUBSTATIONS AND TRANSMISSION THAT RUNS OUT TO DISTRIBUTION LINES TO PEOPLE, THAT SYSTEM WE HAVE SEEN TO BE VERY FRAGILE.

>> THE NEW MODEL OF DISTRIBUTED AND RENEWABLE SYSTEMS IS ALL YOUR GENERATION IS EVERYWHERE AND THEY HAVE TO BE TWO-WAY STREETS, IT'S NOT ESSENTIAL ONEWAY STREET.

AND THAT'S THE CHANGE.

>> YOU HAVE THE END USER POTENTIALLY PRODUCING, PUTTING BACK IN AND A MUCH MORE DYNAMIC SYSTEM.

>> THE UTILITY INDUSTRY AND THE LEADERS STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHAT SMART GRID IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> AND OF COURSE UNLESS EVERYBODY IS PLANNING ON PUT ANYTHING LITTLE COLD PLANTS, THIS IS GOING TO REALLY TRANSLATE TO SMALL SCALE WINDS, AND SMALL SCALE SOLAR.

>> AS SOME OF THESE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES ARE DEPLOYED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TERM DISTRIBUTED GENERATION, TAKING MORE HOLD, WE WILL SEE MORE SMALLER GENERATING RESOURCES OF THE KIND THAT PROBABLY RAISE FEWER CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> WE ARE TAUGHT BIGGER IS BETTER AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD THE WAY THE WIND RESISTERS OR PEOPLE RESISTING THE INDUSTRIAL SCALE PRODUCE THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AT A VERY LOCAL, SMALL SCALE THAT IS NOT AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE.

>> WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HOME-BASED MICRO-GRIDS, AND THE TRUTH OF THE FACT IS THE UTILITIES DON'T WANT THAT.

BECAUSE IT COMPROMISES THEIR INDUSTRY.

>> SO WHY IS IT THAT THESE STATES ARE EMPHASIZING RIDGELINE WINDS SO MUCH AND NOT SOMETHING LIKE SOLAR POWER?

AND I THINK THAT THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE UTILITY COMPANIES CAN CONTROL AND PROFIT FROM LARGE SCALE WIND, AND I THINK THAT THEY ARE TERRIFIED OF A REALLY VIABLE DISTRIBUTED SOLAR POWER MOVEMENT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COME IN AND REMOVE THEIR DOMINANCE OVER THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF CHOOSING WIND OR SOLAR OR WIND OR EFFICIENCY.

IT'S OFTEN PAINTED AS AN EITHER OR.

AND WE REALLY ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED BOTH, AND WE NEED ALL OF IT VERY QUICKLY.

SO WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SUGGEST WE SHOULD DO ROOFTOP SOLAR OR INVEST MORE IN EFFICIENCY, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE ARE FACING, HOW QUICKLY WE NEED TO GET OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS, WE NEED TO DO WIND AND SOLAR AND LANDFILL, GAS POWER, AND EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION.

WE NEED ALL OF THEM RIGHT NOW.

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAN DO THIS.

WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO THIS TODAY.

WE HAVE ON HOME HEATING, WE HAVE HEAT PUMPS, ON THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE WE HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES WITH BATTERIES GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY.

ON THE GENERATION SIDE WE HAVE SOLAR ENERGY, ABUNDANT SOLAR ENERGY, AND INCREASINGLY MORE EFFICIENT SOLAR PANELS.

IT IS HAPPENING NOW.

IT IS ACCELERATING VERY RAPIDLY.

AND WE JUST NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE THIS A REALITY.

>> WITHIN 10, 15 YEARS, THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT WE CANNOT ALL BE LIVING MORE FULL, ABUNDANT LIVES WITH RENEWABLES.

SO THAT WE DON'T NEED TO UTILIZE FOSSIL FUELS ANY MORE.

>> SO THE QUESTION, HOW DO WE REACH OUR GOAL?

BY 2050, OF GETTING 90% OF OUR ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES?

THAT QUESTION ABSOLUTELY HINGES ON THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY.

IF WE ARE GOING TO HEAT OUR HOMES AND POWER OUR ELECTRIC CARS, WE WILL NEED TO PRODUCE A LOT MORE ELECTRICITY.

WE WILL NEED TO PRODUCE IT WITHOUT FOSSIL FUELS, AND WE WILL NEED A GRID THAT CAN MOVE ALL OF THAT INTERMITTENT POWER AROUND IN NEW WAYS.

HOW WILL WE DO THAT?

AND CARE FOR OUR FRAGILE WILDERNESS AREAS AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE AND PRESERVE OUR PROUD HISTORY OF PEOPLE POWER.

WHEN I BEGAN THIS ADVENTURE, I ASSUMED THAT THE ANSWER WAS A SIMPLE ONE.

EVERY PERSON THAT I MET AS I TRAVELED AROUND OUR GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT VERMONT.

AND ABOUT THIS FRAGILE HOME THAT WE ALL SHARE.

THEY ALSO REMINDED ME THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SIMPLE ANSWER.

STILL I LOOK AT MY BOYS, AND I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES SO THAT THEY INHERIT A THRIVING PLANET.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OUR TURBULENT HISTORY WITH RIDGELINE WIND PROJECTS?

HOW CAN WE SUCCEED IN A WAY THAT UNITES US VERMONTERS AROUND A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE RATHER THAN CAUSING MANY TO REJECT RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS WHOLESALE?

IN OTHER WORDS, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT SAVING THE PLANET IN A WAY THAT ENHANCES RATHER THAN DESTROYS THE CHARACTER OF THESE GREEN MOUNTAINS ARE HIGH HOME THESE GREEN MOUNTAINS ARE MY I HAVE MET MANY PEOPLE BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYONE ANY MORE I AM TIRED OF PLAYING ALL THESE GAMES FREE ME FROM THIS BITTER BATTLE LAY HERE WITH ME UNDER THIS OLD OAK TREE AND GREEN MOUNTAINS LAY HERE WITH ME IT'S NOT EASY BREATHING THIS THIS AIR WHEN YOU LEAVE ME >> VERMONT PBS, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING YOU STORIES MADE HERE, FOR MORE